Path of Exile 2 is shifting the way players approach map farming, and with recent updates, Delirium has become one of the most potent mechanics for both profit and gameplay progression. As a veteran of the series, I’ve spent countless hours diving deep into the changes and honing strategies to maximize my rewards from this system. In this article, I’ll break down the core changes that have made Delirium a dominant strategy, the synergies it has with other mechanics, and how to optimize your maps and passive skill tree for the best outcomes.
Why Run Delirium?
The 4.1.1 update has dramatically shifted the farming landscape in Path of Exile 2, with Delirium getting significant buffs while other mechanics, such as Breach, have taken a slight hit. For those unfamiliar, Delirium is a mechanic where fog envelops your maps, increasing both the number of monsters and the rarity of loot they drop. When paired with certain passives, it can be one of the most rewarding ways to farm endgame content.
Key Changes in 4.1.1 That Make Delirium More Powerful
- Increased Monster Quantity: One of the standout changes is the increase in the number of monsters in maps. GGG has mentioned a 30% increase, but in some areas, it feels like the monster count has more than doubled. This directly benefits Delirium as the fog adds even more monsters, all of which drop additional loot.
- Delirium Buffs: The fog’s benefits have been buffed by 20%, and the quantity of monsters added to maps has been increased. This amplifies Delirium’s core effect: more monsters with rarer loot, which naturally boosts your drops from rare and unique monsters.
- Breach Nerf: Breach has been slightly nerfed in this patch, making Delirium a more viable alternative to breach farming. Breach used to be the go-to strategy for increased mob density and loot drops, but now, Delirium’s changes make it much more competitive. Players can still kill Breach demons in a cloud of Delirium fog, amplifying the rewards of both mechanics simultaneously.
Delirium’s Benefits and Synergies
The core appeal of Delirium lies in its ability to increase the quantity and rarity of loot in maps, which leads to more opportunities for valuable drops. Here’s how it works:
- Increased Monster Quantity and Rarity: The primary benefit of Delirium is that it increases the number of monsters in your map while also making them rarer. This means more opportunities to encounter high-value monsters that drop powerful items. In the past, certain maps felt “empty,” but now with Delirium fog, the density is much higher, making it easier to farm for rare loot and splinters.
- Simulacrum Splinters: Delirium farming rewards players with simulacrum splinters, which are used to craft the highly valuable Simulacrum maps. These splinters are worth a decent amount of currency (around half an exalt per splinter) and can stack up quickly if you’re farming in high-density areas. Maps with increased monster density are prime candidates for farming these splinters.
- Distilled Emotions: Another key feature of Delirium is the potential to earn Distilled Emotions, which are used for anointing maps. These are valuable items because they can add special modifiers to maps that enhance loot drops and other gameplay factors. Some Distilled Emotions are worth an exalt or more, adding another revenue stream for savvy players.
- Bossing Synergies: A fantastic aspect of Delirium farming is the synergies with map bosses. Delirium’s effect on bosses is unique because, in some cases, Delirium fog causes bosses to stop attacking, making them much easier to defeat. This is especially valuable for tougher bosses, which would otherwise be a challenge in high-tier maps. With the increased number of bosses in maps due to the recent patch, you can engage with more bosses and reap higher rewards without the usual risks.
Challenges of Delirium Farming
Despite its advantages, Delirium is not without its drawbacks. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Increased Difficulty: Delirium, by nature, increases the difficulty of the maps you run. The fog obscures the battlefield, making it harder to see ground effects and certain environmental hazards. Additionally, the scaling of Delirium fog makes it progressively harder as you move further into the fog. This scaling of difficulty requires careful planning and preparation to ensure that your builds can handle the increased intensity.
- Aesthetic Issues: Delirium’s fog creates a visually challenging environment. The black-and-white fog can obscure important ground effects and traps, making navigation tricky. While some players may find this to be an interesting challenge, others might find it frustrating.
- Music and Atmosphere: While music is a subjective matter, many players, including myself, feel that Delirium’s music doesn’t fit the vibe of the game. The looping soundtrack can become grating after extended periods, especially when running multiple maps in succession. While this isn’t a gameplay-altering issue, it’s something to be aware of during long farming sessions.
Maximizing Delirium Rewards: Setup and Strategy
If you want to maximize your rewards from Delirium, it’s essential to optimize your map setup and passive skill tree. Here’s how you can juice your maps for maximum returns:
Tablets for Delirium Farming
Tablets are crucial for optimizing Delirium farming, and selecting the right prefixes can make all the difference. Focus on the following tablet mods:
- Quantity Mod: This is by far the most important mod to look for on your tablets. The more quantity on your maps, the better your chances for rare monster spawns and higher loot drops.
- Rarity Mod: While not as important as quantity, rarity can boost the likelihood of finding high-value Path Of Exile 2 items from rares.
- Delirium-Specific Mods: For players focusing on Delirium mirrors, look for mods that enhance the fog’s duration, such as those that slow down the fog or increase the number of splinters dropped by rares.
Map Setup and Corruptions
For the best Delirium farming experience, use six-mod maps that have been corrupted. Before corrupting, ensure you’ve anointed your maps to enhance their effects. You’ll want to prioritize the following map mods:
- Quantity and Rarity Mods: These are essential for maximizing loot. More monsters with rarer drops mean more valuable items in your inventory.
- Rare Monsters: This mod increases the chances of encountering rare monsters, which are key to maximizing your loot returns.
Atlas Passive Tree
Your Atlas passive tree is critical for boosting Delirium rewards and making your maps more efficient. The following nodes should be prioritized:
- Deadly Evolution and Rising Danger: These nodes increase the quantity and rarity of monsters, making Delirium more effective.
- Lucky Pillage: This node adds more quantity, ensuring you have the best chances for loot drops.
- Gruesome Journey and Enigmatic Intensification: These nodes boost the effectiveness of your splinter farming, increasing the number of simulacrum splinters you obtain.
Additionally, consider the nodes in the Delirium section of the Atlas tree. Get Out of My Head gives you a chance for random anoints, while My Face increases simulacrum splinter drops from non-boss monsters. These nodes can significantly boost the amount of POE 2 Currency you make from farming.
Delirium Mirror Farming
If you’re focusing on Delirium mirrors specifically, prioritize nodes that enhance the fog’s duration and the number of monsters that spawn. You’ll also want to look for additional rewards, such as more fracturing mirrors or more rare monsters. Delirium mirrors can be difficult, but the rewards are substantial if you can survive the challenge.
Conclusion
With the recent changes in Path of Exile 2, Delirium has solidified its place as one of the most rewarding strategies for endgame farming. The synergy between Delirium and other mechanics like Breach, coupled with the buffs in patch 4.1.1, makes this a golden era for farming rare loot and simulacrum splinters. By optimizing your map setup, passive skill tree, and using tablets effectively, you can maximize your rewards and build a solid income stream from Delirium farming. However, it’s important to remember that Delirium comes with its challenges, such as increased map difficulty and visual obscurity. If you can overcome these hurdles, Delirium farming can yield some of the best results in Path of Exile 2. Happy farming!