The endgame of Path of Exile 2 offers a vast array of systems, mechanics, and progression paths to explore once you reach the Ziggurat Refuge. Here, you will engage in a variety of activities designed to challenge your skills and improve your character through increasingly difficult maps and encounters. Below, we'll break down the key components of the endgame and offer some tips to help you navigate this complex and rewarding phase.

Endgame Basics: Ziggurat Refuge and the Atlast

Upon completing the final act of the main campaign, you will awaken in the Ziggurat Refuge. This location serves as your base of operations for the endgame. Here, you'll learn about the Cataclysm—a catastrophic event that has spread corruption across the land, and your goal is to fight this corruption and restore balance.

Your journey in the endgame revolves around the Atlast, a device that allows you to teleport to various regions affected by the Cataclysm. To use the At last, you'll need Waystones, which are used to calibrate the areas you wish to explore.

Progressing in the Endgame

The Cataclysm's Wake quest will guide you through your first steps in the endgame. This quest requires you to complete 10 maps of each tier, across 16 tiers in total. Here's how progression works:

Waystones: You'll start with a Tier 1 Waystone, which you can use to enter maps. As you progress, Doryani will offer you additional Waystones that unlock new maps and areas.

Clearing Maps: To complete each map, you must clear all rare monsters in that map. These maps are linked to the Atlas, which allows you to track your progress and select which regions to explore.

The Atlas

The Atlas is the central hub for your endgame progression. You'll start in the center of the Atlas, where you can choose from adjacent map nodes. Each node requires a Waystone to open a portal to the respective map.

Map Nodes: These nodes represent different areas you can explore, and they each come with modifiers and challenges that will affect your experience. The challenges play a critical role in shaping your journey and can open new endgame activities.

Additional Challenges: As you progress through the Atlas, you will encounter new modifiers that increase the difficulty of maps but also reward you with more loot and experience. Pay attention to these challenges and plan your strategy accordingly.

Waystones

Waystones are essential for progression. They are used to teleport to different maps, and you can enhance them using orbs to increase their rarity and add additional modifiers.

Modifiers: These modifiers can alter the difficulty of maps, making monsters more dangerous or rewarding you with extra loot. For example, a modifier might cause monsters to deal more elemental damage or increase the frequency of rare monsters.

Upgrading: As you acquire new Waystones, you can use them to open higher-level maps. Upgrading your Waystones will be crucial for progressing into more difficult content.

Endgame NPCs

Several NPCs will assist you in the Ziggurat Refuge during the endgame:

Doryani: He's your primary guide, teaching you about the Atlas, selling Waystones, and helping with passive and Atlas skill refunds.

Atalui, Blood Priestess: Sells weapons and armor to improve your gear.

Ketzuli, Architect of Time: Offers magical weapons, flasks, jewelry, and disenchantment services.

Alva: Manages the Path of Exile 2 Currency Exchange and offers a gambling mechanic for equipment upgrades.

Other important locations in the refuge include the Salvage Bench, Reforging Bench, and Stash where you can manage your loot.

Endgame Activities

The icons you encounter on the Atlas map represent the various activities available in the endgame. These include everything from standard map clearing to more complex challenges like:

Pinnacle Bosses: These powerful enemies are critical to advancing in the Atlas Skill Tree and are the ultimate goal in certain areas of the map.

Additional Challenges: As you explore the maps, you'll unlock new challenges that affect loot drops, difficulty, and the types of enemies you encounter.

Path of Exile 2 Endgame Tips

To help you make the most of the endgame experience, here are some valuable tips:

Death is Final: In Path of Exile 2, death is a significant setback. If you die during a map run, you will be immediately removed from the map, and any remaining portals will be closed. Make sure to play cautiously and avoid taking unnecessary risks.

Towers Reveal Map Areas: Use Precursor Towers to reveal large portions of the map. These towers can be strategically placed to help you plan your path and anticipate enemy locations.

Elemental Resistances: Monsters in the endgame often have elemental modifiers that amplify their damage. Focus on raising your resistance to 75% as a priority to mitigate incoming damage.

Use the Trade Website: To upgrade your gear, utilize the trade website to find PoE 2 items with specific modifiers you need. It's a great way to get powerful upgrades and optimize your build.

Optimize Your Waystones: Take time to improve your Waystones and adjust modifiers to ensure that you're getting the best loot and experience from each map.

Final Thoughts

The endgame in Path of Exile 2 offers a wealth of content, with each new map and challenge pushing you to adapt and grow stronger. Master the mechanics, optimize your character, and engage with the various NPCs and systems to unlock new abilities and gear. With patience and strategy, you can conquer the challenges of the Atlas and uncover the mysteries of the Cataclysm.

If you need further insights on farming, trading POE 2 currency, or optimizing your character's progression, feel free to reach out to MMOexp! There's always something new to discover in Path of Exile 2, and the journey is as much about learning and adapting as it is about conquering the toughest content the game has to offer.