PoE 3.26 T17 Map Farming Strategy & How to Get Higher Tier Maps

Higher-tier maps have a better chance of dropping valuable items in Path of Exile, including unique items and rare gear. How can I increase the map tier? Understand the Atlas progression for obtaining higher-tier maps in PoE 3.26, especially Tier 17 maps, and the best farming strategy for T17 maps.

How to Progress Atlas Fast and Get Higher Tier Maps in PoE 3.26

As you run the endgame content in Path of Exile 1 Secrets of the Atlas league, how to advance the mapping tiers, like converting a tier 1 map to tier 2? It involves the Atlas completion or progression and NPC interactions.

Utilize the Atlas Passive Tree

The Atlas passive tree contains clusters of nodes that increase the chance for maps to drop as a higher tier than their base tier. In the early game of the league, you can spend passive points to unlock these clusters to raise your map tiers from Tier 1 to Tier 15.

Interact with the NPC Commander Kirac

Kirac will be available after you finish the campaign and enter maps. You can invite him to your hideout. Kirac sells various maps for Path of Exile currency. If you lack a specific map to progress, you can buy it from Kirac and run it. Early on, you can buy white tier maps with Orbs of Chance, which is cheap at the start. Kirac also offers Atlas missions that give you portals to specific maps you might not have access to yet. These missions will unlock white, yellow, and red maps progressively. Opening any Kirac mission will reset Kirac's store and refresh the selection of available maps and items.

Progress with 3 to 1 Map Vendor Recipe

Selling three identical maps to a vendor gives you a random map of the next tier. The maps you receive from the 3:1 vendor recipe are usually connected maps (one tier higher). If you haven't completed the higher-tier maps, you will only get connected maps. If you have completed your atlas, the 3:1 return can be any map of the next tier, even unconnected ones. Map seeds influence which maps drop, so changing the exact maps you sell can affect outcomes.

Use Voidstones to Increase Map Tiers

Voidstones are special quest items socketed into the Atlas that boost map drop tiers and increase the chance maps drop by one tier higher. For Tier 1–15 maps, Voidstones increase the chance to drop a map of one tier higher. Tier 16 maps can drop Tier 17 maps with a small chance (~0.4%) when Voidstones are active. With all four Voidstones socketed, your entire Atlas can effectively be Tier 16, and you have a chance to drop Tier 17 maps. They also increase the base tier of maps on your Atlas, effectively upgrading all maps.

How to Get T17 Maps in PoE 3.26?

1. Complete Atlas Maps & Bosses

Progress through your Atlas and defeat the necessary bosses (Eater of Worlds, Searing Exarch, Maven, Uber Elder) to get the four Voidstones.

2. Socket Voidstones

Insert all four Voidstones into your Atlas to upgrade all maps' tiers.

3. Farm Tier 16 Maps

T17 maps are obtained by converting T16 maps. With Voidstones socketed, Tier 16 maps have a chance (about 0.4%) to drop Tier 17 maps. Farm T16 maps efficiently with your tier-up chance from the Atlas passive tree and the Voidstones active.

Atlas Setup

• Twist of Fate: This unique Atlas node can add one or three random map modifiers, which can increase the quantity and rarity of map drops. Using it with the Cartography Scarab of Escalation to boost T17 map drops.

• Shaping the Skies/Mountains/World: These Atlas notes also help increase the chances of dropping higher-level maps like T15 or T16, which can then be converted to T17.

• Watchstones: Using all four watchstones can increase the number of dropped items from these levels.

Scarab Strategies

• Cartography Scarab of the Multitude: This scarab can increase the number of maps dropped. It is recommended to use it in combination with the Cartography Scarab of Escalation.

• Influencing Scarab of Conversion: This scarab helps offset the costs of other scarabs and can increase the efficiency of your map farming setup.

Map Preparation

• Corrupting Maps: Corrupting your maps with the right modifiers can increase the chances of T17 drops. For example, using corrupted eight-mod maps with the Twist of Fate node can be highly effective.

• Clearing the Map: Clearing the entire map before reaching the boss is necessary for Maven to spawn all bosses with her unique ability.

3.26 New Mechanic

• Threads of Consciousness (Memory Threads): This new system introduces sequences of connected maps that players complete one after the other. Completing these threads can result in maps with T17 modifiers, also called T16.5 maps. Players find iridescent thread bundles near memory tears in Tier 14+ maps, which Eagon Caeserius uses to extract a Memory Thread location on the Atlas. This creates a gauntlet of three adjacent maps plus an exclusive Tier 16 map not normally on the Atlas, all linked in sequence and accessible by interacting with Eagon in the hideout. These maps are memory-influenced, rolling modifiers from the Tier 17 pool and feature monsters imbued with Memory Petals that grant special skills when defeated. Equipment in these maps can carry Memory Strands. Completing each map boss spawns a Memory Altar offering stacking modifiers that affect Memory Petal gains, crafting, map mechanics, and other bonuses. 

PoE 3.26 T17 Map Farming Strategy

The primary farming strategy for T17 maps in Path of Exile 3.26 involves a boss-rushing approach rather than clearing entire maps. This means you quickly run through the map, skipping most trash mobs, and focus on killing the boss as fast as possible. Use a strong build with high elemental hit damage and excellent crowd control. Avoid difficult map mods that increase monster HP or speed, and instead use a regex filter to select maps with manageable mods. This strategy allows high clear speed and is suitable for pushing currency farming early in the league with decent gear. Maps are rolled using Chaos orbs to remove dangerous mods, averaging about 16 Chaos per map in rolling costs.

Best Maps to Farm

The best maps for this farm are the Fortress Map and other T17 maps that do not have high EHP or speed mods on monsters. The focus is on maps where the build can avoid reflect, regen, chaining, or blocking mods that complicate boss fights. Maps with ground effects like Searing Rune or Shaper-Touched mods are manageable with the build's survivability and crowd control.

Drops and Profits

The main profitable drops are Yoke of Suffering, which is a unique Onyx Amulet; it has about a 5% drop chance. The prices of Yoke of Suffering fluctuate from 11-12 divines down to 8-9 divines, but can spike unexpectedly. Uber fragments consistently add solid currency value. Other currency drops are modest, with few Divine orbs but steady Chaos and Fragments. The farm yields roughly 13.4 divines per hour with this strategy.