[PoE 3.23] Affliction League Starter Strategies: Everything You Need To Know

Hey there, Path of Exile enthusiasts! Are you ready to kickstart your journey in PoE 3.23 with a bang? The Affliction League Starter strategy is perfect for beginners diving into the Atlas, offering a straightforward yet effective way to climb the ranks.  Let’s break down Blight, Delirium Mirror, Heist Essence, Alch and Go, Boss Rush, Expedition, and Alch and Go Harvest strategies so you can start farming like a pro!

PoE 3.23 League Starter Strategies

No 1. Blight Starter Strategies:

What’s the Deal with Blight?

• Blight is all about balancing low-impact mechanics for efficient map and encounter clears.
• Choose between Heist and Essence based on your comfort level – Essence is great if trading contracts isn’t your jam.
• Look out for Oils, Blighted Maps, anointed Jewelry, and Oil Extractors from Blight encounters.

What You Need:

• A robust PoE 3.23 builds capable of handling tough Blight encounters with various map mods.
• Ring anointments and strategic Freeze/Stun Tower placements are your best friends.
• Cassia’s Pride can be a game-changer, either to compensate for build weaknesses or to indulge in a full-on tower defense playstyle.

Atlas Strategy:

• Optimize your rewards and ease encounters with Blight-specific passives.
• Eldritch Altars are a steady PoE currency source (https://loltank.com/poe-currency).
• Essence passives up the game by increasing Essence tiers and duplicating Shrieking Essence monsters.
• Heist passives are great for Rogue Markers and easily tradable Contracts.

PoE 3.23 Blight Passive Tree

Prepping Your Maps:

• Clean Up: Identify all maps, then use an Orb of Scouring for normal rarity. Saves on those precious Cartographer’s Chisels.
• Chisel Time: Get each map to a crisp 20% quality.
• Alchemy Magic: Use Orbs of Alchemy on all 20%-quality maps. Re-roll as needed with Scouring and Alchemy Orbs.

Running Your Maps:

• Initial Clear: Roam and clear the map until you bump into the Blight.
• Tower Tactics: Deploy Stun Towers with Empowering Towers to keep non-Stun Immune monsters in check. Ring enchantments and Meteor Towers can really turn up the heat.
• Essence Hunt: As you clear, keep an eye out for Essence monsters.
• Boss Time: Take down the Map Boss. If you’ve hit all Smuggler’s Caches and Blights, feel free to exit stage left.

No 2. Delirium Mirror Starter Strategies

What’s the Deal with Delirium Mirror?

• It’s all about speed and efficiency, using Domination Shrines and Niko’s Sulphite Buffs.
• Great for various map layouts once you’ve snagged a couple of Void Stones.
• Expect to snag Simulacrum Splinters, Delirium Orbs, and Cluster Jewels.

Gearing Up:

• Choose a build that can zip through maps, staying ahead of the creeping delirium fog.
• Stockpile at least 2 Voidstones, have 6+ maps as favorites and gather 121 Atlas Points.

Your Atlas Game Plan:

• Domination helps you blitz through maps and Delirium Mirrors.
• Eldritch Altars: Your go-to for a steady stream of currency items.
• Delve passives are perfect for upping your clear speed and snagging resonators with Azurite.

PoE 3.23 Delirium Mirror Passive Tree

Prepping Your Maps:

• Clean Sweep: Identify and then scour your maps to normal rarity. Chisels go further on white maps!
• Chisel Time: Pump each map up to a full 20% quality.
• Alchemy Magic: Alchemize every map at 20% quality. Re-roll unsuitable maps with Scouring and Alchemy Orbs.
• Vaal Orbs for the Bold (Optional): Vaal those perfectly rolled maps. But be wary of transformed maps or new mods that don’t play nice with your build.

Running Your Maps:

• Setup: Ensure your map is rolled to your liking, with your fragment set-up ready.
• Delirium Launch: Dive into the map and kick off the Delirium Mirror. Start clearing near the map’s start to keep the fog rolling.
• Fungus Fun: Stomp on Delirium fungus wherever you find them for those extra monsters.
• Fog Management: Keep pace with the fog – don’t lag behind or sprint ahead.
• Loot Time: Once you wrap up the map, end the Delirium Mirror and bask in your well-earned loot.

No 3. Heist Essence Starter Strategies

What’s the Big Idea?

• Heist Essence is all about speed, leveraging Domination Shrines and Niko’s Sulphite Buffs for rapid map completion.
• This strategy shines once you’ve bagged yourself a couple of Void Stones and works across various map layouts.
• Expect a bounty of crafting materials from Essence and potentially profitable contracts and blueprints from Heist.

Gear Up and Get Going

• Aim for a build that balances defense, recovery, and single-target damage.
• Get your hands on at least 2 Voidstones, line up 6+ favorite maps, and gather 124 Atlas Points.

Atlas Strategy Unpacked:

• Essence passives: Your highway to a steady stream of crafting materials.
• Eldritch Altars: A reliable source of currency items.
• Heist goodness: Contracts, Rogue’s Markers, and blueprints – sell these wisely for a hefty profit.
• Delve passives and the 7th Gate keystone: These are your secret weapons for enhanced map access and speed.

PoE 3.23 Heist Essence Passive Tree

Prepping Your Maps:

• Map Cleanup: Identify all your maps, then scour them to normal rarity. Chisels work better on white maps, folks!
• Chiseling Time: Boost each map to a sweet 20% quality.
• Alchemy Action: Alchemize every map at 20% quality. If a map doesn’t suit your build, re-roll it using Scouring and Alchemy Orbs.
• Optional Vaal Orbs: Feeling adventurous? Vaal those maps! Just be ready to ditch any that morph into something unsuitable.

Running Your Maps:

• Map Setup: Make sure your Tier 16 map is well-rolled, your fragments are set, and your compasses (if using) are ready.
• Dive In: Jump into the map and clear at lightning speed. Prioritize shrines and sulfite nodes to boost your clear speed even more.
• Essence Tactic: Use Remnants of Corruption on all uncorrupted essences, especially the purple ones. Try to clear most of the map, leaving less than 50 monsters behind.

No 4. Alch and Go Starter Strategies

What’s the Alch and Go Strat?

• It’s all about setting up a strong foundation with your atlas passive tree, focusing on Essence and fast map progression.
• Ideal for beginners until you snag your first two Void Stones.
• Essence is your gold mine here, offering a treasure trove of crafting materials.

Gear Up for Success:

• The beauty of this strategy? No hefty requirements! It’s tailored for anyone, right from the first atlas passive point.
• Focus on those initial 3 Essence nodes, then pivot to the map nodes, circle back to Essence, and wrap up with Strongbox.

Your Atlas Roadmap:

• Essence nodes: A non-stop supply of crafting goodies.
• Map Nodes: Boost your chances to drop higher-tier maps, speeding up your journey.
• Strongboxes: A sprinkle of rare items and the occasional currency drop to spice things up.

PoE 3.23 Alch and Go Starter Passive Tree

Prepping Your Maps:

• Map Recon: Sift through your maps. Ensure they’re free of any mods that clash with your build or make completion a pipe dream.
• Atlas Completion Check: Eye your atlas. Don’t have the completion bonus for a map? Fix that by transmuting, aching, or revealing the map.

Running Your Maps:

• The name of the game early on is speed. Race to start farming Eldritch Influence.
• Prioritize completing Eldritch quests and bagging those map completions. Trust me, the loot post-first two Void Stones is a game-changer.

No 5. Boss Rush Starter Strategies

The Core of Boss Rush:

• Boss Rush is about mixing low-impact mechanics with Invitation Farming and the Destructive Play Atlas Keystone.
• Key focus: Strong single-target damage for map Guardian bosses and a well-rolled Maven’s Invitation: The Formed.

The Art of Invitation Farming:

• Maven’s Influence is your ticket to generating Maven’s Writ.
• Shaper Guardian Map Charged Compasses ensure you keep those Guardian maps rolling without constant buying.
• Remember, the Charged Compass ups the ante on boss difficulty – be ready or buy sets from trading platforms.

Essence: Your Silent Profit Booster

Essences are quick to farm and can significantly boost your profits when sold in bulk.

PoE 3.23 Boss Rush Passive Tree

Gear and Atlas Prep:

• Aim for a build that thrives on single-target damage.
• Atlas Passives for map duplication, 4 Voidstones, 10 favorites, and 115 Atlas Points should be your target.

Your Atlas Strategy:

• Destructive Play: Spawns additional bosses without the drawbacks of Charged Compass.
• Essence Passives: Uplift the quality of your Essences.
• Delirium: A quick mechanic for additional Delirium Orbs.
• Stream of Consciousness and Trial of Glory: Boost your chances for extra content without needing fragments.

Map Preparation:

• Keep it simple: Run white maps as item quantity, rarity, or pack size bonuses are not crucial here.
• Roll Maven’s Invitation: The Formed for at least 60% Quantity, but watch out for tricky mods.

Running the Maps:

• Focus on high-value targets and use a strict loot filter.
• Speed is key – avoid full clears and unnecessary league mechanics.

Pre-Map Strategy:

• Prepare your map set: Lair of the Hydra, Pit of the Chimera, Maze of the Minotaur, and Forge of the Phoenix.
• Carry Remnants of Corruption and ensure Maven Influence is active.

Steps to Boss Rush Success:

• Rush Through: These maps are linear, so speed through as quickly as possible.
• Essence Hunt: Target Essences, especially the Screaming Essence of Envy, Dread, Scorn, and Misery. Use Remnants of Corruption on them.
• Boss Showdown: Focus on defeating the Map Boss efficiently.

No 6. Expedition Starter Strategies

The Expedition Strategy Lowdown:

• This strategy leverages the Stream of Consciousness to encounter a bounty of Expeditions.
• Focus on low investment for high rewards – think Vendor Refresh Currency, Artifacts, Maps, and more!

What You’ll Need:

• Don’t worry, there is no need for a super intense build here. Just watch out for those tanky remnants.
• Keep 2 Voidstones handy and have at least 109 Atlas Points.

Your Atlas Game Plan:

• Expedition passives: Your ticket to frequent and valuable Expedition encounters.
• Eldritch Altars: For a steady flow of currency.
• Essence passives: Boost the quality of your Essences, doubling up on those containing a Shrieking Essence.
• Trial of Glory: A 4-point wonder node. Always check for Improved Trials before diving in.

PoE 3.23 Expedition Passive Tree

Map Preparation:

• Map Cleanup: Identify all maps, then scour them to normal rarity for efficient Chiseling.
• Chisel Away: Boost each map to a pristine 20% quality.
• Alchemy Magic: Alchemize every map at 20% quality. If it’s not a good fit, re-roll with Scouring and Alchemy Orbs.
• Vaal Orbs (Optional): For the daring, Vaal your maps. Just discard anything that turns rogue on you!

Efficient Map Running:

Prep Step: Carry a stack of Remnant of Corruption with you.

• #1: Explore the map until you hit an Expedition.
• #2: Strategically place your explosives, targeting powerful remnants and Runic Monster Markers.
• #3: If the Expedition is at the entrance, don’t clear it right away.
• #4: Continue your map run, returning to the Expedition when all monsters have spawned.
• #5: Finish off any remaining Essences and the boss.

No 7. Alch and Go Harvest Starter Strategies

What’s This Strategy All About?

• Alch and Go Harvest use the Stream of Consciousness keystone for a free Harvest encounter in most maps.
• It’s super versatile and pairs nicely with almost any mechanic on the Atlas Passive Tree.
• Early League? Combine it with Essence for a smooth currency flow.
• Harvest drops include Lifeforce and the coveted Sacred Blossom.

Gearing Up for Harvest:

• You’ll want a build brimming with damage or solid defenses to tackle those tough, rare monsters.
• Voidstones: Have at least 2 in your arsenal.
• Favorites and Atlas Points: No specific favorites are needed, but aim for 124 Atlas Points.

Atlas Strategy Unpacked:

• Harvest passives boost your seed tiers and Lifeforce gain, ensuring frequent encounters with valuable plots.
• Eldritch Altars: Your steady stream of currency items.
• Essence passives: Level up your Essence game and duplicate those Shrieking Essences.
• Trial of Glory: A perfect match for Stream of Consciousness. Look out for Improved Trials for added benefits.

PoE 3.23 Alch and Go Harvest Passive Tree

Prepping Your Maps:

• Map Check: Identify all your maps and scour them to normal rarity. Chisels work wonders on white maps!
• Chisel Time: Get each map to a stellar 20% quality.
• Alchemy Magic: Alchemize every map at 20% quality. Re-roll unsuitable ones with Scouring and Alchemy Orbs.
• Vaal Orbs (Optional): For the bold, Vaal your maps. Just be ready to pivot if they transform unfavorably.

Efficient Map Running:

Pre-Map Prep: Arm yourself with a stack of Remnant of Corruption.

• #1: Cruise through the map until you hit a Harvest encounter.
• #2: Eye those Labyrinth Trials. Only dive in if they’re enhanced.
• #3: Clear the rest of the map, defeat the boss, and hit the reset button.

And there you have it, future champions of Wraeclast! With our league starter strategies, you’re well on your way to making a name for yourself in PoE 3.23. Remember, it’s all about laying a solid foundation, speeding through the early stages, and gearing up for the more lucrative phases ahead. Happy mapping, Exiles!