The Ultimate PoE2 Catalyst Guide: How to Use, Get, and Profit

Your Complete Guide to Catalysts in PoE2

Welcome, Exile. If you want to push your character to the next level or master the Path of Exile economy, you need to understand Catalysts. This poe2 catalyst guide will cover everything you need to know, from basic uses to advanced currency-making strategies. We'll explore how these small items can have a huge impact on your gear and your wealth.

What Are Catalysts and How Do They Work?

In short, catalysts in PoE add quality to your rings and amulets. Unlike armour or weapons, this quality doesn't boost base stats. Instead, it enhances specific modifiers on the item that match the Catalyst's type.

For example, take Esh's Catalyst.

If you use it on a ring with +% increased Lightning Damage or adds Lightning Damage to Attacks, the numerical values of those mods will increase. Most jewelry can have up to 20% quality. Special bases like Breach Rings, however, can go up to 40%, making them excellent candidates for Catalysts.

Each Catalyst adds 1-5% quality, depending on its roll. Be aware that applying a new type of Catalyst will mean replacing catalysts of the old type, so plan accordingly!

How to Get Catalysts

There are three main ways to acquire these valuable currencies:

Breach Events: The most common method. As you progress through the Atlas Skill Tree, you'll encounter Breach events in your maps. Defeating the powerful rare monsters that emerge has a chance to drop Catalysts. Some of these monsters can be incredibly dangerous, especially those with mods like the Soul Eater modifier.
Breachstones: This is the high-risk, high-reward method. Using a Breachstone in your map device opens a portal to a Breachlord's domain, like the domain of Xesht, Madness. Completing these challenging encounters guarantees a large number of Catalysts, making the drop rate much higher than in normal maps.
Trading: The fastest and most reliable way is through currency exchange. You can trade with other players to get the exact Catalysts you need. This is also where the biggest profit opportunities lie.

Making Currency with Catalysts

Now for the exciting part. Catalysts are a fantastic vehicle for making profit in Exile 2 PoE. Here are three proven strategies.

1. Flipping High-Demand Catalysts

This is a classic market strategy. At the start of a league, identify which Catalysts are in high demand. This season, Esh's Catalyst (Lightning) and the Reaver Catalyst (Physical/Attack) were excellent choices. You can buy them in bulk and resell them for a higher price, with profit margins often around 10%. For a deeper dive into this kind of strategy, check out our Alva Flipping Guide.

2. The Three-to-One Recipe

This method involves a bit of gambling. You can vendor any three identical Catalysts to receive one random new Catalyst in return. The strategy is to buy up cheap Catalysts, like the Sibilant Catalyst (Caster), and "reroll" them. You're hoping to turn them into valuable ones like Esh's or Reaver Catalysts. It's a gamble, but it can be very profitable early on. For more on this, see our Three-to-One Flipping Guide.

3. Crafting and Selling

This is an advanced technique that profits from information gaps. You can find items with good but un-quality-enhanced mods, apply the correct Catalyst, and sell for a profit.

Find rings with three flat damage prefixes (cold modifiers, fire, lightning) and enhance them with an Elemental Catalyst.
Buy unique rings like Ming's Heart or Seed of Cataclysm, apply the appropriate Catalyst (e.g., a Flesh Catalyst for mods like leech of physical attack damage as life), and then corrupt them for a chance at a powerful implicit mod.

Top Catalysts for League Start

When you're just starting out, some Catalysts are much more valuable than others. Keep an eye out for these:

Reaver Catalyst: Essential for almost any build focusing on modifiers of physical attack damage. Always in high demand.
Esh's Catalyst: Because so many builds use lightning damage for its shock ailment, this Catalyst is consistently valuable.
Adaptive Catalyst: The go-to for attribute-stacking builds that need to maximize their Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence.

Final Thoughts

Catalysts are more than just a simple quality currency. They are a deep and rewarding system that impacts every aspect of the game, from gearing up your character to mastering the player-driven market. Whether you're using them to squeeze out that last bit of damage or as a tool to build your wealth, understanding how they work is a key step on your journey in Path of Exile. Good luck, Exile.