Should I Identify Stuff Before I Vendor It?

Hey there,

I'm trying to earn some crafting currency. So I've been picking up all the rare (yellow) drops I find and selling them to the vendor.

But I've been selling them unidentified (because I didn't want to waste my Wisdom Scrolls, which I can exchange for higher currency).

But I'm just wondering if that's the most efficient way of doing things. Is it more profitable to identify stuff before I sell it? Or should I just keep doing what I'm doing?

Cheers.

Note: I should have mentioned that I'm strictly 'self find' I don't do any trading.

you're definitely 'doing it wrong'

unid rares sell for transmutation shards, which are actually worthless.
id'd rares sell for alteration shards, and sometimes alchemy shards, which are both good for crafting.

however, even just selling them for this is 'wrong', unless you really want to stockpile alteration orbs for alt spam crafting.

What you can also be doing, is making 'sets' of rare gear for the Chaos Recipe.

https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Vendor_recipe_system#Full_Rare_Sets


But in reality, all of these are very, very poor ways of making currency. If you're dead set on 'no trade', pick up rares that you might wear if theyre good after you id them. Pick up the actual currency that drops, but dont bother picking up every rare item. you will amass plenty of currency as you progress your characters into higher level content.

Aha! I knew I was doing something wrong.

By the way, do you happen to know of any guide that explains how to 'gear up' in this game?

Cause I've just been getting white gear (with the right color and number of sockets) then using an 'Orb of Alchemy' or an 'Essence' to make it rare.

But I've a strong suspicion that that's not the best way to do it either.

Thanks for any advice.

well, at your level, that method is actually perfectly fine.

a good 4 linked item will carry you to level 60 no problem. as long as you have your main skill + 3 GOOD supports in there.

After that, you pick up rares that you might wear. So as a spellcaster, you ignore melee weapons and bows, and most pure armor gear. You always want to grab rare boots, because that is the only slot that can roll Movespeed (you want it).

Weapons, you want something with %spell damage, or added damage to spells. some weapons just have 'added damage' and this does NOT apply to spells.

Other than that, any type of rare with life (more is better) and resists is probably good enough to wear for a while.


The Bramble Weaver twig spirit shield you are wearing is an example of a GOOD item. It's got everything you could want.

Agony Crown is an example of a bad item. it has no life, no resists, and accuracy doesnt matter because spells cant miss. it has some armor, but this is much less important than life and resists.

Well at least I did something right :)

That 'Agony Crown' is actually the very first unique item that I ever found and I was so thrilled when it dropped. Until I saw that it was cursed :(

Anyway, I'll keep farming for those 4 links and selling identified rare drops (I just can't bring myself to leave them behind :P).

But you're right, now that I'm identifying them, I'm getting much better currency (which is more than making up for the loss of Wisdom Scrolls).

Thanks for taking the time to help. I really appreciate it.

Good resource for beginners: https://www.twilightstrand.com/home