Dear exiles, this is a comprehensive guide tailored for Path of Exile 3.26's Kingsmarch system, with a focus on maximizing currency farming—especially Divine Orbs and Mirror Shards.
What Is Kingsmarch?
Kingsmarch is a town-management mechanic introduced in the Settlers of Kalguur league and now integrated into the core game in 3.26. After completing the campaign and meeting Johan in the Epilogue, players unlock access to Kingsmarch—a semi-passive system where you:
● Recruit and manage workers
● Grow crops and mine resources
● Smelt ores and disenchant items
● Send shipments for high-value rewards
● Automate map runs and city events
It’s like running your own economy while still slaying monsters in Wraeclast.
How to Unlock Kingsmarch
To access Kingsmarch:
● Finish the campaign (Act 10 and Epilogue)
● Speak with Johan, the King’s Hand, in Karui Shores
● Use /kingsmarch or the world map to enter the town
You’ll start with some gold and basic workers. From here, it’s all about scaling up.
Worker Management & Optimization
Worker Types
There are six main worker roles:
|
Role |
Function |
|
Farmers |
Grow crops for shipments |
|
Miners |
Extract ores from maps |
|
Smelters |
Convert ores into bars |
|
Disenchanters |
Break down gear into dust |
|
Mappers |
Run maps for loot and fragments |
|
Shippers |
Send shipments to ports |
Tips for Worker Efficiency
Recruit Rank 5 workers whenever possible (use 20k gold option)
Specialize early: prioritize Farmers and Shippers
Avoid over-hiring: 2–5 workers per role is optimal
Use rerolls to find Tier 3+ Mappers and Shippers
Farming Setup for Crop Production
Crops are the backbone of shipment value. Focus on:
Corn and Wheat: Best for Mirror Shard shipments
Bluethium: Great for Divine Orb shipments
Recommended Layout
Use a 2-2-1-1 plot setup:
● 2 Corn
● 2 Wheat
● 1 Bluethium
● 1 Flex (switch between Corn/Wheat)
Ignore adjacency bonuses—they’ve been removed in 3.26.
Shipping Strategies for Currency
Shipping is where the real money is made. You send resources to Kalguuran or Karui ports for rewards like:
● Divine Orbs
● Mirror Shards
● Tattoos
● Stack Decks
● Rare gear
Shipment Types
|
Shipment Type |
Target Currency |
Notes |
|
17M Crop Shipment |
Mirror Shards |
Best ROI; use Corn/Wheat + Dust |
|
10k Bluethium Shipment |
Divine Orbs |
Send to Calgar for consistent returns |
|
Ore/Bar Shipment |
Tattoos/Decks |
Send to Gakano; aim for 500k bar value |
Shipment Formula
To hit the 17M crop value cap:
● Use a 50/50 split of Corn and Wheat
● Add equal value of Dust (1:1 ratio)
● Example: 8.5M crops + 8.5M dust = 17M total
Dusting & Recombinator Use
Dust is essential for boosting shipment value and using the Recombinator.
Best Items to Dust
Tier 0–1 Uniques: Rocket Dance, Divinarius, Yoke of Suffering
Jewelry: Use catalysts to increase quality
Weapons/Armor: Quality to 20% before dusting
Recombinator Tips
Use dust to recombine high-value gear
Select mods carefully—risk vs reward is high
Save dust for boosting shipment tiers if crafting isn’t your focus
Mapping & City Events
Mappers can run corrupted maps up to Tier 17. While expensive, they yield:
● Uber fragments
● Unique items
● Currency drops
City Events
Occur randomly and include:
Pirates: Easy fight, 50k gold reward
Comets: Hazardous but manageable
Traitors: Drop valuable items like Swallen
Stand in the center and avoid geysers during fights.
Atlas Tree & Talent Optimization
Invest in Atlas passives that support Kingsmarch:
● Mining Talent: Boosts ore yield
● Shipping Talent: Reduces shipment risk
● Movement Speed Talent: +45% speed for ore collection
Use Scarabs to enhance map drops:
● Kalguuran Scarab of Refinement
● Harbinger Scarab of Warhoard
● Sulphite Scarab for extra gold
Passive Farming Strategy
If your build isn’t strong yet or you prefer passive income:
● Focus on crop farming and Bluethium shipments
● Use low-tier maps with ore veins
● Assign movement speed talent for faster ore collection
● Send small shipments regularly to build favor
● Avoid expensive mapping until surplus gold is available
Common Pitfalls & Fixes
|
Mistake |
Fix |
|
Over-dusting early |
Save dust until port favor is high |
|
Hiring too many workers |
Specialize and streamline roles |
|
Using low-rank mappers |
Only hire Tier 3+ for efficient runs |
|
Shipping mixed resources |
Focus on quotas and favored ports |
Advanced Tips for Veterans
Favor Scaling: Complete port quotas early to unlock multipliers
Bars > Ores: Smelt ores before shipping for 5× value
Batch Shipping: Send small shipments across ports to build favor
Recombinator Crafting: Use dust to push gear into high-value mods
Final Thoughts
Kingsmarch in 3.26 is more than a side hustle—it’s a full-fledged currency engine. Whether you’re chasing Mirror Shards or Divine Orbs, the key is:
● Smart worker management
● Efficient crop and dust production
● Strategic shipping and mapping
● Consistent optimization and scaling
With the right setup, Kingsmarch becomes a passive powerhouse that complements your active farming.
