Path of Exile 2 introduces a wealth of exciting content, including the return of Expedition, a seasonal mechanic first seen in the original Expedition League. This event introduces a variety of new gameplay mechanics that significantly impact your endgame experience. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, understanding how to fully engage with Expedition mechanics will help you maximize rewards and progress through PoE 2's vast endgame systems.

In this guide, we'll dive into the core mechanics of the Expedition event, including Detonators, Explosives, and Runic Monsters. We will also look at how to optimize your approach to Expeditions, manage your Expedition Passive Skill Tree, and explain the best rewards you can expect from participating in these events.

Starting an Expedition: Key Mechanics Explained

Expedition events can be found while navigating through the Atlas of Worlds. When a map node contains an Expedition, it will be marked with an ethereal, light blue icon featuring a spiral-like shape. This will lead you to areas in the map where you can engage with the Expedition mechanics.

Once you enter an Expedition map, you'll notice an area filled with Markers, which act as points for interaction. At the center of this area, you will find the Detonator, a crucial element of the Expedition system. Interacting with the Detonator opens up the ability to activate Explosives, which will trigger specific effects depending on their placement.

Explosives and Marker Types

Explosives are the heart of the Expedition event. By placing them strategically around the map, you can trigger three main types of events: Runic Monsters, Unearthed Remnants, and Excavated Chests.

Runic Monsters: These enemies spawn when Explosives are detonated near Red Markers. The larger the Marker, the greater the number of Runic Monsters that spawn. These monsters drop valuable loot and provide a challenge to your character.

Unearthed Remnants: These are floating relics marked on the ground, offering positive or negative modifiers to the event. For instance, an Unearthed Remnant might increase the Elemental Damage of monsters but also raise the rarity of item drops from Excavated Chests.

Excavated Chests: Spawned when Explosives are detonated near Black Markers, these chests contain event-specific rewards, including Artifacts, Logbooks, and powerful Currencies. These rewards are critical to progressing through the Expedition system.

Expedition Event Strategy: Optimal Placement and Timing

For maximum rewards, it's essential to place Explosives strategically. When you click on the Explosives button in the UI, you will see a green circle indicating the area of effect for each explosive. Make sure to position your Explosives in a way that maximizes the coverage without overlapping too much. Overlapping AoE circles can waste your Explosives, reducing the number of possible encounters and chests.

Once you've placed your Explosives, return to the Detonator and interact with it. This will trigger the explosions, spawning Runic Monsters and Unearthed Remnants, leading to the start of the event.

If you're finding the event overwhelming, you can leave the Expedition zone and return later. The event will not end if you leave, so feel free to disengage, heal, and come back with more powerful abilities or gear. Some players even prefer to trigger the event, run away, and return to face the enemies all at once, using AoE attacks for a more efficient farm.

Expedition Logbooks: Unlocking More Rewards

One of the major incentives for engaging with Expedition is the chance to earn Expedition Logbooks. These can be dropped by Runic Monsters or Excavated Chests during the event. Once obtained, Logbooks can be brought to Dannig in your hideout to open up a new Expedition Map.

The Expedition Logbook system leads you to the Expedition Pinnacle Maps, which are much more difficult but offer significantly higher rewards. When opening a Logbook, you are essentially embarking on a massive Expedition, where you have access to more Explosives and a higher chance to encounter Olroth, the Pinnacle Boss of Expedition events.

Olroth: The Pinnacle Boss

Olroth is a boss that spawns within Logbook Maps at higher levels. Defeating him is vital for progressing in the Expedition Passive Skill Tree, as you earn 2x Expedition Passive Skill Points each time Olroth is defeated. These points are crucial for improving your Expedition mechanics, and each Olroth kill is an opportunity to enhance the rewards you can gain.

When engaging with Olroth, always make sure to place your Explosives to create a path leading to him. Once Olroth is defeated, you'll receive rewards, such as high-tier Path of Exile 2 Currency and exclusive Unique Items.

Expedition Passive Skill Tree: Enhancing Your Expedition Rewards

The Expedition Passive Skill Tree is one of the most crucial aspects of PoE 2's Expedition system. This passive skill tree is accessed through the Atlas Passive Skill Tree and allows players to invest points into specific bonuses related to Expeditions.

By defeating Olroth, you'll receive Expedition Passive Skill Points. These points can be used to unlock various Notable Nodes that enhance your Expedition experience. Some notable nodes include:

Disturbed Rest: This node provides major bonuses to the number of rewards you can earn, such as increased currency rewards.

Detailed Records: This node boosts the drop rate of Logbooks and Excavated Chests, making it easier to progress in the Expedition system.

Timed Detonations: This node increases the effectiveness of your Explosives, improving the chances of obtaining high-tier rewards.

However, certain nodes like Extreme Archaeology should be avoided, as they limit the number of Explosives you can use, leading to reduced overall rewards. It's important to balance your nodes and avoid over-difficulty for higher returns.

Expedition Event Rewards: Artifacts and Exclusive Gear

The most notable rewards in the Expedition event are Artifacts and Exotic Coinage. Artifacts are a type of currency collected during Expedition events and can be traded with NPCs for high-quality gear. Each NPC vendor associated with an Expedition offers different types of gear, so make sure to bring your Artifacts with you when engaging in Expedition maps.

In addition to Artifacts, Exotic Coinage can be obtained and used to refresh vendors' inventories, providing access to better gear choices.

Furthermore, the Expedition Logbooks drop exclusive Unique Path of Exile 2 Items that cannot be found elsewhere in the game. These items often have special modifiers, making them valuable additions to your build.

Conclusion: Maximizing Your Expedition Efficiency

To make the most of the Expedition event in Path of Exile 2, players must focus on optimal Explosive placement, efficiently farming Runic Monsters and Excavated Chests, and maximizing their Expedition Passive Skill Tree benefits. With patience, strategy, and the right gear, you can turn these challenging encounters into a rewarding source of powerful Path of Exile 2 items, currencies, and unique boss fights. Keep in mind that this system is deeply tied to the Atlas progression, so investing time and effort into Expeditions will pay off in the long run.