Map items change through crafting, trading, or using specific currency items in Path of Exile
A map item in Path of Exile is a consumable that opens an instance — a private area where you fight monsters and collect loot. Maps have properties: tier (difficulty level from 1 to 16), rarity (normal, magic, rare, or unique), and mods (affixes that change how the map plays). You change a map by applying currency items to it before you run it, or by trading for a different map entirely.
The most common reason to change a map is to increase its rarity or add specific mods that boost rewards. You cannot undo a change once you apply currency to a map, so understanding what each currency does before you use it matters.
Key Takeaways
- Orbs of Alteration and Orbs of Annulment let you reroll or remove individual mods on magic and rare maps.
- Orbs of Transmutation turn normal maps into magic maps; Orbs of Alchemy turn normal maps into rare maps.
- Exalted Orbs add a new mod to a rare map, and Orbs of Scouring strip all mods and return a map to normal rarity.
- You can trade maps with other players through the trade board or by listing them in your stash tab.
- Map device mods (paid with Chaos Orbs or Awakened Sextants) change how a map behaves without changing the map item itself.
Currency items that change map mods
The most direct way to change a map is to use currency on it. Each currency item does a specific thing and costs something to use — either the currency itself or the map's value if the result is worse than you wanted.
Orb of Alteration rerolls all mods on a magic map. You use it when a magic map has mods you do not want to run. It costs one Alteration Orb per use, and you keep using it until you get mods you like. This is the cheapest way to change a map's mods, but it only works on magic rarity maps.
Orb of Alchemy turns a normal map into a rare map with random mods. Rare maps have more mods than magic maps and usually drop more loot. Once you use an Alchemy Orb, the map becomes rare and you cannot easily revert it. This is a one-way change.
Orb of Annulment removes one random mod from a rare map. This is useful when a rare map has one or two mods you cannot run (like mods that disable your skills or make you take extra damage). It costs more than Alteration but gives you some control over which mods stay.
Exalted Orb adds one new random mod to a rare map. This is expensive and usually only worth doing on high-tier maps or maps with mods you want to keep. The new mod is random, so you might add something you do not want.
Orb of Scouring removes all mods from a map and returns it to normal rarity. This is rarely useful because you lose all the mods at once, but it can reset a map if you made mistakes with other currency.
Changing map rarity without changing mods
Sometimes you want a higher-rarity map but do not care about the specific mods. In that case, you use currency that targets rarity rather than individual mods.
Orb of Transmutation turns a normal map into a magic map with two random mods. This is cheap and a good first step if you want to improve a map's rewards without spending much currency.
If you want to go straight from normal to rare, use an Orb of Alchemy instead. This skips the magic step and gives you a rare map with four mods. The downside is that you cannot control which mods appear, so you might get mods that make the map unrunnable for your character.
Some players use a combination: apply Transmutation to get a magic map, check the mods, and only use Alchemy if the magic mods are acceptable. This costs more currency upfront but saves you from bricking expensive maps with bad mods.
Trading for maps you want
If you do not want to craft a map, you can trade for one that already has the mods you want. Most maps are cheap enough that buying a pre-crafted map costs less than the currency you would spend trying to craft one yourself.
Use the official trade board (trade.pathofexile.com) to search for maps by name, tier, and mods. Filter for the exact map and rarity you want, then message the seller. Most map trades happen quickly because maps are common and sellers usually have many in stock.
You can also list maps in your own stash tab and set a price. If you are running maps and picking up extras, selling them is a steady source of currency. Rare maps sell for more than magic maps, and high-tier maps sell for more than low-tier ones.
Using the map device to change how a map plays
The map device is a mechanic that lets you add temporary mods to a map without changing the map item itself. You pay currency (usually Chaos Orbs or Awakened Sextants) and the mod applies only to that single run.
This is useful when you want to boost rewards on a map you already like, or when you want to add a specific mechanic (like Breach or Abyss) to a map that does not have it. The map item itself stays unchanged, so you can run it again with different device mods next time.
Map device mods are optional and cost extra, so use them only when the reward is worth the cost. Early in a league, most players skip device mods and just run maps as-is. Later, when currency is abundant, device mods become a way to push rewards even higher.
Mistakes to avoid when changing maps
Once you apply currency to a map, the change is permanent. You cannot undo an Alteration, Alchemy, or Annulment. This means you should think before you use expensive currency on a map that might not be worth it.
Do not use Exalted Orbs on low-tier maps. The cost is too high relative to the reward. Save expensive currency for tier 14+ maps where the extra mod actually matters.
Do not apply Alchemy to a map with mods you cannot run. Check the mods first (hover over the map in your inventory to see them), and if you see something like "Cannot use skills" or "Elemental damage taken as chaos", either trade for a different map or use Alteration to reroll it while it is still magic.
Do not hoard maps waiting for the perfect mods. Maps are meant to be run. A map with okay mods that you run now is better than a perfect map you never get around to running.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see what mods a map will have before I apply currency to it?
No. When you use Alteration, Alchemy, or Exalted Orb, the mods are random. You apply the currency and then see what you got. This is why trading for a pre-crafted map is sometimes cheaper than crafting one yourself — you avoid the risk of bad rolls.
What is the difference between changing a map and using map device mods?
Changing a map modifies the map item itself and is permanent. Map device mods are temporary and apply only to that single run. Device mods cost currency each time you run the map, but the map item stays the same.
Is it worth using Orbs of Alteration on every map?
No. Alteration is cheap, but your time is not. If a map has one or two mods you cannot run, reroll it. If it has mostly okay mods, just run it. Spending 10 Alterations to get perfect mods on a low-tier map wastes time you could spend actually playing.
Can I change a map's tier?
No. A map's tier is fixed and cannot be changed with currency. If you want a higher-tier map, you have to find or trade for one. Tier is determined by the map's base type (like "Strand Map" or "Burial Chambers"), not by crafting.
What should I do with maps I do not want to run?
Sell them. Use the trade board to list maps by tier and rarity, or vendor them to an NPC for a small amount of currency. Do not let them sit in your stash — they take up space and have resale value.