Players exploring the Path of Exile 2 endgame Atlas will come across four unique events: Delirium, Rituals, Expeditions, and Breaches. These events can appear on endgame maps and are indicated by a distinct symbol that floats above each Node on the Atlas Map screen.
In PoE 2, Breaches are a prevalent feature of the Atlas, but it might not be clear at first what a Breach is or how to engage with one once you find it on a map. This guide will explain how to initiate Breaches, the steps needed to finish them, the workings of the Breach Passive Skill Tree, and the rewards you can earn by completing these endgame challenges.
PoE 2 Breaches & Breach Circles, Explained
How To Complete Breach Events In Path of Exile 2
On the Atlas Map, you’ll notice that Map Nodes associated with Breach Events are marked by a purple icon depicting an outstretched hand reaching upwards. Spotting this icon above a Map Node indicates that there is a Breach hidden within.
Breaches look like bright dark purple spots, with a massive hand at the center of the corruption. When you click on the hand, a huge Breach circle will start to grow outward. In the bottom-left corner of your screen, a new bar will show up. The circle will keep expanding, and you can keep engaging with the Breach mechanic as long as this bar remains full.
Breaches look like bright dark purple spots, with a massive hand at the center of the corruption. When you click on the hand, a huge Breach circle will start to grow outward. In the bottom-left corner of your screen, a new bar will show up. The circle will keep expanding, and you can keep engaging with the Breach mechanic as long as this bar remains full.
As time goes on, the number of foes you need to defeat to sustain the Breach will increase significantly, causing the circle to start pulling back.
Once it returns to the location where you initiated the Breach, the event will conclude, but all the loot that was dropped will remain. It might be a good idea to leave most of the loot from the event for later collection—unless you spot a Unique or Divine Orb, as losing those to an unexpected death can be quite frustrating.
Breach Passive Skill Tree
Increase Rewards With PoE 2 Breach Passives
Similar to the Atlas Passive Skill Tree, the Breach Passive Skill Tree enhances the Breach event, making it more rewarding and enriching the overall experience in several ways. Players in PoE 2 can access the Breach Passives by opening the Atlas Map, navigating to the Atlas Passive Skill Tree, and scrolling to the left side.
The Breach Passive Skill Tree features a vibrant purple hue and offers significant enhancements to the Breach system, providing powerful buffs.
- Rising Pyre and Interdimensional Assault, which increases the number of enemies (and therefore increases the amount of rewards) that can spawn within a Breach
- Crumbling Walls, which grants a small chance to vastly increase the number of Breaches available on affected maps
- Grasping Hands, which increases the number of Grasping Hands and the rewards they drop and increases the number of Magic enemies (and therefore increases the chance for higher-tier loot drops)
You can earn Breach Passive Skill Points by taking down the Pinnacle Boss, Xesht, We That Are One. To summon this boss, gather 300 Breach Splinters and transform them into a complete Breachstone. Then, head to the Realmgate located near the start of your Atlas Map and activate it to challenge this boss.
You can find four different Difficulties, each providing 2x Breach Passive Skill Points, adding up to a total of 8x Breach Passive Skill Points. To enhance the challenge of this boss fight, make sure to invest your Breach Passives, as it’s almost essential to raise the Difficulty of this encounter before reaching any Notable node in the skill tree.
Breach Rewards & Pinnacle Boss
Catalysts and Splinters and Bosses – Oh My!
You should keep an eye on two key Breach-specific Currencies and grab them whenever you can. Catalysts are special Currency items that help you improve the Quality of Jewelry, like Amulets and Rings. Each Catalyst corresponds to different types of Modifiers. For instance, the Carapace Catalyst boosts Quality but is limited to Defensive modifiers, whereas the Neural Catalyst focuses solely on Mana modifiers. Remember, these effects don’t mix; only the most recently applied Catalyst will be active.
You have the opportunity to obtain Breach Rings that can be enhanced significantly beyond the standard 20% Quality, reaching an impressive 50% Quality. This means you could potentially elevate the stats far beyond what a typical Ring offers. The only way to achieve such remarkable improvements in Jewelry is through the use of Catalysts.
Splinters serve as the final distinctive Breach Currency, and when gathered in large quantities, they can be transformed into a Breachstone. By using a Breachstone at the Realmgate, you can access the Twisted Domain, a special boss arena for Xesht, We That Are One. This unique boss offers better loot than usual and rewards you with double Breach Passive points upon defeat. However, if you fall in battle, you’ll need to gather the summoning materials again and attempt the fight later—there are no do-overs.