I'm new to the game, but why does certain items have lower Item Level?

Nice try Elon Musk

Item level is based on monster's level which dropped the item
For uniques item level doesn't matter
For rare item level defines which mod tiers are available
You can check mod tier requirements here https://www.craftofexile.com/?game=poe2

Typical Elon

Looking for Elon Musk in the comments

they have more things

According to Elon these are shit items /s

item level is based on the level of the monster or chest that dropped the item.

for uniques item level affects 2 things. 1. what can drop at all (many items have a minimum item level before they can drop) and 2. for caster weapons the level of the spell granted by the item.

for rare, magic, white items level affects 3 things. 1. what can drop (bases have a minimum item level to drop) 2. caster weapon spell level 3. the mod tiers on the item (higher tiers have a higher ilvl requirement)

Some people have explained it, but I can add a pratical example to cement the explanation:

Ilvl for uniques don't matter, It exists because certain uniques can only drop from certain mob level.

On blue/Rare items, it is only important if you are trying to find items with a certain modifier that may only drop from higher level items:

For example:
If you are trying to find a wand with +5 lightning spell skill level, this modifier can only be found in level 81 wands.

For Bows and 2H weapons, the Highest roll of %increased physical dmg ( 170-179% ), can only be found on items level 82.

usually what happens is, at a certain point during ultra end game farming, after the trade economy has developed, people set up filters to only show these high level items, since they are the ones with the possibility for the best mods and are actually worth picking up to identify/craft.

I am sure Elon Musk could not explain this to you:D

Still a bad item, it's only level 12 /s

It used to matter in poe1 cause of max socket limit changing over 55 item level. Now it doesnt rly matter especially for uniques.

"t. Elon Musk"

Elon will respect you more if you wear a higher item level. But will still call you a noob cuz requires level is just 12.

It has just dropped at a different section of the game. Like, you can get same Uniques from the Act 1 and T15 Maps.

Uniques have preset stats that can't really be altered (can be Vaaled) so it doesn't really matter what Item Level they are. But Rares might need to be certain Item Level to roll specific prefix or suffix, thats why some Rares are very valuable if the base rolls are good and the Item Level is perfect for crafting.

Asking a question is always a good start Mr. Musk. Should've done it before the stream but it's never too late to learn.

Level 12 ring with 5 things. Needs more work.

Elon's Item low levei Trash ring

Hey everyone. my name is ELON MA

ELOOOOON!

Hey Elon.

Follow up question for myself. Can someone tell me why it’s better for items to be lower level than higher level? (I think that’s the case at least).

You have been well responded already.

So I'll play the grandpa role here and bring back some ancient wisdom and say that this very system has been used in arpgs even since diablo 1.

Some older and wiser gentlemen could come and say this is even more ancient, but I'm too young to know... Yet this is a very frequently used system in these games

Be carefull that unique wand, staff and sceptre will have different lvl requirement cause they have a skill; based on where you find them it will change their attribute requirment. I found a lifesprig with lvl 18 mana drain and require lvl78 and 178 int to use while lifesprig should be a lvling item.

Bcuz they suck

I never understood why are people so obsessed with levels. Is it a diablo thing?