Path of Exile 2: How to Increase Inventory Size

Path of Exile 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the action RPG Path of Exile (PoE) from Grinding Gear Games. While the core gameplay mechanics remain intact—deep skill customization, loot-driven progression, and a dark, immersive world—the sequel brings improvements, new features, and a revamped user experience. One of the most crucial aspects of Path of Exile—and by extension Path of Exile 2—is the management of your inventory space. As you venture deeper into the game's vast world, you'll find yourself accumulating a staggering amount of loot, and inventory management can become a cumbersome challenge.

In Path of Exile 2, just like its predecessor, inventory space is precious. Players must manage a variety of items, including weapons, armor, skill gems, POE 2 Currency items, and more. With the game's new content and expanded mechanics, it's more important than ever to know how to increase your inventory size, whether you are a casual player looking to hold more items or an endgame enthusiast who needs space for specialized gear.

In this guide, we'll cover all the ways to increase inventory size in Path of Exile 2, from basic inventory management tips to the in-game systems that allow you to expand your storage.

1. Understanding Your Inventory in Path of Exile 2

Before we dive into increasing your inventory size, it's important to understand the types of items that will fill up your inventory. Inventory space in Path of Exile 2 consists of the following categories:

Weapon and Armor Slots: These are your equipped gear, including weapons, armor pieces, and accessories. These items are critical for your character's progression and don't contribute to your stash.

Inventory Slots: These are the base slots that you carry in your inventory. Early in the game, you will have a limited number of inventory slots, and these are filled by loot, items from quests, and currency.

Currency and Crafting Materials: This includes Chaos Orbs, Exalted Orbs, and other currencies, as well as crafting materials like Essences, Fossils, and Fragments. These items can clutter up your inventory and require special management.

Skill Gems: Skill gems are one of the most important types of items in PoE. These gems allow you to modify your abilities and attacks. You'll accumulate a lot of different gems over time, especially as you experiment with different builds.

Map Fragments and Items: When you reach the later stages of the game, you'll encounter special items that unlock endgame content, such as maps and fragments used for the Atlas of Worlds system.

Managing these diverse types of items effectively is essential for your success in Path of Exile 2. Keeping your inventory organized will not only improve your gameplay experience but also allow you to maximize your loot-gathering efficiency.

2. Base Inventory Size and How It Works

When you first start Path of Exile 2, you'll have a relatively small inventory space to work with. The base inventory size for a new character is typically limited, and while it will increase slightly over time, it's still easy to run out of space as you collect loot.

Default Inventory Size: At the start of the game, your inventory size is generally small. However, as you level up and progress through the campaign, your inventory will naturally grow with progression-related bonuses or through the acquisition of additional stash tabs and expansions.

Stash Tab System: The Stash is where you can store items that don't fit in your character's personal inventory. While your inventory size is limited, the Stash is designed to provide players with a more expansive storage solution. However, the stash is also tied to in-game progression and some paid expansions, so expanding it requires additional steps.

3. How to Increase Inventory Size in Path of Exile 2

While Path of Exile 2 offers a basic inventory system that increases with time and progression, players can also unlock ways to expand their inventory space. Here are some of the most important ways to increase your inventory size:

A. Use the “Tabula Rasa” for Inventory Space

One of the first inventory expansions most Path of Exile 2 players will encounter is the Tabula Rasa, a unique item that grants additional inventory slots. While the Tabula Rasa is primarily known for its ability to add additional item slots, it also grants extra space for carrying loot.

Tabula Rasa: This is a special item that can be found or crafted in-game. By adding this to your inventory, you gain more slots for storing items. In some cases, players can also use this item to enhance their stash space.

B. Purchase Stash Tabs

In Path of Exile 2, the Stash is one of the primary methods of expanding your storage capacity. Stash tabs are the backbone of your long-term inventory management and can be purchased directly from the in-game store.

Standard Stash Tabs: These are the default stash tabs that every player gets access to. They provide a relatively basic inventory space. Additional tabs can be purchased, and each additional tab gives you more room to store items.

Specialized Stash Tabs: If you're looking to organize your loot more effectively, you can purchase specialized stash tabs for different categories, such as:

Currency Tabs: For organizing your cheap POE 2 Orbs and crafting materials.

Gem Tabs: To keep track of your skill gems.

Map Tabs: Dedicated to storing endgame maps.

Divination Card Tabs: For organizing divination cards, which can be exchanged for powerful items.

Essence Tabs: For storing essences used in crafting.

The purchase of additional stash tabs can dramatically increase the amount of loot you can store without having to discard valuable items. Specialized tabs are an excellent way to keep your stash organized, making it easier to manage your loot over time.

C. Use the “Essence Stash” System

Another feature introduced in Path of Exile 2 is the Essence Stash. This system allows you to store crafting materials, essences, and other miscellaneous items more efficiently, reducing the clutter in your main inventory.

Essence Stash Tabs: By acquiring the Essence Stash feature, you'll be able to easily manage your crafting materials and other valuable resources, keeping your inventory space free for more important items such as weapons and armor.

Crafting Efficiency: The Essence Stash also offers greater crafting efficiency, as you can easily locate the materials you need for crafting recipes or upgrades.

4. Optimize Your Inventory for Looting Efficiency

While increasing your inventory size is a key part of managing loot in Path of Exile 2, it's also essential to organize your inventory effectively. Proper inventory management doesn't just involve expanding your space—it also requires organizing your loot to maximize your efficiency when looting and crafting.

A. Organize Your Loot

One of the most important aspects of inventory management is keeping everything well-organized. Some tips for effective loot organization include:

Sort Items by Type: Group your items by category, such as weapons, armor, and crafting materials. This will help you identify items at a glance and avoid wasting time searching for specific gear.

Use Color Coding: Path of Exile 2 features a color-coding system for different types of items, such as unique items, rare items, and common gear. This will help you quickly distinguish between valuable items and junk.

Make Use of Auto-Stacking: If you're carrying multiple items of the same type (like potions or orbs), Path of Exile 2 will automatically stack them in your inventory. This makes it easier to maximize available space and avoid unnecessary clutter.

B. Regularly Clean Out Your Inventory

Make it a habit to regularly clean out your inventory. If you don't need an item—whether it's junk, something of low value, or a low-tier piece of equipment—consider selling, upgrading, or discarding it. This helps free up space for more valuable items and crafting materials.

5. Endgame: Atlas of Worlds and Expanded Inventory Needs

Once you reach the endgame in Path of Exile 2, the need for additional inventory space becomes even more pronounced. As you explore the Atlas of Worlds and engage with various endgame systems, you'll accumulate more maps, crafting materials, and specialized items. Here are a few tips for managing your expanded inventory in the later stages of the game:

Endgame Gear: The more you progress in the game, the more specialized your gear will become. Keep in mind that you'll likely need to swap out gear and store excess items in your stash tabs to make room for the gear that's necessary for progression.

Map Fragments and Shards: At the endgame level, you'll start collecting map fragments and shards that unlock different areas of the game. These items take up valuable space, so consider investing in a Map Tab for organizing these components.

Conclusion

Inventory management is an essential part of your Path of Exile 2 experience, especially as you collect more items, progress through the game, and explore the deeper layers of the Atlas of Worlds. By increasing your inventory size through purchases like stash tabs, optimizing your loot management, and understanding the different storage systems in the game, you can ensure that your character remains prepared for any challenge.

As you progress, don't forget that inventory size is more than just a numerical value—it's about organizing and managing your loot in a way that makes your gameplay smoother and more enjoyable. With the tools and features available in Path of Exile 2, you'll be able to increase your inventory size while keeping your stash neat, organized, and ready for the next adventure