The Gauntlet is one of Path of Exile's toughest challenges, and the PoE 3.26 Merciless Gauntlet raises the stakes even higher. This guide will help you plan your progression, survive the most dangerous zones, claim your free MTX, and set your sights on fun or lucrative bounties. Expect a much harsher campaign, extra boss mechanics, and deadly area modifiers. If you die, your character is lost, and since it's solo self-found, you can't trade for gear, you must rely on your own resourcefulness and preparation.
PoE 3.26 Merciless Gauntlet Guide
The Merciless Gauntlet event is hardcore, solo self-found, and filled with campaign modifiers that make every encounter deadly. You’ll find campaign bosses have new mechanics and extra abilities, and even familiar zones can kill unprepared players. Many will not make it past the first acts. The campaign is by far the roughest part, with two additional projectiles and other stacking dangers that turn even basic monsters into lethal threats. The path to victory is all about careful planning, gear upgrades, and taking it slow.
PoE 3.26 Gauntlet Mapping Progression
Mapping in the PoE 3.26 Gauntlet is a completely different experience compared to regular trade leagues or softcore events. Here we've sorted out an effective mapping route:
1. Adjusting Your Mapping Mindset
In standard softcore, the norm is to rush red maps, ignoring most map mods, and focus on fast progression. That approach will likely get you killed in the Gauntlet environment. Success here comes from patience, careful map selection, and smart engagement with map mechanics.
2. Early Mapping: White and Yellow Maps
After surviving the brutal campaign, your first maps are a relief. Map modifiers aren’t nearly as threatening as campaign mods, but you still need to respect them. Every map has extra attack and cast speed, and some additional damage modifiers. Even red maps in Gauntlet aren’t as scary as the campaign, but caution is still needed.
The best advice for those not aiming for the top ladder is to spend a long time in white maps. You can easily reach level 75 to 80 running only white maps, and it’s safer to run these as magic (blue) maps with easy mods. There’s no immediate need to chase completion or run higher tiers. When you feel comfortable, you can progress to yellow maps, but you don’t have to roll them rare right away. Running blues is fine if you want to keep the difficulty down.
You don’t need to push into red maps unless you’re very confident. Most players in the Gauntlet won’t see much red map content, and that’s completely fine for a safe progression route.
3. Efficient XP Gain and Tier Choices
Gaining XP efficiently in maps depends on the tier and your current level. As you level up, lower-tier maps start to give less XP. For example, at level 75, tier one maps are still efficient, but by level 80, you should be running at least tier five for full XP. At level 85, you’ll need tier 14 for efficiency, and at level 90, even tier 16s can drop below 60% efficiency. Using the XP multiplier chart in Path of Building can help you decide when to move up in map tiers.
4. Mechanics: What to Do and What to Skip
Each league mechanic found in maps carries its own risk and reward. Not every mechanic present in a map needs to be completed. You can always choose to skip a mechanic or leave a map if it feels unsafe.
Abyss: Generally not too dangerous, but avoid the depths unless you are sure of the encounter. You want the jewels and Stygian Vise belts, so running abyss in low-tier maps while heavily overleveled is safest.
Affliction: Avoid completely.
Strongboxes: Always identify them first and move away after opening. Freezing strongboxes require a freeze-immune flask. Rogue exiles from strongboxes can be dangerous, so be cautious.
Bestiary: Can be risky in tight spaces. If there are many beasts together, consider skipping.
Betrayal: Syndicate members can be deadly. Safehouses are good XP, but you can always leave the map if you encounter betrayal and feel it’s unsafe.
Blight: Great for oils and rewards, but only do them when you’re overleveled for the area. Blighted maps are best done late and with strong gear.
Breach, Delirium, Incursion, Legion, Ritual, Ultimatum, and similar mechanics: Generally best avoided. They’re high risk, especially in a short, hardcore event.
Harvest: One of the safest and most rewarding crafting mechanics. Do it in lower maps to play it safe, and only attempt higher-tier harvests when you’re confident.
Domination (shrines): Good for buffs and extra monsters, but always clear the area first.
Essence: Farm in low-tier maps while overleveled. Avoid ones with too many modifiers.
Expedition, Heist, Harbinger, Sentinel: Usually not worth the risk in Gauntlet, unless you are very confident or need a specific item.
Mercenaries: Considered bait for most players; very high risk.
Tormented Spirits, Warbands, Rampage: Mostly irrelevant or too dangerous to bother with.
Always remember you can come back later, overleveled, to clear league content in lower-tier maps for safety.
5. Gear Progression and Item Level
Gearing in Gauntlet mapping is more challenging due to limited access to high item-level bases. You need high item-level bases for top-tier life and resistance rolls. Mechanics like gold gambling with Foustus become your best friend for getting high item-level armor and gear. As soon as your character reaches level 83, Foustus can offer item level 83+ bases, letting you craft strong gear without needing to run dangerous high-tier maps.
This approach works well for armor and basic items, but is less effective for weapons and jewelry, where base type matters more. Amethyst rings, for chaos resistance, are always in demand but harder to target. For Stygian Vise belts, focus on farming Abyss and speccing into Stygian Spire nodes on the Atlas.
For socket colors, links, and six-link items, gold gambling is your best early option. The minimum item level for six sockets is 50, so you can start gambling for five-links once you reach that level, but for the best rolls, wait until your character is item level 83 or higher. Six-links are rare, and benchcrafting is the only reliable way to get them in hardcore SSF events.
6. Crafting Recipes and Map Access
Many powerful crafting recipes are now hidden behind high-tier maps. For example, the minus mana cost to channeling recipe is tied to a T16 map. You can use explorer scouting reports to reroll Kirac missions, turning high-tier maps into lower-tier white or yellow maps, which allows you to safely grab recipes without running dangerous red maps. This trick is especially useful for getting recipes and completions you’d otherwise skip due to risk.
7. Atlas Progression and Passive Tree
Atlas completion will be much slower. Focus on safe points first, like blocking Ritual as soon as possible to avoid deadly mechanics. For gear, prioritize strongbox, shrine, map sustain, and harvest nodes. If you want Stygian Vise belts, spec into Abyss clusters that boost Stygian Spire spawn rates and item level.
You won’t have anywhere near the passive points that standard play allows, so pick your priorities carefully. For Kirac missions and scouting reports, take the relevant nodes if you plan to use them to access higher-tier maps safely.
8. More Tips for Safe Mapping
Patience is vital. Run magic white and yellow maps for as long as needed.
Only increase map tier when XP gain drops off.
Always check mods before running a map. Avoid dangerous combinations.
Approach every league mechanic with caution. Skip anything you’re not comfortable with.
Build your gear base through gold gambling and careful crafting.
Use Kirac missions and scouting reports to access recipes and completions safely.
Accept that progression is slower and that skipping dangerous content is the safer option.
Playing safe and steady will keep your character alive and your Gauntlet run going strong.
PoE 3.26 Gauntlet Survive Tips: How to Survive in the Event?
The Gauntlet is designed to be punishing. Most deaths occur in the campaign, and many players won’t reach maps on their first try. The best approach is to play cautiously, overlevel, gear up, and use every trick available to stay alive. Choose builds you’re comfortable with and don’t be afraid to mule for better starts. Below, we present the top tips for surviving and even succeeding at the gauntlet:
1. Early Game: Surviving the Brutal Opening
Gauntlet begins in hardcore, solo self-found mode with deadly area modifiers and tougher bosses. If you die, your character is gone, and you can’t trade. Many players will quit in the very first areas, as even Act 1 monsters can end your run.
The best way to get through the dangerous start is to mule: create new characters, kill Hillock repeatedly, and gather items and wisdom scrolls. Each time you do this, you refresh the vendor window, which can get you a three-link, coral rings for more life, and chain belts to help avoid stuns. Having 30–40% more life from rings can mean the difference between dying to rowas in mud flats or surviving a couple of hits and getting away. This process also lets you target the sockets and links needed for your build, such as three green for Poison Concoction or three blue for a Magma Orb setup.
Ranged classes like Witch or Ranger find it easier to kill Hillock. Melee characters are more likely to struggle, especially with extra mechanics. Consider muling as a Ranger with Burning Arrow to make the farm less risky. Repeat until you have the gear and links you need to feel safe in the early zones.
2. Gear Upgrades and Vendor Gambling
Every town from Act 1 to 10 has an NPC for gambling. Use your gold to fill in missing gear slots, get linked items, or chase bases for needed socket colors. Gambling becomes even more valuable in Acts 3 and 4, where you are likely to get four-link items. Choose bases that fit your color requirements, such as evasion for green or armor for red. Keep an eye on your gold and don’t hesitate to gamble for missing pieces, as this is a safe route to get early power.
If you’re lacking good rares, use the gambler to fill out your gear. Sometimes mercenaries can offer rare items, but approach them with caution, as some are much more dangerous than others.
3. Settings and Controls: Avoiding Easy Mistakes
When you create a new character, the default setting puts attack only on left click. This can get you killed if you misclick into a pack. Always set left click to “move only” and move your main skill to another button, like right click. This adjustment prevents accidental deaths while navigating dangerous zones.
4. Decoy Totem: Your Early Game MVP
Decoy Totem is one of the best survivability tools in the Gauntlet—especially for Act 1. Dropping a decoy totem will pull aggro, letting you reposition and clear monsters safely. If your class cannot get Decoy Totem as a quest reward, mule it from another character at level 4 and transfer it over. This trick gives you a huge safety net for the deadly early packs and bosses.
5. Smart Ascendancy Choices and Power Spikes
Pick an ascendancy that gives you a big power spike on the first and second lab. Some early ascendancy points aren’t strong enough for the campaign, so consider respeccing with gold later. For example, starting with Whisperer for the charge bonus, or Templar’s Devout of Rachesh for extra minimum charges, can make your campaign much safer. Avoid nodes like Behemoth for Marauder at the start, and instead look for ones that offer better mitigation or endurance charges.
Don’t feel locked into your late-game ascendancy right away; choose what helps you survive the campaign, then respec using gold when you’re ready for the next step.
6. Overleveling, Overgearing, and Progression
Trying to rush the campaign at the minimum level is one of the fastest ways to die. Overleveling may slow you down, but it’s much better than dying. If the area is level 30, aim to be level 33–35 before fighting the boss. You’ll take less damage, have more life, and your chances of survival will skyrocket.
Always check your resistances before tough bosses. For example, use at least one sapphire ring for cold resistance against the Act 1 boss, and sometimes you may need two. Buy them from the vendor, gamble, or find them—just ensure you’re close to capped resistance.
7. Dealing with Dangerous Monsters and Mercenaries
Some monsters and mercenaries are extremely dangerous due to Gauntlet’s extra projectiles and penetration. Avoid mercenaries in the early acts; only consider the “striker” type, who is slow and provides endurance charges and decoy totems. Others are best left alone until you have more survivability.
8. Emergency Logout: Instant Save
Whenever things get deadly, like being surrounded or dropping to low life—use the escape menu and select “exit to login screen.” This instantly removes you from the game and prevents further damage, unlike “exit to character selection,” which leaves you exposed for a fraction of a second. This habit will often save your character from a pointless death. If you find yourself hesitating, make a mental rule: if you see your HP drop below half, just log out.
Recognize that rerunning a zone or map is always faster than releveling and regearing a new character from scratch.
9. Setting Goals and Enjoying the Challenge
Gauntlet is four times harder than standard hardcore leagues and is designed to be brutal. Many players will never make it past the campaign, and that’s fine. Set personal goals, like finishing the campaign, reaching a certain level, or taking down a specific boss. Each run is a chance to push yourself further.
Above all, take it slow and play carefully. Use all the advice above—muling, overleveling, vendor gambling, decoy totem, settings fixes, and safe logout, to increase your chances of survival. The Gauntlet is about testing your limits, learning, and improving each attempt. Good luck, exiles!
PoE 3.26 Gauntlet Bounties & Rewards
The Gauntlet features a prize pool with both random draws for reaching certain levels and specific bounties for unique achievements. Many players, especially those not aiming for the top ladder spots, set personal goals such as completing the campaign or targeting particular bounties, like finding the highest armor Royal Plate or dying to a specific boss ability in a certain way.
PoE 3.26 Gauntlet Bounties List| Bounty Name | Condition | Prize | How to get | Notes |
| Displates “THESE PLATES” Bounties: | The player that provides proof of having the Highest Armour Royal Plate by the end of Gauntlet will win $333 | $333 | Farm T16, maybe T17 maps for bases and farm crafting currency. Harvest reforge, fossils, recomb (but requires many good bases, better check for high base percentile) | Note: No limit on how its achieved |
| Displates “THESE PLATES” Bounties: | The player that provides proof of having the Highest Evasion Syndicate’s Garb by the end of Gauntlet will win $333 | $333 | Farm T16, maybe T17 maps for bases and farm crafting currency. Harvest reforge, fossils, recomb (but requires many good bases, better check for high base percentile) | Note: No limit on how its achieved |
| Displates “THESE PLATES” Bounties: | The player that provides proof of having the Highest Energy Shield Twilight Regalia by the end of Gauntlet will win $333 | $333 | Farm T16, maybe T17 maps for bases and farm crafting currency. Harvest reforge, fossils, recomb (but requires many good bases, better check for high base percentile) | Note: No limit on how its achieved |
| Boot.Dev’s “Give Atziri the Boot” Bounty: | First player to kill Atziri, Queen of the Vaal while using Abberath’s Hooves Goathide Boots skill Abberath’s Fury will win $500 | $500 | Drop boots first then we talk. Probably easiest Atziri is in temple |
|
| Boot.Dev’s “BOOT DEVELOPMENT” Bounty: | First player to provide proof of having Warlock Boots with fractured Abyssal Socket will win $500 | $500 | Hollow fossil + Fracture lol |
|
| Boot.Dev’s “Corrupted Boots” Bounty: | First player to provide proof of having SUCCESSFULLY double corrupted a pair of Ralakesh’s Impatience will win $500 | $500 | Drop boots then Temple. Maybe try to chance the boots |
|
| Jernaxe’s Bounty: | Frst player to provide proof of Obtaining and Vendoring a Doryani’s Prototype will win $100. If no method is found to obtain this, the player that provides proof of vendoring the most Ivory Towers will win $100 | $100 | god knows, get lucky | Note: Doryani’s Prototype is a DISABLED item, it is not supposed to be possible to obtain, this is mostly funny. Note: Try to vendor all of your Ivory Tower’s right before the event ends in 1 video if possible. Note: 3 to 1 does count. Use it :) |
| BIIue’s Bounty: | First player to provide proof of Anointing a Stranglegrasp with Worship the Blightheart will win $250 | $250 | Blight ravaged maps + 3 prismatic oils, thats a lot of blight |
|
| normalcatpictures Bounty: | Player that provides proof of clearing Mao Kun the fastest with the following parameters will win $150 | $150 | Drop Mao Kun and get Tricorne, save to last. Practice in SC a few times | Note: Must wear Fairgraves’ Tricorne
Note: Map must be T16
Note: Map must be 20% Quality
Note: Item filter must be set to NONE
Note: Map is considered cleared on Map Complete
Note: You cannot store items / currency from the map in your inventory for any amount of time
Note: Please show inventory upon entering and exiting the map
Note: Timer starts after moving from the initial load screen
Note: Best completion time by end of event wins
Note: Players can attempt bounty more than once |
| Mr.CatFace’s Bounty: | First player to provide proof of killing Brutus in Act 1 with the following parameters will win $100 | $100 | Reflect from items only. Keep eye out for items like that | Note: May not use a Mercenary
Note: May not use any skills (Must be empty) or support gems
Note: May not use flasks (Must be empty)
Note: 100% of damage dealt must be with REFLECT damage
Note: All reflected damage must come from Brutus hitting the player |
| Kl0pper’s Bounty: | First player to provide proof of doing a full 10/10 Crop Rotation will win $50 | $50 | crop rotation and get lucky, need at least imbued harvest | Note: No limitations to how its obtained |
| Ruetoo’s Bounties: |
|
|
|
|
| 9 Lives | First player to provide proof of dying 9 times while Dual Wielding Cats Paw’s will win $299 | $299 | Buy 18 cat's paw's, req. lvl 17. It's a big grind GL to you who does |
|
| Small Thread 20 Resist | First player to provide proof of Identifying a Thread of Hope Crimson Jewel with Small Radius and -20% to All Elemental Resistances will win $299 | $299 | Sirus, endgame luck | Note: Must include recording of Identifying the Jewel |
| CATW | First player to provide proof of turning in a full set of Council of Cats divination cards will win $99 | $99 | From The Hunter, then harvest gamba |
|
| Lonely Warrior | First player to provide proof of having a Lonely Warrior Divination Card will win $99 | $99 | Estuary, favourite and target farm cause DoD OP |
|
| Loneliest Warrior | First player to provide proof of having a Full Set of Lonely Warrior Divination Cards will win $199 | $199 | Estuary + Harvest gamba |
|
| Insane Cat | First player to provide proof of having The Insane Cat Divination Card will win $99 | $99 | Kosis/Omniphobia, Deli |
|
| Blue Gear | First player to provide proof of killing Act 5 Kitava with only Magic Gear equipped will win $199 | $199 | Probably won't win |
|
| I’m not winning anyways | First player to provide proof of destroying a Ephemeral Edge Dusk Blade with a Lightning Damage Equal to 15% of Player’s Maximum Energy Shield roll will win $199 | $199 | IF drops then we kill it, maybe target farm Wolf's shadow in Lair strategy (google it) |
|
| Its not whispers | First player to provide proof of having an amulet with Whiskers (Whispers) of Doom anointed will win $199 | $199 | Blight, a lot of blight |
|
| Going down for dudes | First player to provide proof of killing all 3 Delve Bosses in Delve will win $299 | $299 | Delve | Note: This includes Ahuatotli the Blind, Kurgal the Blackblooded and Aul the Crystal King |
| Cat Lives Matter | First player to provide proof of completing Contract: The Rescue in heist will win $99 | $99 | Heist quest contracts, be fast |
|
| I’m not a cat | First player to provide proof of killing Act 10 Kitava while having Aspect of the Cat and having “Cat” in their characters name will win $99 | $99 | Put Cat in name |
|
| Stupid bounty | First player to provide proof of hiring Kaatje Rue in Kingsmarch will win $199 | $199 | Kingsmarch |
|
| I’m not Captain Chance | First player to provide proof of chancing a unique item will win $99 | $99 | Use Chance orbs fast |
|
| It got me | First player to provide proof of chancing Snakebite Assassin’s Mitts will win $99 | $99 | Chance orb on Assassin's mitts (req. lvl 58 minimum) |
|
| What? Wha what? | First player to provide proof of dying to Sirus, the Awakener’s Meteor ability with an Amethyst Flask Completely Full and not used will win $299 | $299 | Maybe at end |
|
| 692 doesn’t exist | First player to provide proof of dying to Elder with all auras turned off will win $199 | $199 | Maybe at end |
|
| I’m a dad gamer | First player to provide proof of killing Act 10 Kitava with the following requirements will win $99 | $99 | Stay logged in | Note: Must receive resistance penalty message proving the character has not killed Kitava before
Note: The character must AT LEAST be 72 hours old
Note: Please type /age in your submission |
| I’m a chad | First player to provide proof of killing the Quest version of Eater of Worlds and The Searing Exarch doing 100% of damage with Flicker Strike will win $99 | $99 | Yeah right |
|
| It’s not my fault | First player to provide proof of their merc dying while they are linked to it will win $99 | $99 | Maybe if get to link skills fast (req. lvl 34) Suicide btw | Note: Your character will also die |
| I’m not Fubgoon | First player to provide proof of fully clearing a Tier 16 Map with Increased Rarity of Items Found on every item they are wearing will win $99 | $99 | roll rarity of all items, probably some gamer will get it way before me |
|
| Call me boby | First player to provide proof of successfully fracturing a pair of gloves with the following mod will win $99 | $99 | Temple, smaaaall chance but hey | Note: The mod is “of Puhurate” and obtained as a Temple Mod on gloves
Note: The mod must have EXACTLY 33% Increased Damage with hits against chilled enemies |
| Better than peeing in a cup | First player to provide proof of fully zooming in on Zana for 10 minutes in a Level 69+ Zone will win $69 | $69 | Find Zana in maps |
|
| Whattttttttttttttttttt? | First player to provide proof of dying to Mana Siphoner in Strand will win $99 | $99 | Probably not, low return for death |
|
| I’m playing POE 2 | First player to provide proof of Killing Merveil with the following conditions will win $199 | $199 | Can try but will prob be too slow | Note: Must use 13 Different Skill Gems and do damage with each one
Note: Player cannot log out
Note: Player cannot use a Town Portal Scroll
Note: Player cannot use a Quicksilver Flask
Note: Player cannot use movement skills
Note: Player must only use 1 Mana Flask
Note: Player must only use 1 Life Flask |
Bounties add an extra layer of excitement. For instance, being the first to find a rare divination card or to die to an Osiris meteor with a full amethyst flask can be rewarded. Even if you don’t expect to win the top prizes, pursuing these goals makes the event more engaging and enjoyable.
PoE 3.26 Gauntlet Prize Pool:
Shopify will be matching all donations to the prize pool up to the first $25000 total donations.
The Total Prize Pool will be split as follows:
The specific bounties placed by streamers and their communities during the fundraisers
The specific bounties placed by sponsors
The remainder of the prize pool will be awarded as follows:
Witches
Shadows
Rangers
Duelists
Marauders
Templars
Scions
Top Scion: 8%
Second Scion: 4%
Third Scion: Heritage Character Effect & Divergence Predator Pet Supplied by GGG
PoE 3.26 Free Gauntlet MTX: How to Claim and Progress?
Even if you're new or not expecting to get far, you can still claim a free MTX. Killing Hillock in the Gauntlet event rewards you with a unique cosmetic glove MTX, which evolves as you level up - at level 40, it will reflect your progress.
Killing Hillock is easiest with ranged characters like Witch or Ranger. Marauder is harder, but with practice, running in a counterclockwise circle can keep you safe from his attacks. If you’re struggling, clear the beach to level up (wait for beach respawns if needed), then gear up and try again. You can keep making new characters and checking for movement speed boots or three-links before engaging Hillock.
As you progress, the glove MTX will visually update to show your best level achieved in the event. This is a one-time cosmetic that marks your participation and progress in one of PoE’s toughest challenges.
Google Safe
0
Home
Follow us on Discord
