Path of Exile 2
Path of Exile 2

Incursion: The Temple of Atzoatl

Navigate the Incursion mechanic in Path of Exile 2. Influence the Temple of Atzoatl's layout and rewards by diving into its past timelines and defeating enemie.

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Incursion: The Temple of Atzoatl

The Temple of Atzoatl is a sprawling, ancient Vaal complex that exists in two distinct timelines: the present-day dilapidated ruins and the past, during its construction. Players will delve into the past via Incursions, brief forays into the temple's history, to influence its future layout and rewards. Mastering Incursions is crucial for maximizing your gains from the final Temple of Atzoatl run.

Understanding Incursions

Incursions are triggered by encountering Alva Valai in various zones throughout Wraeclast. She will open a temporal portal to a specific room within the Temple of Atzoatl during its construction phase. Your objective is to eliminate the Vaal Architects present in the room within a strict time limit. Successfully doing so allows you to influence the room's development.

Key Incursion Mechanics:

  • Temporal Portals: Each Incursion lasts approximately 10-15 seconds. You must act quickly.
  • Vaal Architects: Each room has two Architects. Killing one allows you to choose an upgrade path for that room. Killing the other prevents its influence.
  • Stone of Passage: Dropped by slain Architects, these are vital for opening blocked pathways in the present-day temple.
  • Room Upgrades: Architects offer choices to upgrade the current room, transform it into a different room type, or connect it to adjacent rooms.

Incursion Strategy: Shaping Your Temple

Your goal across 11 total Incursions is to strategically upgrade rooms and open pathways to maximize the value of the final Temple of Atzoatl. Prioritize rooms that offer valuable loot, unique crafting opportunities, or powerful buffs.

Prioritizing Room Upgrades:

  • Currency Rooms: Seek out and upgrade rooms like the Vault of Atziri (Tier 3: Treasury of Atziri) for a significant boost in currency drops. The Storage Room (Tier 3: Wealth of the Vaal) is also excellent for raw currency.
  • Unique Item Rooms: The Sacrificial Chamber (Tier 3: Apex of Sacrifice) can drop valuable unique items. The Royal Meeting Room (Tier 3: Hall of Lords) can also yield powerful Vaal-themed uniques.
  • Crafting Rooms: The Corruption Chamber (Tier 3: Locus of Corruption) is paramount for corrupting items, offering a chance for powerful double corruptions or unique outcomes. The Gemcutter's Workshop (Tier 3: Doryani's Institute) is essential for modifying gem quality or level.
  • Pathing: Always prioritize opening paths to desirable rooms. Use your Stones of Passage wisely. If a room you want is blocked, ensure you kill the Architect that offers a path to it.

Actionable Steps During an Incursion:

  1. Identify Architects: As soon as you enter, quickly locate both Vaal Architects. Their names and potential room upgrades will be displayed.
  2. Prioritize Target: Decide which Architect's influence you want. If you want to upgrade the current room, kill the Architect offering that upgrade. If you want to change the room type, kill the Architect offering the desired transformation.
  3. Execute Quickly: Eliminate your chosen Architect swiftly. The time limit is unforgiving. Use movement skills like Flame Dash or Whirling Blades to close distances rapidly.
  4. Collect Stone of Passage: Always pick up the Stone of Passage dropped by the slain Architect.
  5. Make Your Choice: After killing an Architect, a prompt will appear. Carefully select your desired outcome: upgrade the room, change its type, or open a path.
  6. Exit: Once your choice is made, the Incursion ends. Prepare for the next one.

The Final Temple of Atzoatl

After 11 Incursions, Alva Valai will reveal the fully constructed Temple of Atzoatl in the present day. This is your ultimate objective. The temple's layout, room types, and rewards will directly reflect your choices during the Incursions.

Navigating the Temple:

  • Explore Thoroughly: The temple is often a labyrinth. Explore every opened path to find all upgraded rooms and their valuable contents.
  • Boss Encounters: The final boss, Omnitect, resides in the central chamber. The difficulty and rewards from this fight can be influenced by specific room upgrades (e.g., the Royal Meeting Room upgrades can empower the Omnitect but also increase its drops).
  • Loot Maximization: Focus on clearing rooms you specifically upgraded for currency, unique items, or crafting opportunities. For example, a fully upgraded Locus of Corruption will allow you to corrupt an item, potentially yielding an extremely powerful outcome. Similarly, a Tier 3 Doryani's Institute will allow you to modify a gem's quality or level.
  • Defensive Preparation: The Temple of Atzoatl can be challenging. Ensure your character has sufficient resistances, life/energy shield, and damage output before entering. Consider bringing utility flasks like Granite Flask or Jade Flask for added defenses.

By strategically engaging with Incursions and understanding the potential of each room, you can transform the Temple of Atzoatl into a treasure trove of powerful items and valuable crafting opportunities, significantly boosting your character's progression in Path of Exile 2.