Path of Exile 2: All Unique Strongboxes (& What They Do)

In Path of Exile 2, Unique Strongboxes provide some of the most exciting and potentially lucrative rewards in the game, thanks to their varied mechanics and the challenging encounters associated with them. Here's an in-depth breakdown of the four types of Unique Strongboxes players can encounter, along with how they work and what you can expect to get from each.

1. Ventor's Contraption - Researcher's Strongbox

Mechanics:

Cost Scaling: The first time you open a Ventor's Contraption, it costs 200 Gold. However, each subsequent spin increases the cost dramatically by 950-1050%. The maximum possible cost for opening this Strongbox four times is 255,875 Gold, assuming the highest cost increase happens each time.

Rewards: The rewards from this Strongbox are entirely random. Players might receive basic items like Scrolls of Wisdom or Orbs of Augmentation, or they could end up with much more valuable rewards like:

10x Divine Orbs

Level 20 Skill Gems

Perfect Jeweller's Orbs

Important Note: The cost of opening the box does not influence the quality or value of the rewards. Each spin is purely random, so it's essential to decide carefully if you're willing to risk spending large amounts of Gold for a chance at these high-tier rewards.

2. Ixchel's Torment - Blacksmith's Strongbox

Mechanics:

Monster Defense: Similar to regular Strongboxes, Ixchel's Torment requires players to defeat a wave of monsters guarding the box before it opens.

Reward: Upon completion, the box will drop a corrupted Unique item. The key feature here is that the corruption always takes the form of an Enchantment. This gives players a chance to get an enchanted version of a unique item, which can significantly alter the item's effectiveness.

Loot Pool: The unique items available in Ixchel's Torment are drawn from the global pool of Unique items in the game, but note that boss-exclusive Uniques cannot drop from this Strongbox.

3. Ogham's Legacy - Large Strongbox

Mechanics:

Revival Mechanism: Ogham's Legacy is a unique and somewhat eerie Strongbox. The monster lying on top of the box is revived multiple times (3-6 times), and each time it's defeated, it drops loot corresponding to its current level and modifiers.

Best Rewards at Final Revival: The key to maximizing your loot from Ogham's Legacy is to let the monster revive for the final time, as this will yield the best rewards.

Loot Drops: The items dropped by the monster are the primary rewards, and these will be affected by how many times the monster has been revived. This mechanic adds an extra layer of strategy to your encounter, as you'll need to plan your fight carefully to maximize the loot.

4. The Rain Festival - Beetle Jeweller's Strongbox

Mechanics:

Transformation into a Beetle: Upon opening this Strongbox, it transforms into a Festival Beetle, similar to the large beetles found in the Lost City in Act 2. This beetle is accompanied by a swarm of smaller monsters.

Red Lightning Hazard: The beetle emits red lightning in an area around itself, which will damage any character in melee range, adding an extra challenge while fighting.

Objective: To open the box, players must kill the Festival Beetle as it attempts to flee. During this encounter, you'll face a mix of smaller monsters while the beetle moves and attacks.

Jewels and Loot: The Jewels that drop from this Strongbox can be of any rarity, but be aware that boss-exclusive Uniques like Against the Darkness are not part of the loot table here. The primary focus will be on various Jewels, which could be valuable depending on your build.

Conclusion

Unique Strongboxes in Path of Exile 2 are some of the most intriguing mechanics in the game, offering diverse encounters and the potential for high-value rewards. Here's a quick recap:

Ventor's Contraption: Expensive, but offers a random pool of high-value rewards. Be prepared to spend a lot of Gold, but the rewards can be well worth it.

Ixchel's Torment: Drops corrupted Unique items with Enchantments, offering unique opportunities to improve your gear.

Ogham's Legacy: Provides loot drops after reviving a monster multiple times, with the best rewards coming after the final revival.

The Rain Festival Beetle: Adds an extra challenge with its lightning mechanics and smaller monster swarms, but the rewards, primarily Jewels, can be valuable for the right builds.

Each of these Unique Strongboxes has its risks and rewards, making them a fun addition to the endgame of PoE 2. Keep your wits about you and decide whether the rewards are worth the challenge!

If you need to purchase or farm PoE 2 currency and PoE 2 items to support your progress-whether it's for more attempts on Ventor's Contraption, buying stronger gear to take on Ogham's Legacy, or stocking up on valuable Jewels from the Rain Festival Beetle-I can help with tips on where to go or how to farm these efficiently.