Crafting starts with the right base. The item level (ilvl) of a base controls what top tier mods can appear on that item. If you want the best modifiers, you need high-ilvl bases. That means you must hunt in areas where monsters drop higher item levels PoE 1 Currency.

Start by running top maps. Map level links directly to the ilvl of drops, so high map tiers give higher ilvls. T14+ content begins to drop useful high-ilvl bases and T16s are the common workhorse for high-end crafting because they reliably drop ilvl 83 items and above. Push your Atlas so you can run T16 maps often and juice them for more density and more drops.

Use specific league mechanics to get better odds. The Temple of Atzoatl and other special dungeons often produce more and rarer drops when you run the right rooms and clear the boss. Focus on higher-tier rooms and altar rewards there for a stronger chance at rare, high-ilvl loot. Deep Delve can also give inflated item levels in some cases, and certain map mechanics or modifiers raise drop ilvl.

Strongboxes are a solid secondary farm. Certain box types — like Arcanist’s, Jeweller’s, and Blacksmith’s strongboxes — can give large item volumes if you find them often and roll them well. Use scarabs, map passives, and map device options that boost strongbox count or quality to increase how many boxes you see per run. Those extra boxes mean extra chances at high bases.

If you need a very specific base now, the trade site is the fastest path. Use advanced filters: set the item level (84–86), pick the exact base type, and add fractured or influence filters if you need those traits. Buying a perfect ilvl 86 base costs currency, but it saves many hours of farming. Learn market prices so you do not overpay.

High-ilvl bases with rare implicit traits, like fractured mods, often command a premium. These bases let you lock a strong mod and then craft the rest safely. That premium is often measured in divine orbs or equivalent exchange. If you compare across eras or leagues, you can count value in Poe 1 Divine Orb when estimating historic or cross-league costs. Plan whether you want to farm time-cost or pay with currency.

Run juiced T16s and special content for steady drops, focus temples and strongboxes when you want rare chances, and buy from trade when you need a specific ilvl base right away. Keep several bases at hand for crafting, track the market, and pick the path that fits your time and budget.