Currency Basics — Gold vs Orbs

PoE2 runs two parallel currency systems. Confusing them is the most expensive beginner mistake.

Gold

Earned through normal play (kills, vendor sales). Not tradeable between players. Used for NPC vendors, respeccing passives at The Hooded One, and listing items on trade.

Currency orbs

Consumable orbs that modify gear. They hold real value and are what players trade with (Transmutation, Augmentation, Regal, Chaos, Exalted, etc.).

Beginner rules

• Don’t vendor valuable orbs for a few gold.
• Use Transmutation/Augmentation/Alteration freely on leveling gear through Act 3 — their trade value is negligible.
• Save Exalted, Chaos, and Regal Orbs for better items or trading.
• Unsure what an orb does? Check each effect in Korean/English on the currency page.

Gold is money you spend; orbs are money you hoard and trade. That distinction alone prevents big early losses.