Path of Exile is an ARPG played by many gamers around the globe. PoE has very complex gameplay and features like Heists. PoE heist is a little different from other RPGs. This guide will give you in-depth details about PoE heist mechanics.
How to run your first Heist and crew members, and how to get your entire team? Their skills, perks, and gear. Plus, all the way to grand heists in PoE.
What Do Heists Mean on PoE and How It's Different from Other RPGs?
The Heist was the mechanic that GGG introduced in PoE lately. After act 6 and onwards, you will get small contracts and a minimal chance of blueprints.
• Blue Prints: Blueprints are considered to be grand heists in PoE
• Contracts: Contracts are considered to be the normal heists in PoE
Speaking of grand heists. They are pretty long and arduous but give you a better reward. These heists can also drop inside regular blueprints. The heists contain a moderate value, but every Heist are different and have unique value and different value, such as
• Low Value
• Moderate Value
• High Value
• Precious Value
• Priceless Value
These days most released games contain or add heists, which are just Co-Op missions. Heists are completed with the help of other online players or with the help of your friends if you are playing the same game. Long thing short, you can’t play heist missions alone. Heists require two or more players to get started.
The first thing that makes PoE heists different from others is that the Heist can be played/started in the single-player game mode.
Worry not if you are into the solo playstyle and don't want other players to be part of the game. You can play Path of Exile all alone till the end, "Which we don't recommend ."But it's all your playground; do what suits you the best.
PoE heists are a little complicated and might be challenging if you are new to the game. Now it is all your choice either you can accept the contract alone and play the solo if you are confident enough in your skill set and gameplay; on the flip side, you don't need to be overconfident and can play heists with other players or with your friends.
Everything You Need to Know about Path of Exile’s Heists
First, before starting the heists, let's talk about a few essentials,
• Rogue Markers
• Contracts
• Blueprints
These items drop from literally any mobs outside the heists in the "Smuggler's Caches." These mobs can spawn in each act of the campaign or Atlas maps.
• Rogue Markers
Rogue markers have two different uses. While in a hideout or any of the explored towns, you can click them to open the portal to the Rogue Harbour. Once you travel to “Rogue Harbour," you can see that most services provided by the various NPCs, including your crew members, will cost rogue markers. As they quote "No honor or freebies among thieves".
• Contracts
Contracts are the items used to open up a heist. Suppose you are already familiar with Atlas maps. In that case, they are the equivalent of the PoE Heists System Contracts that can be crafted using currency like the Orbs of transmutation, alteration, augmentation, alchemy, etc. That will typically increase the amount and rarity of the loot you will get, but everything comes with its fair price; it also makes the resulting heists even more dangerous.
• Blueprints
Blueprints are the items used to start a grand heist, which is a collection of several regular heists with a few extra challenges and twists.
Note: You can also trade all these mentioned items with other players.
How to Set up Your First Path of Exile Heist?
Once you have collected a few markers and a lot of contracts, you teleport to Rogue Harbour and look to run your first Heist in PoE. Completing each contract will always require a single Rogue Skill, like lock picking or demolition, at a minimum level. This is also visible in the heists or contact descriptions.
You must hire a crew member with the required specific skill when running the contract. You can also see which crew member owns the particular skill or heists the required skill by pressing the 'V' key while in Rogue Harbour. At the start, you will only have the option to hire just three crew members, but eventually, as you run down heists, the crew member capacity will be increased.
Initially, you will do this by finding these "Green Contracts" in Smuggler's caches. You can use these quest items in the Rogue Harbour to open a particular type of Heist. Running heists with a recently unlocked crew member will have them introduce you to a new rogue character that will join your team after completing that specific Heist.
Your Crew Members and Their Skills
Every crew member can have 2-4 different skill sets, each capped between levels 2 and 5. The list of each rouge and the maximum level for each skill are pre-determined, and they cannot learn new skills or change the existing ones.
Take your 1st crew member Tullina as an example; she has agility, lock-picking, and trap disarmament skills. That is all she has and all she will ever have. For Tullina:
• Trap disarmament at level 2
• Lock picking is capped at level 3
• Agility at level 5
All you can do now is further level up her agility skill by completing the contracts that require this ability.
Each crew member also has one unique set of heist perks and bonuses that increase when leveling up any rogue's skills.
Talk to the Most Important NPC in Rogue Harbour
Now you have almost set up everything. Next step, talk to Adiyah, the most important NPC in the town. Once you hand her the contract, she will ask you to choose one of the available crew members to take with you in the Heist. You will also see the total upfront markers cost, broken down between the travel fee for the portal, the hiring fee for your rogue, and the ring's cut.
These taxes can be decreased or even nullified through your follower's items or with various mods on the contract itself.
Now There’s No Turning back
Once the contract is accepted will be shown the path of Heist. During the Heist, your crew will help you according to their skills. Remember you are not here only to collect the quest item but also the loot.
Further, will we will explain what rewards you can expect during heists. But don't forget to collect every single reward during Heist; keep in mind if you die during Heist, all your looted items will be dropped, and there is no other way to collect them.
An Overview of the Normal Heist
Heists in PoE are different in a playing manner. You can start your heists league by accepting the contract at the Rogue Harbour.
During heists, what do you need to do? While playing the PoE heists, you are required to infiltrate the facility/location. Keep in mind, don't get caught or seen by the guards, as it can ruin all your hard work and Heist. Consider this as IN & Out Mission. It sounds like an action movie, and it will be more fun if you play the heists with the other players or friends.
As an example, you accept a low-value heist. To complete the Heist, you will need to collect the artifact/object, or you can call it a reward at the end. You need to pick that up and get out alive to complete the Heist; although it's a low-level heist, it is still challenging, so don't underestimate anything in PoE.
Once you pick up or collect the object/ artifact, the alarm will sound, and hidden tarps will be activated, like laser traps. Before starting the Heist, consider the traps 1st because you will not only encounter the traps on the way out but also have to pass the traps on your way in.
What Extras Do You Get During Heists?
In Path of Exile heists, picking up the targeted item is not only the primary goal. You also get some fantastic stuff for your character, but you need to find them. Performing a standard heist can give you.
• Currency reward
• Fossil reward
• Armor
There are many different and precious things according to the Heist's level and area. Once you collect the targeted object, you must get out of the location. Kill the bunch of guards and monsters. Once you have the quest item, you can sell it to Faustus, and he will give you rogue markers, which are required to start more heists for extra rewards and loot.
Don't waste your Rogue Markers on regular or small heists. You will need these markers for running grand heists. The reward is much better on grand heists, so don't waste them.