Path of Exile 2 Endgame: A Comprehensive Guide to Ritual Events
Path of Exile 2's Atlas map features four major endgame events: Breaches, Expeditions, Delirium, and Rituals. Rituals, drawing inspiration from the original Path of Exile's Ritual League, are a significant endgame activity. This guide details how to initiate Ritual events, crucial mechanics, the Ritual Passive Skill Tree, the Pinnacle boss encounter (The King in the Mists), and the unique Tribute and Favour reward system.
Understanding Rituals and Altars
On the Atlas, map nodes guaranteeing endgame events are marked with specific icons. Ritual Altars are indicated by a red pentagram icon with a demonic face. A Ritual Precursor Tablet, inserted into a completed Lost Tower, guarantees a Ritual encounter on a chosen map node.
Once in a map with a Ritual, several Altars will appear. Each map features a shared random modifier impacting the event, introducing unique mechanics or enemy types. These modifiers might include massive rat swarms, or areas flooded with life-draining blood.
Locate an Altar, check its modifiers, and interact to trigger a large enemy wave. Remain within the designated circle around the Altar; venturing into the shadows ends the event without rewards. A map is considered complete upon successful completion of all its Rituals.
The King in the Mists: The Pinnacle Boss
Among the randomized Ritual rewards, you might find "An Audience With The King." This unique currency grants access to The Crux Of Nothingness, where The King in the Mists awaits. Use "An Audience With The King" in your Atlas Realmgate to initiate the fight.
The King in the Mists shares mechanics with his Act 1 Cruel counterpart. Practice is available in a new instance of Freythorn (Act 1, Cruel). Defeating him awards 2 Ritual Passive Skill points, a chance at a unique item (from a Ritual-exclusive pool), and various powerful currencies and Omen items.
Mastering the Ritual Passive Skill Tree
The Atlas Passive Skill Tree includes a Ritual section, enhancing rewards by reducing Tribute requirements, improving rewards, and boosting unique currency drop chances. Access it via the Atlas map's top-left button, then look to the bottom right.
This red, five-pronged tree features eight Notable nodes and eight nodes increasing The King in the Mists' difficulty. Each defeat of The Crux of Nothingness provides 2 Ritual Passive Skill points, necessitating increased difficulty for each new Notable node.
Prioritize 'From The Mists', 'Spreading Darkness', and 'Ominous Portents' for increased rewards with minimal drawbacks. Follow up with 'Tempting Offers' and 'He Approaches' for better Omen and "An Audience With The King" chances. The table below details the Notable nodes:
| Notable Delirium Passive | Effect | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Promised Devotion | Ritual Altar skills deal 25% increased Damage. Deferring Favours requires 50% less Tribute, appearing 50% sooner | N/A |
| From The Mists | Rituals contain 2 extra packs of enemies | N/A |
| Reinvigorated Sacrifices | Revived monsters gain 20% Toughness and deal 10% more damage. Revived monsters no longer penalize Tribute. | From The Mists |
| Spreading Darkness | Maps always contain 4 Ritual Altars | N/A |
| Between Two Worlds | Rituals always contain a Wildwood Wisp, increasing Tribute earned | Spreading Darkness |
| Ominous Portents | Monster waves spawn 25% faster, but Favours are 50% more likely to contain an Omen | N/A |
| He Approaches | Revived monsters have a 20% chance to be Magic or Rare. 50% chance for "An Audience With The King" | Ominous Portents |
| Tempting Offers | Re-roll Favours an extra time at 25% less Tribute | N/A |
Harvesting Rewards: Tribute and Favours
Completed Rituals award Tribute, a temporary currency exchanged for randomized Favours. More Altars completed increase Tribute and unlock more Favour options. Initially, Favours are mostly Magic items or low-level Currencies, but higher-tier items and currencies become available with progression. "An Audience With The King" is exclusively a Favour reward.
Omens, exceptionally powerful items, are potential Favour rewards, enhancing other Currency items. They are consumed upon use. Examples include Omens of Annulment and Alchemy. Omens are highly valuable, often traded for other high-value currencies.
Beyond Tribute and Favours, Ritual enemies drop high-tier Currencies (Exalted Orbs, Vaal Orbs, etc.). The King in the Mists has a chance to drop Uniques from a Ritual-exclusive pool.
All PoE 2 Omen Currencies:
Omen of Sinistral Alchemy, Omen of Dextral Alchemy, Omen of Sinistral Coronation, Omen of Dextral Coronation, Omen of Refreshment, Omen of Resurgence, Omen of Corruption, Omen of Amelioration, Omen of Sinistral Exaltation, Omen of Dextral Exaltation, Omen of Greater Annulment, Omen of Whittling, Omen of Sinistral Erasure, Omen of Dextral Erasure, Omen of Sinistral Annulment, Omen of Dextral Annulment, Omen of Greater Exaltation
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Path of Exile 2's Ritual endgame event, equipping players to maximize their rewards and conquer The King in the Mists.
