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After completing the campaign of Path of Exile 2 Forbidden Rites and the subsequent Interlude, you will reach the endgame. The core of the endgame system is Atlas passive skill tree. It boosts item rarity and the number of rare monsters within maps, while also increasing Waystone drop rates - ensuring a steady supply of map resources as you progress from Tier 1 to Tier 15.

Patch 0.5.5 introduced a crucial change to Atlas progression flow. Previously, unlocking all Atlas passive points required defeating the Arbiter of Divinity five times; in Forbidden Rites, this requirement has been reduced to just two kills, significantly shortening the time needed to fully develop your Atlas setup.

Once you have completed the initial Atlas unlocks, you can shift your focus from map progression to maximizing profits much sooner. Let's look at how to efficiently plan your Atlas to boost your endgame returns.

Phase 1: Quickly Unlocking Atlas Passive Points

Starting Strategy: Don't Start at Tier 1

Upon entering the endgame, Doryani gives you a Tier 1 Waystone. However, if your build is already combat-ready, there is no need to slowly climb up from Tier 1. The game's experience penalty mechanics allow a level 64 character to kill level 71 enemies without losing out on experience gains, so you can absolutely start progressing using higher-tier Waystones right away.

Core Principle: Speed-Run Bosses, Skip Mechanics

While you are still working to unlock all your Atlas points, there is only one priority: complete maps as quickly as possible to unlock those points.

This means rushing straight to the boss upon entering a map, rather than clearing out every single monster. Also, remember not to use Tablet infusion mechanics, upgrade maps with Orbs of Alchemy or Regal Orbs, or spend time on league mechanics like Rituals or Breaches.

The reason for this is that, without the bonuses provided by Atlas passive points, the returns from these mechanics are extremely low. Take Ritual mechanic as an example: without specific Ritual passive points, the Favor you earn is insufficient to purchase rare items. You are forced to rely on Defer function - saving desired rewards for future Ritual encounters - meaning the actual return on investment is quite limited.

Second Kill of Arbiter of Divinity: Claiming All Remaining Atlas Points at Once

Another significant change in version 0.5.5 concerns the use of Origin Core.

After completing Precursor Fortress main questline, you must clear Patriarch Halls and Matriarch Halls to obtain Origin Spark and Origin Cradle, respectively. You then combine these two items to create an Origin Core and defeat Arbiter of Divinity.

There is a crucial mechanic here: defeating the boss for the first time using the quest-rewarded Origin Core does not immediately grant you all the remaining Atlas points. However, if you defeat Arbiter of Divinity a second time using a non-quest version of Origin Core, you can instantly complete the entire Precursor Fortress and claim all remaining Atlas passive points in one go.

Therefore, the primary goal of the second kill isn't simply to fight the boss again, but to secure the remaining Atlas points in a single step.

If you prefer not to traverse the world map again to hunt for Origin Spark and Cradle, you can simply use PoE 2 currency to acquire a finished Origin Core. This allows you to skip the material-gathering phase, proceed directly to the second Arbiter kill, and quickly max out your remaining Atlas points.

Phase 2: Mid-Game Mapping - Expedition and Delirium

Expedition: A Reliable Source of Divine Orbs and Perfect Jeweller's Orbs

Once you have maxed out your Atlas points, your mapping strategy should shift from speed-running to maximizing profit. The first mechanic worth prioritizing is Expedition.

You can unlock Expedition content at Ruins of Kingsmarch, located in the southeast section of Atlas. Completing the associated quests grants you access to Grand Expeditions.

Grand Expeditions have a critical Tier requirement: you must use Tier 14 maps or higher to ensure Vaal Monolith rolls the maximum possible modifier values. Using maps below Tier 14 results in significantly reduced rewards from Remnants.

In Tier 15 Grand Expeditions, Remnants can drop high-value items such as Divine Orbs, Perfect Jeweller's Orbs, and Masterwork Runes. Completing Expedition storyline also unlocks specific Expedition Atlas points, further enhancing the quality of rewards from Remnants.

Delirium: 200% Delirium and Liquid Emotions Returns

Once Expedition farming is stabilized, the next mechanic worth investing in is Delirium. Starting from Hilda's Campsite, head to Withered Willow to complete the Delirium encounter chain and unlock the corresponding Atlas passive points; then, challenge Simulacrum and Raven.

Running 200% Delirium is a highly efficient mapping strategy in PoE 2 version 0.5.5. Notably, city maps allow for the placement of four Tablets - one more than standard maps - making them key to maximizing returns. A common approach is to use a Grand Mirror to trigger the Delirium fog, gradually raise Delirium level to 200% using surrounding maps, and then farm this high-intensity map repeatedly.

Key rewards include Simulacrum Splinters, complete Simulacrums, high-value currency drops from extra monsters, and Delirium-exclusive Liquid Emotions. The latter often provides a significant source of additional income.

Additionally, you can combine Delirium Tablets with Expedition mechanics to reap rewards from both systems in a single map, balancing experience gains with extra loot.

Phase 3: Unlocking and Utilizing Masters of the Atlas

The endgame of PoE 2 version 0.5.5 features three Masters of the Atlas - Hilda, Doryani, and Jado - each offering 12 passive points. These points directly influence the types of loot you receive and the map's difficulty; proper configuration determines whether you are buried in mediocre spoils or consistently acquire high-value items.

Hilda

Unlocking Hilda is the most straightforward process: she awaits you at Hilda's Campsite, southwest of Ziggurat Refuge. She will mark the location of a Great Beast for you; simply travel there and defeat it to earn Hilda's Master passive points. Her passive tree focuses on enhancing rewards from bosses and powerful enemies, making it ideal for players who rely on boss farming as their primary income source.

Doryani

To unlock Doryani, you must complete Corrupted Nexus map. Doryani focuses more on enhancing Atlas itself and map control - such as boosting Waystone modifier effects, altering map zones, and improving map progression capabilities - making it ideal for players looking to optimize mapping efficiency and command over the Atlas.

Jado

Unlocking Jado requires clearing Anomaly Maps. Jado's passive nodes primarily enhance Strongboxes, map layouts, and Anomaly Maps, with some nodes also boosting the acquisition rate of high-value items like Uniques. If your goal is farming Strongboxes, Uniques, or Anomaly content, Jado is an excellent choice.

Overall, endgame progression in PoE 2 version 0.5.5 follows a clear trajectory: the early stage centers on speed-running maps to quickly unlock Atlas points; the mid-stage shifts toward high-yield mechanics like Expedition and Delirium; and once Atlas setup is established, you configure your Masters of the Atlas passives based on your specific farming objectives.

You might be wondering: if you're on a tight budget in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 - or even relying solely on gear picked up along the way - is there a build capable of reaching the endgame? The answer is a resounding yes: Disciple of Varashta summoning build.

You'll start as a Sorceress and officially bring the build online once you complete your first Ascendancy at level 20–21 to become a Disciple of Varashta.

It doesn't rely on expensive core items; your minions handle the vast majority of the damage output, while your character simply needs to maintain command skills and key buffs.

Core Mechanics

To summarize the core mechanics of this Disciple of Varashta Summoner: you maximize the bonuses applied to Kelari, the Tainted Sands via your minion systems, stack Muster's more damage multiplier using a variety of minion types, and rely on the permanently active Archon of Undeath buff for burst damage.

In more detail: Kelari, the Tainted Sands counts as a minion during damage calculation, meaning it benefits from both minion damage modifiers and allies in presence deal increased damage bonuses.

Muster support gem grants 7% more damage for each distinct type of minion you have; therefore, the greater the variety of minions, the higher the damage output of Kelari, the Tainted Sands.

By allocating Dominion on your amulet, you can keep Archon of Undeath buff active almost constantly, ensuring Disciple of Varashta Summoner remains powerful throughout PoE 2 combat encounters.

Gear Choices

Weapon

Weapon selection is crucial for this build. You should prioritize a Rattling Scepter that features allies in presence deal increased damage, +1 to Level of all Minion Skills, and the ability to stack Puppet Master charges.

Helmet

For the helmet, aim for high Energy Shield, resistances, and +1 to Level of all Minion Skills.

Body Armour

The goals for the body armour mirror those of the helmet: prioritize high Energy Shield and resistances, while trying to secure +1 to Level of all Minion Skills.

Focus

High Energy Shield and resistances remain the priorities for Focus. Ideally, you want a Focus with +2 to Level of all Minion Skills, though this affix is ​​expensive, so your choice will depend on your PoE2 currency budget. 

Gloves

Continuing the approach used for other armor pieces, you should look for Energy Shield and resistances on your gloves, as well as any +1 to Level of All Minion Skills modifiers you can afford in Path of Exile 2.

Boots

Use Bones of Ullr boots; the primary goal is to gain Minion Reservation Efficiency while also providing some movement speed for your Disciple of Varashta setup.

Rings

For your two ring slots, prioritize a Topaz Ring to fill in any missing resistances. For the other slot, use an Evergrasping Ring, as it carries virtually no downsides within Chaos Inoculation system we are utilizing.

Amulet

As previously mentioned, remember to allocate Dominion passive to your amulet; ideally, look for stats like +1 to Level of All Minion Skills and Spirit.

Belt

The belt isn't a critical component for this Disciple of Varashta minion build, though for specific boss encounters, you might consider using one that grants immunity to Corrupted Blood.

Skill Setup

Boss Encounters

When facing bosses, your primary damage skills will be Kelari, the Tainted Sands and Kelari's Deception. Link these with Muster, Concentrated Area, Kurgal's Leash, Hulking Minions, and Bidding III (to improve cooldown recovery).

Kurgal's Leash grants your minions Unholy Might after you use command skills, while Hulking Minions provides a more damage multiplier to your support skills.

Mapping

When clearing maps in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.5, this Disciple of Varashta build can utilize Navira's Fracturing.

However, this skill only takes effect if enemies are standing on Chilled Ground. Therefore, you should pair it with Companion: Plague Harvester and its Trail of Ice skill, allowing the companion to automatically create Chilled Ground.

Minions

Regarding minions, aim to have at least one of each type active and equip Last Gasp support gem. The required skills are:

• Skeletal Warrior
• Skeletal Storm Mage
• Skeletal Brute
• Skeletal Cleric
• Skeletal Sniper
• Skeletal Arsonist
• Skeletal Frost Mage
• Skeletal Reaver

Pain Offering is reserved for boss encounters; link it with Prolonged Duration, Minion Mastery, Magnified Area II, and Danse Macabre support gems. 

Passive Skill Tree

For Disciple of Varashta summoning build, players should first prioritize Energy Shield-related nodes, such as The Fourth Teaching, Energy Shield, and Sacred Rituals.

Minion damage is also a key consideration, making nodes like Spell and Minion Damage, Growing Swarm, and Restless Dead top priorities.

If you wish to boost your minions' critical strike damage, nodes such as Minion Critical Chance and Grip of Evil offer excellent bonuses in Path of Exile 2.

Additionally, you can invest points into nodes affecting a minion area of ​​effect, Puppet Master stacks, Archon of Undeath buffs, elemental resistances, and movement speed, finally rounding out the build with Chaos Inoculation.

The overall strategy is to maintain Archon of Undeath uptime while relying on Energy Shield to anchor the build's defenses.

As your PoE 2 currency budget grows, you can further scale your Energy Shield and minion skill levels, making Disciple of Varashta summoning build feel increasingly smooth and powerful in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.5!

In almost every Path of Exile 2 league, certain builds or classes rise to prominence, defining the meta-game for that period. As of Patch 0.5.5, Gemling Legionnaire has emerged as the most popular Ascendancy class.

Prior to the release of Patch 0.5.0, this Ascendancy was relatively unpopular; however, PoE 2 implemented mechanical optimizations specifically to address this, quickly making it a player favorite.

This shift resulted in Gemling Legionnaire dominating the player base even after the launch of Forbidden Rites league, creating a somewhat unbalanced meta for Patch 0.5.5.

In this article, we analyze the current state of Gemling Legionnaire, the reasons behind its rapid rise in popularity, and the changes needed to balance the meta before the official 1.0 launch.

Current state of Gemling Legionnaire

Since the launch of Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5, over 30% of players have chosen to play Gemling Legionnaire, whereas the runner-up, Martial Artist, accounts for only 9% of the player base.

Meanwhile, many established or non-core Ascendancy classes, such as Invoker, Smith of Kitava, and Ritualist, have seen their play rates drop to below 1%.

This extreme disparity in usage figures isn't simply because Gemling Legionnaire is stronger than other classes; rather, it highlights deeper differences in Ascendancy design within the current version.

In other words, PoE 2 Gemling Legionnaire isn't just about high damage numbers; its mechanical design offers unprecedented fun and freedom in build crafting. By comparison, older classes that haven't received updates feel increasingly stale.

What makes Gemling Legionnaire so powerful?

The class has managed to retain a massive player base since Patch 0.5.0 release in May largely due to the development team's successful rework, specifically, the adjustments made to Advanced Thaumaturgy Notable Passive.

This passive ensures that skill gem quality provides more than just minor percentage bonuses; it now grants entirely new, additional effects.

Take Explosive Grenade skill as an example. In a standard design, increasing gem quality might only yield a slight boost to its radius or a marginal increase in damage.

However, with Advanced Thaumaturgy enhancement, gem quality translates directly into additional projectiles.

The benefits become significant once quality reaches +6. If you stack quality even higher through gear and resource investment, the projectile count explodes, resulting in final damage output that far exceeds expectations.

This fundamental shift in mechanics renders traditional grenade-focused classes, such as Witchhunter and Tactician, obsolete. While these classes have their own merits, they pale in comparison to the bonuses provided by Advanced Thaumaturgy.

Reasons for the decline of certain classic Ascendancies

Compared to the high damage output and mobility of Path of Exile 2 Gemling Legionnaire, other Ascendancies have fallen out of favor not only due to a lack of updates but also because their underlying mechanical flaws have become increasingly apparent.

Take Smith of Kitava for instance. The class's core issue lies in the lack of effective synergy and rotation between its mechanics.

For one, the mechanic involving forging weapons on an anvil is virtually never used, and the signature skill Manifest Weapon is consistently ignored. There is also a mechanic that triggers fire spells on hit, yet there are no truly effective fire spells to synergize with it.

The only viable playstyle for Smith of Kitava involves combining Whirling Assault with Detonate Dead, dealing damage based on a corpse's maximum health by detonating it.

The problem, however, is that Detonate Dead is quite weak against bosses; furthermore, if you intend to play Whirling Assault, Martial Artist is a far superior choice.

Reasons for the success of other promising classes

Although the player base for Martial Artist doesn't quite match that of Gemling Legionnaire, it still significantly outpaces other PoE 2 Ascendancies. Its success stems from its unique, driver-style mechanics.

Martial Artist's Hollow Form allows you to create powerful clones that fight alongside you; when combined with other AoE skills, this enables instant screen-clearing.

In contrast, Invoker, which shares the same base class, offers only marginal Spirit gains, elemental effects triggered by critical hits, or chilled ground created upon freezing enemies.

These incremental stat bonuses pale in comparison to the screen-clearing power offered by Hollow Form.

How should the current meta be adjusted in preparation for the 1.0 launch?

While Gemling Legionnaire is currently performing exceptionally well, its dominance in player attention could prove detrimental to the future of Path of Exile 2, particularly regarding game balance post-launch.

First and foremost, a simple, blanket nerf to Gemling Legionnaire is not the answer; instead, the developers should preserve its core identity while making reasonable numerical adjustments to the bug-tier stacking mechanics that exceed intended design parameters.

As the 1.0 launch introduces additional classes and Ascendancies, early-game options should be reworked sooner rather than later to highlight their unique characteristics and ensure they remain viable and engaging choices.

For builds centered around specific themes, the development team should implement clearer and more powerful mechanical support within the relevant Ascendancy passive trees following the 1.0 release.

In short, while Gemling Legionnaire has caused a slight imbalance in the current PoE 2 meta, it demonstrates a strong player appetite for playstyles driven by the unique mechanics of Ascendancies.

By using this insight to guide the optimization and reworking of other classes, the developers can ensure that the combat experience in Path of Exile 2 becomes both balanced and richly varied upon the game's full launch.