Path of Exile 2 embraces the spirit of the original ARPG while reinventing almost every system—from combat fluidity to character identity to progression pacing. But among all the new features, all the shiny mechanics, and all the seemingly complex layers of crafting, one truth stands above everything else during the campaign:
Your weapon is everything.
Veteran players know this. New players often take a while to realize it. But anyone who has ever wondered why one character blasts through acts at blistering speed while another struggles against basic trash mobs… the answer usually comes down to one item slot.
This article dives deep into why your weapon matters more than anything else in POE 2 Currency leveling experience, how to upgrade it efficiently, and how small optimizations can triple—or even quadruple—your clear speed. Using your example as a foundation, we’ll explore not just what to do, but why it works, ensuring your next character slices through Wraeclast at maximum efficiency.
The Campaign is a Damage Race, Not a Gear Check
Players coming from PoE1 may assume defenses, resistances, and fancy synergy gear should be prioritized early on. PoE2 flips that assumption.
During the first 8–10 hours of gameplay, your killing speed determines your safety, not your armor or resists. Faster kills mean fewer projectiles fired at you, fewer enemies surrounding you, fewer dangerous modifiers rolling long enough to activate.
Your weapon, and only your weapon, dictates how quickly you delete packs.
This is why the difference between a mediocre weapon and a well-rolled one often feels absurd. In your own example, equipping a slightly magical crossbow plus two iron rings instantly multiplied your clear speed by three to four times. That’s not exaggeration—it’s the natural power curve of a properly scaled weapon early on.
In PoE2, “gear" mostly supervises your survival. But weapons determine whether combat feels smooth, slow, or outright painful.
Why a Weapon Upgrade Outperforms Every Other Gear Slot
Let’s compare the impact of upgrading different pieces of equipment early on.
Upgrading Your Helmet
You gain:
+10 armor or evasion
A bit of life if you’re lucky
Maybe some resistances, but they aren't yet critical
Great, but this might reduce incoming damage by 2–5%.
Upgrading Your Weapon
You gain:
+flat damage
+attack speed or cast speed
+increased damage or added elemental conversion
Better base damage scaling
A drastic increase in DPS
This translates into:
Faster pack clearing
Smoother bossing
More leech
Shorter exposure time to enemy mechanics
Faster XP per hour
Faster loot intake
Faster progression across the board
A weapon upgrade is not a 5% improvement—it can be a 200–400% improvement.
That’s why even your first Orbs of Augmentation matter. You shouldn’t frivolously spend them trying to get +life on your hat. Instead, you want to improve the only thing that will massively change your run: the stick you hit things with.
Crafting Your Weapon: Understanding the Early Game Currency Loop
One of the most misunderstood parts of PoE2’s early progression is currency usage. People hoard every orb because they think they’ll need it later.
And sure—they will.
But currency exists to make the game playable now, especially during the campaign.
Let’s break it down:
1. Orb of Transmutation
Turns a white weapon into a magic weapon.
2. Orb of Augmentation
Adds a second modifier to a magic item.
3. Regal Orb
Upgrades a magic item into a rare, adding a third modifier.
One of the most important tricks during the campaign is simple:
Don’t spend your first currency pieces upgrading your armor—spend them upgrading your weapon.
Your example illustrates it perfectly. You take a slightly magical crossbow and, instead of wasting currency on minor defensive gear, you invest into the weapon. You throw an Augment on it. Maybe you get +flat physical damage. Maybe you get %increased lightning damage. Maybe you get attack speed.
And then, occasionally, you hit the jackpot—a lucky Regal orb—and suddenly your weapon has three incredible stats.
This can turn a “decent” weapon into a run-defining one.
Even just a single roll like +10–20 flat damage can break the early game wide open.
What Makes a Good Campaign Weapon?
You don’t need something god-tier. You don’t need perfect synergies or multiple crafted mods. You don’t need a six-link or exotic unique.
A good leveling weapon has:
1. High base physical damage
Start with the best base you can find for your level.
2. Added Flat Damage (Physical or Elemental)
This is the single strongest campaign stat.
3. Attack Speed or Cast Speed
Higher speed = higher DPS = more clear.
4. Local % Increased Damage
Not as strong as flat damage early, but still good.
5. A damage type that matches your skill
Crossbow skills scale especially well with added damage.
Why Kill Speed Matters More Than Anything Else in PoE2
Let’s look at what happens when your weapon sucks:
You stop enemies from dying quickly
Packs take longer to clear
Bosses drag on, draining your flasks
More enemies get to attack you
More mechanics fill the screen
You take more unavoidable damage
XP per hour drops
You feel weaker than you actually are
You get frustrated
You reroll or take a break
The game becomes sluggish
Now compare that to what happens when your weapon is strong:
Packs explode instantly
You rarely get surrounded
You kill threats before they become problems
Boss fights become 10-second challenges
You level faster
Flasks refill continuously
Loot acquisition accelerates
The game feels fluid, responsive, addicting
You feel smart, powerful, and in control
Your weapon doesn't just improve your damage. It improves every single aspect of the gameplay loop.
Two Iron Rings: The Most Underrated Early Game Power Boost
Your example mentions something players often overlook:
Equipping two Iron Rings is massive early power.
Iron Rings add flat physical damage, the strongest early game stat in PoE2. Each ring can add enough damage to outperform an entire set of upgraded armor pieces.
This is why your clear speed suddenly exploded:
Slightly magical crossbow (with good rolls)
Iron Ring damage
Iron Ring damage again
The synergy is enormous.
For a physical build, your rings alone can contribute 20–40% of your total DPS in Act 1 and 2.
There is no amulet, helmet, shield, or glove in the campaign that offers anything remotely comparable.
When Should You Replace Your Weapon?
Here is a simple rule:
Replace your weapon every 5–10 levels—or whenever you stop one-shotting packs.
PoE2’s campaign is balanced around periodic weapon upgrades. If several acts pass and your weapon is still the same, you’re losing 50–90% potential DPS.
A fresh base with modern rolls always outclasses old gear.
Always.
How to Upgrade Efficiently Without Wasting Currency
Here’s a perfect simple loop for campaign weapon upgrades:
1. Check every weapon vendor in every town
Vendors refresh when you level up.
2. Pick the best weapon base available
Higher base damage beats better rolls on lower bases.
3. Transmute it
Never keep a white leveling weapon.
4. Augment it
Get your second mod. Pray for damage.
5. Regal it only if both magic mods are excellent
Do NOT waste a Regal on bad rolls.
6. Replace the weapon at the next vendor opportunity
Don’t get attached.
This loop guarantees smooth progression throughout the campaign without burning tons of resources buy Path of Exile 2 Currency.
The Psychology of Early Game Crafting: Why Players Make Mistakes
Here’s why most players struggle:
Mistake 1: Hoarding currency
They’re saving it for “later” when, during leveling, their weapon needs the most help.
Mistake 2: Upgrading defensive gear first
This leads to slow clears and slow XP gain.
Mistake 3: Using mediocre magic weapons for too long
Even a +10 DPS upgrade is meaningful.
Mistake 4: Ignoring vendor refreshes
Free upgrades constantly pass them by.
Once players break these habits, PoE2 becomes dramatically easier.
Campaign Example: From Struggling to Dominating in Seconds
Your example illustrates PoE2 weapon power perfectly.
You start with:
A basic crossbow
No added damage
No damage rings
Clear speed is slow—not because your build is bad, but because your weapon is weak.
Then you equip:
A slightly magical crossbow
Two Iron Rings
A single lucky augmentation roll
Potentially a Regal orb
Your clear speed suddenly accelerates to three or four times faster.
Nothing else in PoE2 offers this kind of instant power spike during the campaign.
Conclusion: If You Want a Smooth PoE2 Campaign, Upgrade Your Weapon First
Path of Exile 2 is built on a simple principle:
Damage drives progression.
And damage comes from one thing above all others:
Your weapon.
Not your life rolls.
Not your resists.
Not your armor.
Not your flasks.
Your weapon.
Every minute spent improving your weapon pays back in hours of faster leveling, more efficient farming, smoother bossing, and a much more enjoyable gameplay experience.
Whether you're crafting with your first few orbs or hunting that perfect vendor weapon, the rule is the same from Act 1 to Act 12—
Invest in your weapon, and the rest of the campaign will take care of itself.