Can You Vaal Orb a Gem? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, you absolutely can Vaal Orb a gem in Path of Exile. In fact, using a Vaal Orb on a skill gem is a core mechanic that can significantly alter its properties, potentially boosting its power or transforming it into a coveted Vaal skill gem. This process is known as corrupting the gem, and it carries both risks and rewards. Let’s delve into the details of using a Vaal Orb on gems, exploring its various outcomes, and addressing common questions.
Understanding Vaal Orbs and Gem Corruption
The Vaal Orb is a powerful currency item in Path of Exile renowned for its unpredictable nature. It introduces an element of chance and potential high reward to the modification process. When used on a gem, it permanently alters the gem, creating a corrupted version. It’s crucial to understand that once a gem is corrupted, it cannot be modified by regular currency items, such as Gemcutter’s Prisms (GCPs) to enhance quality or level-modifying orbs. This makes the decision to Vaal Orb a gem a strategic one that demands careful consideration.
The act of corrupting a gem with a Vaal Orb can yield several different outcomes, each with its own implications:
- Level Changes: A Vaal Orb can either increase or decrease the level of a gem by one. This includes the potential to elevate a level 20 gem to level 21, a highly sought-after result. Conversely, a gem might lose a level.
- Quality Adjustments: The quality of a gem, which typically maxes out at 20%, can be modified by a Vaal Orb. It can either increase or decrease the quality by up to 10%, reaching a maximum of 23% quality. This enhanced quality makes gems more potent.
- Vaal Gem Transformation: Perhaps the most desired outcome is the transformation of a regular gem into its Vaal skill version. For example, using a Vaal Orb on a Spectral Throw gem might turn it into a Vaal Spectral Throw gem. Vaal Skill gems offer an alternative, often more powerful skill that is charged by killing enemies, adding a unique dimension to gameplay.
- No Change: It’s possible, albeit frustrating, that a Vaal Orb will result in no discernible change to the gem other than the fact that it is now corrupted .
The Significance of Vaal Gems
Vaal gems are a distinct type of corrupt gem that adds a powerful alternative skill to the standard skill. This Vaal skill is fuelled by souls gathered from slain enemies. Think of it like a ultimate ability, it is unleashed when the gem is fully charged. These gems offer potent alternatives and are a popular build choice. You get both the normal version of the skill and the Vaal version from the Vaal gem.
Double Corruption: The Lapidary Lens
For players seeking to push the limits even further, the Lapidary Lens, found within the Temple of Atzoatl’s Incursion room, provides a chance for a double corruption. This device effectively applies two Vaal Orb effects to a gem consecutively, potentially yielding powerful combinations of level and quality enhancements, or even converting a gem to a Vaal version.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What exactly happens when I use a Vaal Orb on a gem?
When you use a Vaal Orb on a gem, the gem becomes corrupted, meaning you can no longer use traditional crafting currency on it. The Orb can:
- Change the level of the gem by +1 or -1, going up to level 21.
- Change the gem quality by up to 10%, reaching a max of 23% quality.
- Transform the gem into its corresponding Vaal skill gem.
- Do nothing to the gem, but it will still become corrupted.
2. How do I turn a regular gem into a Vaal gem?
You can turn a regular gem into a Vaal gem by using a Vaal Orb on it. This process has a chance of transforming it into its corresponding Vaal skill gem, such as turning Spectral Throw into Vaal Spectral Throw. Additionally, some Vaal Gems can be obtained from gem rewards.
3. Can I use a Vaal Orb on a corrupted item?
No, once an item is corrupted, it cannot be further modified by a Vaal Orb, except for sockets and links at a crafting bench. It can only be modified by Tainted Currency or Crafting Bench recipes that involve Vaal Orbs.
4. Can a corrupted gem still level up?
Yes, corrupted gems can still level up by gaining experience. The corruption status does not prevent level gain. However, you cannot use Gemcutter’s Prisms on them to increase quality.
5. What are the chances of getting a specific outcome when Vaaling a gem?
The outcomes of using a Vaal Orb on a gem are weighted equally. So, there is a roughly equal chance of any outcome happening such as a level change, quality change, a transformation into a Vaal gem, or simply nothing happening.
6. Can you get a level 21 Vaal gem?
Yes, a level 20 gem can become a level 21 Vaal gem through Vaal Orb corruption. Only corrupting a clean level 20 gem can get it to level 21.
7. What are Vaal skill gems, and how do they work?
Vaal skill gems are special corrupted gems that grant an alternative, powerful version of a skill. To use a Vaal skill, the gem must be charged by collecting souls from killing enemies.
8. Where can I get Vaal skill gems?
Vaal skill gems can be obtained through a few methods:
* Using Vaal Orbs on regular gems.
* As loot from Vaal Vessels found in Vaal side areas.
* As rewards from specific game content.
9. Can I corrupt a Vaal gem further?
Once a gem is corrupted, whether it is a regular or a Vaal gem, it cannot be modified with a Vaal Orb again, except for sockets and links at a crafting bench. It cannot gain any level or quality from any other orbs.
10. Should I corrupt my gems?
Deciding whether to corrupt your gem depends on what you are looking to achieve. Corrupted gems cannot be modified with regular currency items, making the process a risk. However, the potential for level 21, 23% quality, or Vaal gem transformation makes the risk worthwhile for some players.
11. How does the Lapidary Lens function with gems?
The Lapidary Lens found in the Temple of Atzoatl applies two Vaal Orb effects to a gem consecutively. This increases the chances of achieving more potent results.
12. What is the difference between a corrupted gem and a regular gem?
A corrupted gem cannot be modified by regular currency items (like Gemcutter’s Prisms) for enhancing quality and level. It may have better stats but is not as flexible for future enhancement. Regular gems can be enhanced but are more limited in the maximum achievable quality and level.
13. How do I activate a Vaal skill from a Vaal gem?
To activate a Vaal skill, you must charge the gem with souls. Souls are obtained by killing enemies or damaging Rare/Unique enemies. When the gem is fully charged, the Vaal skill can be used.
14. What is a “double corrupted” gem?
A “double corrupted” gem is a gem that has been corrupted twice, typically by using the Lapidary Lens. This allows the gem to potentially gain a level upgrade, quality increase or be transformed into a Vaal skill and get another random vaal orb effect.
15. Is it worth using a Vaal Orb on my gems?
It depends on your goals. Using a Vaal Orb is a gamble. It can give incredible boosts or make a gem worse. If you are pushing for maximum potential, the chance at level 21, 23% quality, or Vaal gem transformation is a big draw. You need to assess the risks against the benefits for your specific build and available resources.
Conclusion
In summary, the Vaal Orb is a powerful tool for transforming gems in Path of Exile, offering a chance for significant enhancements but also carrying a risk. Understanding how corrupted gems work and the potential outcomes of a Vaal Orb is essential for any player aiming to maximize their build. Weigh the potential benefits of a level 21 gem, enhanced quality or a Vaal skill against the permanent nature of corruption before deciding whether to Vaal Orb your gems.