Do You Know The Endgame Content In Path Of Exile

In Path of Exile, while approaching the end of the main storyline you might start seeing some map drops. Maps are items that are used to open randomly generated areas that have higher level monsters in them.

Each map will open 6 portals to it, meaning you can enter and exit the map 6 times (useful for selling items to vendors). Each map has monsters and one or several bosses in it - to complete the map you have to kill the boss/es. Maps are essentially items so you can craft them using currency for additional risk and reward.

An important thing to keep in mind before you start doing maps is to have character level 63 - 68, at least 3500 - 4000 effective hp, elemental resistances at 75% and enough damage to comfortably and quickly kill monsters in Act 10 - that's when you are ready to jump into maps.

To enter maps, you have to finish Act 10 and go to Templar Laboratory where Zana is located. She is one of the forsaken masters and is all about maps and endgame. After finishing her first mission, you can now use maps in Map Device to open them and invite her to your hideout (about which you can read in Forsaken Masters section) and also have map device in your hideout. After finishing your first map, you will be introduced to Atlas of Worlds, which is a visual representation of your progress in endgame maps.

There are currently more than 150 different maps in Path of Exile and some of them have unique versions with special/interesting mechanics and encounters. The maps are divided into tiers, starting from Tier 1 (T1) to Tier 16 (T16). You start with Tier 1 maps in the outer corners of the Atlas and progress to higher tier maps with tougher monsters and bosses.

There are 4 Tier 16 maps in the game and they contain 4 guardians of the Void in them - Hydra, Minotaur, Phoenix, and Chimera. Each of the guardians drops their respective fragment and 4 fragments (each from different guardian) opens up a portal to Shaper's Realm which is one of the toughest boss encounters in the game. Shaper drops exclusive unique items you can only get from killing him so he can be profitable to farm.