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In Path of Exile 2, the debate surrounding item rarity has been an ongoing discussion, especially for players interested in maximizing loot during high-volume farming sessions.Findings based on 30 maps for each rarity value using controlled variables, shed new light on how much rarity actually contributes to raw currency drops-and whether it's truly worth the gear tradeoffs.

The Goal: Understand How Rarity Affects Loot
Players across every ARPG know that "rarity" affects the quality of items that drop. But in POE 2, the real question is: How much loot difference does it make in real currency returns like Divine Orbs, Chaos Orbs, and Exalted Orbs?
Test aimed to answer this by comparing identical map setups between two character builds-one with 0% item rarity, and one with 100% item rarity. The idea was to see how this single stat influenced loot outcomes across controlled farming conditions.

Test Conditions: Replicating Real Player Farming
To ensure the test was meaningful and not skewed by edge cases, structured it to reflect realistic, efficient farming routes that the average player might use:
Map Setup: All maps were juiced with two towers and three Precursor Tablets per tower, designed to replicate common farming setups.

Farming Mechanic: The test used the Breach mechanic, known for producing massive monster density and large numbers of rare monsters-ideal for testing loot-based outcomes.
Atlas Tree: A lean, no-frills setup focusing on:
Breach pack size
Monster density bonuses
Increased explicit modifiers
More rare/magic monsters
Mods & Buffs: Maps included Distilled Paranoia for extra rares, ~36% use bonuses, and targeted rolls to maintain 10-15% quantity and ~40% map rarity baseline.

Item Rarity Sources (for 100% test):
Helmet: 46%
Boots: 23%
Ring: 32%
Total: 101% character rarity
With this setup, he ran 30 maps with 0% rarity, and another 30 maps with 100% rarity, using almost identical tablets between the two batches to minimize any outside influence.

Loot Results: Zero Rarity vs. 100% Rarity
Let's break down the currency drops and compare how each setup fared.
0% Rarity Results (30 Maps):
4 Raw Divine Orbs
23 Chaos Orbs
229 Exalted Orbs
69 Vaal Orbs
75 Alchemy Orbs
9 Breachstones
Similar amounts of Simulacrum Splinters and Chromatic Orbs
1 Stellar Amulet

Assorted Orb drops (chance, elemental)
Not bad for a character with zero rarity. This baseline demonstrated that even without rarity investment, currency drops in POE 2 remain relatively strong, especially with juiced maps and optimized mechanics.
100% Rarity Results (30 Maps):
4 Divine Orbs + 1 Perfect Jeweler (equal to ~5 Divine)
66 Chaos Orbs (+~50% increase)
332 Exalted Orbs (+~45% increase)
125 Vaal Orbs (+~81% increase)
63 Alchemy Orbs (slightly lower than zero rarity)
Similar Breachstones and Simulacrum Splinters
The difference was most notable in Chaos, Exalted, and Vaal Orbs, which saw considerable gains. The number of Divine Orbs dropped remained nearly the same, though the Perfect Jeweler drop tips the scale slightly in favor of the 100% rarity setup.

Analyzing the Gains: Is It Worth Running 100% Rarity?
So, what's the verdict? While the increase isn't as dramatic as pre-0.2 patch reports (when some players saw 2-3x currency boost with high rarity), there's still a significant improvement:
Chaos Orbs: ~50% increase
Exalted Orbs: ~45% increase
Vaal Orbs: ~81% increase
That translates to an approximate gain of 1.5 to 2.5 Divine Orbs worth of extra currency across 30 maps. If you're farming frequently, this adds up quickly.

Key Takeaways:
Yes, rarity still works, but not as dramatically as it did in patch 0.1.
The biggest gains are in mid-tier currencies like Chaos and Exalted Orbs.
Raw Divine drops were largely unaffected, suggesting they have a flat drop rate or are gated behind other mechanics.
Breach and high-density content benefit much more from added rarity than rituals or low-mob mechanics.
Reaching 100% rarity is easy with basic gear tweaks and doesn't require major sacrifices.Rarity Optimization Tips for Your Build
If you're convinced it's worth the effort, here's how you can optimize rarity efficiently:
1.Helmet: Prioritize this slot-up to 46% rarity is possible with little stat pressure.
2.Boots: Most boots have an open suffix; it's easy to roll 20-25% rarity here.
3.Ring (at least one): Rarity rolls on rings are common and powerful.
4.With just these three slots, most builds can hit 100% rarity without compromising defenses or damage. If you can squeeze a second ring or amulet, you might even reach 150%+, thoughRonray suspects diminishing returns kick in past 100%.

Caveats and Considerations
Map Mechanics Matter: Rarity boosts Breach-style content significantly, but not everything. Rituals and deterministic mechanics like Sanctum or Trials might see much smaller gains.
Sample Size: This was a 30/30 map test. The findings are solid for general trends, but RNG always plays a role.
Patch Nerfs: Compared to 0.1, item rarity has definitely been toned down. Gone are the days of tripling your currency with stacked rarity.
Still, the data proves that item rarity remains a viable loot-enhancing stat, especially for players farming Breach, Legion, or Delirium-type content.

Final Thoughts: Should You Run Item Rarity in Path of Exile 2?
If your goal is to make currency efficiently in POE 2, adding at least 100% rarity to your build is worthwhile. While it no longer offers insane multiplicative gains, it consistently boosts Chaos and Exalted drops-the bread and butter of trade-based wealth.
Best of all, it's accessible. You don't need to gut your build to hit 100%. With just a helmet, boots, and one ring, you're already there. For players optimizing farming efficiency, it's a smart move that pays off over time.

TL;DR:
100% rarity = ~50% more Chaos and Exalted Orbs.
Divine drops aren't significantly affected.
Rarity still provides good returns in high-density content like Breach.
Easy to reach 100% rarity with minimal gear investment.
Not required-but definitely recommended for serious farmers.

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