Beast farming is an intriguing way to accumulate wealth and crafting materials in Path of Exile. In this guide, we'll explore the art of Beast farming, a strategy that offers substantial returns, especially in the later stages of the league. Our aim is to provide you with a detailed overview of this method, helping you make the most of your PoE experience.

• Understanding Beast Farming
• Pros and Cons
• Mapping Strategies
• The Role of Void Stones
• Optimizing the Atlas Passive Tree
• Efficient Map Sustain
• Identifying Red Beasts
• Running Without Compasses
• Balancing with Essences

↖ Understanding Beast Farming

Before diving into the specifics, it's crucial to grasp the core concept of Beast farming. This method revolves around hunting down particular Beasts, notably Chimerals, to reap substantial rewards. Chimerals are prized for their unique ability to save the state of a magic item, allowing crafters to experiment freely with their gear. These creatures are not your run-of-the-mill crafting ingredients; they're reserved for crafting endgame, mirror-tier items.

↖ Pros and Cons

Pros:

• High returns in the later stages of the league.
• Suitable for beginners and advanced players.
• Ideal for starting the league late or with limited POE currency.
• Keeps your gameplay engaging by requiring constant attention.
• Provides substantial crafting materials for endgame gear.

Cons:

• Limited experience gain, making it unsuitable for leveling.
• Relies on having a fast character to maximize efficiency.
• Requires time to become proficient at spotting Red Beasts.
• Compass costs can fluctuate, affecting profitability.

↖ Mapping Strategies

The heart of Beast farming lies in efficient map strategies. You want to farm as low tier maps as possible to increase your chances of encountering Chimerals. Ideally, tier 1 to tier 4 maps are your best bet. However, a significant trade-off occurs in tier 5 maps when Saka Rex is introduced, making your choice between map tiers an interesting consideration. Beach and Strand maps are often preferred, as their layouts are suitable for rapid farming Currency. When running tier 4 maps, avoid Plateau due to its lengthy layout.

↖ The Role of Void Stones

Void Stones, and the compasses they allow you to use, are essential tools in Beast farming. These items double the effectiveness of your Chimeral encounters. When you find a Chimeral in a map, you can locate two rather than one, significantly boosting your gains. While compasses are quite affordable, it's wise to keep an eye on their prices as they can fluctuate throughout the league.

↖ Optimizing the Atlas Passive Tree

Atlas Tree: https://tinyurl.com/4y44eszm

To further enhance your Beast farming success, delve into the Atlas Passive Tree. Focus on nodes that increase your chances of encountering Red Beasts, particularly Chimerals. Notable nodes such as Natural Selection and specific wheels associated with certain Beast types can dramatically increase your Red Beast spawns.

↖ Efficient Map Sustain

One of the advantages of Beast farming is its ability to provide map sustain. You'll notice that you gain more maps than you consume, making it a self-sustaining strategy. With the right setup, your map pool will flourish, ensuring you can continue farming without interruption.

↖ Identifying Red Beasts

Spotting Chimerals in the wild is crucial to Beast farming success. To do so efficiently, follow these visual cues:

• - Keep mobs around the Red Beast alive, as they often resemble the Red Beast itself.
• - Be cautious of crabs, as they may have Froggies associated with them, mimicking Red Beasts.
• - Remove any visual clutter from your character to improve visibility.
• - Don't ignite enemies if you're a fire-based character to avoid obscuring the Red Beast's surroundings.

↖ Running Without Compasses

While compasses can be valuable, you can opt for a strategy without them to save costs. By removing watch stones and running tier 2 Beach and tier 3 Strand maps, you can increase the frequency of Chimeral encounters, even though they won't be duplicated. This approach is suitable for those on a budget.

↖ Balancing with Essences

When it comes to including Essences in your strategy, weigh the value of Chimerals against the value of Essences. In a league where Chimerals are more profitable, Essences may slow down your farm. Conversely, if Chimerals are less valuable, Essences can provide a welcome source of additional income.

In conclusion, Beast farming is a rewarding strategy that caters to both seasoned players and newcomers in Path of Exile. By following the advice in this guide, you can tap into the immense potential of this method, accumulating wealth and providing valuable crafting materials to the PoE community. So, venture forth, hunt those Chimerals, and elevate your Path of Exile experience to new heights.