From Scraps to Sockets: Bench Salvaging for Artificer’s Orb Shards
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Artificer’s Orb shards, which combine to form Artificer’s Orbs used for adding rune sockets to gear, are primarily obtained through the Salvage Bench, a crafting station unlocked early in Path of Exile 2’s campaign. Here’s a detailed guide on how to farm shards efficiently starting from scraps via bench salvaging:
Unlocking the Salvage Bench
To access the Salvage Bench, complete the quest “Finding the Forge” in Act 1. This quest requires you to find Renly’s Tools in Ogham Village, which are typically found inside an abandoned house near a blacksmith’s tools setup. After retrieving the tools, return to Renly at the Clearfell Encampment to unlock the bench permanently. Once unlocked, the Salvage Bench will be available in town for all current and future characters without needing to repeat the quest.
How Salvaging Works
At the Salvage Bench, you can dismantle certain types of gear to receive crafting materials, including Artificer’s Shards. Not all gear qualifies for salvaging:
Only socketed gear or gear with any quality percentage can be salvaged for shards.
Visual indicators include white square sockets shown next to the item name and a percentage quality line under the item type.
When you salvage socketed gear, you receive Artificer’s Shards proportionally to the number of sockets. For example, an item with two sockets yields more shards than one with a single socket. Collecting 10 Artificer’s Shards allows you to craft 1 full Artificer’s Orb.
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Finding Socketed Gear to Salvage
Efficiently farming gear with rune sockets is key for shard farming:
Target monsters, bosses, and caches in areas with high item quantity (e.g., dense maps or zones with special encounters).
Check treasure chests and breakable containers, especially those that are blue or yellow, as they often drop socketed gear.
Revisit previously cleared zones and create new map instances to spawn fresh socketed items.
Keep an eye out for gear with visible socket squares in loot drops before picking them up, focusing your inventory space on socketed items for salvage.
Strategic Tips for Maximizing Shards
Salvage higher-socket gear first: More sockets mean more shards per salvage.
Combine farming with progression: As you progress through the campaign or maps, gather and salvage socketed loot regularly rather than hoarding.
Use crafting modifiers to increase item quantity (IIR) and rarity: This indirectly increases the chances of socketed gear drops.
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Using Artificer’s Orbs
Once you have crafted Artificer’s Orbs from shards, you can use them to add rune sockets to your weapons and armor, expanding your build customization options with runes and soul cores.
Starting from scraps, bench salvaging is the most reliable and sustainable way to accumulate Artificer’s Orb shards in Path of Exile 2. After unlocking the Salvage Bench via the “Finding the Forge” quest, focus on collecting and salvaging socketed gear or gear with quality to convert into shards. Efficient farming of socketed items, combined with frequent salvaging, ensures a steady supply of these valuable shards, eventually allowing you to craft Artificer’s Orbs and enhance your gear’s rune sockets — a powerful step in building your character’s strength and versatility.