In Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2), Waystones are among the most important items for progressing through maps and the endgame. They act as the keys players use to open new areas via the Atlas, with higher‑tier Waystones letting you challenge tougher monsters and earn bigger rewards. While finding Waystones from drops and vendors is essential, reforging them using the POE 2 Currency game’s Reforging Bench gives players a reliable way to level them up when progression starts to stall.

What Are Waystones?

Waystones are consumable items that allow access to maps on the Atlas. Each Waystone has a tier, representing the area level and enemy power of the map you’ll enter; higher tiers lead to more challenging and rewarding encounters. Waystones also carry modifiers that shape map mechanics — adding difficulty or bonuses like increased monster rarity or quantity.

Players initially acquire Waystones primarily through drops in maps or by purchasing them from NPCs like Doryani in Ziggurat Refuge, who sells Waystones that scale up with player progression.

What Does Reforging Waystones Do?

Reforging Waystones means upgrading them to a higher tier using the Reforging Bench — a crafting station unlocked during Act 3 of the campaign after completing the Forgemaster quest.

At its core, reforging is a three‑to‑one transformation: if you place three Waystones of the same tier into the bench, you receive one Waystone of the next tier up. For example, three Tier 5 Waystones will yield one Tier 6 Waystone. The process doesn’t require identical rarities, but the resulting Waystone’s rarity reflects the lowest rarity among the inputs, so mixing Rare and Magic stones can lower your expected outcome.

This mechanic provides a dependable route to higher tiers, especially when random drops are slow or inconsistent. Players can stack up lower‑tier Waystones and convert them instead of waiting for drops that might never come.

When to Use Reforging

While reforging offers a clear path upward, it’s not always the most efficient method to skyrocket Waystone tier levels. For one, going from very low tiers directly to endgame tiers through reforging alone would require an enormous amount of Waystones, making it impractical (e.g., going from Tier 1 to Tier 10 via reforging would technically take thousands of reforges).

Instead, reforging works best when used strategically:

Targeted Tier Upgrades: Combine multiple identical Waystones when you have a surplus of a particular tier and want to move just a step higher.

Modifier Cleanup: If a Waystone has dangerous or undesirable modifiers, reforging can reset its attributes while upgrading tier.

Progress Smoothing: Use reforging when map progression stalls because you lack the appropriate tier to meet quest or Atlas requirements.

Tips for Effective Waystone Reforging

Mind the Rarity: Because rarity affects modifier potential, try not to waste Rare Waystones by reforging them alongside lower‑rarity stones.

Think Ahead: Early in the Atlas, it’s often better to farm drops and use atlas passive nodes that boost Waystone quantity and tier chances rather than rely excessively on reforging.

Use Currency After: Once reforged, you can enhance the new Waystone by adding modifiers using currency — which increases map rewards and sustainability.

In PoE 2, reforging Waystones remains a fundamental tool for progression. By mastering when and how to reforge, players can ensure steady ascent through the Atlas and a buy POE 2 Orbs smoother endgame climb.