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If you're getting deeper into crafting in Path of Exile 2, you'll notice Regal Shards popping up pretty early in the game. At first they seem tiny and unimportant, but later on they play a real part in crafting strong rare gear. This guide breaks everything down in simple terms so you always know when to save them, when to use them, and when to ignore the loot on the ground.

What Is a Regal Shard?

A Regal Shard is a small PoE 2 currency piece that eventually turns into a Regal Orb.
You need 10 Regal Shards = 1 Regal Orb.

And what does a Regal Orb do?
Super simple: it upgrades a Magic (blue) item into a Rare (yellow) item, keeping the old mods and adding one new random mod.

It's basically a “step up” tool in crafting.

How to Get Regal Shards

There are two main ways to farm them:

1. Monster Drops

Regal Shards can drop anywhere in the game once you reach around level 5 areas.
The drop rate isn't super high, but you'll see them often enough during normal gameplay.

2. Disenchanting Rare Items

This is the real source of most Regal Shards.

• A normal rare item → 1 Regal Shard
• A rare item with 6 or more explicit modifiers → 2 Regal Shards

This makes high-mod rares slightly more exciting to pick up—though still not always worth it. (More on this later.)

3. Buy it from U4N

You can buy PoE 2 currency cheap from U4N.

What Are Regal Shards Used For?

Their only job is turning into Regal Orbs.

Once you have a Regal Orb, you use it on a Magic item to turn it into a Rare item. This is often used when you find a great magic base with strong mods and want to continue crafting on it.

Think of it like:

“This item has potential. Let's upgrade it and keep going.”

When Should You Use a Regal Orb?

Here's the honest truth:
Don't use them early in the game.

The reason is simple — you replace gear every few minutes while leveling. Using a Regal Orb on a weak item is basically throwing away value.

Use it when:

• You found a strong high-level base
• You are crafting a piece of endgame gear
• You already like the current mods on your magic item

A Regal Orb is part of a bigger crafting path, not something you spam casually.

Should You Pick Up Every Rare for Shards?

Players argue about this all the time.

Picking up every rare:

• Good for shard income
• Bad for inventory space and time
• Most rares only give 1 shard

Selective pickup (recommended):

• Only pick high-mod rares
• Or items you want to check for bases
• Faster mapping = more total currency

In PoE 2, efficiency matters more than number of items picked up. If grabbing every yellow slows you down, you actually make less currency in the long run.

Does Item Level Matter?

Yes — very much.

A Regal Orb is most valuable on:

• Higher item-level bases
• Magic items with high-tier affixes
• Items you want to keep or build into crafted gear

Using a Regal Orb on early-game items is almost always a waste.

Are There Vendor Recipes?

Not really.
There are no major vendor tricks to get Regal Shards outside of:

• Natural drops
• Disenchanting rares

So don't expect fancy recipes or hidden combos.

PoE 1 vs PoE 2 — Any Differences?

The core idea is the same in both games:

• Regal Shard → Regal Orb → upgrade magic to rare

But PoE 2's economy, drop rate, and crafting flow feel different, especially with the new disenchanting system. Overall, the function is identical, but the value and usage timing may shift depending on each league's meta.

Should You Save Them Early Game?

Yes.
Regal Shards feel small, but Regal Orbs still matter later.

During the campaign:

• Focus on gear upgrades
• Don't spend crafting currency
• Save shards for later crafting

When you hit mid/endgame, you'll be happy you didn't waste them.

Summary

Regal Shards are a simple but important currency in PoE 2. They drop from monsters and come mostly from disenchanting rare items. Ten shards make a Regal Orb, which upgrades a magic item into a rare one. The key is using them at the right time: avoid wasting them early, save them for good item bases, and don't pick up every rare unless you really need the shards. Think of them as a small building block for later crafting, not something you rush to use.