PoE2 Strongbox Farming Guide: Atlas Strategy
Time: 2025-04-20 by mmojugg Game: Path of Exile 2 Guide Tags: poe2 farming
Strongboxes in Path of Exile 2's 0.2 Dawn of the Hunt league are a reliable source of currency, rares, and the occasional big-ticket drop, making them a solid choice for endgame farming. With the proper Atlas setup, you can ensure frequent spawns and maximise Research Strongboxes—the real money-makers.
This guide details how to farm Strongboxes efficiently, helping you stack Exalted Orbs while keeping your grind smooth and profitable. For more endgame tips and gear to dominate Wraeclast, consider bookmarking our site and checking out our store for exclusive deals.
Why Farm Strongboxes?
Strongboxes are chests guarded by monsters, dropping currency, gear, or uniques when opened. Unlike Rogue Exiles or Essences, they spawn consistently (1-2 per map) and require no market sales, as currency like Exalted Orbs drops directly. Research Strongboxes, which yield higher-tier loot, are the key to profitability, making this mechanic a low-effort, high-reward option for trade league players.
Optimal Atlas Passive Setup
To maximise Strongbox spawns and profits, allocate ~10-12 of your 40 Atlas points as follows:
Core Nodes: Take all Strongbox Chance nodes (4x +40%, total 160%) and Faith in Luck (+15% chance for Strongboxes to be openable twice, doubling loot).
Research Plunder: +150% chance for Strongboxes to be Research Strongboxes, which drop 1+ Exalted Orbs reliably. This is mandatory for profit.
Hidden Horrors: +50% chance for Strongboxes to spawn rare monster packs, boosting loot from guards (e.g., Chaos, Exalted).
Pack Size: Grab 5% Increased Monster Pack Size nodes near Strongbox clusters to amplify guard drops.
Shrine Synergy: Optionally, take Places of Worship (+100% Shrine chance) to pair Speed/Seeking Shrines with Strongboxes for faster clears and better rarity.
Avoid: Old Pirate Streak (boss-related Strongboxes) unless you're specifically farming map bosses, as it's less efficient for general Strongbox farming.
Farming Strategy
Map Selection: Run white/yellow maps (T1-T10) for speed or T14-T15 for higher loot if your build is robust (5,000+ life, 75% resistances). Open layouts, such as Strand or Crimson Temple, speed up clears.
Waystone Crafting: Roll rare maps with Alchemy Orbs for +20-30% quantity. Avoid deadly mods (e.g., -max resistances). Buy T14 from Doryani's Waystone shop (~18,000 gold) if needed.
Tablet Boosts: Use Tavukai Tablets with +Monster Pack Size or +Item Quantity (1-2 tablets, ~5 Chaos each). Skip Essence/Exile-specific tablets, as Strongboxes do not require them.
Clearing: Rush to Strongboxes (glowing chests on minimap). Use Aoe skills (e.g., Rake, Gas Arrow) to clear guards fast. Prioritise Research Strongboxes (marked on hover) and skip armour/regular boxes unless nearby, as they often drop nothing.
Loot Management: Collect currency (Exalted, Chaos, Vaal Orbs) and rares from Strongboxes and guard—vendor low-value uniques for Alteration Orbs. Check rares for high-value mods (e.g., +1 skill gems) before selling.
Combat Tips for Strongbox Guards
Strongbox monsters can be tough, especially with rare packs:
Burst Damage: Use high-damage skills (e.g., Stomping Ground) to clear guards quickly. Penetration gems (e.g., Fire Penetration) help against elemental resists.
Survive Mods: Watch for Extra Life or Haste mods. Kite if overwhelmed, and use Bleed or Poison to counter regeneration.
Unique Strongboxes: Rare unique boxes (e.g., Cartographer's Strongbox) drop maps or scarabs—open them, but expect heavy guards.
Testing Results
Testing 60 maps with a Strongbox-focused Atlas yielded:
Spawns: 99 Strongboxes (1.65/map), with 29 Research Strongboxes (30%) and three unique Strongboxes (3%).
Profit: 31 Exalted Orbs (~0.5/map), mainly from Research Strongboxes (1+ Exalted each). No Divine Orbs dropped.
Comparison: Strongboxes outperform Rogue Exiles (0.2-0.4 Exalted/map) and Essences (0.5-0.7 Exalted/map) due to consistent spawns and direct currency drops.
Profits are modest but reliable, with Research Strongboxes driving value. Pairing with Shrines or Breach can increase returns to 10-15 Exalted per hour.
Enhancing Profits
Add Breach: Spec into Crumbling Walls for dense packs and Divine Orbs (~1-2/hour).
Use Scarabs: Reliquary Scarab boosts Strongbox loot, adding ~5 Chaos/map cost but increasing Exalted drops.
Map Mods: Roll +Rare Monsters or +Pack Size on Waystones for more guard loot.
Thanks for Reading
Strongbox farming in Path of Exile 2 is a low-effort, consistent way to stack Exalted Orbs, with Research Strongboxes leading the charge. Use this Atlas setup to farm currency efficiently, and pair with Breach or Shrines for bigger payouts. Stay tuned to MMOJUGG for more PoE 2 endgame strategies to conquer Wraeclast!
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