Over the course of testing this method, players have reported consistent drops of tier one and tier zero uniques, plus a steady flow of rare jewels like Inspired Learning, Unnatural Instinct, and Intuitive Leap. This article will break down the entire strategy: how to set up your maps, which scarabs to use, how to maintain map sustain in SSF, and how to maximize your loot potential using magic find mechanics and mercenaries.

Why Abyss Farming Works in SSF

Abyss content in POE has always been lucrative, but with Abyssal Depths and Abyssal Troves scaling better than ever this league, it's one of the best ways to farm unique jewels and tier zero drops in SSF. The Abyss of Edifice node, combined with multiple scarabs, creates a loot explosion of jewels, scarabs, and maps, all while generating high-value unique items.

Unlike Blight maps- which are also lucrative but require careful preparation- Abyss farming doesn't hinge as much on specific gear or builds. It's hardcore-friendly if executed with the right defensive layers and map choices.

The Core Strategy: Abyss + Exile Juicing

The foundation of this method revolves around combining Abyss farming with exile spawns and rituals. By stacking multiple mechanics, you create layers of loot multipliers that significantly increase your chances of finding rare jewels and tier zero uniques.

Step 1: Abyss Scarabs + Edifice Scarab

 Use 2x Abyss Scarabs (preferably Gilded or Winged if available).

 Add 1x Edifice Scarab for increased Abyss encounters.

The final two scarab slots can be used for Cartography (map sustain) or riskier juice like Breach or Legion if your build allows.

In hardcore SSF, swapping in Influence of Hordes or Escalation Scarabs can add valuable density without excessive danger.

Step 2: Atlas Passives for Abyss and Exiles

Your atlas should be specced into:

 Abyssal Depths and Troves: To ensure consistent Abyss spawns with high-value chests.

 Anarchy (Exile Nodes): Pairing Abyss farming with rogue exiles is incredibly rewarding when combined with Gigantification, which multiplies exile loot.

 Ritual Integration: Rituals synergize beautifully with Gigantified exiles, as when these large exiles split into smaller ones, the mini exiles inherit full loot tables.

A standard map setup with 2x Gigantification, 1x Partnership, and Titanic Scarabs can spawn up to 10 rogue exiles per map. Add rituals to respawn them, and you can easily kill hundreds of exiles in one run.

Step 3: Loot Multipliers with Scarabs and Quantity

The Titanic Scarab of Legends is crucial. It not only increases map pack size (up to 40%+), but also boosts rarity and quantity across the entire map. When combined with:

 200%+ item quantity

 130%+ item rarity

 76% pack size on maps

…the loot output becomes insane. Based on testing, 20 maps often yield at least one tier zero unique, with many players reporting higher numbers once the strategy is fine-tuned.

Advanced Ritual Strategy: Vessel Farming

When running the Gigantification + Ritual combo, you'll occasionally spawn multiple gigantic exiles within a single ritual.

 If you find 2 or more: Capture them with a Ritual Vessel.

 If you find 4 or more: Replace Anarchy or Gigantification in your map device with that captured ritual for even higher exile density.

This can be scaled further with Wisps (from the Wildwood system). Wisps grant bonus currency, quantity, and rarity, turning already massive loot explosions into currency fountains.

Scaling Into Tier 16 Maps

While the baseline strategy works fine on tier 7 City Square maps, the real potential lies in juiced tier 16.5 maps. By combining:

 Wildwood Altars (Dark Gift for extra quantity/rarity)

 Wisps for multiplicative loot scaling

 Full map juice (8-mod corrupted maps)

…the result is loot that rivals high-budget trade league strategies- without ever leaving SSF.

Map Sustain in SSF

The biggest challenge in SSF is maintaining map supply, especially when focusing on a single map type like City Square. Here's how you solve that:

1.Farm Abyss with Cartography Scarabs to build a map base.

2.Use tier 7 "originator" maps (with at least 100% map modifiers) to drop more maps.

3.Prioritize Abyss + Delirium Scarabs in your map device for maximum returns.

4.Use Singular Focus on your atlas to heavily favor City Square drops.

Tip: Running naked tier 7 maps (with no juice) can spawn Memory Tears, which reset map progression and provide a starting point for chain-farming originator maps.Loot Showcase: Tier Zero and Rare Jewels

From just 20- 30 maps, this strategy can produce an impressive array of loot, including:

 4+ Tier Zero Uniques (Salt Taker, Essentia Sanguis, Bino's Kitchen Knife, etc.).

 Endgame jewels: Inspired Learning, Might of the Meek, Intuitive Leap, Fire Song, and Unnatural Instincts.

 Scarabs, currency, and fragments for sustained mapping.

While RNG plays a role, the density of unique drops and high rarity scaling ensures consistent progress.

Magic Find and Rarity Optimization

To truly maximize loot, you'll need to incorporate rarity gear or mercenary support. This league, mercenaries make SSF magic find far more accessible.

Option 1: Rarity-Focused Mercenary

 Equip your merc with 315%+ rarity gear (e.g., a helmet with rarity mods and Southbound gloves to prevent freezes).

 The mercenary gets the final kill, allowing its rarity stats to affect drops.

Option 2: Gravebind Setup

 Gravebind Gloves count all kills within a small radius as if they were your mercenary's kills.

 This allows you to run your own rarity gear (Ventor's Gamble, Perquil's Toe, rarity-boosting boots/belts).

 Important: Use a melee mercenary (Striker AI) to ensure proximity to enemies.

Even a modest rarity setup combined with the loot density of this strategy will dramatically increase unique drops.

Practical Gear for SSF

 Ventor's Gamble rings for rarity.

 Perquil's Toe amulet.

 Rarity boots and gloves (crafted or dropped).

 Gold flask for a temporary rarity boost.

Survivability should not be ignored- balancing rarity with defenses is key for hardcore SSF runs.

Putting It All Together: Four-Step Loop

1.Farm Abyss for Scarabs: Build a stockpile of Abyss and Edifice scarabs.

2.Generate Tier 7 Originator Maps: Roll 8-mod, high-quantity maps to chain sustain.

3.Run Exile Atlas with Ritual: Use Titanic Scarabs, Gigantification, and Ritual Vessels for loot explosions.

4.Transition to Wisps + Wildwood Altars: Scale the same strategy to tier 16.5 maps for exponential returns.

By following this loop, you'll create a self-sustaining SSF farm that continuously produces maps, scarabs, and rare loot.

Final Thoughts

This Abyss + Exile strategy is currently one of the most powerful SSF farming methods in Path of Exile. It blends high map density, unique drop potential, and map sustain into a single strategy that scales effortlessly from mid-tier maps to endgame content.

With careful setup, even SSF players can farm iconic items like Mageblood, Headhunter, you can get cheap POE goods or tier zero uniques without needing trade league advantages. The synergy between Abyss, Ritual, and loot multipliers like Titanic Scarabs or Wisps makes this method future-proof and adaptable for both hardcore and softcore leagues.