Are you broke in Path of Exile? Struggling to afford even basic upgrades for your build? Maybe you're a brand-new player staring at high-end strategies on YouTube-the ones promising dozens of Divines per hour-but your Scuffed Act 10 Special build doesn't stand a chance of running them POE currency.
Good news: you don't need a mirror-tier build, cracked mechanics, or giga-juiced maps to make real money in PoE. In fact, with the strategy we're covering today, you can make double-digit Divines per hour with little more than a functioning endgame character.
Welcome to Stack Deck farming-a strategy so simple, so consistent, and so absurdly profitable that it's becoming the new go-to money-making method for both new players and veterans who just want fast, brain-off currency.
This guide breaks down how it works, why it's always profitable, the Atlas setup, map setup, and the exact profits you can expect. By the end, you'll know exactly how to turn your broke build into something dangerous.
Why Stack Deck Farming Works (And Why It's Always Profitable)
Stack Deck farming revolves around one truth:
The price of Stack Decks never truly collapses.
Why? Because they're one of the only items in PoE whose value automatically adjusts to the economy:
If Scarabs get more expensive → Stack Deck prices rise.
If the market fluctuates → Stack Decks stabilize.
If everyone starts farming this strategy → Scarab prices and Stack Deck prices rise together.
This means you can run this strategy on day one, mid-league, or at league end, and it will still be profitable. The values shift, but the profit margin remains shockingly stable.
Even more importantly:
You can do this strategy in completely white, un-alked tier 16 maps.
You can also scale it higher and higher depending on your build strength.
On average:
A normal build will make 10-12 Div per hour
A build optimized for ignite or proliferating damage can push 15+ Div per hour
That places Stack Deck farming in the same league as high-investment strategies-without any of the complexity.
The Core Strategy: "Put map in device. Add Scarabs. Run."
At its heart, this farm is stupidly simple:
1.Put a T16 map into your Map Device.
2.Add five Cloister Scarabs.
3.Run the map. Kill everything.
4.Watch Stack Decks rain from the sky.
That's it.
Stack Decks drop like crazy from the Cloister Scarabs themselves, but the strategy becomes massively more profitable when you combine Scarabs with:
Ritual encounters
Searing Exarch altars (for duplicate basic currency)
High pack size maps
Beyond monsters
Shrines for speed
But even without any fancy tech, the Scarabs alone guarantee profit.
Your Atlas Passive Tree Setup
There are a dozen variations of this Atlas tree out there, but here's the core that matters:
You only need three things:
- Ritual nodes
You want:
100% chance to encounter Ritual
4 Ritual Altars every map (via Cult Devotion)
Why Ritual?
Because Ritual spawns a ton of monsters, and monsters = deck drops.
You also get a chance at jackpot items including:
Mageblood
Headhunter
Divine Orbs
Mirror of Kalandra
+1 charge Synthesis rings worth Mageblood-tier currency
Don't depend on Ritual for profit-but always enjoy the surprise.
- Searing Exarch altars (Red Altars)
You want altars that say:
"Basic Currency items dropped by Enemies are duplicated."
This works on Stack Decks.
You get this mod often enough that your Stack Deck profits skyrocket.
Blue altars can be used, but red altars are significantly more consistent.
- Extra juice nodes
The rest of the tree is flexible, but highly recommended:
Beyond (huge monster count increase)
Shrines (speed and survivability)
Packed with Energy (free speed and damage when clicking Niko veins)
100% chance for Niko (more packed with energy uptime)
If your build is weak and you aren't running 8-mod maps, also consider:
Chisel Perfection
But once you upgrade into high-roll maps, you'll never need it.
Choosing Your Map: Three Budget Levels
Your profit scales with pack size, because pack size = more monsters = more decks.
There are three ways to run this strategy:
Option 1: White T16 Maps (Zero Investment)
No mods
No chisels
No alchemy
Just raw T16 maps + Cloister Scarabs
This version has lowest profit, but still positive profit.
Recommended only for very weak builds.
Option 2: Chiseled + Alked T16 Maps (Standard Budget)
Roll for 25%+ pack size.
This makes the map denser and dramatically increases Stack Deck drops.
Most players will run this version before upgrading into the top tier.
Profit expectation: 8-10 Div/hourOption 3: 8-Mod T16 Maps (Maximum Profit Version)
This is where the strategy becomes insane.
8-mod maps provide:
Much more pack size
Higher quantity
A lot more monsters
Bigger altar value
You simply buy them from other players using a pre-filtered trade search.
Filter rules:
Minimum 110% quantity
Minimum 40% pack size
Remove any mods that brick your build (no life regen, reflect, etc.)
These maps cost 5-8 chaos each and are extremely easy to buy in bulk.
Profit expectation: 12-15+ Div/hour with a build optimized for clear.
How to Run Each Map for Maximum Profit
Here's the full step-by-step process:
- Rush the boss (for Dunes map users)
Kill boss first so altars don't roll boss-related junk.
If you're using Dunes (recommended), this is very fast.
- Click every Searing Exarch altar
Look for the mod:
"Basic Currency drops are duplicated."
This is THE mod that prints money in this strategy.
Always take it immediately.
- Clear the entire map before doing Ritual
This ensures:
You get maximum altar rolls
All Rituals benefit from those altar rolls
You'll see Stack Decks dropping constantly as you clear.
- Finish all four Ritual altars at the end
Check for jackpot items.
Don't expect much-but be ready for game-changing hits.
- Drop map, load next one, repeat.
Your goal is 4-minute runs.
A strong build goes even faster.
Profit Breakdown: 60-Map Sample Results
In a 60-map test (72 total maps tracked):
Total profit: 72 Divines
~66% came directly from Stack Decks
The rest came from random currency, Scarabs, and misc drops
Cost per map:
7c per Cloister Scarab (x5)
5c per map
4c on map device
Total: 44 chaos per map (~0.36 Div)
Revenue per map:
1.2 Div per map on average
Actual profit:
0.8 Div per map
At ~4 minutes per map, this equals:
12.5 Divines per hour
And again-that's without an optimized build.
Ignite or proliferate builds completely ignore proximity shields, so they clear vastly faster, pushing profits to:
15-18 Divines per hour
This puts Stack Deck farming firmly into "top-tier strategy" territory.
Why This Strategy Is So Beginner-Friendly
Stack Deck farming is one of the rare PoE strats that:
Doesn't require a strong build
Doesn't require mechanical skill
Doesn't require heavy investment
Doesn't require bossing
Doesn't require knowledge of complex league mechanics
Doesn't require selling tons of micro-loot
Your loot is mostly:
Stack Decks
Occasional big Ritual hits
Random bulkable currency
Meaning you can liquidate most of your profit in minutes.
It's consistent, predictable, repeatable, and low-stress.
It's also one of the best ways for new players to farm their first Mageblood.
Final Thoughts: The New #1 Strategy for "I'm Broke, Please Help" Players
After testing dozens of different farming methods this league-including Breach, Delirium, Abyss, Blight, Boss rushing, and Expedition-Stack Deck farming stands out as the best combination of simplicity, consistency, and raw profit.
It will never become obsolete because:
It's economy-proof
It scales with your build
It has low barriers to entry
It is incredibly chill POE orbs
Everyone always wants Stack Decks
Whether you're a brand-new exile or a veteran wanting low-effort income, this is the strategy you should try.