Managing your gear can be overwhelming in Path of Exile 2, especially when you find yourself with extra items that aren't quite right for your build. That's where the Reforging Bench comes in.
This powerful tool allows you to re-roll and upgrade your gear, turning your surplus items into something more useful.
This guide will show you everything you need to know to get the most out of the Reforging Bench and improve your gear for the challenges ahead.
How To Unlock the Reforging Bench
The Reforging Bench is a handy tool for combining three similar items into one. This allows you to upgrade or tweak their stats.
However, it’s locked until you make it to Act 3.
You can unlock the Reforging Bench by taking on the Treasures of Utzaal quest from Oswald at the Ziggurat Encampment in the Drowned City.
This quest takes you into a dungeon called The Molten Vault.
Inside, you’ll run into Mektul, the Forgemaster, a boss you need to beat to unlock the Reforging Bench.
Mektul is no pushover, so ensure you have the right gear, especially fire resistance, since lava is everywhere.
You’ll have the upper hand against Mektul if you use cold-based spells or weapons.
There’s also a four-minute timer, so if you don’t defeat Mektul in time, lava will fill the area and be an automatic fail.
When you defeat Mektul, he will drop the Hammer of Kamasa, and you must take it back to Oswald.
Handing over the Hammer wraps up the quest and unlocks the Reforging Bench for all towns and your hideout.
How To Use the Reforging Bench
Once you unlock the Reforging Bench, you can use it to reroll or upgrade items by combining three of the same type and rarity.
The Reforging Bench is where you can reforge gear, Waystones, and even currencies like Essences and Catalysts.
First, go to the Reforging Bench, insert three items of the same base type and rarity into the slots, and hit the reforge button.
The process will get rid of the three original items and create a new one with random mods.
The item you get will always be the same type as the ones you put in (like if you throw in three axes, you’ll get a new axe), but the stats will be random.
The item level of the final result depends on the lowest-level item you pick, so try to use items around the same level.
There are several limitations and conditions to keep in mind:
- All the items should be the same rarity (Magic, Rare, or Unique).
- The items must be uncorrupted.
- Only items of the same base type can be combined (e.g., you can't mix a sword and an axe).
On top of that, while reforging is usually random, some items will always get upgraded.
For example, combining three Waystones of the same tier will always get a higher-tier Waystone.
Likewise, reforging three Distilled Emotions will give you a higher tier, so it's wise to focus on them when using the Reforging Bench.
What Can Be Reforged?
The Reforging Bench works with different items throughout the game.
Here’s the lowdown on what you can and can’t reforge:
Gear
You can merge three items of the same rarity and base type (armor, weapons, accessories, or jewels) to craft a new item with different affixes.
For example, you can combine three Magic Rings to make a new one with different stats.
Unique Items
If you have three identical unique items, reforge them to create a new version with better affixes.
It's like throwing a Divine Orb on a Unique, but you don’t have to pay for it.
Waystones
Put together three Waystones of the same tier to get one from the next tier.
This comes in handy for progressing in the Atlas and getting new maps.
Essences and Catalysts
If you throw together three identical Essences or Catalysts, you'll get a random one of the same type.
You can't upgrade Essences, but there's a slight chance a regular one could turn into a Greater Essence.
Precursor Tablets and Relics
When you combine three identical Precursor Tablets (Magic rarity or higher), you'll end up with a random one, while three matching Relics will create a new Relic with random stats.
Distilled Emotions
Use these consumables to power up your Amulets or Waystones. Stack three of the same Distilled Emotions, and you'll unlock one from the next tier.
Soul Cores and Runes
You can re-roll Soul Cores to get a different version, and Runes can be reforged for a random result. These come in clutch in the later stages of the game.
However, even though the Reforging Bench can be used for many items, it’s best to use it wisely.
Items like waystones and distilled emotions keep improving with every reforge, making them solid picks for this tool.
Rerolling gear is also a gamble since the results are random and might not always give you better stats.
It's best to prioritize items essential to your build or ones you're open to testing out.
You also use up items in the process, so it's important to consider whether the potential upgrade is worth the cost.