How to get and use Soul Cores in Path of Exile 2

Soul Cores in Path of Exile 2 are consumable materials that can confer some uncommon stats to Martial Weapons and Armor pieces. They are in principle the same as Runes — you have to place them in a gear socket, and they permanently give pre-determined stats to that gear. Also like Runes, they cannot be removed from the socket once placed.

Soul Cores come online quite late into the game, so in this guide, we'll go over how to utilize them in Path of Exile 2.

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How to get Soul Cores in Path of Exile 2

Trials of Chaos drop a Soul Core if you beat them (Image via GGG)

Soul Cores can be obtained as a clearance reward for Trial of Chaos. At least one is guaranteed on any Trial of Chaos, but higher-level Trials (i.e. higher-level Inscribed Ultimatums) will grant a higher quantity of Soul Cores. With a lvl 76+ Inscribed Ultimatum, you'll get three guaranteed Soul Cores. Note that you'll need to beat the trial fully to get all the rewards, so your build must be ready for it.

The other way to get Soul Cores is by buying it off the market via the Currency Exchange in Path of Exile 2. However, it's recommended not to try this method until you're well into the endgame systems, as the prices can be exorbitant for a beginner.

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All Soul Cores in Path of Exile 2

There are a total of 15 Soul Core types in Path of Exile 2, and each presents a unique bonus based on whether they're slotted on a weapon or armor.

Soul Core type	Effect on Martial Weapons	Effect on Armor
Soul Core of Atmohua	Convert 20% of requirements to Strength	Convert 20% of requirements to Strength
Soul Core of Azcapa	15 to Spirit	10% increased Rarity of items found
Soul Core of Cholotl	Convert 20% of requirements to Dexterity	Convert 20% of requirements to Dexterity
Soul Core of Citaqualotl	30% increased Elemental Damage with Attacks	5% to all Elemental Resistances
Soul Core of Jiquani	Recover 2% of Life on Kill	2% increased Maximum Life
Soul Core of Opiloti	15% chance to cause Bleeding on Hit	10% increased Charm Charges gained
Soul Core of Puhuarte	30% increased chance to Ignite	1% to Maximum Fire Resistance
Soul Core of Quipolatl	5% increased Attack Speed	10% reduced slowing potency of debuffs on you
Soul Core of Tacati	15% chance to Poison on Hit	7% Chaos Resistance
Soul Core of Ticaba IconSoul Core of Ticaba	12% to Critical Damage Bonus	Hits against you have 10% reduced Critical Damage Bonus
Soul Core of Topotante	Attacks with this Weapon Penetrate 15% Elemental Resistances	15% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold
Soul Core of Tzamoto	20% increased Freeze Buildup	1% to Maximum Cold Resistance
Soul Core of Xopec	30% increased chance to Shock	1% to Maximum Lightning Resistance
Soul Core of Zalatl	Recover 2% of Mana on Kill	2% increased Maximum Mana
Soul Core of Zantipi	Convert 20% of requirements to Intelligence	Convert 20% of requirements to Intelligence

Much like Runes, Soul Cores can only be placed on the martial weapon types. This excludes wands, staves, and scepters.

Check out our other guides on the game:

• Path of Exile 2 endgame systems guide: What to do once you beat the campaign
• How to farm Gold in Path of Exile 2
• Path of Exile 2: Complete Crafting guide for beginners
• Path of Exile 2 Gemcutting guide