PoE Sanity

What We Wish We Knew Before Mapping This League

By Path of EveningWatch videoDuration: PT25M13S

Summary

  • Map Sustain Strategy: To effectively sustain waystones, players must increase map modifiers (targeting 4–5 mods), utilize tablets for quantity bonuses, and target specific Atlas passive nodes that provide hidden bonuses to waystone drops.
  • Key Progression Bugs: Several bugs currently impact gameplay, including potential progression blocks with Hilda, Jada, and specific Abyss keystones. Players should exercise caution until further patches are deployed.
  • Atlas Passive Tree: The tree is vast and requires structured progression. Priorities include unlocking “top-of-the-world” nodes for waystone drops, prioritizing rare monster modifiers, and obtaining Hidden Scars to enable fracturing orb drops.
  • Tablets: These are essential for “juicing” maps. Progression involves unlocking Reverse Transcription and Partial Translation to increase the number of modifiers on tablets.

Critical Updates and Bug Awareness

GGG has introduced “invisible” buffs to map sustain via patch 0.5.0B Hotfix 2, adding a 35–40% base quantity increase to waystone drops from map bosses. These bonuses are currently server-side and not reflected in the UI.

  • Avoid Progression-Breaking Bugs:
    • Hilda: Killing bosses in the wrong order when a Great Beast is present can brick the encounter.
    • Abyss: Certain keystones currently brick progression; avoid taking these until a fix is deployed.
    • Jada: Failing these encounters can lead to progress issues.
    • Arbitrator of Divinity: Clearing this encounter should unlock sections of the Atlas tree. If it fails, report it using the /bug command and try re-logging.

Map Sustain Fundamentals

  • Increase Modifiers: Higher map difficulty (mods) directly increases the final waystone drop chance.
    • Run at least 4–5 mods on red-tier maps to maximize drops.
    • 6-mod maps are reported to have guaranteed waystone drops from bosses.
  • Tablet Juicing: Use tablets to gain 30–40% increased waystone quantity. Combined with 4–5 mod maps, this can push drop chances over 120%.
  • Tier Climbing: Killing “Powerful Map Bosses” (indicated by icons) guarantees a map drop one tier higher than the current one.
  • Doryani’s Shop: Use the NPC Doryani to purchase maps one tier lower than your highest completed map, then use the Reforging Bench to 3:1 upgrade them if sustain fails.

Atlas Passive Tree Strategy

Points are unlocked by progressing through specific Atlas zones and defeating bosses like the Arbitrator of Divinity. Once unlocked, there are no refunds, so pathing should be deliberate.

High-Priority Nodes for Sustain

  • Pathkeepers: Increases waystone quantity.
  • Valuable Paths: Increases waystone drops from map bosses.
  • Eons of Contamination: Provides additional waystone drop chances.
  • Archaeological Interest: Increases tablet quantity, which is vital for juicing.

Economic and Gameplay Nodes

  • Hidden Scars: Essential for enabling fracturing orb drops in cleansed areas.
  • From Distances Untold: Provides a chance to drop fracturing orbs from summoning circle bosses (highly rewarding).
  • Rare Monster Nodes: Prioritize nodes like Rising Danger and Twin Threats, as rare monsters are the primary source of loot.
  • Tablet Upgrades: Use Reverse Transcription (3 mods) and Partial Translation (4 mods) to maximize tablet effectiveness.

League Mechanics & Tips

  • Ritual: Highly effective when combined with summoning circles. Adding monsters to Ritual encounters increases tribute and potential rewards.
  • Abyss: Despite potential bugs, this has been identified as a highly rewarding mechanic.
  • Hilda/Masters: Focus on nodes like Breeding Season (more rare monsters) and Patient Batchuu (random map boss encounters) for consistent progress.

Key References