1. Introduction to Searing Exarch Altars

When you apply a Searing Exarch influence via the Eldritch Compass or passive tree and defeat monsters in a map, you'll spawn Searing Exarch Altars. These altars offer powerful rewards or modifiers, often forcing you to choose between short-term difficulty and long-term profit. They usually grant:

Map-specific bonuses (e.g., currency drops, scarabs, div cards)

Global modifiers (e.g., increased monster damage/life, projectiles)

Guaranteed rewards (e.g., Eldritch Ichors, stacked currency)

With proper strategy, you can turn a modest map investment into double-digit divine profits per hour.

2. Optimal Atlas Setup

A. Keystones and Passive Tree Strategy

Focus your Atlas passive tree around Eldritch Altars, pack size, and map sustain. Key notables and keystones include:

Wrath of the Cosmos: +4% chance for Altars, 20% increased rewards, but makes monsters hit harder.

Eldritch Gaze: Stronger altar modifiers overall.

Profitable Conflict: Helps you encounter more altars in Searing Exarch-influenced maps.

Eldritch Altars cluster (top-left of the Atlas): Invest fully into currency, altar chance, and additional Eldritch influence.

B. Map Sustain and Scarabs

To chain maps indefinitely:

Use Wandering Path if focusing on smaller passive bonuses.

Allocate Shadow Shaping for map variety or Uncharted Realms for more altar-rich zones.

Combine with Map Sustain nodes like Stream of Consciousness (if not using scarabs) or Secured Map Locations.

3. Best Maps to Run

The ideal maps are dense, linear, and easy to clear. These optimize altar spawns and minimize backtracking.

Recommended Maps:

Crimson Temple: Excellent for Apothecary card farming.

Dunes / Strand: Fast layouts with high altar frequency.

Cemetery: Great for div cards + strong altar density.

Jungle Valley: Compact and easily sustainablе.

Map Mods:

Use Chisel + Alch + Vaal for quantity.

Target 60–100% pack size.

Avoid mods that heavily counter your build (e.g., "monsters reflect damage" for self-damage builds).

4. Eldritch Influence Mechanics

To spawn altars, you must apply Searing Exarch influence to maps. You can do this in three ways:

Map Device Compass: Apply a Searing Exarch sextant modifier or Eldritch compass.

Natural Influence: Use the Atlas passive to ensure Exarch influence.

Red Altars Only: Avoid Maven or Eater influence when altar farming.

Aim for Tier 14+ maps for maximum altar quantity and better rewards.

5. Altar Reward Prioritization

Understanding which altar rewards are most profitable is key. Your choices will shape your profit per map.

Top Priority Rewards:

Divine Orbs

Raw Chaos Orbs

Exalted Orbs

Scarabs (especially Winged/Polished)

Divination Cards (e.g., Enlightened, Apothecary)

Stacked Decks

Essence and Delirium Orbs

Map Currency (Sextants, Scarabs, Chisels)

Modifier Types:

Player-affecting mods: Safer but less profitable (e.g., reduced regen).

Monster-affecting mods: Higher risk, higher reward (e.g., +crit chance/damage).

When choosing between reward and modifier:

Prioritize currency-based rewards, even if the modifiers are dangerous.

Skip minor loot types (like gear base types) unless stacking strategies.

6. Juice It Up: Increasing Monster Count

The more monsters, the more altars and loot. Here's how to scale it:

Sextants: Use ones like “Pack size per shrine” or “Beyond portals”.

Scarabs: Run Ambush, Legion, Harbinger, and Breach for density.

Fragments: Use Scarabs of Infestation or Fragment of the Phoenix to increase monster life and altar value.

Delirium: Consider 20% Deli Orbs for high pack density if your build allows.

7. Sample Farming Loop (Per Map)

Apply Searing Exarch influence.

Chisel + Alch your map and check for reflect/degen mods.

Load Scarabs: Ambush, Legion, Harbinger, and one wild card.

Activate your map with a Sextant or Compass if needed.

Enter and clear fast but methodically, making sure to:

Kill rares/elites for altar spawn triggers.

Interact with all altars—choose wisely.

At boss or second-to-last altar, make your final reward-focused choices.

Extract loot and repeat.

8. Sell Smart: Converting Drops to Divines

The altar farming strategy yields fragmented loot—multiple stackable currencies.

Pro tips:

Use a Loot Filter like NeverSink’s with Exarch-focused highlights.

Sell scarabs and fragments in bulk (e.g., 100x sets).

Use trade sites like TFT Discord or Path of Exile Trade for ichor deals.

Convert raw Chaos and Exalts to Divine Orbs when market rates favor it.

Conclusion: Mastering the Red Altars

Farming Searing Exarch altars is a satisfying loop of risk vs reward, monster mayhem, and buy POE orbs loot explosions. With a proper atlas setup, optimal map choice, and good altar prioritization, you can reliably earn 5–10+ Divine Orbs per hour. Stay sharp, respect the modifiers, and keep your loot filter ready—profit awaits.