Atlas of Worlds Endgame Explained

The Atlas of Worlds is the end-game system map used in Path of Exile 2. Check out what the Atlas of Worlds is, its mechanics, and all the end-game systems associated with it in this guide.

What is the Atlas of Worlds?

End-game System Map and Hub

The Atlas of Worlds, simply called Atlas, is the core of Path of Exile 2's end-game. It is an infinite map that expands in all directions and is the hub for all the end-game content and systems players can experience.

Atlas of Worlds Mechanics

Zigurrat

The Ziggurat is the central starting point within the Atlas. It's the teleportation hub for different maps or map nodes found on the Atlas. Here, players will find the Map Device, the tool used alongside Waystones to teleport to these maps.

Waystones

Waystones are a one-time consumable item used to enter different maps. They determine the levels of enemies and monsters within each map based on their individual tiers.

To use Waystones, players must interact with the Ziggurat's Map Device and click on a map node that links to a conquered one. They then insert the Waystone into one of the free slots and click traverse.

Waystones can be Modified to Increase Difficulty and Reward

These Waystones can also be modified using different items like Orbs of Transmutation and Orbs of Augmentation. Up to two modifiers can be added per Waystone, and these modifiers can help increase the rewards received from map nodes or their difficulty.

Maps

Maps are nodes on the Atlas that players enter to defeat enemies, do activities, and ultimately claim rewards. To finish a map, players must defeat all the enemies and bosses within the map. Note that players can only attempt each map once, meaning they lose access to it if they fail to finish it the first time.

Factors like the surrounding biome, the corruption nearby, and the waypoint modifiers determine the characteristics of each map and its enemies, mechanics, and rewards. Players will find icons and symbols atop each node before entering, helping them determine what kind of encounters and characteristics they can expect from each map.

1. Unique Areas
2. Hideouts
3. Towers
4. Boss Maps

The list above are the different types of maps or map nodes that can be found in the Atlas.

Unique Areas

Unique Areas may include mobs that gives a crazy amount of experience when killed, or it may contain NPCs that give you free items. Always be on the lookout for these unique areas.

Hideouts

Hideouts are maps that contain enemies that players can convert into player hideouts, which they can decorate and customize. Players must defeat all monsters and enemies within the map to convert one into a hideout.

Towers

Towers are maps that, upon completion, give players an increased vision of the surrounding area, helping them scout and plan their next locations and moves.

Boss Maps

Boss maps contain difficult bosses which players can fight for high-quality loot and rewards. Only one out of four maps will be a boss map, and each of the encountered bosses will be one from the main campaign but with modified attack patterns and characteristics like higher health pools.

Random Encounters

When inside maps, players can come upon optional random encounters, which players may do to get various rewards like buffs or items.

1. Percursor Artifacts
2. Strongboxes
3. Solidified Crystaline Corruptions

The list above includes the random encounters you can run into on different maps or areas of the Atlas.

Percursor Artifacts

Precursor Artifacts are corrupting monuments that irradiate and draw nearby enemies. Defeating these nearby monsters and cleansing the monument will grant players a significant temporary buff, such as increasing movement speed or automatically executing AoE skills nearby.

Strongboxes

Strongboxes are large boxes containing different loot and rewards. However, opening these boxes will inflict debuffs on the player and summon enemies around them. These boxes and their rewards can also be customized using currency items.

Solidified Crystaline Corruptions

While progressing a map, players may find unmoving and crystalized enemies. When freed and defeated, these enemies will drop Essences, which players can use to upgrade an equipment's rarity and add a guaranteed modifier.

Atlas Tree

Like the player, the Atlas also comes with its own passive skill tree. Skill nodes on the Atlas tree modify and add characteristics to different features of the Atlas and its maps such as having more difficult enemies, additional mechanics, or higher-tiered rewards.

Within the tree are specialized mini-skill trees that pertain to different end-game systems and activities. Each mini-skill tree requires exclusive skill points to unlock skill nodes under them, making them independent from one another. Players can obtain different skill points for these trees from playing and defeating content for the different end-game systems below.

Atlas of Worlds End-Game Systems

Breach

The Breach end-game system involves players opening breaches that connect their world to the otherworld and fighting all the monsters that spawn from it. The more enemies players defeat, the higher the quality and quantity of the loot they receive.

Breach Endgame Mechanic

Ritual

The Ritual end-game system involves players killing and sacrificing enemies within ritual sites built by the King of the Mist to gain tribute. Players can use tributes to purchase different favors or items from these ritual sites, such as Omens.

Ritual Endgame Mechanic

Delirium

The Delirium end-game system involves players stepping into a looking glass and fighting monsters in a nightmare filled with a mist. The longer players stay in this mist, the more difficult enemies become and the better the rewards will be.

Delirium Endgame Mechanic

Expedition

The Expedition end-game system involves players helping Kalguuran settlers find Verisium artifacts by using explosives on marked dig sites. However, to get these artifacts, players must also defeat ancestral corpses reanimated by the corruption.

Expedition Explained

The Burning Monolith

The Burning Monolith is one of, if not the most difficult, end-game system in Path of Exile 2. It involves players collecting three keys from three different enemy factions. These keys are then used to gain entry into a large fortress containing mazes and enemies that players must conquer.

The Burning Monolith Explained

Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) Related Guides

Path of Exile 2 Guides

Path of Exile 2 Wiki Contents
Builds	Classes
Tips and Tricks	Bosses
Walkthrough	Quests
Gems	Items
Weapons	Armors
Accessories	Passives
Skills	Ascension Trials
Glossary	Atlas of Worlds
Leagues	Characters
Cosmetics	Microtransactions
News and Updates	-

Best Class Tier List	Best Stash Tabs to Buy
Which Class Should You Play?	List of Unique Equipment
Best Minions to Summon	How to Use Loot Filters