PoE Unending Nightmare

Unending Nightmare

Unending Nightmare is an Atlas passive skill and Atlas keystone, specifically for the Delirium league encounter.

• Delirium Fog in your Maps never dissipates
• Delirium in your Maps has doubled difficulty scaling with distance from the mirror
• Simulacrum Splinters cannot be found in your Maps
• Delirium Orbs cannot be found in your Maps

AI Guides

In Path of Exile, the Delirium mechanic offers players a chance to push their characters to the limits by immersing them in a fog that enhances enemy difficulty and rewards. The Unending Nightmare Atlas Keystone takes this challenge to its extreme, locking players into a perpetual Delirium state within their maps. For those who thrive on relentless difficulty and are willing to forego some rewards for the thrill of endless combat, Unending Nightmare offers a unique and punishing experience.

What is Unending Nightmare?

Unending Nightmare is an Atlas Passive Skill and Keystone designed for players who engage with Delirium encounters. This keystone introduces several significant changes to how Delirium functions in your maps:

1. Never-Ending Delirium: With Unending Nightmare, the Delirium fog generated by the Delirium Mirror in your maps never dissipates. Once the fog has enveloped your map, it remains for the entire duration of your run, continuously increasing the challenge as you progress.

2. Increased Difficulty Scaling: Unending Nightmare doubles the difficulty scaling of Delirium based on your distance from the Delirium Mirror. This means that as you venture further from the starting point, enemies become exponentially stronger, making the map increasingly perilous.

3. No Simulacrum Splinters or Delirium Orbs: To balance the persistent difficulty, Unending Nightmare disables the ability to find Simulacrum Splinters and Delirium Orbs in your maps. These rewards, typically obtained through Delirium encounters, are no longer available, forcing players to focus on the rewards that remain.

Key Features of Unending Nightmare:

• Permanent Delirium Fog: The Delirium fog never dissipates, locking players into a continuous, escalating challenge throughout the entire map.
• Doubled Difficulty Scaling: The difficulty of enemies scales more rapidly as you move away from the Delirium Mirror, making every step into the map progressively more dangerous.
• Disabled Simulacrum Splinters and Delirium Orbs: Players cannot obtain these items while running maps with Unending Nightmare, shifting the focus to other rewards such as Cluster Jewels and valuable loot dropped by delirious monsters.

Mechanics and Strategic Implications

Unending Nightmare fundamentally alters how players approach Delirium encounters by making the fog permanent and dramatically increasing the difficulty scaling.

1. Permanent Challenge: With the Delirium fog never dissipating, players must be prepared for an enduring battle. The fog continuously increases the difficulty of the map, meaning that players are constantly under pressure from enhanced enemies. This keystone is ideal for those who enjoy long, grueling encounters and have builds capable of handling sustained difficulty.

2. Exponential Difficulty Scaling: The doubling of difficulty scaling with distance from the Delirium Mirror means that even early parts of the map can become highly challenging. Players need to be cautious as they progress, as enemies will quickly become more powerful, potentially outpacing the player’s ability to deal with them. This scaling also adds a layer of strategy, as players must decide how deep into the map they are willing to venture before the risk outweighs the reward.

3. Shifted Reward Focus: With Simulacrum Splinters and Delirium Orbs removed from the loot pool, players need to focus on other rewards. One notable benefit of Unending Nightmare is the increased likelihood of obtaining Cluster Jewels, which are highly sought after for their powerful passive skill options. These jewels become a primary reward focus, making this keystone particularly attractive for players looking to optimize their builds in SSF (Solo Self-Found) or for those who enjoy crafting with Cluster Jewels.

4. Endless Delirium Strategy: Successfully navigating maps with Unending Nightmare requires careful planning and build optimization. Players should prioritize defensive layers and sustain, as the unending onslaught of delirious monsters can quickly overwhelm those who are not adequately prepared. Additionally, considering the doubled difficulty scaling, players may want to avoid extremely large or open maps where the distance from the Delirium Mirror can become overwhelming.

Practical Application

To make the most of Unending Nightmare, players should consider the following strategies:

• Build Optimization: Focus on creating a build that can handle sustained, high-pressure combat. Defensive mechanics such as life regeneration, energy shield recovery, and damage mitigation are crucial for surviving the relentless difficulty scaling.
• Map Selection: Choose maps with layouts that allow for controlled progression. Avoid maps with long, linear paths or expansive open areas where the difficulty scaling can quickly become unmanageable. Instead, opt for maps with tighter layouts where you can better control the pace of your advance.
• Reward Targeting: Prioritize farming maps with high potential for Cluster Jewel drops, as these will be among the most valuable rewards available. Additionally, consider other rewards that can be obtained from delirious monsters, such as rare items and currency drops.

Conclusion

Unending Nightmare is a challenging and rewarding Atlas Keystone in Path of Exile that pushes the limits of the Delirium mechanic. By making the Delirium fog permanent and doubling the difficulty scaling, this keystone offers a relentless and intense gameplay experience that is not for the faint of heart. For players who crave an unending challenge and are willing to forgo certain rewards in exchange for the thrill of continuous combat, Unending Nightmare provides a unique and exhilarating twist on Delirium encounters.

With the right build, strategy, and map selection, Unending Nightmare can transform your maps into a gauntlet of escalating danger and opportunity. If you’re ready to face an endless tide of increasingly powerful enemies and reap the rewards that come with it, Unending Nightmare will take your Delirium encounters to a whole new level in Path of Exile.