Path of Exile Vaal Orb Wiki & Tips

What Is Vaal Orb?

Path of Exile Vaal Orb is a rare and valuable currency item in the game. When you use a Vaal Orb on an item, it can have one of the following effects:

Corruption: The most common outcome is that the item becomes corrupted. Corruption has several potential effects, including adding a new random modifier, changing the sockets on the item, or even destroying the item entirely. Corrupted items cannot be modified further, and the outcomes are unpredictable, making Vaal Orbs a high-risk, high-reward PoE item.

Turns a Normal Item into a Unique Item: Rarely, using a Vaal Orb on a normal item can turn it into a unique item with powerful and unique properties. This is a coveted outcome, as it can create valuable and powerful equipment.

No Effect: In some cases, a Vaal Orb might have no noticeable effect on the item, and it remains unchanged.

Corrupted Mods: Vaal Orbs can also add or modify "corrupted" modifiers to an item. These corrupted modifiers are often very potent but come with a drawback. For example, a corrupted modifier might significantly increase damage but also reduce maximum life.

What Happens If You Use A Vaal Orb On A Gem?

Using a Vaal Orb on a skill gem in Path of Exile can result in several different outcomes, depending on the gem and its specific mechanics. When you corrupt a skill gem with a Vaal Orb, it can have one of the following effects:

Experience Loss: Most commonly, a Vaal Orb will have the effect of reducing the level of the skill gem by 1. This means you lose some of the experience you've gained with the gem, and it may need to be leveled up again. However, it's important to note that some skill gems have a maximum level, and using a Vaal Orb on them won't reduce their level.

Change in Gem Quality: Sometimes, a Vaal Orb can alter the quality of a skill gem. This can either increase or decrease the quality of the gem by a random amount.

Change in Gem Behavior: For some skill gems, using a Vaal Orb can change their behavior or add new effects. This is particularly common with Vaal skill gems, which are a special category of skills in the game. Vaal skill gems have two versions: their regular skill and a more powerful "Vaal" version. Using a Vaal Orb on a Vaal skill gem can change its behavior or add extra power.

How Do I Get A Vaal Orb From A Vendor?

There is no direct way to purchase Vaal Orbs from vendors in Path of Exile. However, there are a few indirect methods to obtain Vaal Orbs through vendor recipes:

-Corrupt a six-linked rare item with a Blessed Orb. About a 2-3% chance the item will turn into a corrupted six-link, which can be sold to a vendor for 1-2 Vaal Orbs.

-Turn in 20 “normal” quality gems to a vendor. This has a small chance to return 1 Vaal Orb.

-Random currency item drops from certain monsters, especially in high tier red maps and endgame bosses, can include Vaal Orbs.

-Trade other PoE currency like Chaos Orbs or Exalted Orbs with other players. Vaal Orb prices vary but are usually 5-10 Chaos each.

-Complete missions and content from Zana, Alva, Jun, Einhar, etc. that reward random currency items.

-Use the Chance Orb vendor recipe - turn in a magic item and 7 alterations for 1 orb of chance. Chance Orbs can then be traded for Vaal Orbs.

How Items Are Modified When Corrupted With A Vaal Orb?

corrupting introduces risk but also opportunity, as successful implicits can drastically increase an item's power level. It's a gambling mechanic that spawns both great upgrades and disappointments, adding suspense to crafting projects. Players must weigh the potential rewards versus the possible losses for their specific items and goals. The item becoming corrupted without any other modifications. A new implicit modifier being added to the item. These can provide powerful permanent bonuses but also potentially downsides.

The item's sockets being recolored to random colors. The item's sockets and links being modified or removed, commonly referred to as "bricking" the item. Rarely, turning a normal rare item into a randomly socketed and linked corrupted rare, or corrupting an already corrupted item a second time. For unique items, specialized outcomes related to modifier changes, visual effects, or new abilities/properties.

When Is It Worth Using A Vaal Orb?

It's less worth using on truly irreplaceable headhunter belts, perfect rares still in active use, or barring an implicit goal, items that could not be improved. Weighing risk vs reward is key.

• On high value unique items that have a chance to gain powerful corrupting-only implicit modifiers. Things like Starkonja's, Ventor's Gamble, etc.

• When finishing off a near-perfect rare item crafting project and hoping for a good corruption implicit to complete it.

• On meta skill/support gems hoping for a level 21 or 23 outcome for extra power.

• If you have duplicate versions of an item, corrupting the worse copy allows testing outcomes with less risk.

• On items that become significantly better or enable new builds even with minor implicit outcomes. Like movement skill boots.

• In the endgame solely for the gameplay thrill of corruption, when gear is already overleveled.

• If you have extra Vaal Orbs and are SSF, corrupting is one way to upgrade items long-term.

• On items that maintain value even when bricked, like 6-linked body armor bases.

What Are The Odds Of Getting A Vaal Orb Outcome?

The odds of getting a specific outcome when using a Vaal Orb on an item or skill gem in "Path of Exile" are not publicly disclosed by the game's developer, Grinding Gear Games. The outcomes of Vaal Orb usage are intentionally kept unpredictable to maintain an element of risk and reward in the game.

Because the outcomes of Vaal Orb usage are random, it's important for "Path of Exile" players to use Vaal Orbs with caution and to be prepared for various possible results, including potentially negative ones. Many players use Vaal Orbs as part of their item crafting strategy, hoping for valuable corruptions or specific outcomes that benefit their character builds, but the inherent unpredictability means that there are no guaranteed results.