Important: this guide's source video is from 3.18. The Path of Exile Wiki confirms a major Atlas/map overhaul landed in patch 3.28 — maps are no longer tied to specific named area items, the Atlas is now explored outward from the center with Voidstone slots in the corners, and the Favourite Map system described in the video has been removed entirely. Sections below call out exactly which mechanics still hold and which have changed.
## What maps and tiers actually are (still accurate)  Maps are still Path of Exile's core endgame loop: you use a map item to open an instanced area with its own monsters and a boss. Tiers run from 1 to 16, and according to the wiki this math is unchanged: map/monster level 68 is Tier 1, level 83 is Tier 16, and each point of monster level above 67 equals one tier. The community shorthand for tier ranges is also still wiki-confirmed: **white maps** are Tier 1–5, **yellow maps** are Tier 6–10, and **red maps** are Tier 11–16 — these names describe the tier band, not the map's rarity (a white-rarity map can still be a "red map" if it's Tier 11+).The wiki also lists a Tier 17 "Nightmare Map" category (monster level 84) that didn't exist in the 3.18 source video — a newer addition beyond the original 1–16 range.
## The part that changed: map items and the Atlas (outdated in the source video)  The source video spends a lot of time explaining that each map (like "Necropolis" or "Cemetery") is its own unique item tied to a specific area layout, that maps can only drop from "connected" or "adjacent" nodes on the Atlas, and that leaving specific maps uncompleted lets you control which map drops next. **This entire model is now outdated.** Per the wiki, patch 3.28 changed maps so they're no longer associated with a specific map area at all — you now find a generic tier-based map item and separately choose where to run it on the Atlas, which starts exploration from the center outward rather than requiring "connected" nodes. If you're following older written guides or videos (including the one this guide is based on) that talk about "connected maps," dropping specific named maps from specific nodes, or leaving maps uncompleted to control drops, treat that advice as no longer applicable to the current Atlas.Kirac's map-selling shop, his daily missions, and the specific "buy uncompleted/high-tier maps from Kirac" strategy described in the video could not be independently confirmed against the wiki's Map page — treat these as plausible but unverified for the current patch, and check an up-to-date Kirac-specific guide before relying on the exact mechanics described here.
## What this guide doesn't answer This is a conceptual overview of what maps and tiers are, not a full endgame strategy guide — it doesn't cover specific pinnacle boss fight mechanics, exact Atlas passive tree pathing for the current patch, or a currency-efficient juicing budget, since the Atlas passive tree and pinnacle boss structures shown in the source video are themselves multiple reworks out of date. If you want current-patch specifics on Atlas passives, Kirac's missions, or pinnacle boss access, check a guide written for the current league rather than relying on tier terminology alone. ## How this guide was fact-checked Wiki-verified against the Path of Exile Wiki's Map page: the Tier 1–16 formula (monster level 68–83), the white/yellow/red community naming convention, and the Void Stone mechanic (socketing raises minimum map tier, four Void Stones reach Tier 16). The wiki also directly contradicted two claims from the 3.18 source video: the "connected/adjacent map" drop model and named unique map items were confirmed removed by the 3.28.0 patch notes cited on the page ("Map items are no longer associated with a specific Map Area"), and the video's "Favourite Map" system was confirmed removed by the same source ("the Favoured Map system has been removed"). Cartographer's Chisels were confirmed to still function but are no longer obtainable as of 3.28. Not independently verified on this wiki page (flagged inline rather than stated as fact): Kirac's specific shop-reset and mission mechanics, the chaos orb vendor recipe, and the exact four pinnacle bosses that currently reward Void Stones. --- ## FAQ ### What are map tiers in Path of Exile and how do they work? Map tiers run from 1 to 16 (with a Tier 17 'Nightmare Map' category added more recently). Tier corresponds directly to monster level: map/monster level 68 is Tier 1, level 83 is Tier 16, and each point of monster level above 67 equals one tier. The community calls Tier 1-5 'white maps', Tier 6-10 'yellow maps', and Tier 11-16 'red maps' - these names describe tier, not the map's own rarity. ### Do I still need a 'connected' map to get a specific map to drop? No. Older guides describe a system where maps were unique items tied to specific area layouts, and you needed a 'connected' or 'adjacent' Atlas node for a specific map to drop. As of patch 3.28, maps are no longer associated with a specific map area - you find a generic tier-based map item and choose where to run it on the Atlas separately. The old 'Favourite Map' system that let you weight your drop pool toward a specific map has also been removed, since it's no longer needed under the new system. ### What do Void Stones do in Path of Exile? Socketing a Void Stone into your Atlas raises the minimum map tier in that quadrant. With all four Void Stones socketed, your entire Atlas's minimum tier is pushed up toward Tier 16, meaning even freshly-dropped low-tier maps effectively become endgame maps. This mechanic is confirmed current and hasn't changed. ### Can I still use Cartographer's Chisels to increase map quantity? Existing Cartographer's Chisels still function and still increase a map's item quantity, but as of patch 3.28 they can no longer be obtained. So chisels aren't a mechanic you should plan a long-term farming strategy around unless you already have a stockpile or confirm current availability. ### What is 'juicing' a map? Juicing means spending currency, Atlas passives, and league-mechanic investment on a single map before running it, to pack in more monsters, more item quantity, and more league-mechanic density for a bigger payoff per map. The overall philosophy - invest a little to get a lot more out of each map - is still how the endgame economy works, even though the specific tools available for juicing (like chisels) have changed over time.