PoE2 Patch 0.4.0 Early Map Strategy: Ranking the Top 5 Farming Mechanics

0.4.0 Early Map Strategy: Which Mechanic Pays Best?

The arrival of Patch 0.4.0 (Season 3) has shaken up the Atlas. The Abyss mechanic has been added to the core game, bringing with it powerful new tools like the Abyss Precursor Tablet.

Currently, the PoE2 endgame revolves around five main mechanics: Breach, Delirium, Ritual, Expedition, and Abyss.

I hit Level 93 on Day 3 of the league. Based on my subjective experience and market analysis, here is my evaluation of the profitability for each mechanic in the current economy.

1. Abyss (The New King) 👑

Verdict: Tier S (Top Profit)
Risk: High (Difficulty spike)

Abyss is the undisputed winner of Patch 0.4.0. The introduction of the new Abyss Precursor Tablet has completely changed the math.

Abyss Precursor Tablet

Why it pays: With the right Tablet setup, every map guarantees additional Pits. More Pits mean significantly more Rare Monsters. In PoE2, Rare Monsters are the primary source of raw currency and high-tier drops.

Loot: The sheer volume of raw currency drops (Divines/Exalts) creates "excess returns" that far outweigh the map cost.
Warning: The difficulty is substantial. Abyssal monsters swarm and hit hard. You need a strong build to farm this efficiently without dying.

2. Breach (The Steady Earner) 🛡️

Verdict: Tier A (Stable)
Risk: Medium

Why it pays: The profit from Breach comes from two sources: Breach Rings and Catalysts. The market context is crucial here: In 0.4.0, crafting became harder. With the removal of other deterministic crafting items, the Omen of Catalysing Exaltation has become one of the few ways to manipulate affix probabilities. This has caused the consumption of Catalysts to skyrocket.

Strategy: Farm Breach to supply the market's hunger for Catalysts. It is a very consistent income stream.

3. Delirium (The Scavenger) 👁️

Verdict: Tier B+ (Good for bases)
Risk: Medium

Note: I am referring to running the endgame challenge (Simulacrum-style using fragments), not just mapping with fog.

Why it pays: Early in the league, Delirium is excellent for finding high-level Crafting Bases and Skill Gems.

The "Identify" Strategy: Because crafting is harder in this patch, well-rolled Rare items dropped from Delirium are valuable. Unlike previous leagues where you filtered out most rares, identifying Delirium drops can now yield significant profit if you know what to look for.

4. Expedition (The Starter & The Gambler) 🧨

Verdict: Mixed (Tier S for Bosses / Tier A for Logbooks)
Risk: Variable

Expedition is split into two distinct playstyles:

Logbooks (The Safe Bet): This is low difficulty and provides stable income from Artifacts and Runic Splinters. It is the perfect strategy for building startup capital if your build isn't strong enough for Abyss yet.
Endgame Bosses (The Gambler): You are chasing Olroth's Resolve or high-value gems like Uhtred's items. The variance is extreme—you either make a fortune or make very little. Only do this if you can handle the loss streaks.

5. Ritual (The High Roller) 🩸

Verdict: Tier B (High Variance)
Risk: High (Expensive Entry)

Reference: See our Ritual Atlas Passive Guide for setup details.

Why it pays (or doesn't): Ritual is statistically profitable over a large sample size (100+ maps). However, in the early game, Tablets are very expensive. If you don't hit the jackpot rewards like Omen of Whittling, Omen of Chance, or Omen of Dextral Annulment, you will likely lose money in the short term. I do not recommend this as your first strategy unless you have a deep bankroll to absorb the bad streaks.

📝 Summary & The Optimal Setup

For Patch 0.4.0, my recommendation for the highest profit per hour is Abyss.

The Maximum Profit Tablet Setup: To maximize your gains, arrange your Waystone with:

1x Precursor Tablet (General Map Juice)
2x Abyss Precursor Tablets (To force Pits and Rares)

Start with Expedition to build your character, move to Breach for steady upgrades, and once you are strong enough, switch to Abyss to print currency.

Good luck in Season 3, Exiles!

👉 Must Know For Profiting

The Logic of Wealth in PoE2: Understanding the Economy Behind the Grind.

👉 Ritual

The Deep Dive into the PoE2 Ritual Mechanic: A Deep Dive Into the Ritual mechanic.

The Ultimate Ritual Farming Guide: The Ultimate Tablet & Waystone Setup about Ritual Farming.

The Ritual Atlas Passive Guide: Three Core Farming Strategies.

👉 Breach

The Breach Complete Guide: Mastering Breach in PoE2.

The Only Breach Atlas Guide You Need: Unlocks & Optimal Tree.

The The Best Builds for Breach: The High-Speed Clearer.

poe2-catalyst-guide: How to Use, Get, and Profit.

👉 Expedition

POE2 Expedition Crafting(Maximize Your Profit): Practice and Example

PoE2 Recombinator Guide: The 100 Divine Crafting Engine

👉 Early Game Farming

Massive Profit in Abyss Tablet: Rolling Abyss Precursor Tablets for Massive Profit

The Road to Your First 50 Divines: Zero-Cost Strategies in PoE2

The 3-to-1 Flip: An Advanced POE2 Currency Strategy for Essences & Oils

How I Made 100 Divines Flipping Maps: A POE2 Early Game Farm Guide