Roadmap
Overview
- Estimated trophy difficulty: 7/10 (Platinum Difficulty Rating)
- Offline trophies: 0
- Online trophies: 48 (34, 11, 2, 1)
- Approximate amount of time to Platinum: 100+ hours (200-300 hours Personal Estimate) (Estimated time to Platinum)
- Minimum number of playthroughs: 1
- Number of missable trophies: None
- Glitched trophies: 0
- Does difficulty affect trophies?: No
- Do trophies stack?: No
- Do cheat codes disable trophies?: No Cheats
- Additional peripherals required?: No
Introduction
Path of Exile is an action RPG under development by Grinding Gear Games. There are six starting character classes to choose from that will determine the starting point on the passive skill tree right away and determine which ascendancy classes are available later. Skills are unlocked through the socketing of skill gems into slots in equipment and can be strengthened by using support gems in sockets that are linked to the skill gems. This allows any class to use any skill if they have the required stats to use them.
This game has many complex mechanics to it and creating a walkthrough explaining every possible way of playing the game is beyond the scope of this guide. The best thing to do is to just play through, picking up new currency and reading their description. In general, you will want to save currency until you finish the main story and begin working on a final set of equipment. There are also "league" mechanics that are similar to Seasons from Diablo 3, if you're familiar. They are new game mechanics that change every couple months with the release of a new major patch. The PS4 version released with version 3.6.0 which is Synthesis League but there are also mechanics from older leagues that are still in the game. None of these league mechanics are linked directly to trophies, though these leagues often introduce new ways of crafting powerful gear or farming valuable currency and items.
If this is your first time playing Path of Exile, I recommend reading the Tips and Tricks section before getting started with this trophy guide. Some of these tips may not make sense until you've reached a certain part in the game so remember to reread it a couple times as you're playing. Some of these tips are also aimed specifically at the PS4 version so they may be useful even if you have been playing the PC version for years.
This is a game that is friendly at first to new players but can later become unforgiving. Getting the Platinum will likely take a longer time (100-200 more hours) if you don't use real money to enable selling on the market board. One other thing to note is that, on PC, the prices of items on temporary leagues (PS4 launched on 3.6, Synthesis League) are usually much higher than the prices on the non-temporary league (Standard League). All characters and their items/stashes convert to standard league at the end of the temporary league. This is pure speculation but if the market board on PS4 follows the trend on PC, then prices for all items could potentially become much lower over time and thus some trophies may become more accessible over time.
Starting your character:
This game can be unforgiving to new players. The passive skill tree is very large and filled with skill nodes that will likely tempt you but are not in your best interest to invest points into. The optimal way to play is to pick a skill you want to use, then pick your starting class based on the best passive skill tree starting location. There is a lot of theory crafting involved in Path of Exile and if you don't want to spend hours just planning out a character then it would probably be in your best interest to try to find a shared build on the PoE forums. I know this can be difficult because as a new player you don't know what you will find the most fun in the game, whether it is being a tanky melee character or a ranged character. Creating a character that is both fun for you and is capable of clearing the endgame required for all the trophies will be your goal. There are basically two options for a new player:
1. Create whatever class you want and play with new skills as you get them, with your passive skill tree growing randomly based on whatever skill you're using now. You'll get several passive skill respec points from side quests but this likely won't be enough to make a good character build for endgame. This means you’ll eventually reach a point where you’ll need to either farm enough money (in low level zones with terrible money yields) to completely respec or just reroll a new character.
2. Find a shared build and make your character based off that. The positive of this is that you are playing a build that someone else has already played and proven to be endgame viable. The negative is that it can be boring to some that enjoy really creating their character on their own. Another downside is that you might think the build looks fun but by the time you've completed the build and using it, the build might not suit your preferred style of playing.
Walkthrough
Step 1: Play through the game and finish the 10 acts, unlocking the endgame
Play through the game normally, keeping an eye on your world map to complete all attached zones as well. Zones are randomized but zone exits will always be on specific sides (NW, NE, SE, SW) which will also match up with the direction they are shown on the world map. This will save you time if you're in a zone that you don't have any quests in and just need to get to the next zone, just head to the appropriate direction based off the direction towards the next zone on the world map.
Do not worry about a strict order for trophies, as the most difficult ones are unlocked in endgame and the easy ones should unlock on the way. One trophy to keep in mind as you're playing is Challenger . The Labyrinth unlocks your ascendancy class and this can drastically increase your defense/offense depending on your build so it's a good idea to finish the Labyrinths as they are unlocked.
One trophy that requires some special attention is No Stone Unturned , which will require a checklist to keep track of lore you have read. Begin working on collecting lore as you are travelling through all the zones and completing the main story. Lore is indicated on the zone map by an open book and the icon will appear long before it is visible to the player. Keep the list of lore open and check it before you enter a zone to see if you need to be on the lookout for lore. Be sure to enter every Vaal side area for lore when you see one because the Vaal lore is the most difficult to collect. See No Stone Unturned for more detailed information.
Freedom
Deadly Sins
One of a Kind
Augmentation
Locomancer
No Loose Ends
Geared Up
Paradigm Shift
Elemental Aegis
Challenger
Ascendancy
Loyal to the End
Treasure Hunter
The Star of Wraeclast
A New Dawn
Heretic
End of the Nightmare
Fall of Oriath
King Tide
Widow's Lament
Eternal Eclipse
Rule of Three
Sin and Salvation
Step 2: Clean up before beginning Endgame
Most of the trophies in step 1 should come along pretty easily while finishing through to the end of the 10 acts. Now is a good time to focus on a couple trophies that may have been touched on in Step 1.
No Stone Unturned
Unique Influence
Behold My Army
Step 3: Start running maps, a lot
Nearly all the remaining trophies are directly tied to progression in the Atlas of Worlds, which is the large spider web of connected maps which you'll be opening with your map device. Keep grinding new maps to complete your atlas while upgrading gear when possible. Now is the time to max out elemental resistances if you haven't already and start working on getting a six-link armor/weapon.
Cartographer
Identity Corruption
Soothsaying
Essence Corruption
Emperor
Scaling the Ladder
Diminishing Returns
Well Connected
Gemling
Hostile Territory
Decimation
Unforgettable
Apprentice Cartographer
Journeyman Cartographer
Master Cartographer
Atlas of Worlds
Shaper of Worlds
Step 4: Endgame Clean up
If there are any more trophies not finished in the first 3 parts, finish whatever is left. After finishing the massive Atlas grind, the only trophies not directly on the Atlas still remaining are the Atziri fights and the breachlords so finish those now. If you didn't encounter Abaxoth in a beyond map on the way to completing Atlas of Worlds, then go grind double Beyond maps in the map device.
Beyond Death
Breachlord
Full Clear: Apex of Sacrifice
Sacrifice of the Vaal
Completionist
[PST Would Like To Thank Anakha for this Roadmap]