This is a guide for The Cataclysm's Wake, a Main quest in Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2). Learn how to unlock and complete The Cataclysm's Wake, what to do if the map device isn't working, as well as the rewards for completing The Cataclysm's Wake!

How to Unlock The Cataclysm's Wake

Finish Cruel Act 3

You can unlock The Cataclysm's Wake after finishing Act 3 on Cruel difficulty.

Complete Act 3 Walkthrough

The Cataclysm's Wake Objectives

The Cataclysm's Wake Objectives
Get different-tiered waystones. Interact with the map device in Ziggurat Refuge. Enter and clear the maps.

Get Different-Tiered Waystones

Before starting Cataclysm's Wake, you'll need Waystones—essential items for traversing maps. These Waystones come in various tiers, with Tier 1 Waystones available for purchase from Doryani as many times as needed.

You can get higher rarity Waystones by reforging three Waystones of the same tier or you can randomly obtain them from killing mobs within different maps.

Interact With the Map Device in Ziggurat Refuge

Once you have a waystone, head to Ziggurat Refuge and interact with the map device to access the endgame map. From here, select the map you want to complete, insert your Waystone, and click “Traverse”. This action will bring you back to the map device, where portals to the selected map will appear, ready for you to enter.

Enter and Clear the Maps

Finally, simply head inside one of the portals and clear the map by killing all Rare and Unique monsters in the area. We recommend killing as many mobs as possible too for a chance to get higher-tiered waystones!

To complete Cataclysm's Wake, you'll need to clear different-tiered maps a couple of times.

Catackysm's Wake Objectives

The Cataclysm's Wake Map Device Not Working

Fix By Re-Entering the Area

Some players have reported that they can't interact with the map device in The Ziggurat Refuge (Past). We have found that to fix this, all players need to do is to teleport out of the area and re-enter it again. The device should have no problem operating from this point onwards.

The Cataclysm's Wake Rewards

Quest Rewards

For every tier that you clear, you'll be rewarded with a Book of Knowledge. Each book grants you two Atlas passive skill points.

The Cataclysm's Wake Previous and Next Quest

Path of Exile 2 Related Guides

List of All Quests

All Hidden Priority Quests

All Main Quests

All Side Quests