PoE 2 · Waystones
Read the Waystone before you run it.
Waystone tier, item level and modifier tier are different fields. Waystone tier describes the map tier. Item level is a separate property relevant to the mod pool. The tier beside a prefix or suffix belongs to that modifier, not to the map.
Three numbers that are easy to mix up
| Text on the item | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Waystone (Tier 2) | The Waystone’s map tier. It is not a T79 map. |
| Item Level: 79 | The item’s level, separate from the map tier and relevant when checking modifier eligibility. |
| Prefix / Suffix (Tier: 1) | The tier of that individual affix. It does not change the Waystone into a Tier 1 map. |
Higher Waystone tiers open higher-level areas with more difficult monsters. See the Waystone reference. Do not choose what to run based on item level alone.
The actual item from our test
This item text was copied from the English game client after a one-Transmutation test followed by a one-Augmentation test on November 6, 2026.
Item Class: Waystones
Rarity: Magic
Shattering Waystone (Tier 2) of Flames
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Revives Available: 4 (augmented)
Monster Rarity: +19% (augmented)
Monster Effectiveness: +15% (augmented)
Waystone Drop Chance: +25% (augmented)
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Item Level: 79
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{ Prefix Modifier "Shattering" (Tier: 1) }
Monsters Break Armour equal to 17(15-20)% of Physical Damage dealt
{ Suffix Modifier "of Flames" (Tier: 1) }
Area has patches of Ignited Ground
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Can be used in a Map Device, allowing you to enter a Map. Waystones can only be used once.Actual captured item text. Numbers describe this test item, not every Waystone.
Count explicit affixes, not every line
The copied example has two explicit modifier blocks: the Shattering prefix and the of Flames suffix. The lines above them include Revives Available, Monster Rarity, Monster Effectiveness and Waystone Drop Chance.
Those summary lines are useful when judging the map, but they are not four extra prefix or suffix blocks. Counting every visible line as an affix would make this two-mod Magic item look much more filled than it is.
Likewise, the 17(15–20)% text shows a rolled value of 17 within a displayed range of 15–20. It is not three separate modifiers. If you are comparing two rolls, compare the actual value as well as the named affix.
Read the danger in terms of your build
For this item, check whether armour break undermines your defence and whether you can deal with Ignited Ground. The point is to judge the actual modifier against your character, not to copy somebody else’s “safe map” list.
- Defence: which mods weaken the layer that keeps your character alive?
- Recovery: can ground effects or other pressure stop you recovering between hits?
- Damage: will the map make clearing uncomfortably slow for your setup?
- Combinations: are two individually tolerable mods dangerous together?
A higher reward line is not automatically worth the difficulty. Begin with a tier you can finish comfortably and reassess after actual runs. If you repeatedly die or cannot recover, step down and inspect both the map mods and your character.
Check again after every craft
After Transmutation, read the new mod before using Augmentation. After Augmentation, decide whether the pair is suitable before committing another currency. A map can stop being useful to your character even while its reward statistics rise.
Use the basic currency guide if you are unsure what the next orb changes. Keep your spending limit small while learning and preserve a usable result when it meets your goal.
Our example comes from a controlled basic craft test, not a high-tier farming benchmark. It does not establish which map tier your build can clear or promise a particular amount of loot.
About these PoE 2 examples
These examples explain the difference between Waystone tier, item level and modifier tier. Use them to read your own item correctly before deciding which currency to spend.
Item text was captured on November 6, 2026. Recheck the game’s tooltips after balance changes; use the values on your own item when deciding what to run.