Summary
The first major loot update for Path of Exile 3.29: Curse of the Allflame is now live. Patch 3.29.0b significantly improves the new Voyage league mechanic by increasing valuable loot, reducing low-value encounters, and adding several quality-of-life improvements. To make the most of these changes without the grind, you can buy POE currency and gear up instantly for the updated league content.
If you've felt that Voyages were incredibly rewarding in early maps but disappointing in red maps, you're not alone. Grinding Gear Games has acknowledged the issue and has already deployed the first wave of buffs. Here's everything you need to know to maximize your rewards after the update.
Why Voyage Loot Felt So Different
Many players reported completely opposite experiences with the new mechanic.
Players farming White and Yellow Maps found Voyages highly profitable.
Players who rushed directly into Red Maps often complained that the mechanic barely dropped anything worthwhile.
The main reason appears to be how Voyage level scaling works. Mixing chart pieces quickly creates level 82+ Voyages, where reward density was noticeably worse than lower-tier Voyages.
Patch 3.29.0b is designed to address this imbalance by increasing both the quantity and quality of rewards throughout the system.
Strongboxes Are Much More Valuable
Premium Strongboxes Now Spawn Naturally
Before the patch, the best Strongboxes required special chart implicits.
These included:
Diviner's Strongboxes
Arcanist's Strongboxes
Operative Strongboxes
Now these premium Strongboxes can appear naturally inside Voyages without requiring special charts.
This is one of the biggest loot improvements because:
Diviner's Strongboxes offer jackpot currency potential.
Arcanist's Strongboxes consistently provide valuable currency.
Operative Strongboxes remain excellent for Scarabs and other rewards.
Simply exploring more of each Voyage is now significantly more rewarding.
Allflame Lanterns Are Finally Reliable
False Alerts Have Been Removed
Previously, Allflame Lantern indicators frequently pointed toward low-value objects such as:
Soothing Coral
Crab Nests
Neither of these justified the "valuable reward nearby" notification.
After the update:
Lantern indicators focus on actual rewards.
Worthless distractions appear less often.
Valuable discoveries are easier to locate.
This makes following lantern guidance far more worthwhile during every Voyage.
More Currency, Scarabs and Maps
Reward Chests Receive Major Buffs
Grinding Gear Games increased the frequency of several valuable loot containers.
You will now encounter more:
Currency chests
Scarab chests
Stacked Deck chests
Map chests
At the same time, Crab Nests appear much less frequently.
Instead of simply removing bad rewards, GGG also increased the spawn rate of good ones, creating a noticeable boost to average loot.
Golden Lanterns Now Increase Item Quantity
Golden Lanterns received an additional bonus beyond their original effects.
They now grant:
Increased Item Quantity
Higher overall loot drops
Better value across the entire Voyage
While the bonus may not seem dramatic in individual runs, it compounds over many Voyages and noticeably increases long-term profits.
More Loot Objects Throughout Every Voyage
Charts Now Contain More Rewards
Patch 3.29.0b increases scattered lootable objects by roughly 20–40%, depending on chart type.
Combined with the reduced number of Crab Nests, this means players will spend more time opening rewarding containers instead of encountering filler content.
Additionally, chart modifiers that grant Item Quantity and Item Rarity now provide 20–40% higher values, making well-rolled Voyages even more rewarding.
New Sunken Opulence Chest
A new reward chest called Sunken Opulence will arrive in a later restart patch.
Although its exact loot table has not yet been revealed, the name strongly suggests similarities to Delve's Hidden Opulence rewards.
Possible rewards may include:
Divine Orbs
Ancient Orbs
Orbs of Annulment
Other high-value currency
While the exact contents remain unknown, this chest is expected to become one of the premier Voyage rewards.
Ducat Crafting Unlocks Earlier
New Players Benefit the Most
Previously, many useful Ducat crafting options were locked behind the rare Kishara's Rest chart and its associated boss encounter.
This forced players into Tier 16 content before accessing even basic crafting functions.
Patch 3.29 changes this progression.
Important utility crafts—including attribute swapping—will unlock much earlier, allowing players to use the crafting system throughout progression instead of only in endgame.
Some advanced crafting options will still remain tied to late-game progression.
Voyage Quality-of-Life Improvements
Several welcome usability improvements have also arrived.
Players can now:
View the Active Voyage Board
You can inspect your current Voyage while exploring, making it easier to:
Track progression
See active modifiers
Plan your route
Launch Charts Faster
Charts can now be started directly from the Bathysphere without repeatedly speaking to NPCs.
While simple, this removes unnecessary downtime between runs.
Additional League Improvements
The loot update also includes changes outside the Voyage mechanic.
Abyss Rewards Are Being Reviewed
Although Abyss gameplay feels enjoyable, its rewards currently lag behind other farming strategies.
Grinding Gear Games has confirmed that additional loot buffs are being investigated.
Mercenary Improvements
Several buffs target Luminary players and Mercenary progression.
Changes include:
Stronger attack-based Mercenaries
More common Infamous Mercenaries
Better scaling during leveling
Improved support gem setups on Mercenaries found in maps
Players should find upgrading Mercenaries much easier throughout Atlas progression.
Best Farming Strategy After Patch 3.29.0b
To maximize profits after the update:
Prioritize Voyages
With increased reward density, Voyages are now considerably more rewarding than at league launch.
Fully Explore Every Chart
Premium Strongboxes and new reward objects can spawn naturally, making exploration more valuable than rushing objectives.
Follow Lantern Indicators
Since false alerts have largely been removed, lanterns are now reliable indicators of worthwhile rewards.
Keep Alchemy Orbs in Your Inventory
You'll still need Alchemy Orbs during Voyages for crafting opportunities, so carrying a stack remains highly recommended.
Don't Ignore Mid-Tier Voyages
White and Yellow Map Voyages continue to provide excellent value, especially if Red Map scaling still feels less rewarding than expected.
Final Thoughts
Patch 3.29.0b is an excellent first balance pass for Curse of the Allflame. Rather than simply increasing loot numbers, Grinding Gear Games improved the overall reward structure by removing low-value encounters, boosting premium chests, increasing item quantity, and making Voyage progression much smoother.
While further adjustments—such as the addition of the Sunken Opulence chest and future Abyss buffs—are still on the way, the league mechanic is already in a much healthier state. If you've been avoiding Voyages after reaching red maps, now is the perfect time to give them another chance. With POE currency, you can test the updated mechanic without worrying about your gear holding you back.
