Path of Exile: Synthesis is a March expansion for the online action role-playing game, introducing a new challenge league, new items, and new gems. The expansion features the Synthesis challenge league, where players encounter a character named Cavas, recover his lost memories, and chain them together to reach valuable rewards, new boss fights, and crafting opportunities. The league also includes a complete rebalance of spells throughout Path of Exile and integrates the Betrayal league. A key component of this expansion is the introduction of the Memory Nexus, a powerful device that allows players to destroy fractured items to create base types with custom implicit mods.
Fractured items are a new item type in the Synthesis league. They have fixed modifiers that cannot be removed, altered, or augmented through conventional crafting methods. These fixed modifiers are known as fractured mods. The Synthesis crafting mechanic involves using the Memory Nexus to synthesize three fractured items. The process consumes the three input items and produces a new item with a base type determined by the input items and a new implicit modifier derived from the modifiers on the input items.
Understanding Item Modifiers in Path of Exile
In Path of Exile, items possess two main categories of modifiers: implicit and explicit. Implicit mods are inherent properties of an item's base type, regardless of its rarity. For example, a Gold Ring always has an implicit modifier that increases the rarity of items found. Explicit mods are the modifiers that spawn on magic, rare, and unique items, in addition to the implicit property. These are further divided into prefixes and suffixes, and each item has a limit on the number of each it can have, depending on its rarity.
The Synthesis league introduces a method to create new implicit modifiers on items through the Memory Nexus. The implicit modifier generated by synthesising three fractured items is somewhat controllable by the careful selection of the input items. The general principle is that the synthesiser randomly selects one modifier from the pool of all modifiers on the three input items (both fractured and non-fractured) and uses it as the basis for generating the new implicit modifier. This means that the specific fractured mods present on the items, as well as any other mods that may be present, influence the outcome.
Targeting Specific Implicit Modifiers
Players seeking a specific implicit modifier can employ a strategy to increase the probability of obtaining it. The foundational approach involves acquiring fractured items that possess the fractured mod(s) you wish to target. To minimise the influence of other modifiers, it is recommended to scour the items to remove all non-fractured modifiers, then use a Regal Orb to upgrade one of them to a rare item (adding one new explicit mod), and finally use an Orb of Annulment to remove that newly added mod if it is not desired. The goal is to have three fractured items that are rare or magic, each containing only the specific fractured mod you are targeting.
However, the process is more nuanced than simply matching the fractured mod. The specific implicit modifier generated is often determined by thresholds related to the total value of the modifier across the three input items. For example, to obtain a specific implicit on a shield, you may need to exceed a certain total value of a specific modifier (such as increased attribute requirements) on the three shields combined.
A detailed method for targeting a specific implicit modifier, such as "+1 to Minimum Frenzy Charges" on shields, involves the following steps:
- Research the Mod Requirements: Consult a database of synthesis implicit mods, such as the one available on poedb.tw. Identify the implicit you want and note the item class it belongs to (e.g., shields). In the database, find the "affix" or modifier requirement needed to target that implicit. For "+1 to Minimum Frenzy Charges," the requirement is "#% increased attribute requirements" on shields.
- Understand the Thresholds: Look at all other rows in the database that use the same modifier requirement for the same item class. Each implicit has a threshold value that must be exceeded to be selected. For example, the implicit "+10 to +12 Attributes" might have a threshold of -85, while the "+1 to Minimum Frenzy Charges" implicit has a threshold of -100. Since the modifier "#% increased attribute requirements" only comes in negative values (e.g., -32% or -18%), you need to combine items such that the total sum exceeds the threshold for the desired implicit. For the frenzy charge example, you would need three shields each with a -32% increased attribute requirements fractured mod to reach a total of -96%, which exceeds the -85 threshold for the attributes implicit and meets the -100 threshold for the frenzy charge implicit.
- Prepare the Items: Acquire three shields, each with a fractured mod of "#% increased attribute requirements" with the highest possible negative value (e.g., -32%). Scour, regal, and annul the items so they are rare and contain only that fractured mod. It is critical that the only mod present is the fractured mod, as the synthesiser selects from all mods on all three items.
- Synthesise: Place the three prepared items into the Memory Nexus. The synthesiser will consume them and produce a new shield with a base type derived from the inputs and a new implicit modifier. The outcome is not entirely guaranteed to be the specific implicit you want, as some good implicits are grouped together. For instance, the "+1 to Minimum Frenzy Charges" implicit may be in a group with power and endurance charge versions, so you are guaranteed one of these, but which one is random. The "Onslaught" implicit on boots is paired with a "(7-8)% increased Movement Speed" implicit.
Crafting and Probability Considerations
While using items with only the desired fractured mod is a common strategy, other crafting methods can influence the outcome. Using crafting mods (e.g., adding a modifier via a crafting bench) on the input items may increase the chances of obtaining a good implicit, as it adds more mods to the pool from which the synthesiser can draw. However, it is also possible that certain exceptions prevent crafted mods from affecting the outcome, and the more desirable implicits may require more specific and effortful preparation.
The item level (ilevel) of the input items also matters. The ilevel of the synthesised item is equal to the highest ilevel among the three input items. Therefore, using high-ilevel fractured items can be beneficial for creating high-level end-game gear.
For specific examples, such as obtaining the "Onslaught" implicit on boots, which grants a temporary speed boost, the strategy involves targeting high movement speed fractured mods. Onslaught requires more than 95 total movement speed on the three boots combined. This would necessitate boots with fractured movement speed mods, such as two boots with a fractured 35% movement speed mod (or one with 35% and others with sufficient values to exceed the threshold). Testing and experimentation are encouraged to determine the exact thresholds and requirements for different implicits.
Conclusion
The Synthesis league in Path of Exile 3.6 introduces a complex but rewarding crafting system centred around fractured items and the Memory Nexus. Players can target specific implicit modifiers by carefully selecting fractured items with the desired mods, understanding the threshold mechanics, and preparing items to minimise unwanted modifiers. While the system involves an element of randomness, strategic planning based on available databases and community research can significantly increase the likelihood of obtaining powerful, customised gear. The integration of this crafting mechanic with the league's narrative and other features provides a deep and engaging experience for players.