TL;DR
- Unlock the Reforging Bench in Act 3 by completing the Treasures of Utzaal quest and defeating Metkul
- Transform three identical items of same rarity into upgraded versions with random properties
- Prioritize weapon reforging for damage upgrades and waystones for map progression
- Always match item types and rarities while managing the risk of getting worse results
- Use reforging to clear inventory clutter and optimize your endgame gear progression
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Item crafting represents one of the most crucial progression systems within Path of Exile 2. The sequel introduces multiple specialized stations that enable players to modify and enhance their equipment. This comprehensive guide explores the mechanics and strategic applications of the powerful Reforging Bench in PoE 2.
The Reforging Bench becomes accessible early in your PoE 2 journey, though permanent access requires progression to the game’s third act. To secure this powerful crafting tool, you must successfully complete the Treasures of Utzaal questline. This involves navigating to the Molten Vault location and overcoming the boss encounter with Metkul. Upon completion, Reforging Benches become permanently installed alongside Salvage Benches throughout all encampments.
How to find Molten Vault in PoE 2. How to unlock reforging bench in Treasures of Utzaal quest in Path of Exile 2
Pro Tip: Prepare for the Metkul encounter by ensuring your character reaches at least level 28-30 with adequate elemental resistance gear. The fight typically takes 15-20 minutes for properly equipped players.
The Reforging Bench offers extensive utility with an impressive array of available recipes. While the fundamental mechanics appear straightforward initially, several critical nuances significantly impact your crafting success rates. Here’s the essential knowledge for maximizing your reforging outcomes.
- Submit three identical category items to receive one enhanced version in exchange
- All components must share identical type classification and rarity tier (examples: three normal white items, three magic blue items, or three rare yellow items)
- Matching specific affixes between items is completely unnecessary
- Inherent abilities and special properties do not transfer to the resulting item
- Results remain completely randomized, with potential for receiving inferior items despite your investment
- The generated item’s level calculates as the mathematical average of all submitted components
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Advanced Strategy: For optimal results, always reforge items when you have surplus inventory space. The randomization mechanic means you should never reforge your last remaining usable item of any category. Seasoned players recommend maintaining backup equipment for critical slots like weapons and chest armor.
We strongly recommend prioritizing weapon or armor reforging during early gameplay. This approach frequently yields significant damage upgrades that accelerate your campaign progression. For players engaging in solo self-found leagues without trading capabilities, reforging becomes particularly valuable during endgame content preparation.
Jewelry represents another excellent reforging opportunity: Three identical rings, amulets, or other accessories with undesirable stats can transform into completely new items. As previously established, original properties don’t carry over, meaning the resulting item generates with entirely random bonuses. Additionally, rune reforging proves remarkably useful during early progression phases, especially when accumulating multiple identical runes while lacking necessary variants.
Below represents the complete catalog of reforgable items within PoE 2. The core mechanism remains consistent across all categories with only minor exceptions.
- Waystones (automatically upgrade to next tier level)
- Essences (transform into higher potency versions)
- Flasks (enhance duration or effect strength)
- Tablets (improve modifier values or add new properties)
- Catalysts (increase effectiveness or add secondary functions)
- Runes (upgrade to superior variants with enhanced effects)
- Distilled Emotions (progress to next tier automatically)
- Relics (excluding tapestry artifacts and incense-related relics)
Common Mistake Avoidance: Never attempt to reforge unique items or corrupted gear as these will not function with the system. Always verify item rarity matches before committing three components.
The Reforging Bench provides exceptional utility for transforming low-tier maps into more valuable versions. Inserting three waystones of identical level consistently rewards you with a higher-tier mapping opportunity. This systematic approach enables efficient clearance of obsolete low-level maps while maintaining consistent endgame progression momentum.
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Optimization Tip: For maximum efficiency, accumulate waystones until you have nine identical ones, then perform three separate reforging operations simultaneously. This batch processing approach saves significant time compared to individual transformations.
Action Checklist
- Progress to Act 3 and complete Treasures of Utzaal quest
- Defeat Metkul in Molten Vault to permanently unlock Reforging Benches
- Collect three identical items of matching rarity for reforging
- Prioritize weapon reforging for campaign damage upgrades
- Use waystone reforging to clear low-tier maps and maintain progression
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » How to unlock and use Reforging Bench in PoE 2. How to reforge maps, weapons, runes, items in Path of Exile 2 Master the Reforging Bench in PoE 2 with advanced strategies for optimizing gear and progression efficiency