PoE 3.27: How to Farm a Headhunter in Just 2 Days After the Loot Nerfs

In Path of Exile 3.27, obtaining high-value uniques such as Headhunter or Mageblood has become significantly more challenging following the loot and map modifier nerfs. Despite the changes, it remains possible to reach impressive results early in a league through optimized strategies and efficient reinvestment of POE currency.

This guide outlines a complete two-day progression route from league start to Headhunter acquisition, covering early Atlas setups, Legion and Delirium farming, as well as high-investment Ethereal Allflame runs. It also highlights how Breach 2.0 may unintentionally reduce map rewards.

Early Progress and Setup

The league start begins with an Elemental Wander build reaching maps within approximately 4.5 hours. The initial focus should be on Breach nodes in the Atlas tree to secure a six-link and generate early currency through Mysterious and Currency Gifts.

A classic map sustain Atlas works best at this stage, while the Unwavering Vision node is not recommended. Scarabs naturally accumulated by tier 16 mapping already provide enough resources to enhance a build.

Upon entering red maps, shift attention to Legion farming for the first few Divine Orbs. Beach maps serve as an excellent Tier 16 base due to layout efficiency and compatibility with Legion mechanics. Start with the free Legion encounter from the Atlas, then add one Legion Scarab for increased density.

For additional player power, Sulphite vein buffs can be extended by clicking two veins first, waiting for the buff to expire, and then activating the third. This method doubles buff uptime and grants significant combat advantages.

Transition to Delirium Farming

After obtaining basic upgrades such as The Taming, Death Rush, and higher-quality rares, the next phase involves Delirium farming, one of the most profitable early-league strategies.

Players who end the first weekend with limited Divine Orbs typically make one key mistake: hoarding currency instead of reinvesting it. Every significant strategy transition should involve spending profits to strengthen the build, enabling faster and more efficient farming of high-reward content.

Early Delirium mapping should aim for seven reward tiles instead of eight. If the boss proves too tanky, skipping it is more time-efficient. Focus primarily on Cluster Jewels, as Delirium Orbs offer little value during the first few days of a league.

Breach 2.0 and Its Effect on Delirium

The redesigned Breach 2.0 system synergizes remarkably well with Delirium. Breach monsters grant substantial Delirium progress without any additional investment. Even "Defend the Tower" Breach encounters contribute extra monsters before the event begins, boosting map density.

To maximize efficiency, open all Breach Nodules to trigger more spawns and increase the Delirium meter's progress. However, the "Fortress" encounter should be avoided, as entering it ends the fog prematurely and limits rewards.

When properly combined, Breach and Delirium create a rewarding setup. Recommended scarabs include one Paranoia Scarab and one Maniac Scarab, alongside a Delirium-focused Atlas tree. This combination yields consistent returns in raw currency, Chaos Orbs, stacked decks, and maps.

The true profits come from Cluster Jewels, which typically sell for 5-120 POE chaos orbs, depending on modifiers and item level. Many players report earning over ten Divine Orbs from cluster sales before prices begin to drop.

Transition to Ethereal Allflame Farming

Once Delirium profits slow, shift into Ethereal Allflame farming, which provides some of the highest returns in the early game.

During the early weeks of the league, Ethereal Allflames traded for around 80 Chaos each, often doubling within days. Running two Allflames per map rather than three is recommended to conserve supply, and in practice, the efficiency loss is minimal.

Setup Example:

Two Ethereal Allflames

One Bloodline Scarab

One Betrayal Scarab of the Allflame

One Monstrous Lineage Scarab (or Wisp Scarab as prices stabilize)

Tier 16.5-17 maps with high Scarab modifiers

Approximately 30 maps at 2.5 Divine investment each can yield 2-3 Divine profit per run. Reflect immunity on Esh's Mirror greatly improves mapping flexibility, allowing for the inclusion of modifiers that other players tend to avoid.

The Breach Problem: How Loot Gets Lost

An unexpected interaction occurs between Breach 2.0 and Ethereal Allflames that reduces total loot yield.

Both "Defend" and "Fortress" Breach encounters spawn their own groups of monsters that are not affected by Allflame modifiers. These monsters fail to trigger Scarab explosions, effectively removing potential rewards from the map.

If one of these encounters spawns in the map's center, up to half of the available loot can be lost. For example, a Jungle Valley run that would normally yield 200 Scarabs produced only 50 after a Fortress encounter appeared mid-map. Unless additional packs are generated elsewhere to compensate, these events significantly diminish map profitability.

Juicing After the Nerfs

Endgame juicing remains viable in 3.27, though diminished compared to prior leagues. The following results were recorded using similar setups under current nerfs:

2× Ethereal setup: ~1,900 Scarabs per 10 maps

3× Ethereal setup: ~2,600 Scarabs per 10 maps

Under equivalent conditions in previous leagues, total drops could reach nearly double these amounts. The removal of map crafts, changes to tier 17 maps, and reductions to modifier scaling have collectively reduced loot by 35-50%.

Even with lower numbers, these results remain highly profitable. Generating 1,900 Scarabs per 10 maps still represents a strong currency foundation for solo players. The extreme results of earlier leagues likely pushed the limits of balance, and the current adjustments have reined in those excesses without killing juicing entirely.

Final Overview

A Headhunter can still be farmed within two days after the loot nerfs through efficient strategy progression and reinvestment.

Delirium + Breach remains a powerful synergy for early mapping.

Ethereal Allflame farming continues to provide exceptional returns.

Breach encounters, however, may reduce Allflame's profitability by blocking pack spawns.

Endgame juicing has not been eliminated-only rebalanced. Smart reinvestment, mechanical knowledge, and selective map choice remain the core principles of success in Path of Exile 3.27.

MMOexp POE Team