In Path of Exile 2, currency is the foundation of crafting, trading, and upgrading gear. While some currency items are common and easy to obtain, others are much rarer and far more valuable to progression. One of these is the Regal Orb — a powerful item that allows players to POE currency upgrade a Magic (blue) item into a Rare (gold) item.

If you’re aiming for endgame content, you will want to maximize your gear potential as early as possible, and Regal Orbs play a key role in that process. In this MMOexp guide, we’ll break down what Regal Orbs are, where to get them, how to farm Regal Shards, and the best strategies for crafting rare items efficiently.

What is a Regal Orb?

A Regal Orb is a currency item in Path of Exile 2 that:

Upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item.

Adds additional modifiers, making the item stronger and more versatile.

This makes them essential for early and mid-game crafting, as well as for preparing gear for high-level content. Unlike more common orbs like Alteration orbs, Regal Orbs are rare and require intentional farming or crafting to acquire consistently.

Ways to Obtain Regal Orbs

There are two main ways to get Regal Orbs in PoE 2:

1. Direct Drops from Enemies

Regal Orbs can drop naturally while playing, but the odds are low. The best sources are:

Bosses – End-of-act bosses or map bosses have a significantly higher chance of dropping currency.

Special elite enemies – Rare monsters with extra modifiers are more likely to drop valuable currency than standard mobs.

Still, you should not rely solely on RNG drops if you want a steady supply.

2. Crafting from Regal Shards

If you can’t get a full Regal Orb drop, you can craft one by collecting 10 Regal Shards. This method is more consistent, though it requires a dedicated farming approach.

How to Get Regal Shards

Regal Shards are fragments of a Regal Orb. Stack 10 shards and you’ll automatically create one full Regal Orb. Here’s how to get them:

Method 1: Drops from Bosses and Special Enemies

Just like the orbs themselves, Regal Shards can drop from any enemy, but bosses and high-tier elites have the best drop rates. Even then, they are rare, so this should be combined with other strategies.

Method 2: Farming Lower-Level Bosses

One of the most effective shard farming methods is to return to earlier Acts and areas where your character’s level is significantly higher than the enemies.

Why it works: You can kill bosses in just a few hits, allowing for rapid farming cycles.

How to do it:

Identify boss-heavy zones in early Acts.

Defeat the boss quickly.

Reset the instance by using the orange door icon between maps.

Hold to interact, open the Instance Manager, and select Create New Instance.

Repeat until you have enough shards.

Even if the boss doesn’t drop shards, they might drop Rare items you can disenchant for shards.

Method 3: Disenchanting Rare Items

Another reliable way to obtain Regal Shards is by dismantling Rare (gold) items you don’t need. Several NPCs across the Acts can do this:

NPCActLocation

UnaAct 1Clearfell Encampment

ZarkaAct 2The Ardura Caravan

ServiAct 3Ziggurat Encampment

Extra Tip – Double Shards for High-Modifier Items

As of the 0.1.0c Patch Notes (December 10, 2024), dismantling a Rare item with 6 Modifiers yields 2 Regal Shards instead of 1. This makes high-modifier items especially valuable when farming.

Best Farming Strategies for Regal Orbs

To farm Regal Orbs and Shards efficiently in Path of Exile 2, use a combination of the following strategies:

Boss Farming in Early Acts – Quick kills, low risk, repeatable farming.

Target Elite Packs on Maps – Elites drop better loot than regular monsters.

Disenchant Unused Rares – Convert unwanted loot into shards instead of selling it.

Focus on Loot Density Areas – Maps or zones with high monster density give more drop chances.

Leverage Patch Bonuses – Seek out high-mod Rares for double shard gains.

When to Use Regal Orbs

Since Regal Orbs are relatively rare, it’s best to use them strategically:

Upgrading strong Magic items – Look for Magic gear with the right base stats and implicit modifiers before upgrading.

Crafting for specific builds – If you’re pursuing a specialized build, Regal Orbs can help you lock in critical stats.

Early Endgame Preparation – Before jumping into high-tier maps, upgrading your Magic gear to Rare can give you a significant boost.

Remember: once an item becomes Rare, you’ll need other orbs like Exalted Orbs, Chaos Orbs, or Divine Orbs to further refine it.

Final Tips for Regal Orb Farming in PoE 2

Don’t waste them on junk gear. Save Regal Orbs for items worth investing in.

Always check Rare drops for mod count. High-mod items give better shard returns.

Balance farming and progression. Over-farming low-level bosses can slow your main story progress if done too early.

Sell to other players if you don’t need them. Regal Orbs hold good trade value on most leagues.

The Bottom Line

Regal Orbs in Path of Exile 2 are an invaluable crafting currency that can make a huge difference in gearing efficiency, especially before reaching the endgame. While their drop rate is low, understanding the shard system, farming efficient bosses, and using the right NPCs for disenchanting can help you maintain a healthy supply.

Whether you’re crafting your dream weapon or preparing for POE currency trade for sale brutal endgame bosses, Regal Orbs are a key part of the process — so farm smart, spend wisely, and keep your stash stocked.

If you need more PoE 2 currency tips, MMOexp offers guides on Exalted Orbs, Chaos Orbs, and other valuable currencies to help you stay ahead in Wraeclast.