A week into 0.4 and Fate of the Vaal has already rewritten my endgame routine. I went in expecting a nostalgia tour, but the new temple loop actually pushes you to think, not just rush. If you've been bouncing between builds and can't decide what to invest in, having a stash of PoE 2 Currency on hand makes it easier to commit and stop second-guessing every upgrade mid-run.

Beacons, Ruins, and the Console Game.

The loop starts simple: clear maps, light Vaal Beacons, and watch the corrupted packs pile in. Hit six and you're dropped into the ruins, where the Temple Console becomes the real boss. You're basically laying tiles to make a route, and the game punishes messy planning. Keep it straight toward the Architect. Don't do the "one more side room" thing unless you're sure you can handle the decay. People love to zigzag for extra rewards, then act surprised when a Tier 3 room collapses right before they reach it.

Rooms That Actually Change Your Character.

The rooms are where progression stops feeling like a treadmill. I keep chasing a Tier 3 Thaumaturge Lab because gem double-corrupts can flip a build from "fine" to absurd. And after 0.4.0c, the grind doesn't feel like it's trying to break you. Exalt benches show up more often, Medallions feel less stingy, and the risk/reward is finally balanced. The Corruption Chamber is still a gamble, sure, but that's kind of the point. Sometimes you brick an item and it hurts. Other times you walk out with a rare that you'll build around for the rest of the league.

Atziri, Pressure, and Loot That Matters.

Once you've downed the Architect and got the Medallion, the run shifts gears. Opening the Royal Access Chamber feels like stepping into a test you can't overgear with vibes. The fight hits hard, but it's readable: flameblasts, lightning storms, and constant movement checks. If you're not dodging, you're done. Tanky setups like Blood Mage can brute-force more of it, and some of the new Druid options feel surprisingly comfy, but most builds still need clean play. And yeah, the drops are the reason you keep coming back. An Atziri's Rule staff or a Drillneck can be the kind of upgrade that makes your next ten maps feel like a different game.

Funding the Push Without Living in Trade Chat.

Getting to the point where you can run temples back-to-back isn't free. You're rolling maps, crafting to cap resists, fixing gaps in damage, and buying the little things you always forget until you're dead on the floor. Plenty of folks grind it all out, and that's valid, but if you'd rather spend your limited time on boss attempts and temple planning, picking up poe 2 cheap currency can take the edge off the slow parts and keep your momentum going.