In Path of Exile 2, a highly anticipated addition to the action RPG series, players are tasked with exploring vast, dangerous worlds and acquiring powerful gear to defeat increasingly difficult enemies. As with any loot-based game, equipment plays a central role, and managing the vast array of items that players gather becomes a crucial aspect of gameplay. While some items are immediately useful to your character, others may not fit your needs, either because they don’t match your current build or their properties are subpar.

For players who find themselves with a large stockpile of these unwanted items, it can feel wasteful to simply sell, disassemble, or discard them. However, Path of Exile 2 introduces a highly useful tool known as the Reforging Bench, which allows players to combine multiple items of the same type for a chance to re-randomize their properties. This guide will provide a comprehensive look at how the Reforging Bench works, when to unlock it, and how to use it to improve your gear and maximize your resources in this challenging game.

When to Unlock the Reforging Bench

The Reforging Bench is a significant feature in Path of Exile 2, but it doesn’t become available until Act 3 of the game. Players need to progress through the early acts, developing their characters and exploring new areas, before they can unlock this powerful tool. In Act 3, players will be introduced to the Legacy of the Vaal quest, which leads them to a brand-new area called the Drowned City. Upon completing the quest, players will need to head back to Ziggurat Encampment to meet an NPC named Oswald, located in the northwest corner of the area.

Speaking to Oswald initiates the Treasures of Utzaal questline, which must be completed to unlock the Reforging Bench. At this point, players will have reached level 40, and the game will direct them to a dungeon called the Molten Vault. This dungeon is filled with enemies that deal fire-based damage, so players should prepare for the fight by equipping fire-resistant gear and preparing spells or abilities that counteract these enemies.

Defeating Mektul, The Forgemaster

At the heart of the Molten Vault is the powerful boss Mektul, The Forgemaster, who deals heavy fire damage but has a slow attack speed and a long cooldown between most of his attacks. This gives players the opportunity to dodge his attacks and counterattack when possible. The fight also features a four-minute timer, meaning if players fail to defeat Mektul before the time runs out, the room will fill with lava, and the player will be killed.

Defeating Mektul requires players to understand his attack patterns and adjust their strategies accordingly. It is strongly recommended to use cold damage spells to exploit his weaknesses. Once Mektul is defeated, players will receive the Hammer of Kamasa, an item that grants access to a portal back to town. After returning to Ziggurat Encampment and speaking to Oswald again, players will unlock the Reforging Bench, along with an Uncut Skill Gem as a reward.

How to Use the Reforging Bench

Once the Reforging Bench is unlocked, players can begin using it to improve their gear. The Reforging Bench allows players to combine three items of the same type and rarity into a single new item with randomized properties. It’s a great way to transform unwanted or low-quality gear into potentially better equipment that can enhance your character’s performance.

To use the Reforging Bench, players need to find one in any town, or they can place one in their hideout. Once you’ve located the Reforging Bench, approach it and interact with it to open the crafting interface. Here, you will need to provide three items of the same type and rarity (such as three pieces of armor, weapons, or accessories). These items will be destroyed in the process, so it’s essential to double-check that you no longer need them before proceeding.

The properties of the new item you receive will be randomized based on the properties of the items you put into the Reforging Bench. It’s important to note that the Reforging Bench does not guarantee an upgrade. However, it does offer players a chance to improve their equipment without wasting resources. For example, if you have three armor pieces that have decent but subpar stats, combining them through the Reforging Bench could yield an armor piece with better properties, potentially giving your character a significant power boost.

Types of Items That Can Be Used in the Reforging Bench

The Reforging Bench can be used with a variety of item types. Here’s a breakdown of what you can craft using the bench:

Weapons, Armor, and Accessories: These can be of the same type and rarity, so you can combine three swords, three helmets, or three rings, for example.

Unique Items: If you have duplicate or unwanted unique items, these can also be reforged to potentially improve their properties.

Catalysts: These items can be combined to alter or enhance the attributes of other gear.

Essences: Special materials that modify items can be reforged to possibly create higher-tier or more powerful versions.

Soul Cores: These are important items for character builds, and reforging them may unlock new attributes.

Precursor Tablets: These mysterious items can sometimes offer rare crafting possibilities when combined through the Reforging Bench.

Distilled Emotion: Another special item that may offer a better chance at improving gear when used in the bench.

Runes and Relics: These can also be reforged, giving players additional ways to enhance their items.

Waystones of the Same Tier: These can be reforged for the potential of more powerful Waystones, which are critical in unlocking new areas and advancing the story.

It’s important to keep in mind that while the Reforging Bench offers the opportunity to create new items with potentially better stats, the process is randomized, and there are no guarantees that you’ll receive a high-quality item.

Strategic Tips for Using the Reforging Bench

Choose Items Wisely: Since the process involves destroying the items you use, you should carefully consider which ones to use in the Reforging Bench. If you have three items of similar quality and level, they are more likely to yield an upgraded item of the same tier. Using a high-level item with lower-level items could result in an item that is less useful.

Understand Rarity and Level Restrictions: The level of the output item will be based on the lowest-level item you input. This means that if you input a high-level item with lower-level ones, the resulting item will be of the lower level, which might not be the ideal outcome.

Identify Before Reforging: Many items in Path of Exile 2 require identification before you can see their full effects. You won’t know the exact properties of most re-cast items until you identify them with a Hooded One or a Scroll of Wisdom. Be sure to have the necessary resources for identification before committing to the process.

Focus on Special Items: Some items, such as Wantonness and Distilled Emotions, are more likely to yield high-tier results when used in the Reforging Bench. These items can be especially valuable when you want to upgrade your gear or gain new powers.

Prepare for Random Outcomes: While the Reforging Bench offers a chance to improve your gear, it’s important to manage your expectations. The results are largely random, so it’s a good idea to always have backup plans in place for upgrading your equipment through other means, like trading with other players or utilizing crafting stations.

Conclusion

The Reforging Bench is one of the most strategic and useful tools in Path of Exile 2. It allows players to transform their unwanted or low-quality items into potentially much better gear, using a randomized process that can lead to great rewards. However, it requires a good understanding of how to use it effectively, including knowing what items to input and managing your resources wisely. By strategically using the Reforging Bench, you can maximize the potential of your inventory and improve your character’s chances of success in the dangerous world of Path of Exile 2.

Whether you're an experienced player or new to the series, mastering the Reforge Table will become a key aspect of your journey, providing an exciting way to customize your gear and improve your chances of survival. Finally, stay tuned to the mmoexp community as we'll keep you updated with more information andcheap POE 2 Currency !