How To Unlock & Use Salvage Bench

A lot of things are different in PoE 2 compared to Path of Exile 1, not least of which is the slower, more methodical approach to combat and progression. Another major difference between both games is the new approach to Crafting, including new mechanics like the Path of Exile 2 Salvage mechanic.

In Path of Exile 2, players can Salvage certain types of gear to get upgrade Currencies. There are a few restrictions on what you can Salvage in PoE 2, though, and players must unlock the system as part of the main campaign before being able to Salvage gear at the PoE 2 Salvage Bench.

Path of Exile 2 Salvage System, Explained

In Path of Exile 2, Salvage is one of the many options available to players when it comes to getting rid of old gear. Players can sell gear for Gold, disenchant Magic and Rare items for Currency parts, and Salvage certain types of gear to get Artificer’s Shards and various Quality Improvement Currencies.

You cannot Salvage all types of gear in PoE 2 – only gear with Rune Sockets or gear with Quality can be Salvaged. Gear with Sockets grants Artificer’s Shards, while Gear with Quality grants one of the three Quality Currencies (Blacksmith’s Whetstone, Artificer’s Whetstone, & Armorer’s Scrap) depending on the type of item that was Salvaged.

• You can see whether a piece of gear has Rune Sockets in Path of Exile 2 by hovering over it in your Inventory, or by checking for a white dot next to the names of items on the ground. If it has a white dot, that piece of gear has one Rune Socket, and if it has two dots, it has two Rune Sockets.
• You must Identify unidentified Gear to find out whether it has Quality or not. In your Inventory, the Quality bonus should appear beneath the item’s name, if it has the bonus.

Normal items will grant the same materials when Salvaged as a Rare item, so if you have a Loot Filter enabled, be sure to set an exception for Normal gear with Sockets or Quality. When Salvaged, Path of Exile 2 players will get 1x Artificer’s Shard for gear with 1x Rune Socket, and 2x Artificer’s Shard for gear with 2x Rune Sockets.

When you Salvage enough gear to get 10x Artificer’s Shards, you will get an Artificer’s Orb. Artificer’s Orbs add a Rune Socket to a piece of gear, which will allow you to place Runes and add new damage and defense modifiers to that gear. Almost all armor and weapons can only have 1x Rune Socket maximum, except two-handed weapons and chest armor, which can have up to 2x Rune Sockets.

When you Salvage gear with Quality, you will build up associated Quality Currency shards. All Upgrade materials that grant Quality will all add 4% Quality, up to a max of 20% Quality.

How To Unlock The Path of Exile 2 Salvage Bench

To start Salvaging gear, Path of Exile 2 players must unlock the Salvage Bench in town. The Salvage Bench does not start out unlocked, and you have to progress a fair bit into Act 1 to unlock it.

To unlock the Salvage system, continue leveling through Act 1 until you get the quest ‘Finding The Forge’ from Renly. Renly instructs you to go to the ruined Ogham Village and recover his blacksmithing tools.

Ogham Village is a location you will encounter as you progress through the main story of Path of Exile 2 as you approach Ogham Manor and hunt down the Count. Ogham Village is a Monster Level 13 area, so be sure to get to at least Level 13 on your character before heading into this zone.

This quest will not be offered until you have completed the quest ‘Secrets In The Dark’.

Though maps are randomly generated in Path of Exile 2, there are a few landmarks to look out for when looking for Renly’s Tools. As you journey through the fields and farmland of this zone, look for a huddled group of razed buildings. There should be Checkpoint just outside the area.

If having trouble finding Renly’s Tools, Path of Exile 2 players should try to clear the Fog of War nestled in between the edges of the map – the razed village usually spawns in between the borders of the map, not as an extension to the map on the edge.

Some players have found that it tends to spawn in the Northeast and Southeast of the zone, or on the opposite side of the Executioner boss area.

Once you unlock the Checkpoint, head into the ruined village, pick up Renly’s Tools, and make a Portal back to town. Give Renly his tools, complete the quest, and you will unlock the Salvage Bench. It should initially appear opposite Renly in Act 1, and will spawn in every hub for the rest of the game alongside other vendors.