Path of Exile 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Grinding Gear Games' flagship action RPG Path of Exile, has taken the ARPG world by storm with its vast world, intricate itemization, and deep systems. One of the core mechanics that remain crucial to success in Path of Exile 2 is the item crafting system. A critical part of this system involves crafting currency items, and among the most coveted are Regal Shards.

Regal Shards are essential crafting materials used to upgrade items in Path of Exile 2. While the game introduces many new systems, Regal Shards continue to play a vital role in crafting powerful gear that can shape your character's build and progression. In this article, we'll break down the importance of Regal Shards, and more importantly, how you can efficiently farm them in Path of Exile 2.

What Are Regal Shards?
In Path of Exile 2, Regal Shards are a currency item used to upgrade magic items to rare items. Magic items are those that have one or two mods, while rare items can have up to six. Regal Shards are the primary material used to enhance a magic item into a rare item, making them a crucial resource for crafting endgame gear.

Using Regal Shards is particularly helpful when you want to upgrade an item that already has desirable magic affixes. This upgrade can potentially transform an otherwise mediocre item into a powerful rare one. Regal Shards are also useful when you are crafting an item for a specific build and want to fine-tune the item's mods, potentially improving its value by adding additional affixes.

The process for using Regal Shards typically follows these steps:

Find or Create a Magic Item: Craft or acquire a magic item that suits your needs or fits your desired build.

Use a Regal Shard: Apply the Regal Shard to the magic item to upgrade it into a rare item.

Refine and Modify: Once the item is rare, you can use additional crafting methods (like Orbs of Alteration, Exalted Orbs, or Harvest crafting) to further tweak the item's mods.

Why Farm Regal Shards?
Farming Regal Shards becomes an important part of any player's crafting progression. Here's why:

Endgame Gear Crafting: Crafting high-tier gear for your endgame build often requires upgrading from magic items to rare ones, and Regal Shards are essential for this step.

Build Optimization: Since Path of Exile 2 allows for complex builds with synergies across multiple affixes, upgrading magic items into rare ones can unlock potent combinations that make or break your character's performance.