Mastering Path of Exile 2's Expedition Endgame: A Comprehensive Guide
Path of Exile 2 introduces Expeditions, a revamped endgame system from the original game, alongside Delirium, Breaches, and Rituals. This guide details Expedition mechanics, rewards, and the passive skill tree.
Understanding Expeditions and Detonation Mechanics
Expedition map nodes on the Atlas are marked with a light blue, spiral icon. Using an Expedition Precursor Tablet in a completed Lost Tower slot guarantees an Expedition encounter.
Within the Expedition zone, locate the Detonator and four NPCs. The core mechanic involves strategically placing Explosives near Markers to spawn enemies and chests:
- Runic Monsters: Detonating Explosives near Red Markers spawns these. Larger markers yield larger monster packs, enhanced by Unearthed Remnants.
- Unearthed Remnants: Relics with beneficial/detrimental modifiers (e.g., increased elemental damage, higher item rarity from chests).
- Excavated Chests: Found near Black Markers with the spiral symbol. These contain Artifacts, Logbooks, currency, Waystones, and high-tier gear.
The Explosive's area of effect (AoE) is crucial. Avoid overlapping AoE circles for optimal farming. After placing Explosives, activate the Detonator. You can strategically leave the area after detonation, returning later to engage enemies with AoE abilities.
The Expedition Pinnacle Map and Olroth
Runic Monsters and Excavated Chests have a chance to drop Expedition Logbooks. Use these with Dannig in your hideout to access the Expedition Pinnacle Map – a significantly larger event with more Explosives.
This map has a chance to feature Olroth, the Pinnacle Boss (indicated by a skull on the minimap). Defeating Olroth is key to obtaining Expedition Passive Skill Tree points (2x points per victory).
Expedition Passive Skill Tree
Located in the Atlas Passive Skill Tree menu (top-left of the Atlas screen, then top-right), this tree offers modifiers to enhance Expedition rewards and difficulty. Notable nodes include:
| Notable Expedition Passive | Effect | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme Archaeology | Reduces Explosives to 1, but increases radius by 150%, placement range by 100%, and reduces enemy Life by 20% | N/A |
| Disturbed Rest | 50% more Runic Monster Flags | N/A |
| Detailed Records | 50% more Logbooks, Logbooks always spawn with 3x Modifiers | Disturbed Rest |
| Timed Detonations | 50% more Artifacts, Detonation chains travel 50% faster | N/A |
| Legendary Battles | 50% more Rare monsters, 50% more Exotic Coinage | Timed Detonations |
| Frail Treasures | 3x more Excavated Chest Markers, but they disappear after 5 seconds | N/A |
| Weight of History | 35% boost to Remnant effects | N/A |
| Unearthed Anomalies | Remnants gain an additional Suffix and Prefix modifier | Weight of History |
Prioritize "Disturbed Rest," "Detailed Records," and "Timed Detonations" for significant reward boosts. Then consider "Weight of History," "Unearthed Anomalies," and "Legendary Battles" for increased difficulty and rewards. Avoid "Extreme Archaeology" due to the significant reduction in Explosives.
Expedition Rewards
Artifacts are the primary currency. Four types exist, each used to trade with a specific vendor for specific gear types:
| Reward | Use | Gear |
|---|---|---|
| Broken Circle Artifact | Gwennen | Weapons |
| Black Scythe Artifact | Tujen | Belts and Jewelry |
| Order Artifact | Rog | Armor |
| Sun Artifact | Dannig | Used to acquire other Artifacts |
| Exotic Coinage | Refreshes vendor inventory | N/A |
Expedition Logbooks, obtained from Runic Monsters and Excavated Chests, unlock the Pinnacle Map and the chance to fight Olroth for exceptional rewards and additional passive skill points. Increased map difficulty increases Olroth's spawn rate and reward quality.
