How to Craft an Endgame ES Helmet in POE2 (Kamasan Tiara)

Crafting a high Energy Shield (ES) helmet is a critical goal for many endgame builds in Path of Exile 2. In the "Dawn of the Hunt" league, using a fractured Kamasan Tiara base is the most popular method to achieve a 500+ ES result.

While many players know the basic steps, this guide will provide a complete crafting flowchart and, more importantly, dive into the strategic reasoning behind each step. We'll explore why we choose specific fractured mods, why we use Chaos Orbs for multi-modding, and how to handle common crafting dilemmas.

The Complete ES Helmet Crafting Flowchart

This flowchart outlines the entire process, from acquiring the base to finishing the suffixes. We will deconstruct each major decision point below.

The Foundation: Choosing Your Fractured Mod

The first, most crucial decision is what modifier to lock in with a Fracturing Orb.

Primary Recommendation: Fracture T1 +% to Critical Strike Chance

As discussed in our guide on which mods to fracture, choosing the right mod is a strategic decision. For an ES Helmet, fracturing T1 Critical Strike Chance is often the best path for two key reasons:

1. Sets a High Value Floor: A high crit chance is a mandatory modifier for many endgame builds. Securing it guarantees the helmet is desirable.
2. Reduces Future Costs: The critical strike chance mod has a relatively low tier. By fracturing it, you remove it from the suffix pool, which makes targeting other specific suffixes with an Omen of Whittling cheaper and more efficient later in the craft.

Alternative: Fracture T1 +# to maximum Energy Shield

You can also choose to fracture the flat ES mod. This approach is similar to the prefix-first philosophy we covered in our Gemini Bow Crafting Guide.

• Pro: The initial cost of this fractured base is often lower, and it's a very practical choice for self-use, as it guarantees a solid defensive layer from the start.
• Con: Because top-tier endgame helmets require a critical strike chance suffix, you will eventually have to spend more currency to add that specific mod later, making the total cost to achieve a "perfect" item higher.

Key Crafting Decisions Explained

Let's address the three most common questions that arise during this crafting process.

1. Why use Chaos Orbs for multi-modding on this base?

As we analyzed in our guide on When to Stop Spamming Chaos Orbs, this method is only viable if the expected return is greater than the cost. For helmets, hitting two desirable ES prefixes (e.g., T1 % increased Energy Shield and T1 flat # to Energy Shield) has a reasonably high probability. The expected cost is often lower than the final market value of a successful helmet, making the "chaos spam" approach for the two prefixes economically sound.

2. What if you hit good SUFFIXES while crafting PREFIXES?

You are spamming Chaos Orbs aiming for your two ES prefixes, but suddenly you hit a helmet with T1 Fire Resistance and T1 Dexterity. What do you do?

The answer, for this specific strategy, is ruthless: keep spamming Chaos Orbs.

Your primary objective is clear and unwavering: secure the two target prefixes. Those prefixes are what define the item's core value. Any desirable suffixes you hit along the way are a distraction. Stick to the plan until your prefixes are complete, then you can move on to finishing the suffixes deterministically.

3. How do you handle unwanted high-tier mods (like Item Rarity)?

While spamming Chaos Orbs, you hit one T1 ES prefix, but also a T1 % increased Item Rarity prefix. This is a classic crafting dilemma. As we detailed in our deep dive on the Orb of Annulment, you must be brave and use an Annulment Orb.

Why? Because that high-tier rarity mod will block you from hitting your second ES prefix and will be very expensive to remove with targeted methods later. The earlier you deal with a problematic high-tier mod, the lower the overall cost.

Conclusion

Crafting an endgame ES helmet is a process filled with detailed decisions and calculated risks. By following this flowchart and understanding the core principles—why you fracture crit chance, why chaos spamming is viable here, and how to deal with unexpected outcomes—you are well-equipped to navigate the process.

Remember to stay patient, as high-end crafting can be costly. We hope this guide helps you create an exceptional piece of gear. Happy crafting, exile!