You can reset your skills in Path of Exile 2 using Orbs of Regret, Aureus Coins, or by respeccing your entire passive tree

Path of Exile 2 gives you three main ways to undo skill choices. The most common method is spending Orbs of Regret, which you find or trade for during gameplay — each orb refunds one skill point you've spent. If you want to reset everything at once, you can use Aureus Coins at a vendor to refund your entire passive skill tree in a single transaction. The third option is the Respect Quest, which appears in the story and gives you a handful of free refunds early on.

Which method you choose depends on how many points you want to undo and how far into the game you are. Early on, the quest refunds are free and sufficient. Later, Orbs of Regret let you fine-tune your build one point at a time. A full tree reset with Aureus Coins is the fastest option if you're overhauling your entire character direction.

Key Takeaways

  • Orbs of Regret refund one skill point each and can be found as drops or purchased from other players.
  • Aureus Coins reset your entire passive skill tree at once, which is faster than using individual Orbs of Regret but costs more currency.
  • The Respect Quest appears during the story campaign and grants a small number of free refunds without spending currency.
  • You cannot refund individual gem skills (the active abilities you socket into gear) — you can only swap them out or replace them with different gems.

Using Orbs of Regret for single skill points

An Orb of Regret refunds exactly one passive skill point you have spent. Open your passive skill tree (default key: P), click on the skill node you want to undo, and a prompt will appear asking if you want to refund it. Confirm, and the orb is consumed — you get the point back and can spend it elsewhere.

Orbs of Regret drop from monsters and chests as you play, but they are not common. Most players find a handful per playthrough. If you need more, you can trade for them using the in-game trade system or a third-party trading site. The price varies depending on the league and economy, but they are usually affordable once you reach maps (the endgame content). Early in the campaign, you may not have enough orbs to respec your entire tree, so use them only on mistakes or when you're certain about the change.

Resetting your entire tree with Aureus Coins

Aureus Coins are premium currency that you buy with real money or earn through gameplay in certain leagues. When you have one, go to any vendor in town and search for "Refund Passive Points" — the vendor will offer to reset your entire passive skill tree in exchange for one coin. This is when ready and refunds every point you've spent, letting you rebuild from scratch.

This method is useful when you've realized your build direction is fundamentally wrong and you don't want to spend 50+ Orbs of Regret one at a time. It costs more currency upfront but saves time and mental effort. You cannot refund just part of your tree — it's all or nothing.

Free refunds from the Respect Quest

As you progress through the story campaign, you will encounter the Respect Quest at specific story points. Completing it grants you a number of free passive skill refunds — typically between 3 and 5 depending on which quest you complete. These are one-time rewards per character, so use them on mistakes you're confident about.

The quest refunds appear early enough that you can experiment with your build without penalty. If you've made a poor choice in your first 20 levels, the quest refunds let you correct it without spending currency. Once you've used the quest refunds, you'll need Orbs of Regret or Aureus Coins for further changes.

Why you cannot refund gem skills the same way

Gem skills — the active abilities you socket into your gear, like Fireball or Slash — cannot be refunded. Instead, you straightforward remove the gem from its socket and place a different gem there. The removed gem goes back into your inventory and can be used elsewhere or sold.

This is different from passive skills, which are permanent once spent. Gem skills are meant to be swappable, so you can experiment with different abilities without penalty. If you want to try a new playstyle, swap out your gems first before spending Orbs of Regret on your passive tree.

What happens to your refunded points

When you refund a passive skill point, it returns to your pool of unspent points when ready. You can then spend it on any other node in your passive tree that you can reach. There is no cooldown or waiting period — the refund is when ready and you can respend the point right away.

If you refund multiple points, they all return at once and you can plan your new path before committing. This is why Orbs of Regret are useful for experimenting: you can undo a mistake, think through your next few points, and then spend them with more confidence.

Managing your currency for refunds

Early in the game, Orbs of Regret are scarce and you should avoid wasting them on minor mistakes. Save them for significant errors — like spending 10 points in a direction that doesn't fit your build. Once you reach maps and your character is stable, orbs become more affordable and you can use them more freely to optimize your tree.

If you're unsure about a path before you commit, use an external skill tree planner (Path of Exile's official website has one) to test your build first. This costs nothing and prevents regrets later. Planning ahead saves you currency in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refund skills I spent before reaching the Respect Quest?

Yes. You can use Orbs of Regret to refund any passive skill point at any time, even before you encounter the Respect Quest. The quest refunds are bonus free refunds on top of what you can do with orbs.

What if I refund a point but when ready regret the new choice?

You can refund again using another Orb of Regret. There is no limit to how many times you can refund the same point, as long as you have the currency. This is why some players use the tree planner before making big changes.

Do refunded gems come back to my inventory?

Yes. When you remove a gem from a socket, it returns to your inventory as an item. You can socket it elsewhere, trade it, or sell it. Gems are not consumed when you remove them.

Is there a way to refund skills without spending currency?

Only the Respect Quest refunds are free, and you get a limited number per character. After that, you must use Orbs of Regret or Aureus Coins. There is no other free refund method once the quest is complete.

Can I refund my entire tree for free?

No. The Respect Quest gives you a few free refunds, but not enough to reset your entire tree. A full reset requires either many Orbs of Regret or one Aureus Coin.