Overview
This is an endgame orientation guide rather than a single build — a roadmap for what to do the moment the campaign ends in 0.5 Return of the Ancients. It walks through the first conversations after the credits (the hooded one, then Doryani), opening the Atlas, and setting an early target: rushing the Citadel to bank as many Atlas points as possible.
The creator lays out a clear progression spine — clear the precursor tower, push through the gate, and chase the boss chain that unlocks a huge swing of Atlas points. Along the way it flags the optional buff NPCs (Hilda and others) as things to leave for later while you prioritise raw Atlas progression.
The Citadel Boss Chain
The core route runs through a sequence of fights. Using the lowest waystone each gate asks for, you speed-run to the Arbiter of Ash at the Burning Monolith, clearing both the Western and Eastern Enigma Chambers (the old Doryani and Jamandra citadels) on the way. From there you enter the main Citadel, clear the Matriarch and Patriarch halls, collect two keys, and return to the Origin Tower to face the Arbiter of Divinity.
The payoff: after that kill you pick one of three pillars. The creator recommends the middle option, which auto-completes every node and map you haven’t done — worth 40+ Atlas points depending on how much you’ve already cleared. The large towers scattered around grant three points each and are well worth mopping up.
Atlas Tree & Waystone Sustain
The guide’s Atlas-tree advice is preference-driven but highlights strong picks: Rogue Exiles (great synergy with Ritual and with Abyss, where they can drop the valuable Heart of the Well diamond) and Essences. For sustain it points at the powerful-map-boss nodes that bump your base waystone tier, and the Path Keeper +15% quantity node to keep Wasteland maps flowing. Post-Arbiter, the upper nodes add chances at exceptional drops (Mageblood, Headhunter) and tablet preservation.
For running maps day to day: alch-and-go, or blue maps with transmute + augment when sustaining.
Endgame Mechanics Order
- Delirium first — a few steps in unlocks instilling your amulet (the instill passive tree), a meaningful power spike
- Breach & Abyss — the creator’s currency-farming picks right now; the Abyss boss (Kulemak) is a highlight fight
- Ritual — strong with Rogue Exiles; clear ~5 maps to gear up for the (excellent) ritual boss
- Expedition / Temple — playable again after quest-line fixes, though Temple was heavily nerfed
Credits & Source
Guide credited to Ulfhednar. See the source video for the full walkthrough with on-screen Atlas navigation and boss footage: PoE 2 Endgame Guide After Campaign - Atlas Progression, Waystones & Mapping.