Summary
Welcome, Exiles! This guide covers my proven strategies for farming 100 divines on day one of a Path of Exile league, along with essential tips for the critical day 1-4 period. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newer player looking to accelerate your league start, these methods will help you generate cheap POE currency efficiently through gameplay when it matters most.
Understanding the Early League Economy
The first four days of a league present unique opportunities and challenges:
Scarabs are scarce - Limited supply means they can be expensive
Chaos orbs have high buying power - The divine:chaos ratio is typically very low (around 90c:1div early on)
Raw currency drops are incredibly valuable - Every chaos orb carries more weight than later in the league
With these dynamics in mind, let's explore three primary farming strategies I successfully used.
Strategy 1: Red Altar League Starter Farm
Overview
This is your bread-and-butter day one strategy. Focus on farming red altars for raw chaos orb drops while clearing maps efficiently.
Why This Works
Raw chaos orbs are extremely valuable early league
Red altars provide consistent chaos drops
Low investment required - perfect for league start
Atlas Tree Setup
Core Nodes:
Maximum pack size nodes
All altar nodes (red altar focus)
Map boss nodes (Shaper, Conquerors, Vivid Memories)
Optional: Divination card nodes if running maps with valuable cards
Recommended Map:
Dunes (naturally drops divine card "The Dunes")
Important Notes
You can use blue altars instead - Blue incursion items often sell for more, though you sacrifice consistent raw chaos
This strategy requires a fast clearing build - Winter's Embrace is excellent for this
If your build lacks speed, this method won't be efficient
Optional: Merk Farming
Low time investment per map
Check each merk's inventory for divine orbs
Consecrated Merks can be sold to other players
Try it out, but it's not essential to the strategy
Strategy 2: Legion Farming (Not Recommended Current Patch)
Warning: Legion is substantially worse this patch
Why It's Weaker Now
Removal of incubators from Legion rewards
Significantly reduced profitability
Feels bad for alch-and-go mapping
When It Might Work
Only with Legion Scarabs - Specifically "Ritual Legion" (adds 5 Legion Sergeants)
First two Legion Scarabs make this farm decent
Without scarabs: skip this strategy entirely
Recommendation
"I doubt I'm going to do Legion next league in its current state" - My honest assessment
Strategy 3: 8-Mod Map Farming (Highly Recommended)
Overview
This is the most profitable strategy, but it requires a strong character and careful execution.
The Setup
Scarabs Required:
3x Multitude Scarabs
1x Escalation Scarab
1x Corruption Scarab
Alternative: Replace Corruption Scarab with Magic Pack Size Scarab
What to Farm
8-mod tier 16 maps (Corrupted rare maps with 8 affixes)
Nightmare Maps - sell for 35-40 chaos each
Raw altar drops from blue altars (easier downsides than red)
Atlas Tree Setup
Choose blue altars (safer downside management)
Take all quantity and map duplication nodes
Skip altar downside nodes on this farm
Profit Breakdown
8-mod maps: ~3 chaos each (pay for map cost and scarabs)
Nightmare maps: 35-40 chaos each (pure profit)
Altar rewards and raw drops (bonus profit)
Build Requirements
Strong defensive layers - You're running 8-mod T16s with altar downsides
High damage output - Efficient clearing is essential
Level 96+ - I hit 96 and couldn't progress further due to rippy content
Profit Potential
"I feel like I was making 8-10 divines an hour" - Based on early league prices when scarabs were cheap
Bonus Strategy: Boss Rushing
For Boss-Killer Builds
If you have a strong single-target character, consider boss rushing:
Recommended:
Sanctuary - Drops Scourge for Hell support (currently ~5.5 divines)
Other maps with valuable fragments
Atlas Tree Variation
Option 1: Full Map Effect
Take all map effect nodes
Makes content harder but more rewarding
Option 2: No Prefix/Suffix
Use both Sinistral and Dextral Scarabs
Maps have no modifiers
Faster rushing, but fewer fragment drops
Matching Strategies to Your Build
Choosing the right strategy depends entirely on what your character excels at:
For Fast Mappers
Your best bet is the Red Altar League Starter Farm. The faster you clear, the more altars you trigger, and the more raw chaos you generate. Builds like Winter's Embrace that zoom through maps will see the best returns here. If you're not clearing quickly, this strategy loses efficiency fast.
For Tanky Characters
The 8-Mod Map Farming strategy is your domain. These maps are deadly - altar downsides stacked on eight corrupted modifiers will punish any build without strong defensive layers. But if you can survive and clear consistently, the profit potential is enormous. This is the highest-return strategy when your character can handle it.
For Boss Killers
Boss rushing is your lane. Instead of clearing entire maps, you focus on reaching and killing bosses quickly. The fragment drops and valuable boss-specific items (like Scourge for Hell from Sanctuary) will generate significant currency. This is especially lucrative when fragment prices are high.
For Hybrid Builds
Don't be afraid to pivot between strategies as the economy shifts. Start with red altars for raw chaos early, then transition to 8-mod farming once you've upgraded your gear. The best farmers adapt to what their build can handle and what the market demands.
Essential Tips for Success
Monitor Prices Constantly
Scarab prices fluctuate wildly early league. Check your Atlas region map prices before committing to a farm. What's profitable at 10am might not be at 2pm. Stay flexible.
Don't Be Afraid to Switch
If a farm feels bad, it probably is. The removal of incubators made Legion substantially worse - I tried it and quickly abandoned it. Trust your instincts and pivot when needed.
Manage Risk
Eight-mod maps are extremely rippy. Consider skipping dangerous altar downsides if they threaten your survival. Expensive deaths cost time and currency - sometimes it's better to take the safer option.
Know When to Upgrade
The currency you generate early should fuel your build's progression. Better gear means faster clears and access to harder content. Don't hoard everything - invest in your character.
Test on Stream or with Friends
I discovered the 8-mod farm's potential by testing it live. Getting feedback from viewers or testing strategies with friends can reveal opportunities you might miss alone.
Final Thoughts
These strategies helped me farm my Headhunter early league. Remember the flow:
Day 1-2: Focus on red altar farming and raw chaos. The divine:chaos ratio is at its best, so every chaos orb you pick up has maximum buying power. This is your foundation.
Day 3-4: Transition to 8-mod farming if your build can handle it. The profit margins are significantly higher, but so is the risk. Only make this jump when you're confident in your character's strength.
Always Adapt: The economy changes rapidly. What works at league start may not work later, and the value of POE currency fluctuates constantly based on supply and demand. Stay informed, watch prices, and be ready to change strategies at a moment's notice. Keep an eye on what top farmers are buying and selling to spot trends early. For those looking to supplement their farming or skip the early grind, MMOEXP is a reliable source to consider, though I always recommend experiencing the league progression yourself first.
