Path of Exile Atlas progression is the main part of the endgame, where players complete maps, unlock new content, and earn powerful rewards. In this guide, we will explain how the Atlas Skill Tree works, how to progress through maps, how to craft maps, and how to unlock important upgrades like Voidstones and Favoured Map Slots.
PoE Atlas Progression and Skill Tree Guide Key Takeaways:
- The Atlas of Worlds is Path of Exile’s endgame system, where completing maps unlocks Atlas Passive Points and access to increasingly difficult content.
- It lets players customize map content, league mechanics, monster difficulty, and rewards with up to 132 passive points.
- Atlas progression revolves around completing maps, sustaining higher map tiers, and investing Atlas Passive Points into mechanics that match your goals.
- You can respec your Atlas points at any time using Orbs of Unmaking.
- Maps are divided into White, Yellow, and Red tiers, with higher tiers offering tougher enemies and better rewards.
- Crafting maps with currency items increases item quantity, pack size, and map drops, while also adding modifiers that make maps more challenging.
- Completing Map Bonuses, Atlas questlines, and endgame objectives unlocks Atlas Passive Points and advances overall Atlas progression.
- Voidstones raise the tier of every map on the Atlas, eventually allowing the entire Atlas to become Tier 16 while improving higher-tier map drops.
- Favoured Map Slots increase the chance for selected maps to drop, making it easier to repeatedly farm preferred layouts.
- Maps can be obtained from monster drops, Kirac missions, Kirac’s shop, and Orbs of Horizons.
4.9PoE Atlas Passive Skill Tree
After beating Kitava in Act 10 of Path of Exile, talk to Commander Kirac to start exploring the Atlas of Worlds. Check the bonus objective of each map by hovering over it in the Atlas and complete it to earn one point for the Atlas passive tree.
To progress in the endgame, players need to run more maps, advance through the new Atlas, and improve their maps through the tree. The Atlas has 117 maps to complete, which gives players the majority of their passives. Unlocking all 132 points may seem as elusive as catching a unicorn, but fear not! Aim for a sweet spot of 80 to 100 points by taking down the Maven, Eldritch bosses, and the Uber Elder. Your Atlas tree will thank you.
The Atlas Passive Tree is a web of bonuses that affect monsters, loot, and league mechanics encountered while mapping. It offers a total of 132 points through completion of specific content.
- The player earned 115 points from completing map bonuses.
- The Maven Questline awards 5 Passive Points.
- Upon completion of one of the Pinnacles Bosses for the first time, Kirac will award 6 Passive Points.
- Completing Endgame Invitations for the first time earns you 6 Passive Points.
📌 The Atlas Passive Tree has limited options for undoing points during quest progression, with only the Orb of Unmaking allowing for one point to be undone at a cost.
How to Respec PoE Atlas Passive Tree
Respecing the Atlas passive tree can be done with ease. Using an Orb of Unmaking grants a respec point that can be utilized at any time. Orbs of Unmaking can be traded and are included in the worldwide drop pool.
Kirac sells them for 2 Orbs of Regret each, making it possible for you to respec your tree multiple times at a reasonable price. It’s possible to change strategies multiple times throughout a league, but it’s best to stick with a plan early on to avoid wasting orbs on unnecessary respecs.
How to Progress PoE Atlas
The Atlas introduced in Atlas of Worlds expansion with all maps completed.
The Atlas introduced in War for the Atlas expansion with all maps completed.
The Atlas introduced in Betrayal expansion with all maps completed.
To start your atlas journey efficiently, we suggest optimizing the acquisition of higher-tier maps. This setup requires few nodes and can be adjusted to fit your strategy later on. It’s beneficial to collect essence nodes early on as it can make gearing and progression easier during the early days of the league. However, prioritizing map sustain nodes is also important.
Rolling Your Maps
Maps open portals to endgame layouts, filled with monsters to defeat for loot. They range from Tier 1 at the bottom of the Atlas to Tier 16 at the top. The maps are colour-coded based on their Tier.
- White Maps are classified as Tier 1-5.
- Yellow Maps are categorized as Tier 6-10.
- Red Maps fall within the Tier 11-16 range.
Crafting maps is a crucial skill for advancing in Atlas. It is possible to craft maps like items by using certain orbs, such as Orb of Transmutation and Orb of Alchemy, as well as Cartographer’s Chisel and Vaas Orb. This process results in both positive and negative effects. Positive effects increase the chances of obtaining more items and maps, while negative effects make the map more difficult to complete.
White Maps (Tier 1-5)
Prior preparation is essential before running lower-tier maps, as failure to do so may impede your progress later on. To increase map drops in White maps, it is recommended to use a combination of Orb of Transmutation, Orb of Alteration, and Orb of Augmentation, since a map without modifiers does not yield additional items.
📌 Using an Orb of Alchemy can increase the difficulty and rewards of a map in the game, but it is not advised for beginners.
Yellow Maps (Tier 6-10)
When entering Yellow maps, it is recommended to use an Orb of Alchemy to increase the difficulty and rewards. Without doing this, the Map Completion Bonus will not be received. If the mods seem too challenging, you can use Orb of Scouring to reroll. It is advised to save Cartographer’s Chisel and Vaal Orb for higher-tier maps. Additional information on this topic can be found under “Atlas Goals” below.
Red Maps (Tier 11-16)
The difficulty of enemies in Red Maps increases significantly, and the higher-tier maps have a lower drop rate, requiring players to craft their maps strategically. It is advisable to utilize Cartographer’s Chisel to increase the quality of your maps by 20%, only on normal maps.
This is because each Cartographer’s Chisel applied to a normal map increases its quality by 5%, whereas magic maps only get a 2% increase and rare maps only receive a 1% increase. Additionally, it is recommended to use Orb of Alchemy and Orb of Scouring as needed to customize the map to your preferences.
To receive the Map Completion Bonus, it is necessary to corrupt the map by using a Vaal Orb. This action can result in one of four possible outcomes.
- The map can be updated to a new layout, and its level will increase by one tier.
- The Map has a random reroll feature that can add 8 mods, making it challenging yet rewarding to run.
- The map becomes unmarked, resulting in a 30% increase in its overall size. However, the hidden modifications remain unchanged.
- The map remains unchanged.
Path of Exile Atlas Goals
Proper prioritization and focus can greatly enhance the endgame experience and long-term enjoyment of the vast Atlas.
Map Completion Bonus
Upon defeating the boss of an uncompleted map, the player is eligible for the “Map Completion Bonus” under specific conditions.
- The use of white maps may be effective in defeating the boss.
- Obtaining yellow maps during the boss fight may be difficult.
- To obtain a red map in the game, it is necessary to defeat the boss and obtain a rare corrupted version.
You will get an Atlas Passive Point as a map completion bonus. It provides permanent bonuses for the Atlas rewards. You can check the map completion bonus by hovering over the map directly on the Atlas and pressing “Alt” while selecting the map. Alternatively, you can do it by examining the map in the map stash tab.
Atlas Questlines
As players progress to Yellow maps in Atlas, they may notice questlines appearing on the right side of their screen, which eventually unlock three Beacons on the map device. These questlines are important to Atlas, and each culminates in a bossfight.
- The Maven
- The Searing Exarch
- The Eater of Worlds
The selected beacon for a map determines the storyline progression, and the quest log on the right of the screen gives instructions on which map tier to complete. Typically, these quest lines begin at Tier 6 maps and continue up to Tier 14-16.
Unlocking Voidstones
Voidstones are items that can be earned as quest rewards by defeating specific endgame bosses. These stones can be socketed onto the bottom of your Atlas, and they increase the map tier of all maps on the Atlas. The final tier of Voidstones is 4, which transforms all your Maps into Tier 16. To unlock Voidstones, you must defeat multiple PoE Bosses.
- Voidstone 1 – Shaper and the Elder
- Voidstone 2 – The Searing Exarch and The Eater of Worlds
- Voidstone 3 – Incarnation of the Dead
- Voidstone 4 – The Maven
The acquisition of each Voidstone grants a 25% chance for maps dropped in Areas to be 1 Tier higher. Once all Voidstones are obtained, this bonus totals to 100% and serves as a significant advantage in preventing the drop of lower-tier maps.
During the endgame phase, players have the option to use Sextants on Voidstones. Sextants serve as a form of currency and provide randomized rewards for the next three Maps that are played.
Unlocking Favoured Slots
The customization of map drops through Favoured Slots found on the left side of the Atlas is highly valuable for endgame farming, particularly for those who aim to repeatedly run specific maps.
Path of Exile Meta Farming Strategies
To progress through Path of Exile’s Atlas quickly, players can use the strategy of meta farming. This involves running maps with high completion bonuses to gain experience points, currency, and items. It’s important to focus on completing specific objectives in the maps, such as Map Bosses or special events, to get powerful rewards. This strategy is effective for quickly progressing through the Atlas and unlocking powerful rewards.
The Kirac
Using the Kirac’s nodes is an easy way to generate extra maps early in a league. More Kirac missions mean more maps and more Atlas passives. Taking the left side of the wheel and the Shaping nodes will form a powerful base for any build. If you’re unsure where to go, start here to speed up your Atlas progression.
How to Get Maps?
To prevent running out of new maps to unlock, it is important to continuously replenish your map collection. Here are some strategies to consider.
- You can unlock Kirac missions by completing maps.
- Kirac’s trading inventory includes maps and is reset every time a Kirac mission is opened.
- The Orb of Horizons can alter an accessible map into a distinct one.
4.9PoE Atlas Progression and Skill Tree Guide FAQ
In this FAQ section of the guide, we will answer some of the most common questions regarding Atlas in Path of Exile.
How Do You Unlock the Atlas in Path of Exile?
The Atlas of Worlds unlocks after you defeat Kitava in Act 10. Speak with Commander Kirac to begin mapping and start progressing through the Atlas.
How Do You Earn Atlas Passive Points in PoE?
You earn Atlas Passive Points by completing Map Bonus Objectives. Additional points come from The Maven questline, Pinnacle Bosses, and Endgame Invitations, for a total of 132 points.
Can You Respec the Atlas in Path of Exile?
Yes, you can refund Atlas Passive Points by using Orbs of Unmaking. You can also find them as drops, trade with other players, or buy them from Kirac for 2 Orbs of Regret each.
What Are Voidstones in Path of Exile Atlas?
Voidstones are endgame rewards that you can get from some Pinnacle Bosses. Each Voidstone raises the tier of every map on your Atlas, and all four together upgrade the entire Atlas to Tier 16.
What Are Favoured Atlas Map Slots in PoE?
Favoured Map Slots let you increase the drop chance of specific maps. You can use these slots for endgame farming to repeatedly run the same layouts.
How To Craft Maps for Atlas Progression in PoE?
You can craft White Maps with Transmutation Orbs, and upgrade Yellow and Red Maps with an Orb of Alchemy. Red Maps also require corruption with a Vaal Orb to earn their Map Completion Bonus.
Which Atlas Passives Should I Take First in PoE?
Early Atlas progression usually focuses on map sustain and Kirac-related passives to unlock more maps quickly. After that, you can invest in league mechanics that fit your farming strategy.
The Atlas of Worlds is the main part of Path of Exile’s endgame that gives players many ways to improve their maps and rewards. By learning how Atlas Passives, map progression, Voidstones, and endgame bosses work, you can build a setup that matches your goals. Keep upgrading your Atlas, complete new objectives, and choose the farming strategies that work best for your character.
