Path of Exile 3.26 is here, and with every new league comes the challenge of optimizing your gameplay from day one. One of the most sought-after items during the league start is transfigured skill gems. These powerful tools can significantly enhance your character's performance, but acquiring them early on can be a daunting task. In this guide, Palsteron will discuss strategies to secure your transfigured gems efficiently and make your league start smoother.
Understanding Gem Accessibility
Unfortunately, the developers have made it challenging to access certain powerful gems early in the game, even at level 32. Gone are the days when you could easily jump into a new league and play with your skills right away. A lot of the power has been shifted, and many normal skills now feel like mere placeholders.
Whether it's Volcanic Fissure of Snaking, Smite of Divine Judgment, or Vortex of Projection, Palsteron shows you how to obtain them during the league start.
Where to Get Your Transfigured Gems
To get these transfigured gems, you’ll need to utilize the Labyrinth, which is also where you obtain ascendancy points. At the end of the Labyrinth, you'll find the Divine Font, where you can insert your gem to receive transfigured gems with varying degrees of randomness.
The Importance of Gem Colors
Red Gems: 1 in 11 chance to get the desired gem.
Green/Blue Gems: 1 in 22 to 1 in 25 chance.
The gem color will significantly impact how difficult it is to obtain your desired gem. Currently, there are 32 red gems in the game, making them easier to access. In contrast, there are nearly double the number of green and blue gems. This disparity is crucial because the rewards at the font often include transforming a skill gem into a random transfigured gem of the same color.
Labyrinth Types and Their Rewards
Normal Lab: Only provides the option of "transform a skill gem into a random transfigured gem of the same color. It's not worth farming here since the odds are heavily against you.
Cruel Lab: Offers some additional random options, but still not ideal for farming.
Merciless Lab: This is where things start to improve. You can transform a non-transfigured skill gem into a random transfigured version. That means if you put a Volcanic Fissure into the font, you will get a Volcanic Fissure of Snaking. However, remember that some skills have two transfigured versions, leading to a 50/50 chance.
The chance of obtaining this option in Merciless Lab is about 1 in 8 to 1 in 12. If you wait until Eternal Lab, you'll have access to two font uses, and the chances of getting the "transform a non-transfigured skill gem to be a random transfigured version" option increase significantly. However, you need to be strong enough to tackle this challenge.
Farming Strategies for Transfigured Gems
When it comes to farming in Labyrinth, it's recommended to check out the Labyrinth daily notes on poelab.
The Normal Lab is rarely used for farming gems, mainly because it's too random. You won't have the option to directly transform a skill gem, and the odds of getting the gem you want are slim unless you're prepared to spend hours grinding. If you're using a red gem, such as Volcanic Fissure, the odds of acquiring it are about 1 in 11, which might make farming in the Normal Lab worthwhile. However, this is primarily for players eager to utilize their skills as soon as possible, which is understandable. Generally, though, farming for blue and green gems in the Normal Lab is not recommended.
Here are three strategies for farming transfigured gems in Merciless Labyrinth:
1. Bruteforcing
This approach involves spamming the "transform a skill gem to be a random transfigured gem of the same color" option. Whenever the option is available, you just keep transforming until you eventually get the gem you need. It's a game of luck—eventually, you'll hit the right one.
This strategy is effective because you can acquire random gems that others may want. Understanding the current meta is crucial here; knowing what gems are in demand will help you make better choices. You'll likely end up with several gems that can sell for a good amount of currency.
2. Quality Sidefarm
Use the "add % quality to a gem" option until you get the gem you need. For builds that require quality on certain gems, especially since the quality rework, this strategy is essential. Skills like Mark on Hit Support or Sniper's Mark benefit significantly from quality, and you won't want to flip your gems or spend Gemcutter's Prisms unnecessarily.
In the Merciless Labyrinth, you can achieve 4% to 15% quality. This can significantly enhance your skills early on.
3. Mixed Strategy
For most people, it is recommended to combine elements from the two approaches mentioned above. If you get 10% or 15% quality on gems, which are quite rare, use the quality. Otherwise, use the "transform a skill gem to be a random transfigured gem of the same color" option whenever it's up until you get the transformation you want. This method typically results in a good mix of two to three quality gems, along with some additional gems that you can sell for a bit of chaos orbs. Ultimately, you'll end up with the gem you want.
Buying Your Gems: A Faster Alternative
The most efficient way to acquire transfigured gems is, of course, by buying them. If you're trading early in the game, especially if you're not using a meta skill, there's no reason to engage with the lab at all. Here are a few other points to consider:
1. The Earlier You Buy, the Better: If you're early enough, you can often find a meta gem for 3 to 6 chaos orbs or even lower, depending on your luck.
2. Get Chaos by Selling the Gems You Brick into: The easiest way to buy your gem is by selling your bricks. You can choose the gem you think is worth the most or check the market to see which one will fetch a good price. This way, you can afford the gem you want without having to farm the lab more than three to four times.
3. Start Mapping and Buy It with Random Currency/Early Uniques: Another strategy used by many players with strong early-game builds is to start mapping and buying the gem once they accumulate some currency. This approach has clear advantages, but it's not suitable for every build or class, so you'll need to test it out before the league starts.
If you're unsure about the current meta, you can check the main skills being played or visit the economy section to see which skill gems are in demand.
Additional Tips and Tricks
Here are some useful tips for your gameplay:
1. Gem Transformation Mechanics: When you transform gems, they retain their level and quality. This is important because you can cancel out of the transformation menu by clicking the small "X" at the top. This feature is handy if you have a leveled gem with good quality and want to transform it without accidentally selecting the wrong option. However, it is not recommended to do this, as you might miss out on valuable profit from the bricks.
2. Inventory Management: While at the font, there is a stash available but no gem vendor. Always keep a gem you want to transform in your inventory. For instance, if you're playing with Volcanic Fissure, have a Volcanic Fissure ready in case you get lucky with the transformation.
3. Health Points (HP): It's crucial to have sufficient HP, as dying every few runs can be frustrating. Aim for around 2.5k HP, or include some armor and evasion if possible. Before farming in the Merciless lab, consider using a few life nodes to enhance your comfort during gameplay, even if you need to adjust your build later.
4. Soul of Ryslatha Pantheon: This pantheon grants access to more life flasks, which can be beneficial since there are traps in the Labyrinth that will test your recovery capabilities. If you are using the "Mind over Matter" strategy, you'll find it particularly effective.
Conclusion
Securing transfigured skill gems during the league start of PoE 3.26 can feel overwhelming at first, but with proper planning and strategy, it's entirely achievable. Whether you prefer farming in the Labyrinth or buying from other players, there's an approach that fits every play style.
By understanding gem accessibility, leveraging efficient farming strategies, and staying informed about the current meta, you can set yourself up for success right from day one of the league.
