The endgame in Path of Exile 2 is where the real fun starts, and Waystones unlock the hardest and most rewarding maps.
These items make your mapping experience better and bring tougher enemies and more loot chances.
In this guide, we’ll go over the best ways to get, upgrade, and make the most of Waystones, so you’re always ready for whatever tough challenges Path of Exile 2 throws at you.
How To Get Waystones
Enemies in challenging areas often drop Waystones randomly, so that's a common way to get them.
click to enlarge
+ 2The harder the zones get, the greater the odds of these drops.
It's essential with higher-tier Waystones because they can increase the drop rate for more Waystones on the maps they’re slotted into.
However, random drops can be unpredictable, so counting on them alone might not get you far.
If you're still short on Waystones, you can always buy more from Doryani in the Ziggurat Refuge.
Early on, Doryani sells basic Waystones without any mods for a fair amount of gold.
However, as you advance through the Atlas, his inventory will expand to include higher-tier Waystones, albeit at a steeper cost.
Although these purchased Waystones are generally not altered, they are a trustworthy option when you are low on stock.
Another way to get your hands on higher-tier Waystones is by using the Reforging Bench, unlocked after you beat The Forgemaster in Act 3.
The Reforging Bench lets you turn three Waystones of the same tier into one of the next tier.
You can upgrade your stock on your own terms; waiting for random drops is unnecessary.
This way, you can slowly work your way up, making better Waystones to handle tougher maps.
How To Upgrade Waystones
Upgrading your Waystones is just as important as collecting them in the first place.
click to enlarge + 2Some upgrades can either increase the number of Waystone's modifiers or focus on advancing its tier.
You can throw some Orbs on your Waystones to add modifiers.
For example, an Orb of Transmutation can turn a regular Waystone into a Magic Waystone, adding a modifier.
You can use the Orb of Augmentation to apply a second modifier to a Magic Waystone, and then a Regal Orb will turn it into a Rare Waystone with a third modifier.
You can use Exalted Orbs on higher-tier Waystones to add modifiers, with a max of six.
These upgrades make your Waystones more useful, boosting loot chances, cranking up monster spawns, or granting additional benefits.
However, to increase the tier of a Waystone itself, you’ll need to use the Reforging Bench.
To level up your Waystones, you need this crafting station to combine three from the same tier into one of the next.
Remember that Orbs and other crafting techniques can add modifiers, but don’t change the Waystone’s tier. The Reforging Bench is the ultimate tool for upgrading.
Other than Orbs and the Reforging Bench, there are a few more ways to get the most out of your Waystones.
For example, you can use Distilled Emotions to boost your Waystones, like better drop chances or higher item rarity in maps.
Each Distilled Emotion has its own modifiers, so you can tweak your Waystones to fit the challenges you expect in the maps.
Delirium effects with these items make them even stronger, especially when adding other map modifiers.
"Juicing" your maps is another highly effective strategy.
This term is all about adding a bunch of modifiers to your maps to score better loot and rewards, including Waystones.
You can juice your maps using Regal Orbs, Exalted Orbs, or Delirium effects to raise the map's difficulty and increase the chances of Waystones dropping.
Boss maps are especially valuable for juicing since they throw tough battles your way and drop a ton of Waystones.
As you go through the Atlas, you’ll pick up Passive Skill Tree points to make getting Waystones easier.
There are nodes in the Atlas Skill Tree that boost the chance, rarity, and tier of Waystones you find in maps.
If you want a steady supply of Waystones, Constant Crossroads (for more Waystones) and Fortunate Path (for rarer ones) are the way to go.
The High Road is a solid node that gives Waystones in your maps a chance to level up, which is great when you're working your way through the tougher Atlas levels.
When Waystones are hard to come by, using Precursor Tablets can help, as they raise loot rarity and the monster counts on a map.
They result in even more profitable runs with extra Waystones when stacked on adjacent maps.
While not often tapped into, Precursor Tablets can significantly improve your mapping experience.
If other avenues don’t pan out, you can always turn to trading for Waystones.
When farming and crafting can't keep your Waystone supply up, you can buy them from other players in the trade channel.
Whether you need a few to get back on track or are looking to bulk up your stock for a longer mapping session, trading is a trustworthy backup in a pinch.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Path of Exile 2 page.