Introduction
In this guide, we will explore the world of Path of Exile Delve and provide you with a comprehensive strategy for finding and farming various types of fossils. Fossils are valuable items used for crafting and trading within the game. We will discuss the different types of fossils, their locations, and how to efficiently farm them.
Understanding Fossil Locations
Fossils are primarily found in the darkness inside areas that are off the crawler’s path. These side areas are identifiable once you see the crawler’s movement. If you have good flares and darkness resistance, you can explore these side areas while delving. Otherwise, you can complete the delve and then backtrack along the string of lights left by the crawler.
There are two types of side areas. The regular side areas vary in length and usually have one to three loot spawns, which can include fossils, resonators, flares, dynamites, or chests of currency and loot. Fossils are easily distinguishable due to their bright yellow, glowing appearance. The second type of side area is hidden behind breakable fractured walls, which can be destroyed using dynamite. These areas often contain valuable fossils that can’t be found anywhere else in the mine.
Tips for Efficient Farming
If farming side areas for fossils is your goal, longer delves with more empty space on the map are ideal. Each empty cell on the map without a delve beginning or endpoint will have a fractured wall side area. Therefore, longer delves that traverse empty areas of the map will maximize the number of fractured wall side areas you encounter.
Additionally, the type of biome you explore during your delve affects the types of fossils you will find. During testing at around depth 90, different biomes such as Fungal Caverns, Magma Fissure, Frozen Hollow, Self Events, Petrified Forest, and Abyssal Depths were examined. It was observed that certain rare fossils may only be available at deeper depths, and biomes play a significant role in determining the type of fossils you will encounter.
Fossil Distribution in Different Biomes
Based on testing, the distribution of fossils among different biomes around depth 90 is as follows:
- Encrusted Fossil - Found in Fungal Caverns, Magma Fissure, Frozen Hollow, Self Events, Petrified Forest, Abyssal Depths
- Sanctified Fossil - Found in Fungal Caverns, Magma Fissure, Frozen Hollow, Petrified Forest, Abyssal Depths
- Jagged Fossil - Found in Fungal Caverns, Magma Fissure, Frozen Hollow, Abyssal Depths
- Gilded Fossil - Found in Fungal Caverns, Magma Fissure, Frozen Hollow, Abyssal Depths
- Prismatic Fossil - Found in Fungal Caverns, Magma Fissure, Frozen Hollow, Petrified Forest, Abyssal Depths
It is important to note that these distributions were confirmed through multiple test runs to minimize any anomalies. However, there may be additional possible fossils that were not found during testing. If you come across any fossils in a zone that is not marked, please share a screenshot to help expand our knowledge.
Fractured Walls and Target Farming
Fractured walls are crucial for finding certain valuable fossils. While all fossils can potentially spawn behind fractured walls, testing revealed that certain rare fossils, such as sanctified and gilded fossils, were predominantly found in side areas hidden behind fractured walls. Therefore, if your goal is to specifically farm these rare fractured wall-only fossils, prioritize longer delves with ample empty space along the route to increase the chances of encountering fractured wall side areas.
Efficient Preparation for Fossil Farming
To optimize your efficiency while fossil farming, follow these preparation steps:
- Acquire a sufficient amount of sulfite.
- Equip items that enhance your speed, such as Brightbeak with Prismatic Eclipse and Leap Slam with Faster Attacks.
- Visit the Quarry for a quick and easy way to obtain sulfite. Leap Slam around the central square, and the sulfite will be visible on your minimap. On average, you will acquire around 30 sulfite per run. This is an excellent method for farming fossils at lower depths.
- Ensure you have an adequate supply of flares and dynamite. Depending on the length of your delves, you may need four to five dynamite sticks. Finding dynamite and flares during your delve is possible, but it’s convenient to have a few on hand, especially if you don’t want to go back.
- Prioritize increasing your Darkness resistance to the maximum of 75. The higher your Darkness resistance, the deeper you can delve. Having a larger flare radius can also be beneficial, although the flare buff has made the radius quite generous.
Putting the Method into Action
Now, let’s take a closer look at how this farming method works:
- Start by finding a long delve with plenty of open space around it. The more open cells without delve beginnings or endpoints, the better.
- Enter the delve and explore the side areas. These areas contain loot spawns, including fossils. Be aware that not all side areas will have fossils, but you may find other valuable loot.
- When you encounter fractured walls, use dynamite to break them down. Fractured walls are the primary locations for finding rare fossils.
- Explore the darkness if your Darkness resistance is high, or follow the lit-up path left by the crawler if it’s not. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Choose the one that suits your playstyle and equipment.
- Complete the delve and collect any loot you have found along the way.
- Repeat the steps to efficiently continue farming fossils.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fossil farming in Path of Exile Delve can be a lucrative and rewarding endeavor. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of finding valuable fossils for both crafting and trading purposes. Remember to prioritize longer delves with ample empty space to maximize your encounters with fractured wall side areas. Good luck on your path to becoming a master fossil farmer in Path of Exile!
