Path of Exile Recombinators are among the newest of these tools and their main purpose is allowing the user to merge two items of the same base type into one, base level item. Initially, Recombinators can appear utterly random and disorganized, however, with a proper strategy, they can be highly deterministic. This article will discuss the primitive mechanics of the Recombinators, advanced techniques, and the strategies for effectively using Recombinators in crafting.

• What Are Recombinators?
• Mod Weighting in Path of Exile Overview
• The Basics: How Recombinators Work
• Advanced Methods: Excluded Mods And Foreign Mods
• Complete Guide on Crafting Steps
• - Commencing Base Preparation
• - Obtaining Modifications
• - Merging Items
• - Incorporating Further Modifications
• - Wrap Up your Item
• Tips for Success
• - Acquire Low Item Bases Earlier
• - A Prefix or Suffix Must be the Primary Target
• - Take Advantage of Exclusive Mods
• - Be Ready For Soft Iteration
• - Try in Ruthless and SSF Modes

↖ What Are Recombinators?

PoE Recombinators are also called crafting tools and their main purpose is merging two items of the same base type, pulling mods from each item into a single resultant item. Which means, you can combine items, however, their effects might differ a little. By cleverly commanding Recombinators inputs, an outcome can be generated with nearly perfect items. Closer examination on the stage 1 and stage 2 arms works indicates that Recombinators perform exactly this. Item mods are divided into __prefixes__ and __suffixes__ and rolled separately. This means Reconbinators create an item and also enables adopting crafting strategies.

↖ Mod Weighting in Path of Exile Overview

Understanding mod weighting is crucial before getting into Recombinator crafting. In Path of Exile, not all mods have the same probability of being rolled. The weights of high-value mods like Tier 1 flat physical damage and Tier 1 energy shield rolls is significantly lower than low tier mods or even common rolls like flat elemental damage.

As an example:

A Tier 1 flat physical damage roll is estimated to have a weight of 25.

A low-tier flat elemental damage roll is estimated to have a weight of 1200 per element.

The gap becomes large enough that crafting methods using essences or alterations become practically impossible for rolling high-tier mods.

Recombinators help players bypass this restriction by allowing the isolation of desired mods and strategic combining.

↖ The Basics: How Recombinators Work

In a standard recombine of two items:

The prefixes from both items are pooled together, and a selected number of prefixes (between 1 and 3) are chosen for the new item.

The same is done for suffixes.

The total number of mods in each pool determines the chance of rolling a certain number of prefixes or suffixes.

Main Features:

If you combine one item that has a prefix with another item that has a prefix, then there is only one prefix available in the pool. This causes:

A 67% chance of rolling one prefix.

A 33% chance of rolling both prefixes.

Suffixes work in the same way.

Working Example:

To combine Tier 1 Flaring and Tier 1 Tyrannical physical damage rolls on an axe:

First step involves acquiring two blue magic axes:

One has the Flaring mod only.

One has the Tyrannical mod only.

Combine these via a Recombinator. Note, that there will only be two prefixes in the pool, therefore the resulting item has a 33% chance of having both modifiers.

This technique guarantees that you eliminate any undesired mods, therefore maximizing your chances for success.

↖ Advanced Methods: Excluded Mods And Foreign Mods

While basic crafting methods with a Recombinator focus on covering the unwanted mods, advanced techniques improve the results using foreign mods and excluded mods.

Excluded Mods

Excluded mods are modifiers that cannot be present on the same item. 

For example:

Essence modifiers.

Veiled modifiers.

Elevated influence modifiers.

Crafted modifiers (e.g., Can have up to 3 Crafted Modifiers.)

These mods are called exclusives, meaning that only one can show on the final item. This feature can be used to enhance the results of crafting.

How It Works:

Encumber both input items with multiple exclusive modifiers.

The resultant item can only retain one exclusive mod which decreases the possible results and increases the chances of keeping the preferred ones.

For example:

If you encumber both input items with Can have up to 3 Crafted Modifiers and put filler crafted mods, the exclusive character of these crafts will suppress other unwanted modifiable prefixes or suffixes.

Non-Native Mods

Non-native mods are those that cannot automatically show on an item's base type. 

For example:

Strength rolls do not automatically show on evasion-type boots.

Armor rolls do not automatically show on energy shield type body armor.

By using items bearing non-native mods, one can fill up the set of mods without the danger of interfering with the desired results.

Example:

To craft evasion boots with high life plus movement speed:

Merge evasion boots with life rolls and armor boots with movement speed rolls.

Transferring the armor modifications will not apply to the evasion boots, making the chances of maintaining life and movement speed more likely.

↖ Complete Guide on Crafting Steps

↖ - Commencing Base Preparation

Acquire numerous bases of the specific kind needed (for instance, energy shield body armor, or axes which deal physical damage).

Make sure that all bases are a minimum of item level 84 for good mod rolls (item level 86 is needed for some mods).

↖ - Obtaining Modifications

Roll magic (blue) items that contain a single desired prefix or suffix using alteration or essence.

Regal them if it's required to put on a second desired mod.

Remove unwanted mods if necessary with Orb of Annulment.

↖ - Merging Items

Merge two magic items with the desired mods which are already isolated using a Recombinator.

Do this over and over again until you end up with a two-mod rare item that has both desired prefixes or suffixes.

↖ - Incorporating Further Modifications

To introduce a third modification:

Merge two rare items, each containing two desired modifications.

Use crafted filler mods or dominate with exclusives for higher chances of working.

↖ - Wrap Up your Item

Once you have selected prefixes or suffixes, use bench crafts or other methods to fill the remaining slots to complete this part of crafting.

↖ Tips for Success

↖ - Acquire Low Item Bases Earlier

During league progression make sure to gather as many bases as you can, especially those of higher item levels for advanced crafting in the endgame.

↖ - A Prefix or Suffix Must be the Primary Target

Decide on either a prefix or suffix first and complete one side, then move on to the other side after you have achieved an ideal outcome.

↖ - Take Advantage of Exclusive Mods

Take crafted or veiled mods to change mod pools and increase your chances of success.

↖ - Be Ready For Soft Iteration

With recombinator and more complex crafting, you will recquire multiple tries, so prepare your resources in alterations, annulments, and crafting materials.

↖ - Try in Ruthless and SSF Modes

Even in harsher modes of gameplay like Solo Self Found and Ruthless, this method works making it a useful trick for anyone.

Conclusion

Relying on recombinators strategically allows for some of the most powerful and flexible crafting options in Path of Exile. With the right understanding of mod weighting, exclusive and non-native mods, and proper input control, you can achieve items that would otherwise be nearly impossible to obtain from traditional crafting.