Getting Started with Cluster Farming
If you're just jumping into Path of Exile 3.26 and wondering how to make consistent currency early on, cluster farming might be your best bet. It doesn't require top-tier gear, advanced mechanics, or even deep game knowledge. With a few strategic map choices and a focus on cluster jewel drops, you can start building wealth almost immediately—even with a basic setup.
Cluster farming works well because of how valuable cluster jewels are on the trade market, especially at the beginning of the league. This guide will walk you through a simple, repeatable method for farming clusters using low-tier maps and Delirium mechanics, all while keeping your gameplay efficient and rewarding.
Why Cluster Farming Works in 3.26
In 3.26, many players are looking to min-max their builds fast, which creates demand for certain types of cluster jewels. That demand drives up the price. Surprisingly, even cluster jewels with average stats can sell for dozens of chaos or more if they match popular build archetypes.
Delirium maps and mechanics amplify this profit opportunity by significantly increasing monster pack sizes. More monsters mean more loot, and more loot means a better chance to find valuable clusters. Combined with smart map selection and Atlas passives, it’s easy to create a steady income.
My League Start Experience and What Didn’t Work
Initially, I started the league with a Penitent Brand build. While it seemed viable, it ended up clashing with the new league mechanics. I found myself constantly struggling with survivability and clear speed. It wasn’t worth the frustration, so I rerolled into a sturdier, faster build with better area control and general mapping performance.
Even with budget gear and a rough setup, I was still able to make around 10 Divine Orbs in a single day using this strategy. You don’t need meta gear—just decent clearing ability and the right farming approach.
Understanding Cluster Jewel Value
Cluster jewels have varying prices depending on their base type, item level, and notable modifiers. The large ones focusing on physical damage, attack skills, or minion damage are in especially high demand early in the league.
You don’t need to memorize all the valuable modifiers. Simply pick up the clusters that drop, check their base type, and use price-checking tools like the in-game trade or third-party tools. You’ll quickly get a feel for what sells and what doesn’t.
Many of the more valuable clusters don’t require high item levels either. In fact, lower item level bases often exclude certain modifiers from the crafting pool, which increases the chances of rolling sought-after setups. That’s why farming in lower-tier maps is key.
Optimal Map Setup for Cluster Drops
For this strategy, stick to low-tier maps. The reason is simple: they’re easier to run with average gear, and they help you target lower item level cluster drops that are typically more valuable.
Maps like Dunes, Applewood, and Sentry are solid choices. They have open layouts, decent monster density, and minimal obstacles that can slow you down. As you progress and improve your build, you can expand to other maps, but these are perfect for early farming.
Delirium: The Key to High Drop Rates
To maximize the value from each run, include Delirium on your maps. Delirium mirrors extend your encounters by flooding the area with fog and scaling monster density as you kill. More enemies mean more cluster jewel drops and increased chances of high-tier rewards.
If your build isn’t that strong, you can use Atlas passives to make the Delirium fog linger longer. Look for nodes that help extend Delirium duration or boost mirror chances. The longer the fog stays, the more you can farm without being overwhelmed.
Don’t worry about activating other mechanics unless you really want to. The main focus should stay on killing efficiently while staying alive.
Using Scarabs and Other Mods for Pack Size
Any map mod that increases pack size is your friend here. Cheap scarabs that boost monster density, such as Abyss or Breach, can work well when used alongside Delirium. You don’t need expensive scarabs—just whatever is affordable and helps you meet reward thresholds faster.
More monsters directly increase the Delirium reward bar progression, which leads to more loot—including clusters. It's about hitting those checkpoints as efficiently as possible without dragging out the run.
Atlas Strategy for Efficient Farming
As you complete more of your Atlas and unlock passive points, direct them into nodes that improve Delirium mechanics and reward chances. Focus on mirror chances, extended fog duration, and increased monster packs.
Even if your Atlas isn’t fully complete yet, you can still benefit by prioritizing basic nodes early. These incremental upgrades make a big difference over time.
Also, consider skipping mechanics like Alva or Heist during these runs. They take time and often break your flow. Unless your build can handle everything quickly, it’s better to skip them and keep the farming loop smooth.
Selling Clusters the Smart Way
Not every cluster jewel is going to be worth a lot. But you can use vendor recipes to your advantage. Selling five cluster jewels of the same type to a vendor gives you a new one in return. This works well for medium and small clusters you don’t plan to use.
Instead of flooding the trade market with low-value clusters for 1 chaos each, bundle the bad ones and re-roll. You might get lucky and hit something that sells for 40+ chaos or more. It saves time and helps avoid constant price checking.
For large clusters, check them individually. Even those that look average can have hidden value depending on the market.
Bonus Profit from Random Delirium Rewards
Beyond clusters, Delirium rewards include a variety of valuable loot—maps, raw currency, oils, and other league-specific drops. While these aren't your main goal, they’re a solid bonus and often contribute to a decent portion of your income.
Each Delirium threshold you reach improves your reward pool. The more efficiently you kill and the more packs you add, the better the return. Keep an eye on the reward bar and try to max it out whenever your build can handle the pressure.
What to Watch Out For: Enemies and Map Mods
Delirium increases difficulty with each reward tier you unlock. If your build isn’t very tanky, this can quickly become overwhelming—especially when tough rares and magic enemies start stacking. Be extra cautious around mercenaries and other high-damage enemy types, particularly once you’ve stacked 4–5 Delirium reward levels.
Some map mods can also cause issues. Try to avoid combinations like reduced recovery, damage reflection, or “players have less recovery” if you’re not equipped to handle them. Stick with maps that support your build’s strengths and allow for smooth clearing.
When in doubt, it’s better to skip a map than to risk dying and losing progress.
When to Move On: Knowing Your Limits
Sometimes it’s more profitable to leave a map early than to stay and grind through overly difficult sections. If you've already hit several reward thresholds and you're running into tanky, time-consuming enemies, it's fine to exit and run the next map.
Farming efficiency is all about time vs. reward. Don’t spend 10 minutes chasing a single rare mob in hopes of one more drop. If your Delirium bar is already mostly full, cash out and re-enter a new map to keep the momentum going.
The quicker your runs, the more you earn in the long run—even if you occasionally miss the final reward tier.
Extra Mechanics You Can Consider
While this farming strategy is built around speed and simplicity, there are a few mechanics that can add extra value if you want to layer them in:
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Blight: Offers decent pack size and map control. Only add this if your build can handle it without slowing down.
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Ritual: Gives extra monster packs but doesn't need to be interacted with during the run. Use it for the added density and ignore the altars unless something good pops up.
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Scarabs: Stick with cheap ones that boost density. No need to complicate things.
Keep in mind: your goal is to make money, not spend 15 minutes per map. Keep it moving.
Vendor Recipe Tip: 5-to-1 for Medium and Small Clusters
When it comes to managing medium and small clusters, the 5-to-1 vendor recipe is your friend. Here’s how it works:
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Sell five cluster jewels of the same type to any vendor.
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You’ll get a new cluster jewel in return.
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This new cluster might roll better modifiers, including valuable notables.
This approach lets you cycle through your junk clusters without wasting time trying to trade them one-by-one. Especially during the early league when trading is time-consuming, this method helps convert potential trash into something more valuable.
Large clusters should still be checked manually, since they typically carry more value and are easier to price-check.
Item Level Matters More Than You Think
Low item level cluster jewels are surprisingly valuable. That’s because they restrict the modifier pool, making it easier to hit highly desirable setups.
For example, many strong notables only become available at item level 84 or higher. By farming in low-tier maps, you're avoiding those high-tier rolls, which increases your odds of getting “perfect” setups for early-game builds.
Don’t ignore ilvl 68–74 clusters. In fact, they’re often more profitable than higher-tier ones for this exact reason. Use tools like Craft of Exile to check which mods are possible at each item level if you want to go deeper.
Map Choices That Make Farming Easier
Choosing the right map layouts helps speed up your farming. Look for maps with simple layouts, good visibility, and consistent density. These are my top picks:
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Dunes: Flat, open terrain. Great for visibility and quick loops.
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Applewood: Straightforward structure, minimal clutter.
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Sentry: Clean layout with little backtracking.
You don’t need to farm these maps exclusively—use what you have—but try to stick to low-tier maps with open layouts that let you maintain Delirium fog and keep moving.
Layout plays a huge role in how fast and efficiently you can clear, which directly affects your profitability.
Managing Your Inventory Efficiently
Cluster farming means you’ll get a lot of loot, but not all of it will be worth keeping. Use a loot filter that highlights cluster jewels clearly and filters out junk. This helps you avoid wasting time picking up items that won’t sell or that clog your stash.
During your runs, only stop to pick up:
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Cluster jewels (especially large and medium)
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Currency drops (Chaos, Divine, Exalted, etc.)
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Raw fragments and maps
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Stackable or league-specific rewards
Skip the rest unless you're specifically farming for chaos recipe items. The less time you spend looting, the more time you spend earning.
Avoiding Burnout While Farming
Even though cluster farming is efficient, running maps back-to-back can get repetitive. Mix up your farming by rotating maps, adjusting your strategy slightly, or alternating with another mechanic like Expedition or Harvest if you need a break.
Farming is about long-term consistency. A few minor changes can make it easier to keep going without losing focus or enthusiasm.
Building for Efficiency, Not Perfection
Your build doesn’t have to be expensive or meta to run this strategy. Focus on builds that offer:
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Decent clear speed
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Good area of effect
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Survivability (especially for Delirium)
You don’t need top-tier damage or flawless mapping setups. Just being able to move quickly and kill packs reliably is enough. Look for budget-friendly builds or archetypes that are strong out of the gate and scale with basic investment.
Examples include self-cast Cold Dot builds, totem setups, or minion builds. If you’re unsure what to play, check community forums for league starter suggestions.
How Long Will This Strategy Stay Effective?
Cluster farming is strong early in the league because the market isn’t flooded with supply. As more players catch on, prices may drop. That said, there’s usually a decent window of profitability lasting one to two weeks.
Even once prices drop, this method remains useful for consistent income with minimal investment. It’s unlikely to be nerfed or patched mid-league, and it scales well with any build improvements you make over time.
If you want to maximize profit, start as soon as possible and keep your routine tight. The earlier you get ahead, the easier it is to reinvest your gains into better gear or other farming strategies.
Wrapping It Up: Cluster Farming Is Simple and Profitable
If you’re starting a new league in Path of Exile 3.26 and looking for a reliable way to make early currency, cluster farming is a solid option. It doesn’t require high-end gear, complicated builds, or deep knowledge of the meta. All you need is a build that can handle Delirium, some low-tier maps, and a basic understanding of what cluster jewels are worth.
By combining low-tier maps, Delirium mirrors, increased pack size, and careful item management, you can earn Divines quickly—often with very little risk. This method scales as you improve your gear and Atlas tree, but even from day one, it can generate enough currency to fund your progression.
Whether you're a casual player or someone who wants to min-max every run, this guide gives you a strategy that balances efficiency with low effort. It’s accessible, repeatable, and most importantly—lucrative.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I need a powerful build to use this strategy?
A: No. Even basic builds with decent area damage can handle low-tier maps with Delirium.
Q: What are the best maps to use?
A: Dunes, Applewood, and Sentry are excellent choices due to their open layout and density.
Q: Why are low item level cluster jewels better?
A: They block high-tier mods, making it easier to roll the modifiers people actually want.
Q: Should I use all my Scarabs?
A: Use cheap Scarabs that increase pack size. Expensive ones aren’t needed.
Q: How long does this method stay profitable?
A: Usually 1–2 weeks into the league before prices dip, though it's still solid income after that.
Q: What do I do with low-value cluster jewels?
A: Use the 5-to-1 vendor recipe on medium and small clusters to reroll into something better.
Q: Is this viable for SSF (Solo Self-Found)?
A: Yes, but the profit comes from selling clusters, so it shines more in trade league.
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