PoE 3.26 Best Atlas Tree & Mapping Strats (Secrets of the Atlas)

With Secrets of the Atlas finally rolled out, it's time to optimize your Atlas Tree Strategy & Mapping Plans for Path of Exile 3.26, featuring the new league mechanic. In this PoE 2 Atlas guide, we will keep updating the best early, mid, and late-league atlas passive skill tree settings and map juicing strategies that will help you efficiently navigate the progression, farming currency, new div cards, and rare loot in the new league!

PoE 3.26 Strategy Guide (Early, Mid, End League Atlas Tree & Map Farming Plans)

In Path of Exile 3.26, the Atlas Passive Skill Tree continues to serve as the backbone of endgame map customization. As you progress through the Atlas and complete maps, you earn passive points which can be allocated on the Atlas tree. This tree allows you to specialize your mapping experience, boosting the rewards, frequency, and mechanics of specific content like bosses, league encounters, and map drops.

Main Changes To Atlas & Map in Path of Exile 1 3.26 Secrets of the Atlas League

As usual, let's go over the key changes coming in the Path of Exile 3.26 patch that will affect the atlas passive tree planning and mapping in Secrets of the Atlas:

• PoE 3.26 Atlas & Map

• Memory Thread Maps: The New Core Atlas Mechanic

In Path of Exile 3.26. “Secrets of the Atlas,” a brand new core Atlas mechanic called Threads of Consciousness - Memory Thread Maps has been introduced. This system is designed to replace the old “memories” feature, which has been removed from the game due to its similarities. Memory Thread Maps allow you to enter a sequence, or “thread,” of maps connected together, much like how memories previously worked. Each map within the thread is enhanced and can be further juiced using scarabs or other modifiers, offering increased rewards and unique gameplay opportunities as you progress through them.

• Unique In-Map Abilities

While running Thread Maps, players gain access to unique, Sentinel-style abilities that affect gameplay within those maps. For instance, one ability can revive slain enemies so you can kill them again for double loot, while another disables armor drops, increasing the chance for currency items, maps, or divination cards to drop. These abilities are activated in a way similar to Sentinels from previous leagues: you trigger them, and they affect nearby monsters. This additional layer of mechanics allows for greater customization, increased challenge, and the potential for much higher rewards.

• Tier 16.5 Maps and Atlas Progression

After defeating the three new pinnacle bosses introduced in this expansion, Thread Maps can gain what are known as tier 17 modifiers, even though the maps themselves are technically still tier 16. These upgraded maps are often referred to as “tier 16.5 maps,” because they provide the difficulty and rewards of tier 17 content while being based on tier 16 maps. According to developer commentary, these are intended to become the new standard for high-level map farming, possibly even replacing traditional tier 17 farming strategies due to their powerful rewards and scalable mechanics.

• Stacking Altars and Buffs

As you clear each boss within a Thread Map sequence, you are awarded a new Altar. Each Altar provides buffs that apply to all subsequent maps within that thread, meaning the further you progress, the more powerful the buffs become. By the time you reach the end of a thread, you could have stacked up several potent effects, dramatically increasing the loot and challenge. The final map in the thread features a boss encounter with new or altered abilities, which adds to the excitement and variety of the endgame experience.

• Pinnacle Boss Access and Map Fragments

Upon defeating the final boss in a Thread Map sequence, you are rewarded with a map fragment. This fragment acts as a key to access one to three brand-new pinnacle bosses introduced in 3.26. These encounters offer additional high-level challenges and rewards, further expanding the depth and replayability of the Atlas system.

• New Crafting Currency: Memory Strands

Threaded Maps, especially the new tier 16.5 versions, can drop items imbued with a special new crafting currency called Memory Strands. When you identify these items, their modifiers roll at higher tiers than usual, making powerful gear more accessible. Using standard currencies like Alterations, Chaos Orbs, or Exalted Orbs on these items will also roll higher affix tiers more consistently. There are also special orbs that allow you to add memory strands to normal items or to consume the strands on an item, upgrading all its existing modifiers to higher tiers. This new crafting system is expected to be one of the most valuable and impactful additions for itemization in the league.

• Additional Atlas and Map System Notes

While the text doesn’t describe specific changes to the Atlas Passive Tree, it’s clear that overall Atlas progression has shifted significantly to center around Threaded Maps and the new pinnacle bosses. The removal of Memories, the introduction of cumulative Altar buffs, and the potential for tier 16.5 maps to become the new endgame standard all represent a major overhaul of how players will interact with the Atlas. Furthermore, other map-related systems, such as improved Syndicate rewards and changes to Allflames (which now use a map device slot), further enhance the endgame mapping experience.

PoE 3.26 Best Atlas Tree Strategies & Mapping Plans for Secrets of the Atlas

Based on the above changes, other new league mechanics, and our process experiences in the game, now let's sort out the most effective atlas passive tree plans and mapping strategies for different farming purposes at early, mid, and end league stages.

Since we have not yet fully implemented the new changes and mechanisms brought by the PoE 3.26 patch, we are only updating the general atlas strategies based on the current state in the game. More strategies for this season's mechanisms will be updated continuously:

Best Atlas Tree & Map Set Up for Early Game Progression

Kirac and his missions are great early on. His inventory resets every time you start one of his missions! Look for uncompleted maps or run the highest available to prioritize Atlas Passives. Look for Delve Cities as you progress each map tier, as Niko automatically goes down a tier as well. Cities are great for Map sustain! Grab the 5th and 6th slot for the Map Device by doing“Maven's Invitation: The Atlas" and a non-Valdo's Tier 17 Map in any order.

Map Drops:

Map drops are either previously completed from anywhere or adjacent to the one you are running. Bosses and league mechanics don't have this restriction. Normal monsters drop the same tier or lower, Magic/Rare monsters can drop +1 tier, and Bosses can drop +2 tier.

Setting up Early Atlas Tree:

Rush "Unwavering Vision", grabbing "Shaping the Skies" and/or "Shaping the Mountains" on the way.

Adding "Shaping the World" &“Commissioned Officer" as well should be enough to sustain.

Potentially pick up Essence and Expedition first for SSF players or for just easier gearing in general.

Starting in Yellow Maps, choose either the “Searing Exarch" or "Eater of Worlds" questline, and focus on one for the first Voidstone. Do the other question right after for the second stone. You can respec down to 2‘Shaping" nodes with 2 Voidstones. At about 100 Atlas points, you can respec down to 1 or even 0 "Shaping" nodes.