The mining mechanic introduced in the Settlers of Kalguur league of Path of Exile adds a new layer of gameplay to the game. This guide will help you understand how to mine effectively, unlock and utilize ores, and manage your mining operations for optimal results.

1. Understanding Mining in PoE

A. How to Mine:

Active Participation: Mining in Path of Exile requires active engagement. Unlike passive income systems, you need to participate in mining encounters and manage mining operations actively.

Completing Mining Encounters: To mine, you need to complete specific encounters in maps where ores can be found. Once you find these ores, you must mark them and then assign miners to extract them in your settlement, Kingsmarch.

B. Hiring Miners:

Specialization: Hire miners based on their specialization. It's generally more cost-effective to hire miners who specialize in a single resource. This minimizes the cost associated with their services.

Managing Costs: Miners' salaries increase with their level and specialization. Consider managing your mining operations to minimize unnecessary expenses. Note that miners are not paid if they are not actively mining, which can help conserve gold if you're facing financial constraints.

2. Unlocking Ores

To mine ores, you need to advance your mining operation to specific levels. Here's a breakdown of how to unlock and use each type of ore:

A. Ore Unlocking and Levels:

Rank 1: Crimson Iron Ore

How to Unlock: Requires Mining operation at Rank 1.

Characteristics: This is a common ore. It becomes available as soon as you reach Mining Rank 1.

Rank 2: Orichalcum Ore

How to Unlock: Requires Mining operation at Rank 2.

Characteristics: Rare than Crimson Iron, Orichalcum Ore provides a buff that attacks enemies targeted by your abilities.

Rank 3: Petrified Amber Ore

How to Unlock: Requires Mining operation at Rank 3.

Characteristics: Defend this ore from enemies as their hits reduce the potential resource.

Rank 4: Bismuth Ore

How to Unlock: Requires Mining operation at Rank 4.

Characteristics: Adds an elemental hazard to the map. It is best to mine this ore towards the end of your map runs to avoid dealing with the added difficulty.

Rank 5: Verisium Ore

How to Unlock: Requires Mining operation at Rank 6.

Characteristics: Channeling Verisium Ore yields more resources, but the longer you channel, the more enemies appear, making it a high-risk, high-reward scenario.

B. Increasing Rarity:

Upgrade Mining Rank: To make rare ores like Verisium more common, upgrade your Mining operation to at least Rank 9. This increases the chances of finding rarer ores.

3. Mining Mechanics and Strategies

A. Finding and Activating Ores:

Crimson Iron Ore: Defeat all enemies and their spawners in the area to claim this one.

Orichalcum Ore: Kill demons to obtain this ore, which provides a useful buff for your attacks.

Petrified Amber Ore: You need to actively defend this ore from enemy attacks; their hits decrease the amount of resources you can gather.

Bismuth Ore: This ore introduces an elemental hazard to your map. Plan to mine it at the end of your map runs to avoid the added difficulty during your exploration.

Iridium Ore: Channel the ore to gather more resources. The longer you channel, the more enemies will appear, increasing the risk but also the potential reward.

B. Resource Management:

Gold Management: If you are running low on gold, ensure to manage your mining workers efficiently and prioritize the ones that provide the best return on investment.

Miners' Efficiency: Keep your miners specialized to reduce salary costs and ensure they are assigned to active mining tasks only.

4. Additional Tips

A. Optimize Mining Runs:

Plan Routes: Map out your runs to include the ores you need and to maximize efficiency. Avoid unnecessary hazards and focus on high-value ores.

Adjust Strategies: Based on the ores you are targeting and the map difficulties, adjust your strategy to ensure you get the best returns from your mining operations.

B. Utilize Path of Exile Currency and Items:

Buy and Sell: Utilize the in-game economy to buy or sell ores and other items. This can help you balance your mining operations and manage resources effectively.

C. Stay Updated:

Game Updates: Keep track of game updates and changes related to mining. Updates may alter ore availability, mining mechanics, or worker efficiency.

By understanding these mechanics and strategies, you can effectively manage your mining operations in Path of Exile and maximize your rewards from the Settlers of Kalguur league. Happy mining!