MMOexp-POE: Why Endless Tide Is a Trap for XP Farming
MMOexp-POE: Why Endless Tide Is a Trap for XP Farming
If you've been looking for a fast, safe, and profitable way to hit level 100 in Path of Exile this league, you're not alone. Ever since Breach got gutted as an XP source, players have been scrambling for a new meta strategy-and until now, the game has had a noticeable "knowledge gap" around what to run for endgame leveling. This guide breaks down the full strategy: the map tech, Atlas tree, scarabs, map device options, alternatives, dangers, and why Beyond + Evolution Shrines has become the new go-to XP engine of the league POE currency. Why This Strategy Works At its core, XP farming in PoE is simple: Kill as many monsters as possible, as fast as possible, without dying. But with Breach nerfed into the ground this league, we needed new tech that could meet three criteria: 1.Mass monster generation 2.High kill speed and uptime 3.Zero danger spikes that ruin XP/hour The answer: Beyond + Evolution Shrines, scaled through magic pack size and rare monster generation. The synergy creates a tidal wave of monsters-thousands per map-while heavily boosting each one's XP yield. Here's the logic: Beyond creates extra monsters for free whenever you kill packs quickly. Monstrous Lineage + pack size stacking massively increases magic packs (the raw fuel of the strategy). Evolution Shrines convert magic monsters into rares-up to hundreds of rares per map. Beyond Scarab of Invasion spawns additional Beyond portals every time you kill a rare. More rares = more portals = more monsters = more XP. You end up with an ever-escalating feedback loop of mobs, rares, and Beyond spawns. High monster density + high rarity = huge XP per hour. Why Not Breach, Abyss, or Alva Anymore? Many players still cling to outdated XP farming builds, so here's the breakdown: Breach (Old Meta) Nerfed damage Nerfed XP Stable breaches and island breaches are terrible XP/hour Not worth running unless you're after uniques Abyss Surprisingly deadly Slightly worse XP in testing Much worse currency return Much harder to control Alva Strong, but annoying to set up Requires fitting temple into your rotation Better for profit than XP Beyond + Evolution Shrines crush all of them for pure XP farming. Atlas Passive Tree: What to Take (and What to Avoid) The Atlas tree is the backbone of this strategy. Here's the full breakdown. Take Every Shrine Node Shrines increase clear speed, spawn more monsters, and allow you to chain Evolution uptime. Even Covetous shrines-though dangerous-are worth it if your build is tanky. Take All Beyond Nodes EXCEPT Endless Tide This is important. Endless Tide prevents Beyond bosses from spawning. This is a good thing: bosses stop Beyond portals from appearing once they're alive, which kills your XP loop. Preventing them keeps the monster faucet running for the entire map. Take Pale Clarion Gives you extra bait followers → more basic currency → noticeable Divine/hour bump Take Pack Size and Quant Nodes Anything that increases monsters or loot is a YES. Take Eldritch Blue Altars (Preferred) Blue = pack size and quantity Red = also viable Blue just feels smoother for XP. Optional: Chisel Perfection Only take this if you're rolling your own maps (chisel → alch → corrupt). Skip it if you're buying corrupted 8-mod maps. Don't Skip Beyond Chance You need 100% Beyond chance from the tree. Base chance is 0%. Anything less than 100 means you will brick maps with no Beyond. Scarabs: The Core of the Strategy You have four mandatory scarabs and one flex slot. 1. Monstrous Lineage (MANDATORY) +80% magic pack size This is the single strongest scarab in the entire setup. 2. Domination Scarab of Evolution (MANDATORY) Creates Evolution Shrines → converts magic → rare → yields more Beyond portals → yields more XP Start every map by finding this shrine. 3. Beyond Scarab of Invasion (MANDATORY) Every rare you kill spawns Beyond portals. With hundreds of rares per map, this gets stupid fast. 4. A Second Monstrous Lineage or Evolution (MANDATORY) Double up on pack size or shrine frequency. 5. FLEX SLOT Pick one: Option A: Another Evolution Scarab (Safest) This gives you: More shrines Easier uptime Extra magic pack spawns Recommended for consistent XP. Option B: Influencing Scarab of Hordes +40% pack size More Beyond spawns More shrine targets Slightly juicier, slightly crazier.Option C: Beyond Scarab of Hemophilia Built-in Headhunter-style mod stealing More merging radius More Beyond More chaos More danger Hilarious but risky. Map Choice: What to Run You do NOT need to run corrupted 8-mod delirious maps-but they boost your numbers substantially. For maximum XP/hour: Best Maps Toxic Sewer (S-tier density) Glacier (tons of magic/rare spawns + multiple bosses) Atoll (smooth loops + strong alter density) Dunes (solid fallback, widely available) On stream, only Dunes were available, and the build still hit 60-64M XP/hr. Sewers or Glacier push it into the 70M range. Map Device: The Only Correct Choice Run Domination More shrines = more monsters More monsters = more rares More rares = more Beyond portals More portals = more XP Simple synergy. How to Run the Map (Step-by-Step) 1.Enter the map → immediately hunt for your Evolution Shrine. You want Evolution active before clearing. 2.Rush the map boss. Killing rares along the way generates Invasion portals → more mobs. 3.Once Evolution is active, start full clearing. Chain shrines if you have multiple. 4.Use your speed buffs and shrine buffs to stay unkillable and zoom through the map. 5.Repeat instantly-no looting needed except raw currency or scarabs. This strategy thrives on speed and repetition. Do You Need High Gear or a Meta Build? Surprisingly: No. This comp works because: Monsters rarely get time to attack Shrines buff you constantly Evolution shrines scale XP without adding danger Beyond density rewards DoT, Totems, Minions, or high-clear AoE builds Recommended builds: Toxic Rain Pathfinder (proven live on stream) RF variants Explosive Trap Saboteur Boneshatter Tornado Shot Vaal Flicker Strike Occultist vortex/explosion hybrids As long as you can clear fast and not die, you're golden. Profit Per Hour This is not just an XP strat. While the focus is leveling, the currency is extremely competitive: Raw Divine drops Massive scarab income Tainted fusings/chromes from Opulence Tons of basic currency from bait followers Delirium splinters (if your maps are deli) Chance for altars to vomit Divines or Scarabs It competes with any juicing strategy short of full-on MF party play. Final Thoughts: This Is the New XP King of the League The Beyond + Evolution Shrine engine does everything you want: 60-70M XP/hour Cheap setup POE exalted orbs Easy to execute Build-agnostic Extremely profitable Zero reliance on nerfed mechanics If you've been struggling to find a reliable endgame strategy after the Breach nerfs, this is your new leveling bread-and-butter.