Strategy
Grand Expedition is presented here as one of the best currency strategies in 0.5.5, and unusually it is also one of the cheapest — your running cost is a map plus a logbook, and logbooks themselves are inexpensive. The creator tracked a session of roughly eight to nine hours that took his stash from 325 divines to 562, which is over 25 raw divines an hour before counting chaos, perfect exalts, gems and Expedition-specific loot. On a strong character he puts the real figure at 50 to 60 divines an hour.
The mechanic changed meaningfully in 0.5.5. Elder Saga was removed from the game and cannot spawn in the 0.5.5 event league; instead its properties — most importantly the guaranteed high-tier runes — now have a small chance to appear on any Grand Expedition map. That is a nerf to the ceiling (the hundred-divine-per-hour runs of last league are gone) but it makes every logbook a lottery ticket rather than requiring a specific spawn.
This is a high-skill farm. The rune placement is genuinely learnable and the creator says outright it takes trial and error. It is also demanding on your character.
Atlas Tree & Setup
On the Atlas, take monster effect — or swap it for rarity if monster effect makes the maps too hard for your build. On the second choice node, go monster effect or increased chance for an additional rare monster. For the Expedition section specifically, take Desert; Forest is the easier but weaker option. Also take the Expedition points for additional modifier remnants, extra explosives, and the additional Veridian remnant counters.
Tablets: use 3x Irradiated tablets. Expedition-specific tablets do not currently work for Grand Expeditions, so those are the only tablets in play. The best modifiers are “map has two additional random map modifiers” (buy a one and Divine to two — averages about two divines for a +2), monster effect, and increased number of rares. Item rarity works but is the weakest of the three. Three-mod tablets are expensive; save them for rare five, six or seven-moon maps. The creator would not pay more than about 10 divines for a tablet.
Waystones: aim for the highest monster effect, then monster rarity, then item rarity. His routine is an Omen of Chaotic Quantity, avoid pack size, then corrupt afterwards — keeping everything except pack size rolls, which only get kept on eight-mod maps.
Investment & Returns
- Investment: low — a map and a logbook per run · Returns: high, roughly 25 divines/hr baseline and 50-60 divines/hr on a strong character · Scales with: character power far more than currency spent
- Average yield per Grand Expedition is around 8-10 raw divines; good ones hit 20+, bad ones 3-4
- Tier gear dropped inside the Expedition is worth picking up on top of raw currency
- A cheaper two-mod tablet setup (increased rares + monster effect or monster rarity) makes the maps far easier at modest loot cost, and those tablets are nearly free
Step-by-step
- Set the Atlas for monster effect (or rarity if you need the maps easier) and take Desert plus the Expedition point nodes.
- Roll waystones with an Omen of Chaotic Quantity, avoid pack size, then corrupt.
- Slot 3x Irradiated tablets — two-mod for comfort, three-mod saved for rare high-moon maps.
- Open the Grand Expedition and scout the layout before placing anything.
- Prioritise purple runes early, then build toward chaining six and seven-plus rune detonations at the end. Eight or nine runes spawn a large number of waves.
- Spend spare explosives on the map objective when it offers increased monster effectiveness or rarity — but never trade a rune slot for it.
- Reroll weak runes when you can afford to; remember which runes a slot previously showed.
- Detonate, clear, and loot. Repeat.
Risks
- This is hard content. The creator says most builds need at least a Headhunter before starting Expedition; Flame Blast Oil Grenade Gemling is one of the exceptions
- Two additional random map modifiers is a large difficulty spike if your build is not strong
- Rune placement is skill-based — expect below-average results while you are learning
- Expedition-specific tablets do not work on Grand Expeditions, so do not buy them for this
Credits & Source
Method credited to Fubgun. See the source video: 60d+/hr with Grand Expedition, Complete Guide - Path of Exile 2.