Breach is one of the many endgame events in Path of Exile 2 0.5.0, and it's relatively simple. Your goal is to defeat as many Hiveborn monsters as possible within a time limit, and then defeat the elite Hiveborn that spawns when you trigger Breach. Defeating monsters in Breach will drop Wombgifts and Breach Splinters, which you can use on Genesis Tree to obtain more valuable items.
Today, we'll explore the mechanics of Breach and how to properly use Genesis Tree.
Breach Mechanics
After entering a Breach map, players will see strange hands emerging from the ground. Touching them creates a force field. As this force field expands, Hiveborn monsters begin to appear.
When Breach is triggered, a progress bar will appear on the screen. The screen will display how many Hiveborn monsters the player needs to kill to stabilize Breach, and the remaining time. Once the progress bar is full within the time limit, Breach stabilizes, and the Elite Hiveborn will appear where you initially encountered the hands. Defeating these monsters will allow Breach to collapse, and the player will receive a reward. Here's the detailed process:
Breach Hives & Hive Fortress
Upon entering the map, the player will first encounter Breach Hives, an area already occupied by Hiveborn. You need to seal it off with Ailith's help, but this doesn't mean the player can simply stand by.
While Ailith is on her mission, you need to reach the center of Breach Hives and protect her. You have the ability to burn down their defenses by standing next to them, so this isn't too difficult. However, you can't stay still; even with the burning ability, the sheer number of monsters can overwhelm you.
Hive Fortress is essentially also Breach Hives, but it's larger and not randomly distributed. Similarly, to clear Hive Fortress, you need to reach its center, protect Ailith from 24 waves of monsters, and then escape.
The monsters will prioritize attacking the player-controlled character over Ailith, but this doesn't mean Ailith is completely safe. Before each wave attacks, they emit pulses, which will reduce Ailith's health. Therefore, always monitor her health and heal her when necessary. Once Ailith dies, the battle ends.
Also, since most routes on the map are blocked by the Hands, be sure to find an accurate escape route before engaging the enemies.
Breachstone & Xesht
After collecting 300 Breach Splinters in the aforementioned Breach encounters, you will obtain Revelatory Wombgift. Use it in Genesis Tree to obtain a Breachstone. Only with a Breachstone can you see Breach Strongholds, where Breachlord boss fights take place.
Place Breachstone on the inventory to see Strongholds. However, you might not see it because the area displayed on the map at once is too small. You can try checking a different area or use Precursor Towers to display a larger area on the map at once.
Once you find Strongholds, you'll have the opportunity to fight Xesht (the pinnacle boss of the breach mechanic) in Breachlord boss fights. Go to the portal next to Dreamer in Monastery of the Keepers to reach Twisted Domain, where you'll fight Xesht.
Also Read: Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.1 Top 10 Build Rankings
Genesis Tree
Genesis Tree is where you get the real rewards from Breach mechanic. It's unlocked by interacting with Ailith in Monastery of the Keepers. Go up the steps, and you can interact with Genesis Tree there. You can convert Wombgift obtained from Breach encounters into what you really need - Path of Exile 2 currency.
Each conversion unlocks a skill node on the corresponding branch of Genesis Tree. For example, if you transform a Lavish Wombgift into an amulet, the branch on Genesis Tree corresponding to the amulet will open. Investing Genesis Tree Skill Points into the branch you want to develop will unlock subsequent nodes on that branch.
However, there are some tips regarding the rewards and Skill Points from Genesis Tree.
Which Rewards to Choose?
Nurturing Wombgifts on Genesis Tree is a great way to earn real wealth using Breach. Rewards include currency, jewelry, and more. Unlike the usual random drops, the choice of rewards depends on the player's individual needs.
If you want to get rich quickly, then you should definitely invest heavily in the currency branch. Even without fully unlocking it, unlocking the upper-middle part of this branch can yield a considerable fortune. Players can easily obtain Exalted Orbs and Chaos Orbs here.
However, if you're playing a caster or minion build, then acquiring jewelry from Genesis Tree is a better choice. You might find items that perfectly suit your build here, such as a necklace with spell bonuses.
Genesis Tree Skill Points
You gain Skill Points by consuming Hiveblood to breed Wombgifts. Each branch of Genesis Tree has a Skill Point cap, so you need to allocate them carefully. Fortunately, in PoE 2, the branches of Genesis Tree can be reset.
Breach is arguably one of the most satisfying endgames in Path of Exile 2, due to its simple mechanics and straightforward rewards. Players simply kill monsters and then exchange them for tangible rewards. Whether you prefer a simple yet highly useful currency or jewels that provide bonuses, the choice is yours.