MoneyOnComputer

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Progressing through Waystone tiers in Path of Exile 2 is a fundamental part of advancing in the endgame Atlas. Waystones come in 16 tiers, with Tier 1 being the lowest and easiest, and Tier 16 representing the most challenging maps with the highest-level monsters. Climbing these tiers efficiently requires understanding how to acquire, upgrade, and enhance Waystones. Here’s a step-by-step guide to mastering Waystone upgrade paths:

Step 1: Starting with Tier 1 Waystones

At the beginning of the endgame, you’ll primarily use Tier 1 Waystones, which are easy to obtain. You can farm these by running early maps or purchase them from Doryani, the Waystone vendor located in the Ziggurat Refuge. Early on, focus on completing these maps to unlock adjacent areas on the Atlas and gain experience with the mapping system.

Step 2: Enhancing Waystones with Currency

Waystones function like equippable items and can be upgraded in rarity and modifiers:

Use an Orb of Transmutation to upgrade a normal Waystone to magic, adding one modifier.

Use an Orb of Augmentation on a magic Waystone to add a second modifier.

Use a Regal Orb to upgrade a magic Waystone to rare, adding a third modifier.

Use Exalted Orbs to add additional modifiers, up to six total on rare Waystones.

These modifiers can increase monster pack size, item rarity, Waystone drop chance, or add elemental damage to monsters, making maps more rewarding and challenging.

Step 3: Farming and Sustaining Waystones

As you progress, farming Waystones becomes essential to sustain mapping. Higher-tier Waystones drop from monsters in maps that use Waystones of the same or lower tier. To increase drop chances:

Run maps with modifiers that boost Waystone drop rates.

Target bosses and rare monsters, as they have higher chances to drop Waystones.

Use gear and passive skills that increase item rarity and quantity.

Step 4: Upgrading Waystone Tier via the Reforging Bench

Once you have multiple Waystones of the same tier, you can combine three of them at the Reforging Bench (unlocked after defeating The Forgemaster in Act 3) to create one Waystone of the next higher tier. For example, three Tier 1 Waystones combine into one Tier 2 Waystone. This process always produces a normal rarity Waystone, which you can then upgrade with currency as described above.

Step 5: Progressing Through Higher Tiers

Repeat the process of farming, upgrading, and combining Waystones to climb tiers. As you reach mid and late-game tiers (Tier 10+), maps become significantly harder, so ensure your character is geared and skilled appropriately. Use modifiers on Waystones strategically to enhance drop chances and map rewards without making maps excessively difficult.

Step 6: Managing Modifiers and Corruption

At higher tiers, you can apply powerful modifiers or corrupt Waystones to add unique affixes that increase map difficulty and rewards. Corrupted Waystones can unlock Tier 16 maps and special bosses but require strong builds to handle the challenge. Balancing modifiers to maximize Waystone drops while maintaining survivability is key.

Step 7: Utilize Atlas Passive Skill Tree

Invest Atlas skill points into nodes that increase Waystone drop chance, item rarity, monster pack size, and map tier. This passive progression supports faster and more efficient tier climbing by improving overall map quality and rewards.

Start with Tier 1 Waystones, farming or buying them from Doryani.

Upgrade Waystones’ rarity and modifiers with crafting orbs to boost map rewards and drop chances.

Combine three Waystones of the same tier at the Reforging Bench to create the next tier.

Farm higher-tier maps and bosses to sustain Waystone supply.

Apply modifiers and corruption carefully to enhance rewards without overwhelming difficulty.

Use the Atlas passive skill tree to support Waystone farming and tier progression.

By following this step-by-step approach, you can efficiently climb through Waystone tiers, unlocking tougher maps and richer rewards, and mastering the endgame Atlas of Path of Exile 2.