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Discover everything you need to know about mapping guide and how to progress in Atlas Maps in Path of Exile 2, including the list of all Atlas Maps.
Mapping in Path of Exile 2 is the endgame system where players explore the Atlas of Worlds and progress through different maps. Atlas maps are indicated by small circles on the Atlas of Worlds. Place a waystone to explore these maps by clicking on them. The Atlas is an infinite map that expands as players progress. Waystones are consumable items used to enter maps, which are nodes on the Atlas of Worlds in Path of Exile 2. They determine the map’s difficulty and available modifiers. Waystones can have affixes that increase item rarity or monster difficulty.
Atlas passive points are gained by completing the maps, and these points can be used to progress through the main tree. Atlas maps have multiple new maps with new bosses with the arrival of Dawn of the Hunt. The developers have revamped the Atlas Passive Tree. Now, you can explore new nodes along with unique options. You also get 10 points on the tree. In this guide, we’ll discuss how mapping works in Path of Exile 2 and what Atlas maps are in the Atlas World.
Atlas Maps Overview
Mapping in Path of Exile 2 begins after completing the main campaign. You can gain access to a device called the Map Device. Use it to run maps found as loot. Maps are endgame dungeons that drop from enemies and chests. Each one represents a unique area with unique enemies and bosses. The map with a higher tier provides better rewards and tougher enemies. Complete the map to unlock new ones and progress deeper. Use the waystone to enter the map, and the higher tier means you gain high-level content. Complete the map’s objectives by defeating all the mobs and bosses.
Each completion increases your chances of higher-tier map drops. This allows you to unlock new paths on the Atlas. You gain passive skill points by completing the map objectives. Use these points to modify your Atlas strategy, like increasing map drops and improving rewards. You need to kill the rare monsters that are indicated by a skull icon. Take part in special events for more bonus rewards. Pinnacle bosses are harder to defeat and offer powerful rewards like unique items. We recommend you run the highest tier maps available for better drops.
Accessing the Map Device
Talk to Doryani after entering Vaal Ziggurat to get access to the map device. You can obtain this device once you reach level 65 after defeating the final boss of Act 3 while playing on Cruel difficulty. Put Waystones into the Map Device to customize maps. The variety of waystone determines the monster levels within the map. A Tier 5 Waystone sets monster levels to 70. You can also modify the waytones by utilizing Orbs of Transmutation and Orbs of Augmentation to enhance map difficulty and rewards. Watstones are craftable and drop with a specific tier. Modify the content you run by utilizing consumables, Tablets, on precursor towers.
These are one-time consumable items, allowing you to enter the maps. Based on the individual tiers, they determine the levels of enemies and monsters within each map. Click on the available map after interacting with the Ziggurat’s Map Device. Insert a waystone into the slots to modify the map based on its modifiers. The monster level becomes 69-70 if you have the waystone of tier 5. Try to upgrade your waystones to at least Magic-tier. This allows them to have modifiers that influence the maps you’ve used them on. We recommend you run a map with modifiers rather than the maps that don’t have one.
Map Objectives
Defeating the rare monsters is the primary objective in maps. Golden Skull icons indicate the location of the rare monsters, but they pop up occasionally. Eliminating the rare enemies is essential to complete the map when featuring events like Delirium or Ritual. You are allowed to re-enter the map up to five times. Use this to store loot, refill flask charges, and sell items.
Map Sustaining
You gain a steady supply when you consistently run the maps. Running on each map provides you with the chance to drop more maps. Corrupt maps using the Vaal Orbs to add additional modifiers and enhance the chance of rare drops. You can also engage with other players to trade the maps.
Atlas Completion
Finishing the bonus objectives grants you additional rewards and assists in Atlas progression. Use waystones to get access to new areas and challenges within the Atlas. Communicating with teammates to complete Atlas objectives while playing in a group. You gain Atlas Passive Skill Points when completing the maps with specific conditions. These skill points give bonuses like rare monster chances and enhanced item quantity. Complete all objectives within a region to achieve region completion and gain powerful bonuses like experience gains and increased map drop rates.
Understanding Map Icons
As mentioned before, the skill icon indicates the bosses or mini-bosses. However, if there’s a plus sign under them, then this specifies that the boss drops a green item that grants passive buffs. You may also encounter the blinking icon that shows the last areas you’ve cleared since re-entering the map. This helps you to track your progress, makes it easy to set your next goal. The Atlas has several maps, and each one has unique challenges, along with useful rewards. Pinnacle bosses are your hardest enemies that you can locate in specific maps.
You gain significant loot after defeating them when you encounter them in the first place. It’s best to strategically allocate Atlas Passive Skill Points for the desired outcome, like higher map drop rates and enhanced loot. Pinnacle bosses have 4 difficulty tiers, but the last tier is more challenging. The Atlas maps also have the pinnacle bosses that are located in a citadel that appear sometimes. Collect 3 keys from the different warring factions on the outside of the citadel to make your way in. You need to defeat the lieutenants before accepting the uber version of the campaign bosses.
Don’t Sell Waystones
If you want to farm more watstone, then use your lower-tier waystones. You can get a mod that enhances waystone drops when adding modifiers to them. Reforge them to a higher tier, making them crucial for The Cataclysm’s Wake quest when it wants you to clear high-level maps.
Mix Waystone Affixes
Rare-tier waystones can have three suffix and three prefix modifications, so this gives you a total of six mods. You can find the Affixes that grant positive modifications in an area or enhanced amount of Chests. Mods enhance the map’s difficulty, like more Monster Life or Monsters deal more damage. It’s best to use waystones with only prefixes when you want to run a map in the Atlas without increasing its difficulty. You can check if waystones are maximized by having three prefixes. Adding the suffixes to a waystone can boost the drop rate of waystones on certain maps. Visit their official trading site to see which are prefixes and suffixes. Suffixes are the ones that are labeled with S0, and Mods labeled with P0 and marked in red are prefixes. You can also get waystones that exceed the maximum number of affixes, as some affixes are merged together.
Defeat Everything in a Map
Your main objective in Atlas maps is to defeat all the rare monsters you encounter during the journey. So, you need to find and eliminate them to clear the map. Apart from rare monsters, killing all the mobs is essential to progress. This allows you to gain more XP and enhance your chances of acquiring items and waystones that are dropped by the foes. The most effective way is to replace the waystone you used for a map with a new one. It’s worth mentioning that dying will consume the waystone used. This urges you to use another one, or you can use waystones to re-enter the map. You need to defeat the rare enemies if you’re on a map that has any event.
Respawn Attempts
Respawn attempts are added to the map with the arrival of the Dawn of the Hunt update. The number of attempts you have for a map is determined by the number of Portals. These attempts are reduced with the number of Waystone modifiers. You have six portals with 0 modifiers and 1 portal with 5 watstone modifiers. You don’t need to use any portals to leave and enter the map. This makes it easy to store them in your stash, refill your flask charges, or sell items.
Lost Towers
You need to follow the path towards Precursor Towers if you’re unaware of your next objective. You can unveil a section of the map within the tower’s range when you light these towers if you put Precursor Tablets. Affect within a tower’s radius by adding Precursor Tablets, as they also add modifiers. Use these modifiers to enhance rewards or make maps easier to run.
Unlock Hideouts
Defeat all the enemies to claim a hideout. They grant personal space to add NPCs, tools, and stashes. This allows you to unlock and interact with them all in one area for your ease. You can place them according to your preference.
List of All Atlas Maps
Here are all the Atlas maps in Path of Exile 2.
| Map | Biome | Boss |
|---|---|---|
| Abyss | Desert Biome | Zar Wali, The Bone Tyrant |
| Augury | Grass Biome | TBD |
| Backwash | Swamp Biome | Yaota, The Loathsome |
| Bloodbowl | Desert Biome | TBD |
| Bloodwood | Forest Biome | TBD |
| Blooming Field | Grass Biome | The Black Crow |
| Burial Bog | Swamp Biome | Grudgelash, Vile Ent |
| Cenotes | Mountain Biome | Bahlak, the Sky Seer |
| Channel | Faridun City Biome | Hask, The Fallen Son |
| Creek | Forest Biome | Tierney, the Hateful |
| Crimson Shores | Water Biome | Rattlecage, the Earthbreaker |
| Crux of Nothingness | Special Biome | King in the Mists |
| Crypt | Grass Biome | Meltwax, Mockery of Faith |
| Decay | Swamp Biome | The Fungus Behemoth |
| Deserted | Desert Biome | Lord of the Pit |
| Forge | Desert Biome | Vastweld, The Colossal Guardian |
| Fortress | Desert Biome | Pirasha, The Forgotten Prisoner |
| Gothic City | Ezomyte City Biome | Asinia, The Praetor’s Consort |
| Hidden Grotto | Grass Biome | Zar Wali, the Bone Tyrant |
| Hive | Desert Biome | The Fungus Behemoth |
| Lofty Summit | Mountain Biome | Oloton, The Remorseless |
| Mineshaft | Faridun City Biome | Rudja, The Dread Engineer |
| Mire | Forest Biome | Riona, Winter’s Cackle |
| Moment of Zen | Water Biome | TBD |
| Necropolis | Ezomyte City Biome | Tycho, The Black Praetor |
| Penitentiary | Ezomyte City Biome | Incarnation of Death |
| Riverside | Water Biome | Zekoa, The Headcrusher |
| Rustbowl | Desert Biome | Gozen, Rebellious Rustlord |
| Savannah | Grass Biome | Caedron, The Hyena Lord |
| Seepage | Grass Biome | The Fungus Behemoth |
| Simulacrum | Special Biome | Kosis, the Revelation & Omniphobia, Fear Manifest |
| Spider Woods | Forest Biome | Rootgrasp, The Hateful Forest |
| Steaming Springs | Forest Biome | Manassa, The Serpent Queen |
| Sulphuric Caverns | Desert Biome | Lord of the Pit & The Bone Colossus |
| Sump | Swamp Biome | The Eater of Children |
| Sun Temple | Vaal City Biome | Tonqui, Seer of the Sun |
| Twisted Domain | Special Biome | Xesht, We That Are One |
| Vaal City | Vaal City Biome | Viper Napuatzi |
| Vaal Factory | Grass Biome | Tetzcatl, The Blazing Guardian |
| Vaal Foundry | Vaal City Biome | Gulzal, The Living Furnace |
| Wetlands | Swamp Biome | Gorian, The Moving Earth |
| Willow | Forest Biome | Connal, The Tormented |
| Woodland | Forest Biome | Tierney, the Hateful |
Tips and Tricks for Mapping and All Atlas Maps
Here are the tips and tricks for mapping and Atlas maps in Path of Exile 2.
- Insert waystone into the Map Device to modify map difficulty and rewards.
- Use the modifiers to apply them to maps to enhance rewards, along with the difficulty.
- Apply sextants that increase the quantity of maps that drop.
- Purchase the maps in bulk if you’re struggling to sustain your map pool.
- You can use the Map Device to upgrade lower-tier maps to higher tiers.
- Increase the specific mechanics by focusing on passives.
- Eliminate the Pinnacle Bosses to obtain useful rewards.
- You can re-enter a map up to five times, so use these chances to sell items, store loot, or refill flask charges without leaving the map.
- Clear out enemies to claim a hideout because it provides you with a personal space to redecorate and add stashes and tools, along with the NPCs.
- Activate Precursor Towers by inserting Precursor Tablets.
FAQs About Path of Exile 2: Mapping Guide and All Atlas Maps
What are Atlas maps in Path of Exile 2?
Atlas maps are indicated by small circles on the Atlas of Worlds. Place a waystone to explore these maps by clicking on them. The Atlas is an infinite map that expands as players progress.
What are waystones in Path of Exile 2?
Waystones are consumable items used to enter maps, which are nodes on the Atlas of Worlds in Path of Exile 2. They determine the map’s difficulty and available modifiers.
How to claim Hideouts on Path of Exile 2?
Defeat all the enemies to claim a hideout. They grant personal space to add NPCs and tools, along with the stashes.
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