In Path of Exile 2, Artificer’s Shards are a vital resource used to craft Artificer’s Orbs, which allow you to add sockets to gear—an essential step for customizing your build with powerful runes and soul cores. To farm these shards efficiently, you’ll need to understand how to make the most of the Salvage Bench, a core crafting feature tied directly to your endgame power progression.

<h3>Unlocking the Salvage Bench</h3>
The Salvage Bench becomes available after completing the side quest &ldquo;Finding the Forge&rdquo; in Act One.

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You'll need to locate and retrieve Renly&rsquo;s Tools in Ogham Village.

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Return the tools to Renly at the Clearfell Encampment, and the Salvage Bench will be unlocked at your base camp.

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This station allows you to break down gear&mdash;specifically socketed gear&mdash;for crafting materials, with Artificer&rsquo;s Shards being the most valuable outcome.

<h3>How Artificer&rsquo;s Shard Farming Works</h3>
Each socketed item salvaged yields 1 shard per socket. That means:

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A one-socket item = 1 shard

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A two-socket item = 2 shards

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Once you collect 10 shards, they automatically combine into 1 Artificer&rsquo;s Orb. Since orbs are required to socket new gear, keeping a steady shard income is crucial for maintaining and evolving your build.

<h3>Maximizing Shard Yield: What to Look For</h3>
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Socketed Gear Only: Always prioritize collecting gear that has visible white square sockets in the inventory UI.

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Multiple Sockets = More Value: Two-socket items are twice as valuable as one-socket pieces, so sort your loot accordingly.

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Elite and Boss Kills: These enemies have a higher drop chance for socketed gear&mdash;focus your farming around them.

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<h3>Best Farming Practices</h3>
Here&rsquo;s a proven loop to quickly accumulate shards:

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Clear high-density zones packed with monsters.

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Loot all socketed items, especially two-socket weapons and body armor.

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Return to base and salvage them at the Salvage Bench.

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Repeat the cycle, resetting the zone instance if necessary.

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Bonus Tip: Loot blue and yellow chests, especially elite caches and treasure chests&mdash;they often contain multiple socketed items.

<h3>Alternative Shard Sources</h3>
If you&rsquo;re short on time or tired of farming, there's an easier path:

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After Act III on Cruel difficulty, you unlock the Currency Exchange NPC.

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This vendor allows you to trade other crafting currencies for Artificer&rsquo;s Shards, offering a flexible alternative to grinding.

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If you're optimizing for time or want to focus purely on endgame content, many players choose to buy poe 2 currency from trusted trading platforms, enabling you to skip tedious farming and immediately invest in powerful gear upgrades and orbs.

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By efficiently farming and salvaging socketed gear, you&rsquo;ll generate a steady stream of Artificer&rsquo;s Orbs, empowering you to customize your weapons and armor with precision. Whether you&rsquo;re grinding out shards or choosing to buy poe 2 currency to expedite the process, mastering the Salvage Bench ensures your build reaches its full potential in Path of Exile 2.