Getting Started in Secrets League: My Day-One Strategy
When the Secrets League started in Path of Exile 3.26, my approach was simple and effective: begin with Legion farming. Legion content is still in a great place this league, and thanks to current scarab prices, it's one of the most accessible and profitable league mechanics for early mapping.
The scarabs, especially Rusted and Polished Legion Scarabs, are extremely cheap right now. That means you can run them without worrying about cutting into your profits. Legion remains consistent, scalable, and easy to set up—making it ideal for both new players and returning veterans looking for a fast currency boost.
Legion Setup: Passive Tree and Scarabs to Use
For the Legion setup, I went with a streamlined Atlas passive tree. It’s optimized for beginners or players starting out with limited points. The focus is on utility and mob density rather than fancy mechanics. Here’s how I built it out:
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No map effect nodes early on
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Shrine nodes for enhanced player buffs
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Packed with Energy + Niko nodes (optional early-game choice)
One important point: once your Atlas tree has about 123 points, it's worth grabbing Shaping the World and additional map nodes to increase tier drops and sustain.
Legion Scarab Loadout:
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3x Rusted Legion Scarabs
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1x Officer Scarab
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1x Cartography (Escalation) Scarab
Run these in 8-mod Dunes maps if possible. The more modifiers your map has, the better the pack size and loot multiplier—especially for Cartography-based mechanics. If your character isn’t ready for 8-mod maps, even 4–6 mods will do. You’ll see a drop in returns but still maintain steady profit.
Why Dunes Maps?
Dunes are efficient to run and offer great mob density, especially with added modifiers. With this Legion setup:
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You’ll usually get 1 Tier 17 map drop every other run.
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You’ll also earn Tier 16.5 maps (e.g., Dunes upgrades) which are currently valued at ~70 Chaos.
This means each run can net 100c+ just from Fortress drops and 70c from upgraded Dunes alone. All this at a setup cost of roughly 10c per map.
Starter Strat Summary: Why It Works
Here’s why this setup is such a solid starting point:
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Scarab prices are low, making scaling easy.
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High profit per map even with minimal investment.
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Smooth character power scaling with shrine buffs and passive node synergy.
If you’re looking to farm early-game currency, this is a stable and profitable approach.
Transitioning to Strongboxes: The Meta Currency Strategy
Once I gathered enough currency—about 10 maps' worth—I switched over to a more profitable strat: Strongbox farming in Tier 17 maps.
Let’s be clear—T17 strongboxes are still the best farming method this league. They didn’t get nerfed where it matters. The only real change was to Rusted Ambush Scarabs, which has had a negligible effect.
Setting Up for T17 Strongboxes
Here’s the breakdown of my Strongbox strat, which I ran for two days straight and earned two raw mirrors (plus a mirror's worth of gear value):
Atlas Tree Setup:
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Prioritize map effect nodes
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Grab every Strongbox-related node
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Add altar nodes (either Red or Blue alters are fine, but I preferred Red due to better quant)
Scarabs Used:
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Potency
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Containment
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Discernment
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Ambush
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Hidden Compartments
You should also add Ambush to the Map Device. For extra juice, throw in 1 Delirium Orb—any type works. It’s optional, but it adds more monsters and chances at extra loot.
Rolling T17 Maps: Focus on Fortress
The best map to run for this strat is Fortress Tier 17. It’s extremely valuable thanks to:
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Boss fragments
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Yoke drops
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Natural currency drops from barrels
Try to roll your Fortress maps with at least 120% more currency modifiers. If you can push for 140%+, even better—you’ll get more value out of each run. Adjust based on your build strength and how much Chaos you’re willing to spend per map.
Is Containment Still Worth It?
Yes—Containment is absolutely worth using, even if it’s pricey. Based on last week’s data, it still offers exceptional returns, even if it costs up to 2 Divines. Just don’t start this strat unless you can chain 10+ maps in a session. You need to keep rolling and selling consistently to see the return on investment.
Sell off:
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Scarabs
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Divination cards
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Raw currency
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Fragments
This is how you’ll recoup your costs and stack profits quickly.
Can You Do This in Tier 16 Maps?
Yes, but with some caveats. While Tier 17 is optimal, Tier 16 or 16.5 can still work using a modified approach.
Tier 16 Setup:
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3x Rusted Ambush Scarabs
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1x Discernment
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1x Reopen
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Ambush on the Map Device
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4–8 mod Dunes (or similar open-layout map)
Avoid running Containment in Tier 16s, though—it’s not worth it. The loot curve doesn’t scale well enough compared to higher tiers.
Tier 16.5 maps, however, are a solid middle ground, especially if they become more profitable post-buff.
Expected Earnings: Mirror-Level Returns
From my runs using this strategy:
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2 Mirrors from raw drops
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1 Mirror from character gear value
This was all done within two days of focused farming. If you’re consistent and have your setup dialed in, it’s entirely possible to farm 1 Mirror per day.
What’s Next? Future Goals and 16.5 Testing
Right now, I'm holding off on full-scale Tier 16.5 farming until buffs roll out. GGG has hinted at incoming changes that could make these maps more viable. For now, only Allflame-related Tier 16.5 maps are performing well, and they're extremely expensive (~170 Chaos per map).
Until then, T17 Fortress + Strongboxes + Containment is the most reliable strat for high-value loot.
Key Takeaways
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Start with Legion if you're new or building up currency—it's consistent, cheap, and safe.
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Transition to T17 Strongboxes once you can invest in maps and scarabs.
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Roll maps with 120–140%+ currency and use Ambush + Delirium Orb for best results.
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Use Containment while it's hot, but only if you can do 10+ maps in a row.
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Tier 16.5s may be viable soon—but for now, they’re mostly outclassed by Fortress.
Conclusion
If you're looking to make serious currency in Path of Exile 3.26, starting with Legion farming and transitioning into T17 Strongbox runs is a reliable and proven path. With scarabs at low prices and high-value map drops like Fortress still dominating, the combo of Legion + Strongboxes offers one of the best returns in the game.
Stay consistent, manage your investments wisely, and only shift into advanced strats like Containment or 16.5 mapping once you’ve got a stable base. Whether you’re trying to earn your first Mirror or scale your farming operation, this setup is still among the most profitable in the Secrets League.
FAQs
Q: Is Legion farming still worth it in 3.26?
Yes. With scarabs cheaper than ever, Legion farming remains one of the best low-cost, high-profit mapping strategies.
Q: How many scarabs do I need for the Legion strategy?
Use 3x Rusted Legion, 1x Officer, and 1x Cartography Escalation Scarab for best results in 8-mod Dunes maps.
Q: What map should I run for strongboxes?
Tier 17 Fortress maps are ideal due to high natural currency drops, yoke value, and profitable fragments.
Q: What’s the expected profit per map using the T17 strat?
Each run can easily generate 100+ Chaos from Fortress alone, with mirror-level gains possible over time.
Q: Can I do strongbox farming in Tier 16s?
Yes, but the returns are lower. Avoid Containment here—stick to Ambush scarabs and 4–6 mod Dunes for a safer option.
Q: Should I use Delirium Orbs?
Using 1 Delirium Orb per map adds more monsters and loot. It’s not essential, but it improves currency drops.
Q: Is Containment still worth running despite its cost?
Yes. Even at high prices, Containment offers solid value—but only run it if you can do 10+ maps in a row and sell off your loot efficiently.
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