This guide covers the essential steps for farming Delirium in Path of Exile 2, providing insights into its rewards and how to engage with the pinnacle Simulacrum encounter. Additionally, it outlines the best Atlas Passive Nodes for maximizing currency gains.
While progressing through Waystones on your Atlas, you'll encounter maps featuring the Delirium mechanic. To trigger the encounter, simply step through the Mirror at the start of the map. Upon contact, a grey mist will begin to spread outward in a large radius, gradually advancing forward.
As the fog expands, special Delirium monsters will spawn, and monsters will gain defensive buffs based on their distance from the Mirror. Fractured Mirrors, located throughout the Delirium area, can be activated to release additional packs of monsters. However, you must keep up with the advancing mist, as falling behind for more than four seconds will end the encounter.
Be cautious, as each Delirium encounter has a chance to spawn one of the unique bosses: Kosis or Omniphobia.
Defeating Delirium-affected monsters fills your reward bar, displayed above your flasks. Delirium-specific monsters fill this bar at an accelerated rate and may drop Simulacrum Splinters (available at Tier 11+ Waystones). The number of splinters indicates how many Distilled Emotions will drop at the end of the encounter. You may also end the encounter early by clicking the UI button above your skill bar.
Delirium offers several exclusive rewards, including: Distilled Despair, Distilled Disgust, Distilled Envy, Distilled Fear, Distilled Greed, Distilled Guilt, Distilled Ire, Distilled Isolation, Distilled Paranoia, and Distilled Suffering. Simulacrum Splinters can drop from Waystone tiers 11 and above.
Maps can naturally feature a Delirium Mirror, as indicated by the appropriate icon. To ensure a Delirium encounter on your Waystones, use a Delirium Precursor Tablet on a Watchtower. This item guarantees a Delirium encounter, based on the number of Waystones indicated by the implicit modifier. Any explicit modifiers affect all uncompleted maps within the tower's radius.
Alternatively, Instilling your Waystones adds Delirium layers directly. Refer to the Distilled Emotions section for more information. Keep in mind that this doesn’t stack with Delirium Mirrors, so you'll need to choose between the two methods.
Delirium features a Pinnacle Boss encounter. After collecting 300 Simulacrum Splinters, combine them to form a Simulacrum. Place it in the Realmgate at your Atlas center (near the starting location) to open a portal to the Simulacrum.
The encounter involves 15 waves of increasing difficulty. Each wave includes randomized negative mods (e.g., "Monsters Penetrate 25% of Elemental Resistances") similar to map mods. Completing each wave grants Delirium-specific items, and finishing all 15 waves rewards you with 2 Atlas Passive Points for Delirium, as well as a unique Simulacrum-exclusive item. Difficulty can be raised to earn more points, but be wary—Wave 15 is particularly tough.
The challenge starts easy but intensifies as you advance. Kosis is the most challenging boss and has a higher chance of spawning as you approach Wave 15. Omniphobia may also spawn but does not have a specific loot table.
Kosis’ abilities are clearly signaled, and you should be able to dodge most of his lethal attacks, especially his deadly beam. Omniphobia, on the other hand, delivers melee strikes but can be easily avoided if you keep your distance or use appropriate positioning for your build.
Right-click any Distilled Emotion to access the Instilling UI, where you can enhance your Waystones or add a permanent Passive Notable to your Amulet, depending on the Emotion combination you use.
Tip: Three Distilled Paranoias grant a 45% increase in Rare monster spawns, which are key for generating currency.
Tip: Use the Extended Item Description key when hovering over a desired Notable on your Passive Skill Tree to see which Emotions are required for Instilling.
Three Distilled Emotions of the same type can be upgraded to the next tier using the Reforging Bench.
At the end of the Delirium encounter, you may obtain the following Distilled Emotions:
Defeating Delirium monsters may drop Simulacrum Splinters. When combined, 300 Simulacrum Splinters create a Simulacrum, granting access to the endgame Delirium encounter.
Upon completing Wave 15, you’ll receive one of the following unique items:
Megalomaniac and Strugglescream are only available in Simulacrums with at least +4 difficulty through your Atlas Passives.
