Ritual, first introduced in Path of Exile's 3.13 expansion ("Echoes of the Atlas"), is confirmed to return in Path of Exile 2 with some notable enhancements. This league mechanic revolves around battling waves of monsters within marked ritual circles to earn Tribute, which you can then spend on valuable loot. In PoE2, Ritual remains one of the best ways to POE 2 Currency generate consistent rewards and offers unique strategic depth during mapping.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how Ritual works in PoE2, strategies to maximize your returns, and tips for integrating it into your endgame loop.

What Is Ritual?
Ritual is a combat-based mechanic where you encounter ritual altars inside maps. When you initiate a Ritual, monsters are summoned in waves within a defined area. Once the monsters are defeated, you’re granted Tribute Points which can be spent on items offered by the Ritual reward window.

You’ll often encounter multiple Ritual altars in a single map, each one building in difficulty. Later Rituals in the same map will resummon the monsters from previous rituals, making the final encounter more dangerous but also more rewarding.

How to Engage with Ritual in PoE2
Locate the Ritual Altars – Each map can have multiple altars (usually 2–4). They are marked by dark red circles and a unique altar object in the center.

Start the Ritual – Interact with the altar to begin. Stay within the circle while defeating monsters to complete the ritual. Failing to do so will stall your progress.

Earn Tribute – After each completed ritual, you'll earn Tribute and can view a list of purchasable rewards.

Perform More Rituals – Later altars become progressively harder, especially in red-tier maps. Be prepared!

Defer or Purchase Items – Use Tribute to buy rewards or Defer them for a discount in a future map, allowing you to save up for high-cost items.

Key Mechanics in Ritual
Tribute Management
Tribute is your currency within the ritual system. Each item has a cost based on its rarity and potential value. While low-level items may cost under 1,000 Tribute, high-end uniques or influenced gear can cost 10,000+.

Use Tribute wisely:

Buy valuable maps or Scarabs for economy.

Defer expensive uniques until you have enough.

Skip vendor trash—Tribute is finite.

Deferment Strategy
One of the most powerful aspects of Ritual is deferment. If you can’t afford an item now, defer it, and it will reappear in future rituals at a discounted price.

Tips:

Defer rare bases and league-specific items.

Avoid deferring mediocre items—they clog up your future reward pool.

Use a loot filter to evaluate value quickly.

Tips to Maximize Ritual Rewards
1. Stack Quantity and Pack Size
Ritual rewards scale with item quantity and pack size in maps. Use:

Scarabs of Ritual

Sextants increasing ritual circle count

Atlas passive nodes that enhance Ritual

Strongbox and Beyond modifiers to add mobs

2. Target Ritual Atlas Passives
PoE2’s Atlas tree allows for heavy specialization. Look for:

+1 to Rituals per map

Increased Tribute from monsters

Chance to gain double Tribute

Ritual vessels dropping more frequently

3. Use Ritual Vessels
These let you store monsters from one map and replay them in another Ritual. Fill vessels in densely populated maps, then use them in high-yield maps to multiply Tribute rewards.

4. Bossing Builds Excel
Since later rituals bring back previously defeated mobs, including bosses, you’ll face challenging waves. Builds with good AOE clear and boss DPS (like Tornado Shot, RF, or Boneshatter Juggernaut) handle Rituals best.

5. Trade Smart
High-end Ritual loot includes Headhunters, elevated Sextants, and rare Influenced items. If you're not playing a magic-find character, consider trading Ritual drops for bulk currency or items your build needs.

Endgame Integration: Ritual as a Farming Strategy
For players looking to build wealth in PoE2, Ritual maps can become a central part of your farming strategy. Combining Ritual with mechanics like Delirium or Expedition can exponentially increase your returns.

Example Ritual Farming Setup:

Map: Tropical Island or Dunes (open layouts)

Scarabs: Ritual + Ambush + Harbinger

Sextants: Increased pack size, additional altars

Atlas: Full Ritual node cluster + map duplication nodes

Bonus: Add Blight for additional chaos orb generation

This setup ensures you face hundreds of mobs per map, feeding Tribute quickly while generating valuable boss loot and rare Ritual-only gear.

Final Thoughts
Ritual in Path of Exile 2 continues to be a rewarding and flexible mechanic that rewards players who are willing to plan and optimize. Whether you’re a casual mapper or a dedicated economy player, mastering Ritual ensures that each map run is lucrative and engaging.

With smart Tribute management, efficient map setups, and a well-built character, you can turn Ritual into a buy POE2 Currency consistent and profitable part of your endgame loop. Don’t overlook this mechanic—embrace the circle, defeat the waves, and reap the rewards.