Strongboxes are back and better than ever in Path of Exile 3.29. With GGG buffing the league mechanic, farming charts quickly has become a priority, and strongboxes offer the perfect solution. This strategy uses cheap scarabs to POE currency rush through maps while collecting charts, currency, scarabs, and div cards. In a single session, I even got a replica Alberon's Warpath worth 40 divines from a random heist event. If your build can clear tier 16 maps, this strategy is fast, easy, and highly profitable.
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Why Strongboxes
Strongboxes are the ideal farming strategy for the current meta because they allow you to:
Farm charts quickly - Charts are very valuable right now, and strongboxes let you blast through maps at high speed
Generate consistent currency - Arcanist and Diviner's strongboxes drop raw currency and div cards
Collect scarabs - Strongboxes frequently drop Ambush Scarabs, which are in high demand
Trigger random events - Completing maps can spawn heist events, delve encounters, and other profitable mechanics
Earn Eldritch altar rewards - Boss rushing ensures you collect all map boss altar rewards
The strategy is simple: boss rush to eliminate Eldritch altars, click strongboxes and altars along the way, grab charts, and get out.
Scarab Setup
Core Scarabs
2x Ambush Scarabs - Adds strongboxes to the map. You can use up to 3, but 2 is sufficient for this strategy
1x Potency Scarab - Increases explicit modifiers on strongboxes. This makes modifiers like "contains four extra Ambush Scarabs" go from 4 to 7, and "100% increased quantity" becomes 175%. Less than 1 chaos each, this scarab is a no-brainer
1x Discernment Scarab - Makes strongboxes much more likely to be uncommon variants like Arcanist and Diviner's. These are where the majority of currency comes from. Under 4 chaos each, absolutely worth it
1x Hidden Compartments Scarab - Gives a 15% chance for strongboxes to be openable multiple extra times. This stacks with passive tree bonuses for recursive value
Scarab Cost Analysis
All strongbox scarabs are cheap right now. Ambush Scarabs are around 2 chaos each in bulk. Even if prices double or triple, they would still be worth using. The only expensive scarab is Containment at half a divine, but that is completely optional.
Map Selection
Why Mesa
Mesa is the ideal map for this strategy because:
Easy boss rush - Run straight to the boss, kill him, then continue
Fast layout - Simple and quick to clear
Simple and cheap - No complex setup required
Div Card Considerations
Mesa has terrible div cards. However, you can scry div cards now using Scrying Orbs dropped from completing maps. This is an extra layer of currency farming if you want to run a map with better div cards. Graveyard has some good div cards, but the layout is not great. Good layouts and good div cards do not overlap well, so it is up to you whether to chase div cards or speed.
Atlas Passive Tree
Strongbox Nodes
Take every single strongbox node:
Guaranteed extra strongbox
Increased chance of extra monsters
Rare and corrupted strongboxes
Chance for re-openable strongboxes
Double currency and double div cards
Additional Nodes
Shrine nodes - All shrine nodes for speed boosts (optional, drop if short on points)
Scarab nodes - All generic scarab nodes for more scarab drops
Map mod effect - Standard nodes that multiply scarab effectiveness. If you are not using scarabs, skip this
Eater of Worlds pack size - Optional nodes for additional density
Concealed Logistics - Helps with map sustain, especially useful when King's March consumes maps
Blocking Low-Value Scarabs
Block Delirium, Blight, Ritual, and Expedition scarabs. Breach scarabs are not great in value right now. Abyss scarabs are surprisingly valuable because players are buying them in anticipation of upcoming buffs.
Optional Nodes
Speaker of the Dead and Unrelenting Torment - Allows you to be possessed by ghosts. Fun and adds extra density. If using Templar Astrolabe, you definitely want Speaker of the Dead to POE orbs for sale avoid fighting a boss with 10 ghosts
