PoE 3.26 Merciless Gauntlet Event - How to Survive the Gauntlet

The Gauntlet is a short-term challenge designed specifically for experienced Path of Exile 1 players, running for a total of 10 days. Compared to standard Hardcore mode, it's roughly quadruple the difficulty—so it's important to approach it with the right mindset from the beginning. In this guide, I'll be offering my top strategies and insights to help you navigate the event successfully, and I wish you the best of luck!

Act 1 Tips, Tricks & Reminders

Act 1 is one of the hardest acts in the Gauntlet event! Here are PoEGuy's useful tips and tricks to help you stay alive:

1. As soon as you start, put "Move Only" (instead of "Default Attack") for your left Mouse Click.

2. Do not engage with the Mercenaries in the first Acts! They are very deadly. The only Mercenary that is fairly easy is the "Striker".

(The Striker is a slow-moving mercenary that will follow you around and yell "Gugu-Gaga" with a stick.)

3. For the unique bosses, you will need to overlevel! Especially for the final act bosses.

4. For the Crab boss (that awards a skill point) & Brutus, we will use "PUNCTURE". Puncture is a powerful bow skill that will apply bleeding (while moving, they take a lot of damage).

5. For Merveil (Act 1 boss), use at least 1 Sapphire ring (gives Cold Resistance) // Check your Cold Resistance - She does a lot of cold damage!

6. When things get deadly -> press "ESCAPE" and hit "EXIT TO LOGIN SCREEN" (this will INSTANTLY close the game). If you select "EXIT TO CHARACTER SELECTION," instead, you can die!

7. Always use your Decoy Totem! Once you switch to Explosive Arrow Ballista in Act 3, you can drop the Decoy Totem.

8. You can farm HILLOCK if you want -> for starter items and Scroll of Wisdom (you buy your early gems with them).

9. You can spend your Gold to gamble for items. (Each town has an NPC for Gambling.)

Gambling evasion/armour bases will tend to give you green/red sockets. This is a good way to get the sockets you need for the Explosive Arrow Ballista phase.

Build Selection: Survivability First

Choosing the right build is the foundation of your survival. Focus on tanky, low-gear-dependent builds that excel in solo progression.

Raise Zombie Puppeteer (Necromancer)

Why it works: Minions absorb damage while you stay safe. The reworked Puppeteer ascendancy boosts zombie strength and mobility.

Strengths:

Safe, ranged playstyle

High boss damage

Easy to gear in SSF

Tips:

Prioritize +level to minion gems and strength gear

Use Animate Guardian for utility

Stack block and energy shield for extra defense

Power Siphon Scavenger (Saboteur)

Why it works: Mines deal damage from a distance, minimizing exposure to deadly mechanics.

Strengths:

High evasion and suppression

One-button playstyle

Fast campaign progression

Tips:

Focus on mine damage and life nodes

Use Cloak of Flames early

Prioritize suppression gear and resistances

Campaign Survival Strategies

The campaign is the most dangerous part of the Gauntlet. Here's how to make it through:

1. Slow Down

Rushing leads to death. Take time to clear zones methodically.

Avoid dangerous layouts and backtrack if needed.

Don't chase speed—chase safety.

2. Gear Up Early

Use crafting benches and vendor recipes to upgrade gear.

Prioritize life, resistances, and movement speed.

Use essences and fossils to craft basic defenses.

3. Respect Bosses

Campaign bosses have extra mechanics. Learn their patterns and fight cautiously.

Use movement skills to dodge projectiles and AoEs.

Consider skipping optional bosses if they're too risky.

4. Use Defensive Flasks

Granite, Basalt, and Stibnite flasks are lifesavers.

Roll flasks with "of Staunching" (bleed removal) and "of Heat" (freeze removal).

Keep flasks updated as you level.

Mapping Progression

Once you survive the campaign, mapping becomes your next challenge. The Gauntlet changes how you approach maps.

1. White Maps First

Stick to white maps (T1–T5) for safe XP gain.

Run them as magic (blue) maps with easy mods.

You can reach level 75–80 without touching yellow or red maps.

2. Yellow Maps with Caution

Progress to yellow maps only when confident.

Don't roll them rare unless you're prepared.

Focus on survivable mods—avoid extra projectiles, crits, and damage types you're weak against.

3. Red Maps Are Optional

Most players won't reach red maps in the Gauntlet.

Only push into red maps if your build is strong and your gear is solid.

There's no shame in farming white/yellow maps for safe progression.

Efficient XP Gain

Leveling efficiently without dying is key.

● Tier vs. Level: As you level up, lower-tier maps give less XP. Adjust your map tier accordingly.

● Clear Speed vs. Safety: Don't sacrifice safety for speed. A slower clear in a safe map is better than dying in a risky one.

● Avoid XP Penalties: Stay within 5–10 levels of the map tier to avoid diminishing returns.

Crafting and Itemization

Since you can't trade, crafting becomes essential.

1. Vendor Recipes

Use recipes for resist rings, movement speed boots, and life gear.

Example: Iron Ring + Fire Skill Gem = Ruby Ring.

2. Essence and Fossil Crafting

Save essences for guaranteed mods (e.g., Essence of Greed for life).

Use fossils for targeted crafting if you find a resonator.

3. Bench Crafting

Unlock crafting options as you progress.

Use “+life,” “+resistance,” and “+armor/evasion” crafts liberally.

Advanced Survival Tips

1. Use Movement Skills Wisely

Flame Dash, Dash, and Frostblink are essential for dodging.

Link movement skills to faster casting or a second wind for smoother use.

2. Scout Dangerous Zones

Use portal scrolls to scout boss arenas.

If the layout looks bad, reset the zone.

3. Avoid Risky Mechanics

Skip Delirium, Breach, and Abyss unless you're confident.

These mechanics are deadly in Gauntlet due to stacking modifiers.

4. Prioritize Defense in Passive Tree

Invest in life, block, suppression, and resist nodes.

Avoid glass cannon setups—damage means nothing if you're dead.

Mental Approach

Surviving the Gauntlet isn't just mechanical—it's psychological.

● Stay calm: Panic leads to mistakes.

● Accept setbacks: Bad drops and tough zones happen.

● Celebrate progress: Every level and zone cleared is a win.

● Don't tilt: If you die, learn from it and try again.

Final Thoughts

The Merciless Gauntlet is a brutal but rewarding test of skill, patience, and strategy. Whether you're aiming for the top ladder or want to survive, the key is preparation and discipline. Choose a safe build, respect the campaign, and map cautiously. With the right mindset and tactics, you'll not only survive—you'll thrive.