It is a currency item in Path of Exile 2.
Stack Size: 1/10
Upgrades a magic item to a rare with one cold modifier
Right click this item then left click a magic item to applt it.
In Path of Exile 2, crafting is a crucial part of optimizing your gear and tailoring it to fit your build. One of the most effective ways to upgrade your equipment is through the use of Essences, special currency items that can apply powerful modifiers to your gear. Among these, the Greater Essence of Ice stands out as a highly desirable essence for builds that focus on cold damage, freezing effects, or cold resistance. In this article, we’ll explore the Greater Essence of Ice, how it works, and how to use it to enhance your gear with cold-related modifiers.
The Greater Essence of Ice is a currency item in Path of Exile 2 that is specifically used to upgrade a magic item into a rare item while guaranteeing that the upgraded item will have a cold modifier. These cold modifiers can be extremely valuable for cold-based builds, which rely on dealing cold damage, freezing enemies, or boosting cold resistance to survive harsher conditions.
Using the Greater Essence of Ice is a straightforward process, but it requires careful attention to which item you’re upgrading. Here’s how to apply it:
Obtain the Greater Essence of Ice:
Right-click the Greater Essence of Ice: To begin the process, right-click the Greater Essence of Ice in your inventory to activate it.
Select a Magic Item: After activating the essence, left-click on a magic item (an item that already has one or more modifiers attached) that you wish to upgrade. The item must be magic—not rare—for the essence to apply.
Upgrade to Rare: The Greater Essence of Ice will upgrade the magic item to a rare item and add one cold modifier to it. This cold modifier could be related to cold damage, cold resistance, or freezing effects.
Resulting Item: After the essence is applied, your item will be a rare item with one cold modifier. This cold modifier can include:
The Greater Essence of Ice guarantees one of the following cold-related modifiers when upgrading your magic item to rare:
Increased Cold Damage: Ideal for cold damage builds such as frostbolt, ice nova, or frostbite. This modifier boosts your cold damage output, making it more effective in combat.
Increased Freeze Duration: For builds that focus on freezing enemies, this modifier increases the duration that enemies are frozen, providing better crowd control and allowing you to more easily deal with large groups of enemies.
Cold Resistance: If you’re looking to increase your cold resistance, especially in high-level areas or endgame content, this modifier can be invaluable for improving your defenses against cold damage. It can help you survive against cold-based enemies and status ailments like Frostbite.
Other Cold Effects: The Greater Essence of Ice may also add other cold-related effects depending on the item type. For instance, cold penetration or cold ailment effects can enhance your cold build in different ways.
Cold Damage Builds: If your build focuses on cold damage, the Greater Essence of Ice is an excellent way to enhance your gear. By upgrading your items with this essence, you’re guaranteed to receive a cold modifier that synergizes with your build’s core mechanics, whether you need more damage, freeze duration, or other cold-related bonuses.
Crafting Synergy: The Greater Essence of Ice allows for further crafting after its application. Once the item becomes rare, you can use other crafting methods, such as crafting benches, fossils, or other currency items, to add more modifiers to the item and further enhance its potential. The resulting rare item can have up to six modifiers, offering ample opportunities for customization.
No Randomness in Cold Modifier: One of the main benefits of the Greater Essence of Ice is that it guarantees one cold modifier on the item. This means you won’t have to worry about whether you’ll get the right kind of modifier, as you know the result will be a cold-related boost. This is particularly helpful for players building around cold damage or cold resistance.
Upgrading Magic Gear: If you already have a magic item with a good base type or desirable existing mods, the Greater Essence of Ice provides a way to upgrade that item to rare status while ensuring a cold modifier is added. This is especially useful if you don’t want to start from scratch with a new rare item.
Target Cold Builds: If you’re running a cold damage build or using cold-based skills, the Greater Essence of Ice is an essential crafting tool. Choose magic items that have desirable base types for your build and apply the essence to upgrade them.
Crafting with Synergy: After using the Greater Essence of Ice, continue crafting and enhancing your item. You can apply fossils, catalysts, and crafting benches to add even more modifiers to the item, ensuring that it perfectly fits your needs. For instance, you could stack cold damage with increased freeze duration for a powerful freeze-based build.
Combine with Other Essences: If your item has other desirable stats or if you want to further refine its cold capabilities, consider using the Greater Essence of Ice in conjunction with other essences or currency items that target other attributes of your build.
Trade for Magic Items: If you have a specific item in mind, consider trading for magic items with useful base types or existing mods before applying the Greater Essence of Ice. This can save time and effort, as it allows you to focus on improving already-promising gear.
Cold Resistance for Survivability: For players who face tough bosses or cold damage dealing enemies, using the Greater Essence of Ice to increase cold resistance can significantly improve your survivability in these situations. Combine this modifier with other defensive crafting methods to create a well-rounded piece of gear.
The Greater Essence of Ice is a fantastic crafting tool for players focused on cold-based builds in Path of Exile 2. Whether you’re looking to deal more cold damage, enhance your ability to freeze enemies, or increase your cold resistance, this essence guarantees a valuable cold modifier when upgrading magic items to rare status. The Greater Essence of Ice allows for greater control over your crafting, and with its powerful effects, it can help you optimize your gear for success in Path of Exile 2’s vast and challenging world.