Mastering Path of Exile 2's Expedition Endgame: A Comprehensive Guide

Path of Exile 2 introduces four major endgame events: Delirium, Breaches, Rituals, and Expeditions. This guide focuses on Expeditions, a returning mechanic from the original game, detailing its mechanics, rewards, and the crucial Expedition Passive Skill Tree.

Understanding Expeditions and the Detonation Mechanic

Expeditions are identified on the Atlas map by a light blue, spiral-shaped icon. An Expedition Precursor Tablet placed in a completed Lost Tower slot guarantees an Expedition encounter on a chosen map node.

Entering an Expedition reveals an area with Markers and a tent containing four NPCs. The core mechanic involves using Explosives to activate Markers, spawning Runic Monsters and Excavated Chests.

• Runic Monsters: Spawn from Explosives detonated near Red Markers. Larger Markers yield larger monster packs, enhanced by Unearthed Remnants.
• Unearthed Remnants: Relics with modifiers (e.g., increased monster elemental damage, increased chest rarity).
• Excavated Chests: Spawn from Explosives near Black Markers with the spiral symbol, containing Artifacts, Logbooks, currency, Waystones, and high-tier gear.

The Explosives UI shows the area of effect (AoE). For optimal farming, avoid overlapping AoE circles when placing Explosives. After placement, activate the Detonator. If overwhelmed, retreat and return later; the event doesn't end upon leaving the area.

The Expedition Pinnacle Map and Olroth

Runic Monsters and Excavated Chests have a chance to drop Expedition Logbooks. These are used with Dannig in your Hideout to access the Expedition Pinnacle Map – a significantly larger Expedition with more Explosives.

This map has a chance to feature the Pinnacle Boss, Olroth (indicated by a skull on the minimap). Defeating Olroth is key to obtaining Expedition Passive Skill Tree points (2x points per victory).

The Expedition Passive Skill Tree

Located in the Atlas Passive Skill Tree, the Expedition Passive Skill Tree enhances Expedition rewards and difficulty. It features eight Notable nodes and eight difficulty-increasing nodes for Logbooks. Each new Notable node requires defeating Olroth at an increased difficulty.

Prioritize "Disturbed Rest," "Detailed Records," and "Timed Detonations" for significant reward boosts. Then consider "Weight of History," "Unearthed Anomalies," and "Legendary Battles" for further, more challenging improvements. Avoid "Extreme Archaeology" due to the significant reduction in Explosives.

Expedition Rewards: Artifacts and Coinage

The main rewards are Artifacts, used to trade with specific vendors for gear:

Each Expedition features one vendor. Artifacts are not consumed after map completion. Exotic Coinage refreshes any vendor's inventory. Expedition Logbooks, obtained from Runic Monsters and Excavated Chests, unlock the Pinnacle Map and a chance to fight Olroth for exceptional rewards.