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 Path of Exile, detailing its mechanics, rewards, and the crucial Expedition Passive Skill Tree.

Understanding Expeditions and the Detonation Mechanic

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

Within the Expedition zone, locate the central Detonator and four NPCs. The core gameplay involves strategically placing Explosives near different Markers to trigger events:

• Red Markers: Detonating near these spawns Runic Monsters. Larger markers yield larger monster packs. These packs are further empowered by Unearthed Remnants.
• Unearthed Remnants: These relics provide beneficial or detrimental modifiers (e.g., increased elemental damage from monsters, but higher item rarity from chests).
• Black Markers (spiral symbol): Detonating near these spawns Excavated Chests containing Artifacts, Logbooks, currency, Waystones, and high-tier gear.

Use the Explosives UI to visualize the area of effect. Avoid overlapping AoE circles for optimal farming. After placing Explosives, activate the Detonator. If overwhelmed, retreat and return later; the event persists.

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 triple the Explosives.

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

The Expedition Passive Skill Tree

Located within the Atlas Passive Skill Tree, the Expedition Passive Skill Tree enhances the event. It's accessed via the Atlas Map's Atlas Passive Skill Tree menu (top-left), then located in the top-right.

The tree features eight Notable nodes and eight difficulty-increasing nodes for Logbooks and Olroth. Each 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, but more challenging, improvements. Avoid "Extreme Archaeology" due to the drastic 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 persist across maps. Exotic Coinage refreshes any vendor's inventory. Expedition Logbooks unlock the Pinnacle Map and a chance to fight Olroth for exceptional rewards and additional passive skill points.