Exile 2 Ritual Guide: Passives & Favors

Path of Exile 2's Atlas system features four thrilling endgame encounters: Breaches, Expeditions, Delirium, and Rituals. These mechanics, originally introduced through Path of Exile leagues, have been reimagined as permanent Atlas events - with Ritual Altars directly inspired by the popular Ritual League.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know: activating Rituals, key mechanics, optimizing your Ritual Passive Skill Tree, confronting the Pinnacle Boss, and maximizing rewards through the unique Tribute and Favour system.

Understanding Rituals & Altars in PoE 2

On the Atlas, guaranteed endgame events appear as specially marked map nodes. Ritual Altars are identified by a crimson pentagram icon featuring a demonic horned visage.

When entering a Ritual map, multiple Altars spawn across the area - each sharing random modifiers that introduce special mechanics or dangerous enemies. One encounter might unleash swarms of rats alongside standard foes, while another could flood the battlefield with life-draining blood pools.

Before activating an Altar, carefully examine its modifiers. When prepared, interact to trigger massive enemy waves. The ritual zone darkens to mark your combat arena - stay within the illuminated circle to complete the event. Venturing into the shadows prematurely forfeits all rewards.

Confronting The King In The Mists

The rarest Ritual reward, 'An Audience With The King', grants access to the Crux of Nothingness - domain of the terrifying King in the Mists boss. Insert this currency into your Realmgate to initiate the battle.

This Pinnacle encounter mirrors the campaign version found in Act 1's Freythorn zone. For practice, revisit Cruel difficulty to refight this boss. Victory awards 2 Ritual Passive Skill Points and potential drops including exclusive Uniques, powerful currencies, and Omen items.

Mastering the Ritual Passive Skill Tree

The Ritual Passive Skill Tree enhances your ritual experience by reducing tribute costs, improving rewards, and increasing rare currency drops. Access it through the Atlas Map's Passive Skill Tree interface - look for the distinctive red, five-pronged section in the bottom right.

This specialized tree features eight Notable nodes and eight difficulty modifiers for the King in The Mists encounter. Each Pinnacle boss victory grants 2 Skill Points, but progressively increases the fight's challenge.

Optimal progression prioritizes 'From The Mists', 'Spreading Darkness', and 'Ominous Portents' for balanced risk/reward. Later invest in 'Tempting Offers' and 'He Approaches' for high-value currency farming.

Ritual Reward Mechanics

The Tribute and Favor System

Successfully completing Rituals grants Tribute currency used to purchase randomized Favors. More completed Altars unlock higher-tier rewards including rare gear and premium currencies. The coveted 'Audience With The King' exclusively appears in this system.

Omen currencies represent the pinnacle of Ritual rewards - these enhance other currency effects when carried in your inventory. For example, Omens of Annulment add precision to Orb of Annulment results, while Omens of Alchemy control modifier outcomes.

Beyond the Favor system, Ritual enemies directly drop standard high-value currencies like Exalted and Vaal Orbs. The King in The Mists offers additional Unique items from a Ritual-specific pool.

Complete Omen Currency List

Omen of Sinistral Alchemy
Omen of Dextral Alchemy
Omen of Sinistral Coronation
Omen of Dextral Coronation
Omen of Refreshment
Omen of Resurgence
Omen of Corruption
Omen of Amelioration
Omen of Sinistral Exaltation
Omen of Dextral Exaltation
Omen of Greater Annulment
Omen of Whittling
Omen of Sinistral Erasure
Omen of Dextral Erasure
Omen of Sinistral Annulment
Omen of Dextral Annulment
Omen of Greater Exaltation