Path of Exile 2: How to Cleanse Maps
Wraeclast has always been a land of darkness and danger, but with the arrival of Dawn of the Hunt, a new form of Corruption has begun to spread unchecked across the Atlas. Fortunately, a new mechanic-the Corrupted Nexus-gives players a way to push back this sinister tide. Here's everything you need to know about finding, entering, and cleansing corrupted maps in Path of Exile 2.
How to Identify Corrupted Maps
As you progress through the endgame, you'll begin to notice certain Atlas maps infected with a strange, sickly visual effect and a new label: Coalesced Corruption. These corrupted maps are more dangerous than usual, filled with empowered monsters and twisted environments.
These maps are the key to uncovering the Corrupted Nexus, the central source of the corruption. To reveal it, you must clear several of these corrupted maps in a cluster on your Atlas. Once enough have been cleared, the location of the Nexus becomes accessible.
Accessing the Corrupted Nexus
To enter the Corrupted Nexus, you'll need a special item: a Waystone. However, not just any Waystone will do-you need one with at least four modifiers to unlock the heart of the corruption. These modifiers can be crafted or dropped in high-tier corrupted maps.
Once inside the Corrupted Nexus, prepare for battle. You'll face:
Waves of increasingly powerful enemies
A final boss fight against one of three unique bosses
Corrupted Nexus Bosses
Each Corrupted Nexus encounter ends with one of the following powerful bosses:
Skittermind - A swarm-based horror that overwhelms with numbers and poisons.
Eater of Flesh - A grotesque abomination that regenerates from corpses and slashes with brutal melee attacks.
Pale Angel - A haunting figure wielding holy and unholy power, warping space and time around her.
Each boss drops unique rewards and fragments tied to advanced crafting and Atlas progression.
Benefits of Cleansing Corruption
Upon defeating the boss and clearing the Nexus, a chain reaction cleanses all Coalesced Corruption in nearby maps. These cleansed maps become infused with new monsters, increased rewards, and altered mechanics, offering fresh challenges and opportunities.
Additionally, cleansing corruption contributes to your Atlas objectives, seasonal challenges, and unlocks access to rare crafting materials, boss fragments, and exclusive loot.
Tips for Success
Upgrade your Waystones early. The more modifiers, the better the Nexus rewards.
Bring a balanced build. You'll face varied threats, from AoE chaos to single-target nukes.
Clear surrounding maps strategically. Try to cleanse multiple clusters at once for efficiency.
Watch for lore clues. The Corrupted Nexus is deeply tied to the storylines of Dawn of the Hunt-lore lovers will find extra flavor here.
In addition to unraveling the lore, the Corrupted Nexus rewards players with exclusive PoE 2 currency and rare PoE 2 items. Be on the lookout for Nexus Fragments, Corrupted Essences, and other valuable drops that can be used for crafting or trading. These items hold significant value, whether you're enhancing your gear, progressing through the Atlas, or seeking to maximize your crafting potential.
MMOexp POE 2 Team