Guide to Farming Waystones in Path of Exile 2: Tips for Dominating the Endgame
Key Takeaways:
- Waystones are essential for progressing through Path of Exile 2’s endgame, serving as the cornerstone for farming loot, completing quests, and upgrading gear.
- You can sustainably farm Waystones by combining efficient farming techniques with Atlas Passive Tree nodes and strategic reforging.
- Leveraging Doryani’s shop and the Reforging Bench are crucial for maintaining and upgrading your Waystone stockpile.
When it comes to Path of Exile 2’s endgame, Waystones are non-negotiable. Without them, progressing through maps, accessing higher-tier loot, and ultimately completing the Cataclysm’s Wake quest becomes next to impossible. Farming these Waystones efficiently can seem daunting at first, but with the right strategy, it gets significantly easier. Let’s dive into the best Waystone farming techniques and how you can build a sustainable strategy to master Path of Exile 2’s endgame content.
Why Waystones Are the Heart of Path of Exile 2’s Endgame
If you’re new to the endgame, here’s the deal: Waystones are your tickets to running maps, accessing better loot, and leveling up your character. Think of them as the engine driving your progression. No Waystones, no progress. The loot they provide is your pathway to improved builds, more powerful upgrades, and higher-tier maps.
So, how do you get started when Waystones seem scarce? The answer lies in understanding where they drop, how to amplify those drops, and making the most of the resources at your disposal.
How to Get Waystones: The Basics
Waystones drop from a variety of sources in Path of Exile 2, including:
- Killing monsters in maps
- Opening chests and breaking destructible objects
- Utilizing map modifiers to improve item quantity and quality
In essence, everything you do inside a map has a chance to yield Waystones. However, they are considered an “uncommon” drop, meaning they won’t rain from the skies. To farm them efficiently, you need to maximize your quantity of items found stat. This can be achieved through:
- Precursor Tablet Buffs: Found in Lost Towers, these buffs increase item quantity in your maps.
- Atlas Passive Tree Upgrades: Unlocking nodes that boost item drop rates is a game-changer (more on that later).
Early Game Strategy: Buy Waystones From Doryani
In the early endgame, your best bet is to purchase Waystones (Tiers 1–5) from Doryani’s shop. They cost gold, which you can easily farm by clearing maps. Buying low-tier Waystones gives you a solid foundation to start progressing through the Atlas.
Best Waystone Farming Strategy
Once you’ve unlocked mapping and earned a few Atlas skill points, it’s time to refine your Waystone farming strategy. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Prioritize Atlas Passive Tree Nodes
Atlas skill points earned through the Cataclysm’s Wake quest are your best friends. Focus on nodes that amplify your Waystone drops and item quantity. These are the ones you should prioritize:
- Waystones found have a 10% chance to be a tier higher.
- Constant Crossroads: 20% increased quantity of Waystones in maps.
- Increased quantity of Waystones found in maps.
- Deadly Evolution: Rare and unique monsters gain 1–2 additional modifiers, increasing their loot pool.
- The High Road: 20% chance for Waystones to drop at a higher tier.
- Lucky Pillage: 5% increased item quantity and 8% increased item rarity.
These nodes stack together to drastically improve your Waystone farming efficiency. Start with Constant Crossroads and the 10% tier upgrade nodes. Once you’ve gained enough Atlas skill points, respec into Deadly Evolution to boost rare and unique monster drops.
Step 2: Utilize the Reforging Bench
Struggling to find higher-tier Waystones? The Reforging Bench in your hideout is a lifesaver. You can combine three Waystones of the same tier to create one of the next tier. Here’s how it works:
- Place three Tier 1 Waystones in the Reforging Bench → Receive one Tier 2 Waystone.
- Place three Tier 2 Waystones → Receive one Tier 3 Waystone.
- Repeat the process to climb higher tiers.
This method ensures you can always upgrade your Waystones, even if RNG isn’t in your favor. It’s also an efficient way to utilize lower-tier Waystones that you’d otherwise discard.
Sustaining Waystone Drops: Advanced Tips
The goal is to reach a point where you’re self-sustaining your Waystone supply. Here are a few tips to ensure you never run dry:
1. Buy from Doryani Regularly
Doryani consistently sells Tier 1 Waystones for gold. Farm gold by running lower-tier maps and invest it into purchasing as many Waystones as possible. You can then reforge them into higher-tier Waystones.
2. Avoid Dying in Maps
Each death in a map costs you a Waystone. If you find yourself dying often, consider reevaluating your build or gear to increase survivability. Dying too often can set you back significantly, forcing you to farm even more.
3. Focus on Looting Rare and Unique Monsters
Rare and unique monsters offer the best loot drops in maps. Buff these monsters using Atlas nodes like Deadly Evolution to maximize your chances of finding Waystones.
4. Scale Into Higher-Tier Maps Gradually
Don’t rush into higher-tier maps if your build can’t handle the increased difficulty. Higher tiers offer better rewards, but you’ll burn through Waystones if you can’t complete maps efficiently. Work your way up systematically, reinforcing your build as you go.
Completing Cataclysm’s Wake Quickly
The ultimate goal of Waystone farming is to complete the Cataclysm’s Wake quest. By following the strategies outlined above, you’ll have a steady supply of Waystones to keep progressing. Just remember:
- Focus on farming Tier 1–5 Waystones early on.
- Use the Reforging Bench to upgrade to higher-tier Waystones.
- Unlock and optimize Atlas Passive Tree nodes to amplify your drops.
With persistence and the right approach, you’ll finish Cataclysm’s Wake and move on to conquering Path of Exile 2’s highest challenges.
FAQ: Waystone Farming in Path of Exile 2
Q: Can I skip low-tier maps altogether?
A: Yes, you can buy higher-tier Waystones from other players, but it’s costly. If you’re low on currency, farming low-tier maps and upgrading Waystones via the Reforging Bench is more sustainable.
Q: What’s the fastest way to farm gold for Doryani’s shop?
A: Clearing maps with high monster density and selling loot for gold is the most efficient way to farm currency. Focus on maps with modifiers that increase item quantity.
Q: What happens if I run out of Waystones?
A: If you’ve exhausted your supply, farm gold in lower-tier maps and buy more Waystones from Doryani. Alternatively, trade with other players for higher-tier Waystones.
Q: Do Waystone farming strategies change in higher tiers?
A: At higher tiers, your focus shifts to maintaining survivability while farming efficiently. This means investing in your build to handle tougher content and leveraging Atlas nodes like Deadly Evolution.
Q: Is re-specing Atlas skill points worth it?
A: Absolutely. Once you’ve unlocked key nodes like Lucky Pillage or Deadly Evolution, you can re-spec to optimize your farming path.