In Path of Exile (POE), item level (iLvl) breakpoints aren’t explicitly defined in-game. However, the community recognizes certain iLvl thresholds where significant changes occur in the types of modifiers (affixes) that can roll on items.
Here’s a breakdown of these crucial iLvl breakpoints:
Key Breakpoints:
Level 12: Introduces basic weapon damage and armor mods.
Level 68: Enables access to powerful weapon damage and critical strike chance modifiers for weapons, and increased maximum life and energy shield rolls for armor.
Level 83: Grants access to the highest tier of weapon damage and critical strike chance modifiers for weapons.
Additional Considerations:
Gradual Progression: While these breakpoints highlight significant changes, the pool of available modifiers gradually expands as the iLvl increases.
Uniques vs. Rares: Unique items typically have fixed iLvls and their power comes from their inherent properties. Rares (non-unique) benefit more from high iLvl due to the wider range of possible modifiers.
Endgame Crafting:
Level 84+ (Elder/Shaper Influenced Items): These special items require a base item with iLvl 84 or higher to be influenced by the Elder or Shaper, granting access to powerful crafting options.
Level 86+ (Specific Crafting): Certain crafting methods, like using Elder Exalted Orbs or Redeemer Exalted Orbs, necessitate a base item with iLvl 86 or higher.
Here’s a table summarizing the critical iLvl breakpoints and their significance:
These breakpoints primarily affect the potential for stronger modifiers. Rolling high tiers of these modifiers still requires luck and potentially significant crafting resources.
Focus on Crafting Goals: Target the appropriate iLvl based on your desired crafting outcomes and available resources.
Additional Tips:
Utilize Crafting Calculators: Online tools like https://pathofbuilding.community/ can help simulate crafting outcomes based on different iLvl bases.
Research Build Guides: Many successful build guides recommend specific iLvl ranges for crafting gear suited to that particular build strategy.
Remember:
Understanding these iLvl breakpoints and how they influence the pool of available modifiers is crucial for making informed decisions when acquiring and crafting gear in Path of Exile. Utilize the information provided and explore additional resources to optimize your crafting endeavors for your character’s development.