Loot is in abundance in Path of Exile 2. As you progress through the game, which is now available in early access, you’re bound to spend a good chunk of time teleporting to town back and forth to sell items. While it’s good to have some gold savings, you can also salvage unwanted gear to get valuable items. That being said, you first need to unlock the feature.
If you’re wondering how to get items like Blacksmith’s Whetstones and Armorer’s Scraps in Path of Exile 2, the answer lies in the salvage bench. Here’s how to complete the ‘Finding the Forge’ quest to salvage items and free up that sorely-needed inventory space.
How to Complete ‘Finding the Forge’ in Path of Exile 2
In order to unlock the ability to salvage items in Path of Exile 2, you must complete the ‘Finding the Forge’ quest. This becomes available during Act 1 after you’ve tackled ‘Secrets in the Dark’. Over at the base camp, talking to Renly will grant you access to this objective, which tasks you with searching for his tools over at Ogham Village.
As you make progress with the main questline, specifically ‘The Trail of Corruption’ quest, you’ll eventually come across Ogham Village, so don’t worry about missing it. If anything, remember that you can open the map and hover over nodes to see any available areas you’re yet to set foot on. In case you need extra help, we have a dedicated guide to best pinpoint the village’s location.
Once you’ve reached Ogham Village, it’s time to start exploring and find Renly’s tools. The map layouts in Path of Exile 2 are randomly generated each time, so I can’t just point you toward a specific area. That being said, there are a few hints to know if you’re about to stumble upon the forge. Looking at the map, search for a group of houses divided by a thin path in between. If you see a checkpoint at the entrance, that’s the spot.
Head inside Renly’s Workshop and take down the enemy group inside. Unlike other spots with quest items, there isn’t a boss here to worry about. Once ready, grab the tools from the table, and return to Renly at your earliest convenience. Remember that using town portals has no cost, so you can do a quick round trip. All you have to do is talk to Renly and finish the quest.
How to salvage items in Path of Exile 2
After you’ve completed ‘Finding the Forge,’ blacksmith Renly will set up the salvage bench for you in the upper corner of the base camp. You can access it at any time, and it allows you to get certain items in exchange for destroying an item. This is irreversible, so make sure you’re not salvaging something you actually want to use at some point. If you need to unload your inventory, remember to use the stash, also in the camp hub.
Keep in mind that you can’t salvage everything, only armor and weapons with rare quality, as well as items that have sockets in them. Doing so will net you with Blacksmith’s Whetstones, Artificer’s Shards, and Armorer’s Scraps.
In Path of Exile 2, selling items and gear to NPC vendors will usually get you gold, as opposed to the first game where you’d get different currency-type items. But in either case, make sure to loot everything you see, make a quick trip back to town, and either sell or salvage them. It takes time, but the earlier you make it part of your routine, the better.
If you’re looking for more help as you dive into Path of Exile 2, we have guides covering how to beat The Executioner, how to get Uncut Skill Gems, and the best PC settings to use, to name a few.