Path of Exile 2's Ventor’s Contraption: A Bold Take on Gambling Mechanics

Path of Exile 2's massive Dawn of the Hunt update has brought a wave of new content and sweeping changes. From five new Ascendancy classes and over 100 new Unique and Support Gems to reworked endgame systems, the update has shifted the gears on how the game plays. Among these additions, a particularly eye-catching feature has emerged—a gambling mechanic built into one of the new Unique Strongboxes: Ventor’s Contraption.

This Strongbox not only amplifies the concept of risk and reward but also doubles as a Gold sink, making it one of the more polarizing features introduced so far.

The Return of Gambling in PoE 2

Gambling isn’t new to the Path of Exile franchise. Long-time players will remember Mystery Boxes for cosmetics, or the infamous Ventor’s Gamble ring, whose affixes could swing wildly from near-worthless to incredibly valuable. Path of Exile 2 takes that spirit and dials it up with Ventor’s Contraption, a Unique Strongbox that allows players to spend Gold for random rewards—but there's a twist.

How Ventor’s Contraption Works

Ventor’s Contraption introduces a progressively escalating Gold cost per activation:

• Starts at around 200 Gold for the first spin

• Jumps to 2,000 Gold for the second

• Then 20,000 Gold, 200,000, and so on—each activation increasing tenfold

The catch? The reward pool doesn't scale with the cost.

That means the most valuable item you’ll ever get might come from your first 200 Gold spin… or you might sink millions of Gold into the box and walk away with a single Scroll of Wisdom. The randomness is pure, unfiltered gambling. The odds don’t improve with investment, and there’s no safety net.

The Good and the Bad

Ventor’s Contraption is undeniably fun. It injects an element of surprise and excitement into the often methodical grind of Path of Exile 2. For players who enjoy gambling mechanics and don’t mind the loss, it can be a thrilling diversion.

But it’s also a brutal Gold sink. Given how tight currency can be in the endgame—especially with high vendor prices and respeccing costs—burning your stash on this box can quickly feel punishing. Unlike vendors like Alva, who at least offer some tiered predictability in their loot tables, Ventor’s Contraption offers none. The randomness is absolute.

For most players, the best cost-to-reward ratio happens within the first few activations. Beyond that, the Gold cost skyrockets and the returns almost always disappoint. It’s a mechanic that teases greatness but often ends in regret.

Could Ventor’s Contraption Be Better?

Absolutely. A few tweaks could elevate this gambling mechanic from novelty to essential endgame feature:

• Scaling rewards based on the Gold spent

• Player-defined wagers, where you choose how much Gold to bet and have rewards scale accordingly

• Tiered reward chances, where higher spending slightly increases the odds of rare loot

These adjustments could make Ventor’s Contraption more rewarding and strategic while preserving the fun and uncertainty.

Ventor’s Contraption is a love-it-or-hate-it feature. It’s a whimsical, unpredictable mechanic dropped into the grim, unforgiving world of Path of Exile 2, offering moments of joy, frustration, and chaos in equal measure. It may not be the most efficient use of your Gold—but for players looking for a bit of thrill, it’s hard to resist.

As Path of Exile 2 evolves, it’ll be interesting to see if GGG refines this feature further. For now, roll the dice... if you dare.