Localization setting

If you've played even a little bit of Path of Exile 2, you've probably seen Blacksmith's Whetstones dropping early in the game. They look simple, almost too simple—just a small currency item that says “adds quality to a martial weapon.” But as you get deeper into the game, weapon quality becomes a real part of your damage progression, and suddenly every Whetstone starts to matter.

This guide answers the common questions players ask and explains when (and why) you should actually use these items.

What Is Blacksmith's Whetstone and Why Is It Important?

A Blacksmith's Whetstone is a basic crafting currency in PoE 2.
Its job is simple: it raises the “quality” of a martial weapon, up to a maximum of 20%.

Weapon quality directly boosts the weapon's base damage.
Because base damage affects all of your scaling—flat damage, percent increases, crit multipliers—a small boost here can turn into a noticeable upgrade later.

In short:
More quality = more base damage = more DPS.
It's not flashy, but it's reliable.

Which Weapons Can You Use It On? (What Counts as a Martial Weapon?)

PoE 2 splits weapons into different categories.
Blacksmith's Whetstones only work on martial weapons, which are basically the weapons you use to physically hit enemies.

That includes:

• Swords
• Axes
• Maces
• Claws
• Daggers
• Bows & crossbows
• Spears
• Any weapon with base physical or elemental attack damage

These all fit the “martial” definition: they have attack time, crit chance, and damage ranges.

They do not work on:

• Wands
• Staves
• Scepters

Those are “arcane” weapons and use a different currency (Arcanist's Etcher).

A good rule:
If you swing or shoot it, it's martial. If you channel or cast with it, it's arcane.

How Much Damage Does Quality Give? Is the Gain Worth It?

Each Whetstone adds a chunk of quality depending on the item's rarity.
Quality increases the weapon's base damage, but the scaling stays the same (the max is still 20%).

Even small boosts add up.
For example:

• Going from 0% → 20% quality is basically a “free” damage upgrade on top of everything you already have.
• Builds that rely heavily on attack damage (bow builds, melee crit builds, claw sustain builds) notice the difference immediately.
• Spell-focused builds barely care, since most of their damage doesn't come from the weapon's base damage.

If your build actually hits enemies with a weapon, quality is always meaningful.

How Do You Get Blacksmith's Whetstones?

There are two ways:

1. Natural Drops

Whetstones can drop anywhere starting at level 5.
They're not super rare—expect to find them steadily as you play.

2. Salvaging Weapons

Once you unlock the Salvage Bench, you can destroy gear for quality currency.

Here's how it works:

• Martial weapons → give Blacksmith's Whetstones
• Armor → gives Armourer's Scraps
• Wands, staves, scepters → give Arcanist's Etchers
• Flasks / charms → give Glassblower's Baubles

For every 5% quality on the salvaged item, you get 1 Whetstone, with a chance at an extra if the item has leftover quality.
Runes socketed inside will be destroyed, so don't accidentally nuke something valuable.

You can buy PoE 2 Blacksmith's Whetstone currency cheap from U4N.

When Should You Use Whetstones? Early or Late Game?

Here's the honest answer from player experience:

Use them early if the weapon is good.

A 10–20% damage bump at level 10–20 feels great.

Save them for endgame if you're picky.

Good endgame martial weapons benefit the most from a full 20% quality upgrade.

Most players do this:

• Leveling: Use Whetstones freely on a strong rare you'll keep for a few zones.
• Endgame farming: Save stacks for a high-end rare or unique.

You don't need to hoard 100 of them—use them when they make your gameplay smoother.

Should You Use Whetstones on Normal, Magic, Rare, or Unique Weapons?

The return on quality is the same across all rarities — 20% is 20%.
The only difference is how many Whetstones it takes to reach max quality.

Most players prefer applying quality to:

• Good rares they will use for a while
• High-end uniques
• Late-game crafted weapons

For temporary leveling blues or whites, you can do it, but it's not always worth the currency.

Does Weapon Quality Help Elemental or Non-Physical Builds?

Sort of.
Quality boosts base damage, and this includes:

• Physical base damage
• Elemental base damage on martial weapons
  (if the weapon has elemental rolls built in)

But if your build mainly deals:

• Pure spell damage
• Damage from skills not tied to weapon hits
• DoT that doesn't scale from weapon damage

Then the benefit is much smaller.

If you're a caster holding a staff?
Whetstones don't help at all.

Is There a Quality Cap?

Yes — the maximum quality is 20%.

No hidden bonuses, no extended caps. Straightforward.

Does Weapon Quality Affect Crafting (Sockets, Links, Runes, Etc.)?

No.
Quality only affects base damage.
It has no impact on:

• Socket count
• Rune links
• Rune power
• Crafting outcomes
• Affix rolls

It's a pure damage boost, nothing else.

What's the Stack Size?

Whetstones stack high enough for normal use.
You can trade, store, and carry a large number easily.
PoE 2 hasn't limited stack sizes in a way that matters for crafting currencies.

What About Spellcaster Quality Currencies?

If your weapon is not martial, you'll use:

• Arcanist's Etcher (for arcane weapons like wands, staves, scepters)

Same idea, different item.

Can Quality Be Undone?

No.
Once you apply quality, it's permanent.

But don't worry:
Even on a mid-tier weapon, using a few Whetstones is rarely a mistake.

Are Whetstones Valuable for Trading?

They're not “rare,” but they're always useful.
Players who craft a lot of late-game weapons burn through them surprisingly fast.

Some players hoard them; others spend them as soon as they get them.
Both approaches are fine — depends on how often you replace your weapons.

Are There Better Ways to Farm Whetstones?

If you want to speed things up:

• Clear areas with lots of weapon drops
• Salvage every high-quality martial weapon you find
• Target farm places with dense monster packs

Salvaging is usually the most stable and predictable method.

How Do Whetstones Compare to Other Weapon-Enhancing Currencies?

Blacksmith's Whetstone is:

• Simple
• Reliable
• Always useful for martial builds
• Best used alongside other crafting tools, not instead of them

It's not as impactful as a strong affix or a lucky rune combination, but quality is a foundation of weapon scaling — it's the baseline you should upgrade before doing deeper crafting.

Summary

Blacksmith's Whetstone is one of the simplest but most important early-game and mid-game currencies in PoE 2. It boosts weapon quality up to 20%, increasing your base damage and giving every attack build a noticeable DPS bump. You'll find them as drops, or you can salvage martial weapons for them using the Salvage Bench. They're best used on good rares, strong uniques, or weapons you plan to keep for a while. Even though they don't affect crafting outcomes or sockets, they're still one of the most reliable tools for squeezing extra power out of your gear.