In Path of Exile, players are immediately introduced to a vast and intricate skill tree as they progress through the campaign. However, after completing the campaign, they'll encounter an even more expansive and complex system: the Atlas Passive Tree. For seasoned Path of Exile players, the Atlas skill tree is one of the most exciting aspects of the game, offering endless opportunities for customization and strategy.

The Atlas Passive Tree allows players to specialize their gameplay experience, focusing on specific mechanics that enhance their farming and gameplay efficiency. However, committing to a particular path can be daunting, especially if you decide to change your strategy later. Respecing your Atlas skills can be costly, requiring a significant amount of Path of Exile Currency to reset your points. Fortunately, Grinding Gear Games introduced a quality-of-life improvement in the Necropolis update, adding two additional Atlas skill tree slots. But before you can take advantage of these slots, you must unlock them. Here's how to do it.

Unlocking Atlas Tree Slots

To unlock additional Atlas tree slots, you need to complete specific in-game milestones. First, open the Atlas by pressing "G" (not CTRL + G). Here, you can view your map progress, including the completion of bonus objectives. When you hover over your current map progress, you'll see a message that says, "You unlock an additional Atlas Skill Tree at 50 and 100 completed bonus objectives." These milestones are crucial to unlocking each of the additional Atlas tree slots.

But what exactly are these bonus objectives, and how do you complete them? This is where new players often get confused, as finishing a map doesn't always mean you've completed the bonus objective. Here's a breakdown of how to ensure you complete these objectives efficiently:

Bonus Objective Completion Mechanics

To complete a bonus objective for a map, you must fulfill specific requirements based on the map's tier and color. The bonus objective mechanics are as follows:

    Tiers 1-5 (White Maps):

        Finish the map by defeating the boss.

        The map must be at least magic rarity.

    Tiers 6-10 (Yellow Maps):

        Finish the map by defeating the boss.

        The map must be at least rare quality.

    Tiers 11-16 (Red Maps):

        Finish the map by defeating the boss.

        The map must be at least rare quality and corrupted.

Once you complete 50 or 100 bonus objectives, you'll unlock additional Atlas skill tree slots. You can access these slots by clicking the drop-down menu at the top of your screen, where you'll find two or three available Atlas skill trees. Each tree has its own separate set of skills, but note that refund points are shared among all three slots.

Best Strategies for Completing Map Objectives

At the start of every new season or league in Path of Exile, one of the biggest challenges after completing the campaign is acquiring maps and finishing map bonus objectives as quickly as possible. Each completed map bonus objective grants you one Atlas skill point, which is essential for enhancing your farming efficiency through Atlas passive skills.

To maximize your progress and ensure a steady supply of maps, you should focus your Atlas skill tree on nodes that increase your map drops. Specifically, target nodes that offer a chance to upgrade your Tier 1-15 maps to higher tiers. This strategy will help you progress through the Atlas more efficiently, even if you're running lower-tier content.

If you find yourself running out of maps, here are some strategies to keep your momentum going:

    Utilize Kirac Missions:

    Kirac offers missions that can provide maps. These missions are a valuable resource, especially when you're low on maps, so be sure to complete them regularly.

    Purchase Maps from Kirac:

    You can also buy maps directly from Kirac using Path of Exile Currency. This is a quick way to fill in any gaps in your map collection.

    Trade for Maps:

    The official Path of Exile trading website is a great resource for buying maps from other players. This can be especially useful if you're missing specific maps needed to complete your Atlas.

If, despite all these efforts, you still find yourself without maps or currency to purchase them, you may need to revisit earlier content. In this case, head to Act 9 - Blood Aqueduct, where you can farm for maps. While this method is slower, it can help you build up a reserve of maps to continue your progress.

Conclusion

Unlocking and efficiently utilizing the Atlas Passive Tree in Path of Exile is key to maximizing your gameplay experience. With the right strategy and understanding of map mechanics, you can unlock additional Atlas tree slots, giving you even more ways to customize your approach to the game. Remember that PoE Currency plays a crucial role in this process, so managing your resources wisely will ensure that you can adapt and evolve your strategies as needed.

Whether you're focusing on farming, completing endgame content, or just exploring different mechanics, mastering the Atlas Passive Tree will significantly enhance your Path of Exile journey. So, gear up, plan your tree carefully, and enjoy the depth and complexity that the Atlas brings to the game.

MMOexp POE Team