Does Orb of Scouring Remove Rarity? The Definitive Guide
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Yes, an Orb of Scouring does remove the rarity of an item in Path of Exile, setting it back to its base form: normal (white). It strips away all affixes (both prefixes and suffixes), quality enhancements, and any influence an item might possess. Think of it as a digital reset button, returning your crafted masterpiece (or regrettable experiment) to its pristine, unadorned state. Understanding this fundamental function is crucial for efficient crafting and navigating the complex world of item modification in Path of Exile.
Understanding Item Rarity in Path of Exile
Before diving deeper, let’s quickly recap item rarities in Path of Exile:
- Normal (White): Basic items with no inherent modifiers. These are the raw materials of crafting.
- Magic (Blue): Items with up to two affixes (one prefix and one suffix).
- Rare (Yellow): Items with up to six affixes (up to three prefixes and three suffixes). These are often the foundation for powerful builds.
- Unique (Orange): Items with predetermined, fixed affixes. They often have unique properties and are integral to many builds.
The Orb of Scouring primarily interacts with Magic and Rare items, returning them to their Normal state. It has no effect on Unique items as these are specifically designed to retain their properties.
The Orb of Scouring: A Reset Button for Crafting
The Orb of Scouring’s value lies in its ability to provide a clean slate. Why would you want that? Consider these scenarios:
- Failed Crafting Attempts: You’ve spent hours crafting on a rare item, but the results are subpar. Instead of selling it for scraps, you can use an Orb of Scouring to remove the undesirable affixes and start anew. This allows you to re-roll the affixes with further currency investment.
- Preparing for Imprints: Using a Fractured Fossil to lock in a desirable affix can be expensive. Often it is more economic to craft a base and use an Orb of Scouring to cleanse and retry to get closer to your desired affixes.
- Creating Specific Bases: Sometimes, you need a normal item with specific base properties (like a high item level) to craft a specific item. The Orb of Scouring allows you to repurpose a magic or rare item with the right base.
- Vendor Recipes: Some vendor recipes require normal items.
How to Use an Orb of Scouring Effectively
Knowing when and how to use an Orb of Scouring effectively is key to optimizing your crafting process. Here’s a breakdown:
- Identify Your Goal: What are you trying to achieve? Are you trying to salvage a ruined craft, prepare a base for imprinting, or create a specific normal item for a vendor recipe?
- Assess the Base: Is the item base worth saving? Consider its item level and implicit modifiers. Higher item levels allow for higher tier affixes.
- Apply the Orb: Simply right-click the Orb of Scouring in your inventory, then click on the item you want to scour.
- Plan Your Next Steps: After scouring the item, you’ll have a blank canvas. Decide on your next crafting strategy, whether it involves using Orbs of Transmutation, Essences, Fossils, or other crafting methods.
- Consider Alternatives: In some cases, other methods like using an Orb of Annulment to remove individual affixes may be more economical if only one or two affixes need to be removed.
The Economy of Scouring
Orbs of Scouring aren’t just tools; they’re also commodities. Their price fluctuates depending on the state of the Path of Exile economy. Keep an eye on the market to buy them when they’re cheap and sell items when they’re valuable. Knowing the vendor recipes and the best ways to farm currency will improve your economy and lead to better success in Path of Exile.
Does Orb of Scouring Remove Rarity? FAQs
Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Orbs of Scouring, providing additional insights and covering related topics.
1. Can I use an Orb of Scouring on a Unique item?
No. Orbs of Scouring have no effect on Unique items. Unique items always retain their unique properties and affixes.
2. Does an Orb of Scouring remove quality?
Yes, an Orb of Scouring removes all quality enhancements from an item, returning it to 0% quality.
3. Does an Orb of Scouring remove implicit modifiers?
No, an Orb of Scouring does not remove implicit modifiers. These are inherent to the item base itself.
4. Does an Orb of Scouring remove Fractured affixes?
No, Fractured affixes are permanent and cannot be removed by an Orb of Scouring or any other crafting currency. This is the explicit purpose of Fractured Fossils: to make an affix unchangeable.
5. Does an Orb of Scouring remove Influence?
Yes, an Orb of Scouring removes any influence (e.g., Shaper, Elder, Hunter, Crusader, Redeemer, Warlord) from an item.
6. Does an Orb of Scouring remove enchantments?
No, an Orb of Scouring doesn’t remove enchantments (like those from the Labyrinth). You need a Divine Font in the Eternal Labyrinth to remove or change an enchantment.
7. Can I use an Orb of Scouring on corrupted items?
Yes, you can use an Orb of Scouring on corrupted items, but it won’t remove the corrupted status. It will still remove all affixes and quality, making it a normal, corrupted item.
8. Is it worth using an Orb of Scouring on a high-level item with bad affixes?
That depends on the item’s base and your crafting goals. If the item base is valuable (e.g., high item level, desirable implicit), then yes, it can be worth it. Otherwise, selling the item might be more efficient.
9. How does an Orb of Scouring interact with item filters?
Item filters typically hide normal (white) items by default. After using an Orb of Scouring, make sure your filter is configured to show the item if you want to see it.
10. Are there any vendor recipes that use normal items created by Orbs of Scouring?
Yes, some vendor recipes require normal items. The most common example is the recipe to gain one level on a gem. The gem + one Orb of Scouring at the vendor gives the gem one level.
11. Can I use an Orb of Scouring to remove a specific affix?
No, an Orb of Scouring removes all affixes. To remove a single affix, you’d use an Orb of Annulment, which has a chance to remove any affix, including desirable ones.
12. What’s the difference between an Orb of Scouring and an Orb of Annulment?
An Orb of Scouring resets an item to normal rarity, removing all affixes and quality. An Orb of Annulment removes a single, random affix from an item.
13. Does using an Orb of Scouring affect the item level of the item?
No, using an Orb of Scouring does not affect the item level.
14. Where can I find Orbs of Scouring?
Orbs of Scouring can be found as random drops throughout the game. They can also be obtained through trading with other players or by purchasing them from vendors (e.g., Nessa in Act 1).
15. How do I get better at crafting in Path of Exile?
Practice, research, and community involvement are key. Experiment with different crafting methods, read up on crafting guides, and engage with the Path of Exile community to learn from experienced crafters. Learning more about game design can give one a better understanding of Path of Exile and other video games. The Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ has useful resources related to video game research.
Mastering the Orb of Scouring
The Orb of Scouring is a powerful and versatile tool in Path of Exile. Understanding its function and knowing how to use it effectively is crucial for successful crafting and efficient item management. By mastering this seemingly simple currency, you’ll unlock new possibilities and enhance your overall gaming experience.