Suffixes Cannot Be Changed... Except When You Forget to Lock Them

[DreamingTide]

In Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2), crafting is one of the most important parts of getting strong items. Many players love to create powerful gear by modifying item properties. But there’s a little trick that sometimes catches people off guard: suffixes and prefixes can be “locked” to protect them during crafting — but if you forget to lock them, things can go wrong fast!

Let’s look at what this means, how to avoid the mistake, and how to use PoE 2 items and currency to your advantage.

What Are Suffixes and Prefixes?

In PoE 2 items, magic and rare gear can have extra stats called modifiers. These are split into “prefixes” and “suffixes.” For example:

A sword might have a prefix that adds extra physical damage.

The suffix might increase attack speed or elemental resistance.

Most rare PoE 2 items can have 3 prefixes and 3 suffixes. These modifiers are super important because they decide how good your item is.

What Does “Locking” Mean?

There are special crafting options in the game, found at the Crafting Bench or through specific PoE 2 items like Orbs of Crafting, that let you “lock” either the prefixes or the suffixes. This means when you use other crafting tools like Orb of Scouring, Orb of Annulment, or Chaos Orbs, the locked part stays safe.

For example, if you have a perfect set of suffixes you want to keep, you can use a crafting mod called “Suffixes Cannot Be Changed.” After that, you’re free to reroll the prefixes — but be careful! If you forget to lock them, using something like a Chaos Orb could erase your best suffixes.

A Real Example: How to Craft a Great Helmet

Let’s say you want to craft a helmet with +3 to socketed minion gems and high life.

Step-by-step plan using PoE 2 items:

Start with a high item level Bone Helmet.

Use Fossils or Harvest crafting to get +3 to minion gems as a prefix.

Lock the suffixes using the “Suffixes Cannot Be Changed” craft (costs 2 Divine Orbs).

Use an Orb of Scouring or Orb of Chaos to reroll the prefixes until you get high life.

If the result is good, remove the “lock” and finalize the item with quality upgrades using Perfect Fossils or Hillock crafting.

Buy PoE 2 Items Instead of Risking Currency

Sometimes, crafting can eat up tons of PoE 2 currency like Divine Orbs, Chaos Orbs, and Exalted Orbs. If you keep failing or feel stuck, it might be cheaper to buy PoE 2 items from a trusted marketplace.

For example:

Instead of spending 30 Chaos Orbs to get a good quiver, you might buy one with the exact stats you need.

If you’re making a new character, buying PoE 2 items like a 6-link body armor can save hours of grinding.

Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes

Always check your item before crafting. Look at prefixes and suffixes separately.

If you like the suffixes, lock them before using any orb that changes modifiers!

Keep some extra Orbs of Annulment or Divine Orbs on hand just in case things go wrong.

Learn the colors of each mod type. Suffixes often deal with resistance, attributes, or speed. Prefixes often involve life, damage, or defenses.

Conclusion

In PoE 2, remembering to lock your suffixes can save you a lot of pain. One wrong click and your perfect stats might disappear! Use the crafting bench wisely, and don’t be afraid to buy PoE 2 items if it saves you time and currency. Whether you’re new or a seasoned exile, smart crafting with tools like “Suffixes Cannot Be Changed” makes a big difference. Just don’t forget to actually use it before rolling that orb!