Path of Exile, or PoE as it's commonly known, presents players with a sprawling world of dark fantasy and loot-driven adventure. Among the numerous items and crafting resources, Gemcutter's Prism stands out due to its importance in enhancing and shaping a player's arsenal of skills. Whether you're a seasoned Exile or a newcomer to the ways of Wraeclast, mastering the acquisition of these invaluable prisms can significantly impact your gameplay. Here, we delve into five proven vendor recipes that can help you stockpile Gemcutter's Prisms for your crafting needs.
The Fundamentals of Gemcutter’s Prisms
Gemcutter’s Prisms, often simply called GCPs, are used for quality improvement or merging of Path of Exile skill gems. They increase the quality of gems, allowing for a better chance at achieving higher levels and potentially saving inventory space through gem consolidation. Before we dive into the recipes, understanding the basics is crucial:
- Quality Improvement: Adding quality to gems makes them slightly more potent, which can result in better DPS or support effects.
- Gem Merging: When you combine two or more gems, you retain the highest level of one gem while the quality is added from both.
Recipe 1: Vendor Sale of Flawed Gems
The first and arguably the most accessible method involves trading six flawed skill gems to a vendor:
- Gemcutter’s Prism Recipe: Six Skill Gems with a collective quality of at least 40% will yield one GCP.
🔎 Note: Flawed gems are gems with less than 20% quality. They are easily obtained through vendor recipes, drops, or trading with other players.
Recipe 2: Quality Over Quantity
Sometimes, quality can outweigh the number of gems needed:
- Gemcutter’s Prism Recipe: One gem with 20% quality or higher will give you one GCP.
Recipe 3: The Level Advantage
This recipe leverages the level of gems rather than their quality:
- Gemcutter’s Prism Recipe: Six level 20 or higher skill gems will net you one GCP.
Recipe 4: Unique Gems to the Rescue
If you have some rare or unique gems, here’s a clever way to turn them into GCPs:
- Gemcutter’s Prism Recipe: Vendoring any three unique skill gems together will produce one GCP.
⚠️ Note: This method can be costly due to the rarity and value of unique gems. Consider the trade-off between using these gems for crafting or selling for currency.
Recipe 5: The Gem Swap
This recipe turns a group of similar but underperforming gems into something more valuable:
- Gemcutter’s Prism Recipe: By combining one Support gem and any three blue support gems of any level, you get one GCP.
Maximizing Your GCP Farming Efficiency
With the recipes outlined above, here are some strategies to streamline your GCP farming:
- Keep a Quality Watch: When playing, monitor the quality of your gems to make them ready for trade-ins when needed.
- Utilize the Right Type: Understand the gem types (Fire, Cold, Lightning, etc.) and their respective levels and qualities for optimal trades.
- Trade Gems Instead of Selling Directly: If you find yourself with excess low-quality gems, consider trading them with other players for GCPs rather than vendoring.
- Look for Drop Rates: Certain areas, like Strongholds, have a higher chance of dropping gems, which you can then farm for quality or level.
Remember, while these recipes provide a means to get GCPs, the value of gems also lies in their utility within your build. Balancing the time spent farming for GCPs with their potential use in crafting and improving your character is key to a successful endgame progression.
Can I farm Gemcutter’s Prisms directly?
+
Yes, GCPs can drop from monsters, chests, and other sources. However, their drop rate is relatively low compared to other forms of currency.
What are the best locations to farm gems for these recipes?
+
Areas like High Gardens, Underground River, and Shrine of Stars often have a higher chance of dropping skill gems. Consider farming these maps for the best chance at gems for GCP recipes.
How can I effectively manage my gem inventory for these recipes?
+
Keep a tab in your inventory for trade-in gems, sort them by level and quality, and periodically check which gems are ready for the recipes.
