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Quick Facts
- Item Type
- Currency
- Rarity
- Normal
- Use Cases
- Corruption · Crafting
QUICK ANSWER
Quick answer
A corrupted item cannot take normal currency afterward.
Outcomes vary by item class; there is no guaranteed 'upgrade'.
Use it last, on a finished item, when the upside is worth the permanent risk.
Sell it if the target is not yet finished or the risk is not worth it.
Hold it until every earlier craft step is done.
QUICK FACTS
Quick facts
- Effect
- Corrupts the item
- Permanent, randomised change.
- After corruption
- No normal currency
- Only certain special currencies still apply.
- Tradeable
- Yes
- Price needs a timestamp.
- Patch
- 0.5.4
- Behaviour confirmed against current client.
EFFECT
Corruption basics
Corruption is a permanent state. Once an item is corrupted, normal currency such as whetstones, scrap, or fusings can no longer be applied.
The exact effect depends on the item class: equipment, skill gems, and waystones each follow different rules, and the result is randomised.
- Finish quality, sockets, and normal crafts before corrupting.
- Confirm a replacement exists if the result is bad.
VALID TARGET MATRIX
Valid targets
Most non-unique and unique items can be corrupted; the limiting factor is what you can still do afterward.
| Target | Target | Can be corrupted | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal / magic / rare equipment | Yes | Then locked | No normal currency after. |
| Skill gems | Yes | Vaal version | May gain a Vaal variant. |
| Waystones | Yes | Risk | Changes map modifiers. |
| Already corrupted item | No | Already locked | Cannot corrupt again with a normal Vaal Orb. |
PRE-USE CHECKLIST
Pre-use checklist
| Done | Check | Why it matters | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality and sockets are final No further normal currency after corruption. | You lose the ability to finish the item normally. | Apply quality and sockets first. | |
| Normal crafts are done No later fusings, chromatics, or scours. | Corruption locks the item. | Complete all deterministic crafts. | |
| Replacement exists A spare is in inventory or stash. | A bad roll can brick the item. | Only corrupt with a real fallback. | |
| Outcome understood for this class Know the class-specific possibilities. | Skill gems and waystones differ from gear. | Read the outcomes section per class. |
USE FLOW
How to use it
Right-click the Vaal Orb
Enter the apply state.
Select the finished target
Confirm all earlier crafts are complete.
Confirm the permanent change
The result is randomised and cannot be undone.
A normal, modifiable item with your finished crafts.
A corrupted item: changed modifiers or sockets, no further normal currency.
The exact before-and-after depends on the item class; confirm against the current client.
OUTCOME ANALYSIS
Outcomes by item class
| Scenario | Benefit | Risk | Audience | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rare gear you depend on | Possible stronger rolls or extra sockets | Can lose key modifiers | Players with a spare | High Last-step only |
| Skill gem | May become a Vaal version with extra effect | May change level or roll | Players who want the Vaal skill | Medium Understand gem rules first |
| Waystone | Alters map modifiers | Can make the map harder or unrewarding | Map runners | Medium Not for routine maps |
RISK ANALYSIS
Risk analysis
| Scenario | Gain | Loss | Risk | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main weapon corrupted early | Possible spike | Locks the item before it is finished | High | Never corrupt your main slot early. |
| Finished spare gear | Chance at a better roll | A replaceable modifier | Low | Acceptable test case. |
| Unique you cannot replace | Possible improvement | Permanent change with no backup | High | Usually hold unless the upside is clear. |
BUILD USAGE
Best and worst targets
Corrupt finished, replaceable items. Avoid your only working piece and anything still mid-craft.
Finished spare gear
Good target once quality, sockets, and crafts are final and a spare exists.
Your only main weapon
Bad target; corruption locks it before the build is complete.
COMMUNITY EVIDENCE
Community evidence
Why can I no longer use currency after corrupting?
A player corrupted, then found normal currency greyed out.
This is intended: corruption locks the item from normal currency.
Finish all normal crafts before corrupting.
Do skill gems corrupt like gear?
A player expected the same result as equipment.
Gems follow class-specific rules, not gear rules.
Read the outcomes section for skill gems separately.
PROBLEMS & DIRECT ANSWERS
Problems and direct answers
Currency no longer applies after corruption
Direct answer: Corruption permanently locks the item from normal currency; this is expected.
- Finish all normal crafts before using a Vaal Orb.
Tooltip did not change
Direct answer: A roll can be neutral; absence of visible change is not a failure.
- Compare before and after carefully.
video
Video and timestamps
Zizaran
Vaal Orb explained
Corruption rules by item class and when to use it.
What to watch for: Watch the order-of-operations warning before corrupting. (timestamps are editorial estimates, pending PC verification)
Open source ↗faq
FAQ
Can I undo corruption?
No. The change is permanent.
Should I corrupt my main weapon?
Usually no, until it is finished and you have a spare.
Do Omen effects change this?
Some special currencies interact with corruption; confirm each case against the current client.
PATCH HISTORY
Patch history
Corruption behaviour carried into the current early-access version.
SOURCES & VERIFICATION
Sources and verification
changelog
Changelog
- Created the Vaal Orb rich-content page.
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