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If you've played Path of Exile 1, you already know that “corruption” is basically GGG's fancy word for gambling with fire. PoE 2 keeps that same vibe, but expands it in a way that feels a bit more controlled and a bit more interesting—depending on how brave you are.

For many players, the Vaal Orb is one of the first real “risk vs reward” items they meet. It looks simple, but once you start using it, you realize it's the kind of currency that can turn a good item into a monster… or reduce your beautiful item into sadness. Let's break it down in a simple and practical way.

What Is a Vaal Orb?

A Vaal Orb is a PoE 2 currency item that corrupts an item.
That's it. One click, one permanent change.

Once an item becomes Corrupted, you normally can't modify it anymore. No more crafting, no adding sockets, no fixing rolls. Whatever you get, you live with.

That's why players treat a Vaal Orb like a dangerous button — great rewards, but real risk.

How Do Vaal Orbs Work?

When you use a Vaal Orb on an item, one of several random outcomes happens. The actual results depend on the item's type—gear, gems, jewels, waystones, etc.—but the core idea is the same:

Possible Outcomes

• Nothing happens, but the item becomes corrupted (this is the “feels bad” roll).
• The item gains a new special corrupted modifier, even if it already has max affixes.
• Existing modifiers reroll, sometimes above or below normal limits.
• A new socket may be added, even if it breaks normal socket limits (not for jewelry).
• For gems: levels, quality, or support interactions can change up or down.

In short:
Every Vaal Orb is a gamble. You can win big, but you can also brick your item.

If you use an Omen of Corruption, you remove the “no change” outcome, which makes the corruption feel a bit more exciting — but also increases the odds of both good and bad extreme outcomes.

What Can You Corrupt?

You can use Vaal Orbs on:

• Weapons
• Armor
• Accessories (but they don't get new sockets)
• Skill gems
• Jewels
• Waystones
• Some special items like charms or unique mechanics in certain areas

Each item type has its own outcome table. For example, gems can gain or lose levels, jewels can break affix limits, and waystones can jump tiers.

When Should You Use a Vaal Orb?

This is the part most players struggle with. The rule of thumb?

Good times to corrupt an item:

• You already crafted it fully—quality, sockets, everything done.
• You have duplicates and can afford to lose one.
• The upside is huge (extra sockets, powerful Vaal mods).
• You're pushing endgame crafting and ready to take risks.

Times to avoid Vaal Orbs:

• The item is rare or expensive and you only have one.
• You still need to craft more before corrupting.
• The worst result is much worse than the best result.
• You're early or mid-game and gear upgrades are easily replaceable.

A lot of newer players use Vaal Orbs too early, and end up locking their gear before they're ready. Don't rush—corruption is a “final step” tool.

What Happens After an Item Is Corrupted?

Once corrupted, most crafting options are disabled.

You usually can't:

• Add sockets
• Change colors
• Modify affixes
• Use crafting benches
• Apply most currency

Corrupted means locked, unless the specific item type has special rules.

Where Do Vaal Orbs Come From?

You can find them in a few ways:

• Naturally dropping anywhere (level 35+).
• Corrupted zones.
• Trials, especially Trial of Chaos.
• Vendor or trading, depending on economy.
• Paquate's Mechanism in Act 3 (a corruption altar).

You don't get tons of them early, so most players stack them until deeper in the game.

How Rare or Valuable Are They?

Vaal Orbs sit in an interesting spot:
They're not impossibly rare, but they are valuable because they can make or break very strong items.

Most players save them for:

• End-game gems
• High-value uniques
• Weapons with great bases
• Items that scale very well with corrupted mods

Can You Make Corruption Safer?

Kind of, yes.

• Omens can change the odds (e.g., removing the “no change” roll).
• Some items have special interactions that reduce punishment.
• Fully preparing an item before corrupting minimizes regret.

But no matter what you do, the risk is always there. That's the charm.

How Does This Compare to PoE1?

If you've used Vaal Orbs in PoE1, PoE2 will feel familiar:

• Corruption is still permanent.
• Outcomes are still random.
• The best results can be insanely strong.

But PoE2 expands the system with:

• More item types that can be corrupted
• More specific corruption outcomes
• More ways for items to exceed normal limits

The system is deeper, but also more flexible.

Common Mistakes Players Make

If you want to avoid pain, learn from these common errors:

• Using Vaal Orbs way too early.
• Corrupting gear they still need to modify.
• Corrupting expensive items without a backup.
• Thinking corruption always makes items better.
• Forgetting that “no change” is a real outcome.
• Not understanding gem corruption effects.

If you're ever unsure, wait. There's no rush.

Is It Worth Using a Vaal Orb?

The real answer is: sometimes yes, sometimes no.

Worth it when:

• You're in endgame.
• You want that one big upgrade.
• You can handle losing the item.
• You're chasing a perfect build.

Not worth it when:

• You're early-game or mid-game.
• You can't replace the item.
• You're not ready to gamble with real risk.

Corruption isn't for the faint of heart. But when it works?
It feels amazing.

Summary

A Vaal Orb is a high-risk, high-reward currency that permanently corrupts an item. It can add powerful new effects, reroll stats, add sockets, improve gems, or simply ruin your gear. The key to using it well is timing—wait until your item is fully crafted, have backups, and only corrupt when the potential reward truly matters. It's a tool for late-game power, not early-game experimenting. Use it wisely, and corruption becomes one of the most exciting parts of PoE 2.