Path of Exile 2 revived the ARPG genre with its early-access release. With so much to do and explore, multiple players zoomed through the actual game and reached the endgame before they knew it. Fortunately, even the endgame has a lot of content to consume, though most fans prefer expeditions because of how much it deviates from the game’s usual gameplay loop.
How does the Path of Exile 2 expedition system work?
Path of Exile 2’s expedition is one of the four endgame activities in the Atlas map, alongside Delirium, Breaches, and Rituals. This system was revived from the original expedition league, challenging players to place bombs strategically to get rewards, with the primary goal being to unearth artifacts of the Kalguurans. Paired with LootBar, these rewards can help take your character to the next level.
Expeditions are marked on the Atlas by a light blue, spiral-shaped icon. Using an Expedition Precursor Tablet in a completed Lost Tower slot guarantees an Expedition encounter. Players should look for an area with markers and a tent featuring one of four NPCs after they’re on the map.
At the start, players won’t see too many potential expeditions, getting and deciphering logbooks opens up new locations, and with that, more potential rewards. There’s also the fact that these activities have special Runic Monsters, which can only be found during expeditions. Set apart by the “Runic” modifier under their name, these monsters have higher chances of dropping the artifacts and logbooks that the Kalguurans want.
What are the main mechanics of Path of Exile 2 expeditions?
The core mechanic of Path of Exile 2 expeditions revolves around the detonator and explosives. Players must place them properly to spawn the following things:
- Runic monsters: Triggered by explosives near red markers. Larger markers spawn bigger packs of monsters.
- Unearthed Remnants: Floating relics that provide beneficial and negative modifiers. For example, monsters that deal more damage but drop rarer loot.
- Excavated Chests: These chests are spawned by explosives near black spiral markers. They provide players with artifacts, logbooks, and valuable currencies.
Players can preview the blast radius by looking at the green circle before placing it. Overlapping circles reduce the efficiency of explosives, so users must spread them out for the most rewards. Once the player has placed explosives, they must interact with the detonator to start the activity.
Can players leave and return during a Path of Exile 2 expedition?
If players are overwhelmed, they can retreat during a PoE2 Expedition and return later. The activity stays even after the person leaves, allowing players to detonate explosives, retreat, and clear enemies with AoE skills. Like other maps, dying will reset it, so it may be smarter to escape if an expedition isn’t going well and then return after healing and getting stronger.
What are expedition logbooks and how do they work?
Expedition logbooks are fairly common during expeditions as they drop from Excavated Chests and have a high chance of getting dropped by Runic Monsters. These items unlock special Expedition Pinnacle Maps through Dannig in the hideout.
Level 80+ expedition logbook maps can lead players to the boss, Olroth, Origin of Fall. Olroth is marked by a skull icon on the map, which leads players to a tomb they can destroy with their explosives.
How does the PoE2 Expedition Passive Skill Tree work?
Found in the Atlas passive skill tree, the expedition section enhances rewards by:
- Increasing currency drops
- Boosting monster spawns
- Improving Remnant effects
To access it, players must open the Atlas, select the Passive Skill Tree, and look for the blue spiral icon. The tree has eight notable nodes. However, some require players to kill the boss Olroth to unlock. A passive skill point is given to spend on the expedition passive skill tree every time the player completes an expedition logbook encounter.
Best expedition passives in Path of Exile 2
With so many passive skills tied to the expedition section of the Atlas skill tree, it’s only natural that the best ones depend on the player’s build. However, a handful of passives have the potential to be extremely helpful.
Notable passive |
Effect |
Requirements |
Disturbed Rest |
50% more Runic Monster Flags |
None |
Detailed Records |
50% more logbook drops (always 3x modifiers) |
Disturbed |
Timed Detonations |
50% more Artifacts, faster detonation chains |
None |
Legendary Battles |
50% more rare monsters, 50% more Exotic Coinage |
Time detonations |
Weight of History |
35% boost to Remnant effects |
None |
Unearthed Anomalies |
Remnants gain extra suffix/prefix modifiers |
Weight of history |
Frail Treasures |
3x more Excavated Chests (but they disappear after 5 seconds) |
None |
Extreme Archaeology |
Reduces explosives to 1 (but +150% radius, -20% enemy life) |
None |
What’s the recommended path for the Expedition Passive Skill Tree?
- Disturbed rest > Detailed records
- Timed detonations > Legendary battles
- Weight of history > Unearthed anomalies
Players should avoid extreme archaeology because reducing explosives to just one limits rewards too much, which is counterproductive to what most want from these activities.
What rewards can players get from PoE 2 Expeditions?
Expeditions in Path of Exile 2 reward players with two primary rewards. These include artifacts and vendor trading, as well as drops for logbooks, which you can take to Dannig to have him reveal their contents. Naturally, having the right Path of Exile 2 currency can help you get more rewards too.
Artifacts and vendor trading
Expeditions drop four Artifacts, each tied to a vendor:
Artifact |
Vendor |
Gear offered |
Broken circle |
Gwennen |
Weapons |
Black Scythe |
Tujen |
Belts & Jewelry |
Order |
Rog |
Armor |
Sun |
Dannig |
Other artifacts |
Exact Coinage refreshes vendor inventories.
Logbooks and Olroth drops
Logbooks unlock Pinnacle Maps, where Olroth can drop:
- 2x Passive Skill points
- High-tier currency
- Exclusive uniques
Higher-difficulty logbooks increase Olroth’s spawn rate and loot quality.
Final tips for mastering PoE 2 expeditions
Spread explosives to avoid overlapping circles.Focus on Disturbed Rest and Detailed Records passives.Save artifacts for targeted gear purchases.Use logbooks to farm Olroth for Passive Points.
Expeditions can become a profitable endgame system in Path of Exile 2 if players optimize explosives, passives, and vendor trades.
Conclusion
All in all, expeditions in Path of Exile 2 are excellent in-game activities players can take advantage of to get excellent rewards. There’s high potential to get multiple high-level passive skills, in addition to the artifacts players can trade with the Kalguurans for gear. Pair that with LootBar's provided PoE 2 currencies, and players can get strong enough to devastate any boss when the game’s full version comes out.