Trading Amid Turmoil: How PoE 2 Players Profit from Skill Nerfs

In Path of Exile 2, chaos is not just an in-game damage type—it also defines the game's economy. And nowhere is that more evident than during POE2 Currency major skill nerfs. As GGG continues to refine balance throughout early access, high-impact nerfs to popular skills have created short-term disruption but long-term opportunity for players who know how to trade. This article explores how savvy players are using nerfs as windows to profit—and what strategies are emerging in response to recent balance shifts.

When Nerfs Strike, The Market Flinches

One of the defining features of PoE 2’s economic ecosystem is its volatility. With thousands of items, support gems, and build-enabling modifiers all traded freely between players, the value of anything is highly dependent on its relevance to the current meta.

When GGG nerfs a skill like Supercharged Slam or Magnetic Salvo, it doesn't just affect gameplay—it sets off a ripple effect across the entire marketplace. High-demand items tied to these skills drop sharply in price as players abandon the archetype. Items with slam bonuses, explosive projectile modifiers, or specific affixes tied to nerfed playstyles suddenly flood trade boards, creating oversupply and depressed prices.

This initial instability can feel like a crash, but for sharp-eyed traders, it's an ideal time to strike.

Buying the Dip: Profiting from Panic Selling

Every nerf creates two types of players: those who panic sell, and those who buy the dip.

When Magnetic Salvo was nerfed, players rushed to POE 2 Chaos Orbs sell their crit wands, elemental-damage rings, and AoE-boosting gear. In the rush to recoup losses, many undercut the market. Enterprising traders who recognized the panic for what it was—temporary overreaction—snapped up undervalued items at steep discounts.