The Path of Exile campaign, while rich in lore, can often feel like a necessary hurdle before the true endgame begins. For many Exiles, speed is paramount PoE 1 Currency.
1. Choosing Your Champion: Build Selection
The foundation of fast campaign progression lies in selecting a build that combines tankiness with excellent clear speed. Dying slows you down immensely, and inefficient killing means more time per zone. Look for builds that can effortlessly dispatch large groups of enemies without constantly needing to dodge or kite.
Righteous Fire Juggernaut: An incredibly robust choice, the RF Juggernaut burns everything around them just by existing. Its innate tankiness means you rarely die, and the constant area damage ensures swift clear.
Toxic Rain Pathfinder: For those who prefer a more agile playstyle, Toxic Rain Pathfinder offers fantastic damage over time, allowing you to lay down pods and keep moving. Its speed and flask utility are unmatched for navigating zones quickly.
Explosive Arrow Ballista Elementalist: This build scales exceptionally well, providing a safe, ranged playstyle with high damage output from your ballistas. It's excellent for clearing packs and dealing with bosses from a distance.
2. Prepare for Acceleration: Key Itemization
Your equipment strategy throughout the campaign should emphasize efficiency rather than perfection. The most significant item you can obtain is movement speed boots.
Movement Speed Boots: Prioritize these above all else. Inspect every vendor in each town for boots that offer the highest movement speed affix. Even a minor enhancement in movement speed can significantly decrease the time required to navigate through zones.
Life & Resistances (Optional): Although not as vital as movement speed for pure speedrunning, possessing sufficient life and some resistances can help avoid frustrating deaths and save valuable time. Avoid excessive investment, but remain vigilant for easy upgrades.
Link Bases: Ensure that your primary attacking or spell skills are placed in suitably linked items. A 3-link is generally adequate for the early acts, with a swift transition to 4-links.
3. The Grind Spot: Blood Aqueducts Farming
Should you find yourself under-leveled or needing a quick boost, Act 9's Blood Aqueducts is your go-to farming spot.
Why it's great: This zone boasts incredibly high monster density and a linear layout, making it perfect for repetitive clearing.
How to farm: Clear the zone from one end to the other, exit to town, then hold Ctrl and click the Blood Aqueducts waypoint to create a new instance. Repeat as needed to gain a few quick levels before tackling Izaro or Kitava.
4. Optimizing Your Ascent: Final Tips
Don't be afraid to use your PoE 1 Currency buy on useful low-level uniques or well-rolled rare items with movement speed, life, and resistances. Look for a "Purity of Elements" aura if you struggle with resistances. Make sure your flask setup is optimal for life and mana recovery, and consider utility flasks with movement speed suffixes like "of Adrenaline".
By adhering to these principles – selecting a powerful, clear-speed build, focusing on movement speed, farming smart, and prioritizing efficiency – you'll find yourself reaching the endgame maps in PoE 3.26 much quicker than before.
