If you’re just starting your journey in Path of Exile 2, one of the most confusing parts is figuring out which items are actually valuable. Not every shiny sword or unique-looking ring will make you rich or powerful. Knowing what to keep, what to trade, and what to sell can save you hours of wasted effort. Here’s a simple, beginner-friendly guide that explains how to tell if a PoE 2 item is worth holding onto—or even selling for profit.

1. Learn the Basics of Item Rarity and Quality

In PoE 2, items come in different rarities: normal (white), magic (blue), rare (yellow), and unique (brown/orange). But don’t let the color fool you. Some blue magic items can be more valuable than a rare item if they have the right stats or are on the right base.

For beginners, a good rule is to pay attention to the base item type first. Some bases are more in demand than others. For example, high item level Stygian Vises, Opal Rings, or Hubris Circlets are popular bases for crafting.

2. Understand What Good Mods Look Like

Mods are the affixes (prefixes and suffixes) that give items their power. Things like “+# to maximum life,” “+#% increased elemental damage,” or “gain #% of physical damage as extra fire damage” are valuable stats.

Use a tool like a trade website or in-game filters to check what stats players are looking for. If your item has multiple good mods, it could be valuable—especially if it’s on a good base item. Knowing how to buy PoE 2 items also helps, because it teaches you what other players are paying for.

3. Check Item Level and Socket Links

High item level gear is essential for crafting powerful endgame PoE 2 items. If your rare item is item level 85+, and on a popular base, it could be valuable just for crafting.

Also, look at socket links. A 6-link item (six connected sockets) is often worth a lot—even if the stats aren’t great—because many players buy PoE 2 items with 6-links to use or craft on. If you find a 6-link chestpiece, hold onto it or try selling it.

4. Unique Items Aren’t Always Good

This is a common beginner mistake: thinking that every unique item is valuable. Many unique items drop frequently and are considered “vendor trash.” But some uniques, like Headhunter, Mageblood, or Coward’s Chains, are extremely rare and expensive.

If you’re unsure, search for the unique item’s name on a trading site. That way, you know whether to keep it, use it, or trade it.

5. Use PoE 2 Currency to Upgrade Valuable Bases

If you find a good base with potential, use currency like Chaos Orbs, Exalted Orbs, or Orbs of Alchemy to upgrade it. Orbs of Binding can also be useful early game to make rare gear quickly. This helps you experiment and potentially create powerful items to use or trade.

Don’t waste currency on bad bases—focus your efforts on high-demand bases with strong item level. That way, you’ll make better use of your resources, and maybe even end up with an item others will want to buy.

6. Watch the Meta and Trade Trends

Lastly, the meta in PoE 2 shifts often. What’s valuable today might not be valuable next week. Keep an eye on popular builds and skills—these influence which PoE 2 items are in demand. For example, if a new meta build uses increased critical strike chance and lightning damage, items with those stats will rise in price.

You can also browse popular online stores where players buy PoE 2 items to understand which modifiers are currently hot.

Learning to evaluate the value of PoE 2 items takes some practice, but it becomes easier the more you play. Always look at the base item, item level, mods, and sockets. Don’t forget to study the trading market to see what’s trending. Soon, you’ll be picking out valuable loot like a pro—and maybe even making enough currency to buy PoE 2 items you’ve been dreaming about.