What Are Catalysts in PoE 2?
Catalysts are crafting items that improve specific affix types on jewelry, increasing their effectiveness when rolling new modifiers or augmenting existing ones. These items are particularly valuable for min-maxing stats and ensuring that jewelry aligns perfectly with your build.
Types of Catalysts and Their Effects
Catalysts in PoE 2 are specialized to enhance particular affix groups. Here are some common types:
Abyssal Catalyst: Improves damage-related affixes, making it ideal for offensive builds.
Sanctified Catalyst: Boosts elemental resistance affixes, perfect for improving survivability.
Exalted Catalyst: Enhances attribute-based affixes such as Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence, which are essential for stat-heavy builds.
Alchemical Catalyst: Increases life, mana, and energy shield modifiers, ideal for sustain-focused characters.
Chaos Catalyst: Improves chaos-related affixes, useful for builds that rely on chaos damage or resistances.
How to Choose the Right Catalyst
Choosing the right Catalyst depends on your build and goals. Here are some factors to consider:
Build Needs: Determine whether you need more damage, survivability, or attributes. For instance, an Elementalist build may benefit more from a Sanctified Catalyst, while a melee-focused Duelist might prefer an Abyssal Catalyst.
Jewelry Affixes: If your jewelry already has desirable modifiers, select a Catalyst that boosts those affixes rather than one that would benefit secondary stats.
Market Value: If you are investing PoE 2 currency in crafting, consider which Catalysts are in demand. Well-crafted jewelry with high-tier affixes and optimized Catalysts can sell for a premium.
Future Crafting Potential: If you plan to re-roll or further enhance an item, using a Catalyst that strengthens core affixes ensures better outcomes when applying additional crafting methods.
Acquiring Catalysts
Catalysts can be obtained through various means, including monster drops, vendor recipes, and trading with other players. Since they hold significant value in crafting, many players use PoE 2 currency to buy specific Catalysts for their jewelry rather than relying on random drops.
Conclusion
The Catalyst system in PoE 2 offers players a unique way to refine their jewelry, making it an essential tool for both casual and hardcore players. Understanding how to select the right Catalyst ensures that your jewelry complements your build while optimizing your use of PoE 2 currency. Whether crafting for personal use or profit, mastering Catalyst selection is a step toward greater efficiency and success in Path of Exile 2.
