What Changed

Path of Exile 2’s Return of the Ancients expansion (patch 0.5, released May 29, 2026) fundamentally reworked the Delirium endgame system, introducing the Grand Mirror mechanic that allows players to chain Delirium fog across multiple maps without spending tablets. This change, combined with the reworked Breach mechanics, creates significant farming opportunities for players who understand how to layer these systems effectively.

The Grand Mirror manifests when killing a map boss while standing inside Delirium fog. Upon defeating both the original boss and its Delirium reflection, players can interact with the mirror to spread Delirium fog to an adjacent Atlas map—for free, no tablet required. This fog persists permanently on the affected maps, creating a growing zone of Delirium influence.

The Delirium and Breach systems represent two of the highest-ceiling currency farming methods available in patch 0.5. The rework introduced a progress bar showing fog depth, new Fracturing Mirror Shards at set depths, and the Trial of Madness atlas mechanic that spreads fog toward a locked Simulacrum.

Breach mechanics operate independently but complement Delirium well. The 0.5 rework changed Breach encounters to display a progress bar indicating time remaining and extension from kills. Reaching 100% triggers a Stabilised Breach with new challenges. The Genesis Tree crafting system allows consuming Wombgifts and Hiveblood (dropped from Breach monsters) to create rings, amulets, belts, and Breachstones. Breachstone splinters stack into a special Wombgift convertible at the Genesis Tree.

How It Works

Grand Mirror Propagation: The core loop begins with running a Delirium-affected map. This can be achieved by:

  • Slotting a Delirium Tablet in a Tower on the Atlas
  • Running a map that naturally rolled Delirium fog
  • Using a Waystone instilled with Delirium emotions

Upon entering the map, locate the Delirium Mirror near the starting area. Walking through it initiates a rolling fog ring that expands toward the map boss. Players must stay within this fog—if you fall more than a few seconds behind the ring, the encounter ends prematurely.

The fog ring’s expansion creates increasing Deliriousness as you progress deeper. Monsters within the fog gain:

  • Increased damage and toughness
  • Additional Delirium-specific modifiers
  • Improved item drop rates
  • Chance to drop Simulacrum Splinters and Liquid Emotions

Boss Fight and Mirror Manifestation: Killing the map boss while inside the fog can summon a Grand Mirror. This triggers a two-boss fight against the original boss and its Delirium reflection. Both must be defeated to complete the encounter.

After the fight, interact with the Grand Mirror to select an adjacent Atlas map node (marked with a glowing circle) to receive permanent Delirium fog. This fogged map now has:

  • Baseline 10% Deliriousness
  • Permanent Delirium encounter (no tablet needed)
  • Ability to gain Deliriousness through monster kills

Deliriousness Scaling: Maps within fog banks gain Deliriousness percentage as Map Bosses, Rare Monsters, and Unique Monsters are killed. The percentage caps at 200%, with higher Deliriousness providing:

  • Increased monster toughness and damage
  • Better item drops and currency quantity
  • Higher chance for special encounters
  • Progress toward Simulacrum transformation

At 100% Deliriousness, a map node becomes eligible to transform into a Simulacrum. Combine 300 Simulacrum Splinters into a Simulacrum key, then right-click the key and left-click the 100% fogged node to initiate the encounter.

Breach Integration: Breach encounters can spawn naturally on any map, including those with Delirium fog. The mechanics layer as follows:

  • Breach hands appear independently of Delirium fog
  • Opening a Breach creates an expanding zone with demon spawns
  • Killing demons extends the Breach timer
  • Monsters killed within the Breach drop Breach Splinters

When both mechanics appear on the same map, players can:

  1. Open the Breach and extend its timer
  2. Activate Delirium fog and push toward the boss
  3. Kill monsters that benefit from both modifiers
  4. Collect both Breach Splinters and Delirium rewards simultaneously

Simulacrum Progression: The Simulacrum represents the pinnacle of Delirium farming. This 7-wave gauntlet (reduced from 15 waves in patch 0.5) features:

  • Increasing Deliriousness per wave (+5% each)
  • Random negative modifiers per wave
  • Delirium boss spawns (Omniphobia, the Fear Manifest and Kosis, the Revelation appear in later waves—exact spawn points vary)
  • One free death allowed (second death ends the attempt)

Rewards include:

  • 2 Delirium Atlas Passive Points per clear
  • Raven’s Reflection key (access to Tangmazu, the Raven Trickster pinnacle boss)
  • Distilled Emotions (10 types, from Ire to Isolation—premium emotions like Isolation and Suffering command high trade values that fluctuate with league economy)
  • Liquid Emotions for jewel crafting
  • Simulacrum-exclusive uniques (including the chase Voices jewel)
  • Chance for Kosis’s Key and Omniphobia’s Key (tradeable reliquary keys that unlock foiled-unique drops)

Build Path

Character Requirements: Delirium farming is build-gated. Your character needs:

  • Exceptional clear speed to keep pace with the fog ring
  • High survivability to handle increasing Deliriousness
  • Adequate single-target damage for mirrored bosses
  • Movement speed for efficient map traversal

Recommended defensive layers:

  • 5000+ life or equivalent energy shield
  • Capped elemental resistances (75%+)
  • Armor or evasion appropriate to your build
  • Freeze, shock, and ignite immunity

Atlas Passive Tree: Before attempting deep Delirium farming, invest in these crucial nodes:

  • “Is This About Me or You?” - Enables Simulacrum Splinter drops from level 75+ Delirium areas (MANDATORY)
  • Nodes increasing Deliriousness gain rate
  • Distilled Emotion quality and quantity
  • Grand Mirror chance on boss kill
  • Delirium fog spread range

Each Simulacrum clear awards 2 Delirium Atlas Passive Points, allowing you to progressively unlock the tree through farming.

Tablet Strategy: Optimal Delirium Tablet modifiers include:

  • Increased Simulacrum Splinter Stack Size (highest priority)
  • Increased Number of Fracturing Mirrors
  • Increased Number of Mirror Shards
  • Increased Chance for Unique Delirium Bosses

For budget-conscious players, combine Splinter Stack Size with Boss Spawn Chance for excellent value without expensive investments.

Breach Tablet Integration: When layering Breach with Delirium:

  • Use Breach Tablets to increase hand spawn frequency
  • Prioritize Breach Splinter quantity modifiers
  • Consider tablets that extend Breach duration
  • Coordinate tablet usage with Delirium fog positioning

Farming Route:

  1. Start with a Delirium-affected map (via Delirium Tablet in Tower or naturally rolled fog)
  2. Kill the boss while in fog to potentially spawn Grand Mirror
  3. Interact with Grand Mirror to spread fog to adjacent maps (select node marked with glowing circle)
  4. Run each fogged map, killing rares and bosses to build Deliriousness percentage (hover node to check)
  5. When a node reaches 100% Deliriousness, right-click Simulacrum key and left-click the node to transform it
  6. Clear Simulacrum for rewards and 2 Delirium Atlas Passive Points
  7. Repeat, expanding the fog cluster outward

Economy Considerations: Distilled Emotions represent significant value, though prices fluctuate with league economy and supply/demand:

  • Premium emotions (Isolation, Suffering, Greed, Envy, Disgust, Despair) command the highest trade values
  • Other emotions vary based on current league meta and farming prevalence

Farm emotions on natural Grand Mirror fog encounters, then instill high-value emotions onto maps you’re pushing for currency. Waystones instilled with Delirium create permanent fog but do not reward Distilled Emotions, so build your emotion stock through organic Grand Mirror fog runs.

What It Means

Profitability: The combined Breach and Delirium strategy represents one of the highest currency-per-hour farming methods in Path of Exile 2’s current meta. Revenue streams include:

  • Simulacrum Splinters (300 = 1 complete Simulacrum, worth several Divine Orbs)
  • Distilled Emotions (variable, but consistently valuable)
  • Breach Splinters (for pinnacle boss access)
  • General currency drops (enhanced by both mechanics)
  • Rare item bases and uniques

Time Investment: This farming method requires:

  • Initial Atlas passive investment (8-10 Simulacrum clears for full tree)
  • Build optimization (adequate clear speed and survivability)
  • Route planning (efficient fog cluster expansion)
  • Active engagement (unlike some passive farming methods)

Risk vs. Reward: Deeper Deliriousness increases both danger and profitability. Players should:

  • Know their build’s limits
  • Retreat from fog if overwhelmed (better to survive than die)
  • Sell Splinters if unable to push depth safely
  • Gradually increase difficulty as gear improves

Accessibility: While high-end Delirium farming requires investment, entry-level participation remains accessible:

  • Run shallow Delirium encounters for basic splinters
  • Sell accumulated Splinters rather than attempting Simulacrum
  • Join groups for Simulacrum carries if build isn’t ready
  • Focus on Breach farming while building toward Delirium

Meta Position: Delirium remains a top-tier farming method through patch 0.5.4c (July 2026). The 0.5.5 event league (limited run with soft economy reset) is expected to carry over Delirium systems as part of the permanent endgame. Economy prices for Distilled Emotions and Simulacrum Splinters reset with league launches but re-establish based on supply and demand.

Long-Term Viability: Delirium was integrated as a permanent endgame pillar in the Return of the Ancients expansion. The 0.5 rework addressed early accessibility concerns while maintaining the escalating risk-reward structure. Players investing Atlas passive points in the Delirium tree gain benefits that persist across leagues.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

  • Not allocating “Is This About Me or You?” Atlas passive (Simulacrum Splinters won’t drop from level 75+ Delirium areas without it)
  • Trying to use Simulacrum like a Waystone in map device (it’s a currency item: right-click key, left-click 100% Deliriousness atlas node)
  • Falling behind the fog ring (encounter ends if you’re outside fog for more than a few seconds)
  • Expecting fog to spread to maps that grant Atlas passive points (blocked since patch 0.5.1 to prevent progression locks)
  • Confusing Grand Mirror with Mirror of Kalandra (completely unrelated—one is a map mechanic, the other duplicates items)
  • Attempting Simulacrum before reaching 100% Deliriousness on the node (hover to verify percentage)
  • Using Waystones instilled with Delirium for emotion farming (they won’t drop Distilled Emotions—farm on organic Grand Mirror fog instead)