Essences can be used to add a modifier to an item, ensuring a specified type of modifier. Base tier essences upgrade normal items to magic items, while Greater essences upgrade magic items to rare. Don't miss the limited-time POE 2 currency sale on our website.

1. Attack Essences

Attacks are skills that directly use your equipped weapon to damage enemies. Spells are not Attacks. The base damage, attack speed and critical hit chance of an attack are determined using your weapon's stats unless a skill says otherwise. Attacks do not necessarily deal Physical damage — they can deal any damage type.

• Essence of Battle: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Attack modifier
• Greater Essence of Battle: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Attack modifier

2. Lightning Essences

Lightning damage is one of the five Damage Types. It is reduced by Lightning Resistance. Lightning hits have a chance to Shock based on how much Lightning damage is dealt.

• Essence of Electricity: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Lightning modifier
• Greater Essence of Electricity: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Lightning modifier

3. Defence Essences

Armour, Evasion Rating and Energy Shield are the standard Defences. Other protective stats such as Resistances are not counted as Defences.

• Essence of Enhancement: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Defence modifier
• Greater Essence of Enhancement: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Defence modifier

4. Fire Essences

Fire damage is one of the five Damage Types. It is reduced by Fire Resistance. Fire hits have a chance to Ignite based on how much Fire damage is dealt.

• Essence of Flames: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Fire modifier
• Greater Essence of Flames: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Fire modifier

5. Speed Essences

• Essence of Haste: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Speed modifier
• Greater Essence of Haste: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one speed modifier

6. Cold Essences

Cold damage is one of the five Damage Types. It is reduced by Cold Resistance. Cold hits apply Chill and build up Freeze.

• Essence of Ice: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Cold modifier
• Greater Essence of Ice: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Cold modifier

7. Chaos Essences

Chaos damage is one of the five Damage Types. It is reduced by Chaos Resistance. Chaos damage is the least common damage type, and removes twice as much Energy Shield as the damage value when taken.

• Essence of Ruin: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Chaos modifier
• Greater Essence of Ruin: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Chaos modifier

8. Caster Essences

Caster modifiers primarily affect Spells. Spells are skills that use raw magic to destroy your enemies. Attacks are not Spells. Spells have their own base damage, cast speed and Critical Hit chance determined by the skill. They do not benefit from a weapon's inherent damage, attack speed or Critical Hit chance.

• Essence of Sorcery: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Caster modifier
• Greater Essence of Sorcery: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Caster modifier

9. Life Essences

• Essence of the Body: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Life modifier
• Greater Essence of the Body: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Life modifier

10. Attribute Essences

Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence are the 3 primary attributes. The most important use of Attributes is to meet requirements to use Equipment and Gems.

• Essence of the Infinite: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Attribute modifier
• Greater Essence of the Infinite: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Attribute modifier

11. Mana Essences

• Essence of the Mind: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Mana modifier
• Greater Essence of the Mind: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Mana modifier

12. Physical Essences

Physical damage is one of the five Damage Types. It is the most common and the only one reduced by Armour, rather than by a Resistance. Most physical damage comes from Weapon Attacks, but some Spells and other skills deal physical damage as well. Physical damage over time can be inflicted with Bleeding.

• Essence of Torment: upgrades a normal item to Magic with one Physical modifier
• Greater Essence of Torment: upgrades a Magic item to a Rare item with one Physical modifier