PoE2 Loot Filter Guide 0.5.5: Install, Strictness & Custom Rules

Quick summary

• Most players should use NeverSink's filter. Follow it on the in-game Item Filter Ladder if you want automatic updates. Use FilterBlade if you want to customize it.
• Start the campaign on Regular or Semi-Strict. Move to Strict once your maps are mid-to-high tier. Save Very Strict and above for juiced endgame farming.
• Put the .filter file in Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2, not the onlinefilters folder. Pick it from the filter dropdown and reload it after every edit.
• In custom rules, runes and soul cores use Class == "Augment" in NeverSink's current filter. The "Socketable" and "Rune" examples in older guides don't match it.
• Re-download after every patch. If you see pink or cyan labels, your filter has hit items it doesn't know.

This PoE2 loot filter guide is written for patch 0.5.5 (Forbidden Rites) and NeverSink's filter version 0.10.4a, released October 15 on the NeverSink PoE2 GitHub page. Customization steps use FilterBlade. The same steps apply to other filter authors on the ladder; only the class names and tiers inside the file differ.

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Choose your PoE2 loot filter path first

There are three ways to run a filter. Pick one before you download anything, because how updates work depends on it.

Path	Best for	Auto-updates?	Can you edit it?	Works on console?
Follow NeverSink on the Item Filter Ladder	Most players, anyone on console	Yes	No (you take it as-is)	Yes
FilterBlade (customize, then download or sync)	Players who want custom colors, sounds or tiers	Paid auto-updater only (Patreon); otherwise re-download	Yes, in a visual editor	Yes, via account sync
GitHub download or your own .filter file	Tinkerers, SSF purists, people who want full control	No	Yes, in any text editor	No (file-based)

Example: If you play on PS5 and only want loot to stop cluttering the screen, follow NeverSink Semi-Strict on the ladder and you're done. If you play trade league on PC and want Divine Orbs to play a custom sound, use FilterBlade.

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How to install a PoE2 loot filter from the Item Filter Ladder

1. Log in at pathofexile.com with the account you play on.
2. Open your profile and go to Item Filters, then browse the Item Filter Ladder. Make sure you're on the Path of Exile 2 version of the ladder.
3. Find NeverSink's filter and pick a strictness variant. Start with Semi-Strict if you're unsure.
4. Click Follow.
5. Launch the game, open Options, and find the item filter dropdown (see "Find the filter menu" below). The followed filter appears in the list. Select it.

This is the only method that updates itself for free. The trade-off is that you can't edit the rules. If you change something, you're no longer on the followed version.

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How to install NeverSink through FilterBlade

1. Go to filterblade.xyz and make sure Path of Exile 2 is selected. Older bookmarks may open the PoE1 version.
2. Log in with your Path of Exile account if you want to sync. Downloading the file doesn't require login.
3. Choose a strictness and a style. NeverSink lists Default, Aura, Cobalt, Custom Sounds, Dark Mode, Mythic, Vaal and Zen.
4. Optional: open the Customizer to change individual tiers, such as making Exalted Orbs louder or hiding low-tier runes.
5. Optional: use the auto-adjust for build option and the loot simulator to preview what gets hidden before you commit.
6. Click Save & Download to get a .filter file, or sync it to your account to use it on console or across PCs.
7. Put the file in the folder below and select it in game.

Example: You play a Mercenary with crossbows. In FilterBlade, set the auto-adjust to crossbows so it keeps crossbow bases visible longer. Then raise the Exalted Orb tier sound to the loudest alert. Download the file, drop it in the folder, and reload.

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PoE2 loot filter folder location

On Windows, the folder is:

%userprofile%\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2\

• Paste %userprofile%\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2 into the File Explorer address bar to jump straight there.
• Don't put files in the onlinefilters subfolder. NeverSink's README specifically warns against it, because that folder is for ladder-followed filters.
• If your Documents folder syncs to OneDrive, the real path may be OneDrive\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2. Check which folder the game actually reads from.
• Linux (Steam/Proton): NeverSink lists steamapps/compatdata/2694490/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/My Documents/My Games/Path of Exile 2.
• The file must end in .filter, not .filter.txt. Turn on "File name extensions" in File Explorer's View menu to check.

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Find the filter menu and load the filter

1. Press Escape and open Options.
2. Look for the item filter dropdown. NeverSink's own filter-file header says UI → scroll down. Check the Game tab first, then UI.
3. Select your filter from the dropdown.
4. Press the refresh/reload button next to the dropdown. The game doesn't hot-reload filter files, so every edit needs a reload.
5. Optional: tick Hide Filtered Ground Items if you want hidden items gone completely instead of shown as small labels.

Example: You edit a color in Notepad, save, alt-tab back, and nothing changes. You didn't press reload. Press it and the new color appears on the next drop.

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Which PoE2 filter strictness to use at each stage

NeverSink's filter has seven levels. Its README recommends Semi-Strict for beginners and warns against leveling with Very Strict or higher. The filter switches between campaign and endgame logic at area level 65 and has extra handling from area level 82.

Stage	Our recommended strictness	Why
Campaign, first character this league	0 Soft or 1 Regular	You need weapons, flasks and bases to craft and swap gear. Poe2settings also recommends Regular here. The PoE2 leveling guide covers what to pick up by act.
Campaign, alt or second character	2 Semi-Strict	You already know what you need, and gear comes from your stash.
Early maps (low-tier waystones)	2 Semi-Strict	You still want waystones, rare jewelry and crafting bases.
Mid to high waystones, setting up the atlas	3 Strict	Hides most magic and normal gear while keeping currency, waystones and valuable rares.
Juiced T15+ farming, high quantity	4 Very Strict	Screen clutter costs time and frames. Poe2settings says stricter filters can help FPS. The PoE2 currency farming guide lists the farms that reach this stage.
Hyper-juiced Delirium/Breach farming, rich trade players	5 Uber Strict / 6 Uber-Plus	Only currency and top tiers show. Don't use these while leveling or in SSF.

When to switch:

• Hit area level 65? The filter's own logic changes. Stay on Semi-Strict until your gear feels stable. The PoE2 endgame Atlas guide explains the Waystone tiers you'll be climbing.
• Running out of waystones? Go one level looser. Strict and above hide lower-tier waystones and some bases you'd use to sustain maps.
• First 48 hours of a league? Stay one level looser than usual, because NeverSink's economy-based tiers are least accurate right after launch.
• SSF? Run one level looser than you would in trade. You can't buy the bases you hide.

Example: A Monk who finished the campaign on Regular moves to Semi-Strict at the first waystones. They switch to Strict once they're running tier 10+ maps and selling rares stops being worth the time. At tier 15 with a juiced atlas they go Very Strict.

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PoE2 loot filter syntax: how rules work

Filters read top to bottom, and the first block that matches an item decides how it looks. Conditions inside a block must all be true for it to match.

Show
 Class == "Stackable Currency"
 BaseType == "Exalted Orb"
 SetFontSize 45
 SetTextColor 255 255 255 255
 SetBackgroundColor 200 0 0 255
 PlayAlertSound 1 300
 MinimapIcon 0 Red Star

Parameter reference:

Line	What it does	Range or notes
Show / Hide	Starts a block	Hidden items can still be revealed (see FAQ).
Class == "..."	Item class	Must match the game's class name exactly when using ==
BaseType == "..."	Specific item names	You can list several in one line
Rarity	Normal, Magic, Rare, Unique	Can use <=, >=
ItemLevel, AreaLevel	Item or zone level	NeverSink uses AreaLevel <= 64 for campaign rules
StackSize >= N	Stack size	Used for gold and splinters
Sockets >= N	Socket count	NeverSink uses Sockets >= 3
SetFontSize	Label size	—
SetTextColor / SetBorderColor / SetBackgroundColor	Colors, R G B A	0–255 each
PlayAlertSound id volume	Sound	Volume 0–300
PlayEffect	Light beam	Color name, e.g. Red, Orange, Purple
MinimapIcon size color shape	Minimap icon	Size 0 (largest) to 2

Example: If a "Hide all normal items" block sits above your rune rule, the rune never reaches your Show block. The Hide catches it first.

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PoE2 item class names that match the current game

This is where most older guides break. We checked class names against NeverSink's live v0.10.4.a filter:

Item type	Class name in NeverSink 0.10.4.a	Older guides say
Runes and soul cores	"Augment"	poe2settings: "Rune"
Omens	"Omen"	—
Orbs, splinters, many fragments	"Stackable Currency"	—
Waystones	"Waystones"	—
Expedition logbooks	"Expedition Logbook"	—
Uncut gems	Matched by BaseType "Uncut Skill Gem" / "Uncut Spirit Gem" / "Uncut Support Gem"	—
Charms	"Charms"	—

If you're not sure of a class name, open your downloaded NeverSink file and search for the item. Whatever class NeverSink uses is what the current game accepts. PoE2DB is the other common reference.

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Add custom PoE2 filter rules without losing them on update

Editing NeverSink directly works until the next update overwrites your changes. Use one of these methods instead.

Method A: FilterBlade Customizer (recommended). Make your changes in FilterBlade while logged in. They're saved on your account and applied when you download a newer version.

Method B: a snippet file pasted at the top.

1. Create a text file called my-rules.txt in the same folder.
2. Write your custom blocks there.
3. After downloading a new NeverSink version, paste the snippet at the very top of the .filter file, above NeverSink's first block. Because the first match wins, your rules take priority.
4. Save, then reload in game.

Copy-ready snippets for 0.5.5:

Rare rings and amulets get a bigger label (early mapping):

Show
 Rarity == Rare
 Class == "Rings" "Amulets"
 SetFontSize 42
 SetBorderColor 255 200 0 255
 MinimapIcon 2 Yellow Circle

All runes and soul cores visible, with a sound:

Show
 Class == "Augment"
 SetFontSize 40
 SetTextColor 200 200 200 255
 SetBorderColor 100 100 100 255
 SetBackgroundColor 50 50 50 255
 PlayAlertSound 4 300
 MinimapIcon 1 Grey Diamond

Uncut gems stand out (campaign and early maps):

Show
 BaseType == "Uncut Skill Gem" "Uncut Support Gem" "Uncut Spirit Gem"
 SetFontSize 45
 SetTextColor 20 240 240 255
 SetBackgroundColor 6 0 60 255
 PlayAlertSound 2 300
 MinimapIcon 1 Yellow Triangle

Hide small gold piles in maps only (keep big ones):

Show
 BaseType == "Gold"
 StackSize >= 2000
 SetFontSize 38
 MinimapIcon 2 Yellow Cross

Hide
 BaseType == "Gold"
 AreaLevel >= 65

Hide normal gear correctly. Limit it to gear classes and put it below your Show rules:

Hide
 Rarity == Normal
 Class == "Body Armours" "Boots" "Gloves" "Helmets" "Shields" "Bows" "Crossbows" "Quarterstaves" "Spears" "Wands" "Sceptres" "Staves"
 AreaLevel >= 65

Example: You're farming Ritual in Forbidden Rites (see the PoE2 Forbidden Rites Sacred Bloom guide) and want every Omen to ping. Add a Show / Class == "Omen" / PlayAlertSound 1 300 block at the top. NeverSink tiers Omens too, but your block guarantees the sound even for low-tier Omens.

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Update and test your filter on patch day

Run this after every patch, including the move to 1.0, which Grinding Gear Games has set for December 11:

1. Check the version. Open your .filter and read the VERSION line at the top. Compare it with the latest release on the NeverSink GitHub page or FilterBlade.
2. Re-download if it's older. NeverSink's README says releases go out about 4–6 hours before league start and then every few weeks. Poe2settings says patch fixes usually follow within 24–48 hours.
3. Watch for pink or cyan labels. In NeverSink, these colors mean an item isn't in the filter's database. Update when you see them.
4. Check the "xeno" tier. NeverSink 0.10.x has a New League Unknown Items section that highlights items with no price data yet. Pick them up and price-check them manually.
5. Preview in FilterBlade's loot simulator before switching to a stricter level.
6. Reload in game and drop a known item from your stash to confirm the style changed.

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PoE2 loot filter not working? Common fixes

Problem	Cause	Fix
Filter doesn't appear in the dropdown	Wrong folder, .filter.txt extension, OneDrive path	Check the folder and extension and use the folder icon in Options
Edits don't show	No hot reload	Press the reload button
Everything looks wrong or default	You downloaded a PoE1 filter	Get the PoE2 version from FilterBlade (game=Poe2) or the PoE2 GitHub repo
Pink or cyan labels everywhere	Outdated filter after a patch	Re-download
You stopped finding waystones	Strictness too high for your stage	Go one level looser
FPS drops in juiced maps	Too many labels, or a huge homemade filter	Raise strictness one level, or go back to a maintained filter and add only a short snippet
Custom rule ignored	A block above it matched first	Move your rule to the top
Unique shows a blue minimap icon	NeverSink can't tell apart uniques on the same base	Pick it up and identify it

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PoE2 loot filter on console (PS5 and Xbox)

1. Follow NeverSink on the Item Filter Ladder at pathofexile.com, or sync a FilterBlade filter to your account.
2. Make sure the account on the website is the same one linked to your console.
3. In game, select the filter from the Options dropdown.

You can't edit .filter files on console. FilterBlade sync is the only way to get custom rules there.

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If you're returning, boosted, or on an alt

• Returning from 0.4 or earlier: Delete your old .filter files from the folder and download fresh copies. Old filters miss 0.5 items and use outdated tiers.
• Character was power-leveled or carried through the campaign: It may reach maps with weak gear. Run Semi-Strict, not Strict, until your resistances and defenses are fixed, so you see rings, amulets and bases.
• Alt on the same account: Ladder-followed and synced filters apply to every character. If your main runs Very Strict, switch to Semi-Strict for the alt's campaign.
• Switching trade to SSF (or back): Keep two filter files. SSF needs a looser filter than trade.

The Path of Exile 2 hub collects the other guides and services for the game.

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Want a hand with this?

If you would rather not grind this part yourself, Path of Exile 2 item services are listed on FullBoosts. Read Grinding Gear Games's Terms of Use before you buy any service from anyone, FullBoosts included — a marketplace listing isn't publisher permission.

FAQ

What is the best loot filter for PoE2? NeverSink's filter is the one most players run. Use it through the ladder for automatic updates, or through FilterBlade if you want to customize it.

Where do I put a loot filter in PoE2? On Windows, put the .filter file in Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2, not the onlinefilters subfolder. If Documents syncs to OneDrive, check OneDrive\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2 instead.

Which strictness should I use in the campaign? Regular or Semi-Strict. NeverSink warns against leveling on Very Strict or higher, because you hide the gear and bases you need.

Why didn't my filter change after I edited it? The game doesn't hot-reload filter files. Press the reload button next to the filter dropdown in Options.

Does NeverSink update automatically? Only if you follow it on the Item Filter Ladder or pay for FilterBlade's auto-updater. GitHub and FilterBlade downloads must be re-downloaded by hand.

Are loot filters allowed in PoE2? Yes. They're an official game feature supported in the game's options and on pathofexile.com, and they work on console through the ladder or account sync.

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Related guides

• PoE2 currency farming guide 0.5.5
• PoE2 endgame Atlas guide 0.5.5
• PoE2 Forbidden Rites leveling guide
• PoE2 Forbidden Rites: Sacred Bloom, Wildwood Wisps and Ritual
• Path of Exile 2 currency and boosting rules