Path of Exile (PoE) has always been a game about pushing limits—whether it’s optimizing builds, breaking economic barriers, or creating some of the most absurdly powerful characters possible. With Path of Exile 2 on the horizon, veteran players like Empirion continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in an ARPG. A core part of this involves end-league projects, massive undertakings fueled by the contributions of the community to achieve otherwise unthinkable feats. But what exactly are these projects, and why do they generate such an incredible amount of Path of Exile 2 Currency?

What Are End-League Projects?

End-league projects are essentially experimental builds or crafting ventures carried out toward the final weeks of a Path of Exile league. Instead of hoarding wealth for the next league or letting items rot in standard, players like Empirion choose to reinvest their wealth into unique and outlandish ideas. These projects often push the game's mechanics to their absolute limits, creating record-breaking characters or achieving crafting goals that no single player would reasonably attempt during a normal league.

Some famous examples from PoE1 include:

l Project Energy Shield – Achieving the highest possible energy shield on a single character (attempting to surpass 142,000 ES at the time).

l Project Cyclone AoE – Expanding the area of effect of Cyclone to absurd levels, effectively hitting enemies off-screen.

l Project Movement Speed – Building the fastest character possible, breaking past the limits of what was considered reasonable.

l Project Isle (Projectiles) – Maximizing the number of projectiles on screen at once, causing complete chaos.

l Project Clones – Filling the entire screen with summoned clones, overwhelming enemies visually and mechanically.

Each of these projects involves crafting extremely expensive gear, often requiring mirrors-worth of currency, and utilizing mechanics in unintended ways to achieve something truly unique.

How End-League Projects Generate So Much Currency

If you’ve ever watched Empirion’s streams or videos, you might have noticed the staggering amounts of currency—often reaching thousands upon thousands of Divine Orbs. Many players wonder how such wealth is accumulated. The answer lies in a few key factors:

1. Community Contributions

One of the primary sources of wealth in end-league projects comes from the community itself. Many Path of Exile players grind hard during a league but have no real use for their accumulated wealth once they are done. Rather than letting their items collect dust in Standard mode, they contribute their gear and currency to content creators who undertake ambitious projects.

2. Efficient Farming & Group Play

During the early weeks of a league, Empirion and other high-level players participate in group farming. This is a highly optimized strategy where multiple players work together in juiced maps to maximize efficiency. While solo players may struggle to farm a few Divine Orbs per day, coordinated group play allows for the generation of hundreds of Divines per person within a week.

In these setups:

l Traders get a larger split for managing trades.

l Mappers and other contributors receive a percentage of the wealth.

l The sheer speed and efficiency of farming lead to exponential currency gains.

3. Crafting & Liquidation

Throughout the league, massive amounts of valuable items are collected. As the league winds down, these items are liquidated. Price-checking, mirroring high-value gear, and selling crafted items yield a ridiculous amount of currency, often reaching 10,000+ Divine Orbs per project cycle.

4. Experimental Crafting & Gambling

While many of these projects require careful planning, some involve a more reckless approach—gambling. Spending dozens of Divine Orbs on crafting an item with the hopes of turning it into a mirror-tier piece is risky, but when successful, the profits can be enormous. However, as Empirion humorously points out, "You should not do this unless you have 4,000 Divines for some reason."

End-League Projects in Path of Exile 2

With Path of Exile 2 introducing new mechanics, skill gems, and itemization, end-league projects are set to reach even greater heights. Two major projects planned for the upcoming PoE2 league include:

1. Project Movement Speed in PoE2

One of the most iconic challenges from PoE1 is making the fastest character possible. This time, the build will be revisited in PoE2, where movement speed mechanics and gear have been overhauled. Working alongside BazookaTank, the goal is to create the fastest character ever seen in PoE2, utilizing new skills, passives, and item combinations.

2. Project Speedrun with Havoc

Speedrunning in PoE has always been a challenge, but with the restructuring of early-game progression in PoE2, it opens new opportunities for optimizing routes. Empirion will be teaming up with Havoc to create the most optimized leveling gear possible, assisting in a speedrun attempt to complete the first three acts as quickly as possible. Havoc has been practicing for months, refining the best possible routes and strategies to shave off crucial seconds.

Both of these projects will test the boundaries of what’s possible in PoE2, bringing new excitement to the community.

Why End-League Projects Matter

For many players, the idea of throwing away thousands of POE 2 Orbs for "fun builds" may seem wasteful. However, these projects serve an essential role in the Path of Exile community:

l They push the game’s mechanics to their absolute limits, revealing hidden interactions and showcasing what is possible with unlimited resources.

l They create engaging, high-quality content, offering entertaining and informative experiences for both veteran players and newcomers.

l They provide a sense of community-driven achievement, where contributors get to be part of something extraordinary that would not be possible through solo play.

Empirion himself emphasizes that while he accepts contributions, he has never asked for them. The organic nature of these projects makes them even more special, as players willingly choose to invest their end-of-league wealth into creating something unique rather than letting their items collect dust in Standard.

Conclusion

End-league projects are a defining aspect of the Path of Exile community, and with Path of Exile 2 on the way, they are only going to get crazier. Whether it’s pushing movement speed to its absolute maximum, breaking records in speedrunning, or experimenting with PoE2’s new systems, the tradition of pushing the game’s mechanics to their limits will continue to thrive.

For those looking to witness the chaos firsthand, be sure to follow Empirion’s streams and videos as he embarks on his next ambitious projects. And who knows—perhaps your own end-of-league wealth could contribute to the next legendary feat in Path of Exile 2.