PoE Orb of Unravelling Guide: How It Works and When to Use It

In Path of Exile, currency items have always played a central role in shaping character power, item crafting, and overall progression. With the introduction of Memory Strands and the Memory Influence mechanic, a new layer of item optimization has emerged. Among the tools designed to interact with this system is the Orb of Unravelling—a currency item that offers high risk and potential high reward for players looking to enhance their gear.

PoE Orb of Unravelling

What Is the Orb of Unravelling?

The Orb of Unravelling is a special currency item used exclusively on equipment that has Memory Influence. It consumes all remaining Memory Strands on the item to attempt upgrading the tiers of explicit modifiers. The number of Memory Strands determines the likelihood and number of potential upgrades.

Stack Size: 10
Function: Consumes all Memory Strands on a Memory-Influenced item to randomly upgrade the tier of explicit modifiers.
Use: Right-click the Orb, then left-click the desired equipment item.

This orb is essentially a gamble: it trades a resource you’ve collected—Memory Strands—for a chance to improve your item’s performance. It’s similar in spirit to Divine Orbs or Exalted Orbs, but more niche and tied to this specific item system.

Where to Find the Orb of Unravelling

Unlike some other currency items, the Orb of Unravelling is drop-restricted, meaning you can’t find it just anywhere.

Drop Level: 1 (can drop early but only from specific sources)
Source Enemies:
- Incarnation of Dread
- Incarnation of Neglect
- Incarnation of Fear

These are high-tier Memory-influenced bosses, so farming this orb requires a bit of endgame preparation.

How the Orb Works: Mechanics Breakdown

Understanding when and how to use the Orb of Unravelling is key to getting the most out of it.

1. Consumes All Memory Strands

When applied, the orb wipes out all Memory Strands on the item. So if you’ve spent time accumulating a large number of strands, this is your one shot to capitalize on that.

2. Tier Upgrade Is Not Guaranteed

There is always a chance that the orb does nothing—consuming all strands without upgrading any modifiers. This makes it risky and not ideal for casual attempts.

3. Cannot Create Elevated Modifiers

Even if the item already has influenced modifiers, Orb of Unravelling will not upgrade these to Elevated mods (which require Awakener’s Orb or Maven’s influence). It’s purely a tier upgrade, not a type transformation.

When Should You Use It?

The Orb of Unravelling is most effective when:

You have an item with good base modifiers but want to push them higher.
You’ve collected a large quantity of Memory Strands (more strands = higher chances).
You’re okay with the potential loss if the upgrades fail—this orb is not for the faint-hearted.

Pro tip: It’s best used on items you plan to keep for a while and where hitting even one or two higher-tier mods would meaningfully improve your build.

The Orb of Unravelling is a powerful tool for players looking to push the limits of Memory-Influenced gear in Path of Exile. While it offers a unique and thrilling crafting opportunity, it’s inherently a gamble. Knowing when to use it—and accepting the potential outcome—is part of the fun and strategy that defines PoE’s crafting ecosystem.