Upon entering the endgame of Path of Exile 2, players quickly encounter a significant challenge: locating a Corrupted Nexus to accumulate points for their Atlas passive tree. The initial Nexus is conveniently positioned near the Ziggurat Refuge, the game’s starting Atlas location, but subsequent Nexus maps manifest randomly across the game world. Fortunately, there are some strategic methods to uncover these elusive maps within the fog of war. Let’s explore how you can identify and utilize them effectively.
What is a Corrupted Nexus in PoE 2?
A Corrupted Nexus represents a unique map type within the Atlas, featuring corrupted creatures and a formidable Beyond boss. This map is exclusively found in regions afflicted by coalesced corruption, identifiable by a distinctive neon red corruption icon—brighter than standard corruption maps, thereby easing visibility for players. Access to a Corrupted Nexus requires a Waystone equipped with four or more modifiers.
Completing a Corrupted Nexus is essential for accumulating Atlas points in Path of Exile 2. To gain points, players must clear the Nexus using a Tier 1 (or higher) Waystone for the first 2 Atlas points, and this process continues: another Nexus cleared with a Tier 2+ Waystone grants an additional 2 points, necessitating a total of 15 clears to achieve 30 Atlas points. It’s important to note that points are not awarded in bulk; players must discover and complete 15 distinct Corrupted Nexus maps to unlock all possible points.
Interestingly, even using a Tier 15 Waystone on a map will not translate to earning all 30 Atlas points at once. The completion of each separate Corrupted Nexus remains the key to securing those points.
Within these Nexus maps, players might encounter one of the following three Beyond bosses:
- The Skittermind
- The Eater of Flesh
- The Pale Angel
How to Find a Corrupted Nexus in PoE 2
Locating a Corrupted Nexus can be quite a daunting task since these maps are relatively rare within the game. Players often find themselves traversing two or three entire screens without encountering a single Nexus, leading to frustration when aiming to progress their Atlas and secure those vital points.
However, players can utilize two effective strategies to guide their search for Corrupted Nexuses. Focus on these two visual indicators:
- A black stone spire emanating visible corruption. When fully zoomed out, this may present as a dark miasma, signaling the presence of a Corrupted Nexus.
- A tower enveloped in red corruption (illustrated above). This formation can be challenging to spot during regular Atlas navigation. Zooming in while closely inspecting towers can reveal corruption surrounding them. Discovering a corrupted tower indicates a high likelihood of a nearby Corrupted Nexus.
How to Cleanse a Corrupted Nexus in PoE 2
To cleanse a Corrupted Nexus, players must defeat the Beyond boss present within the map. Successfully achieving this will convert all nearby corrupted maps into cleansed maps. Cleansed maps introduce unique monster types and bosses, and notably, they are the exclusive source for Fracturing Orb drops—one of the most sought-after currencies in the game.