Hotfix 0.4.0c has quietly changed how Energised Crystal farming feels in Path of Exile 2, and I'm not mad about it. You can't just cruise through baby zones on autopilot anymore, and that's the point. If you want steady drops, you've got to play at a level that actually bites back, the kind of run where you're watching your flasks and not your second screen. I've been testing routes with a couple builds, and the moment I started treating each map like a choice instead of a checkbox, the whole loop clicked. Even the way I value big-ticket currency shifted, since drops and trades like Fate of the Vaal SC Divine Orb feel more tied to doing real content instead of gaming the system.
Level Scaling Changes the Rules
The old trick was simple: speed, repeat, print rewards. That strategy's done. Now the game leans hard on level-scaled drops, so low-tier spam just doesn't keep up. You'll notice it fast when your "quick maps" turn into a bunch of empty minutes. What worked for me was being picky with the map pool: 1) high density, 2) short backtracking, 3) layouts that don't hide packs behind awkward corridors. If a map's got a lousy flow, I don't care how many of them I have stacked up—I'd rather run fewer maps that actually pay out than grind ten that feel dead.
Play Faster, Not Sloppier
This patch nudges you into a sharper tempo. You're not meant to clear every corner. You're meant to find the thick packs, delete them, and keep moving. I stopped chasing single mobs down side paths, and my runs instantly felt cleaner. The decision-making is where it gets fun: do you burn time on that chunky rare with annoying mods, or do you sprint to the next big cluster and keep your momentum? Sometimes the "smart" call is skipping a fight that drags, even if your pride says otherwise. The rhythm matters now, and it's weirdly satisfying when you stay in it for a whole session.
Temple Sync Feels Like Real Planning
I didn't expect the Temple tweaks to matter much, but they absolutely do if you line them up with your higher-tier mapping. When you're already running content that qualifies for better drops, the Temple stops being a side activity and starts feeling like a multiplier. I plan my route so the Temple run doesn't break pace, and it's paying off in raw currency and tradeable stuff. It's not complicated, but it does require you to think ahead—saving the right maps, timing your sessions, and not wasting the Temple on low-effort runs where the scaling won't carry you.
Keeping the Grind Sustainable
If you're trying to gear up while adapting to this new loop, it helps to be realistic about where your build's at. Push higher tiers, sure, but don't brick your night with constant deaths and repairs. I've been mixing safe progression with a few spicy runs, then filling gaps through trade when I need to smooth things out—especially for crafting bases or quick currency top-ups. That's also where a marketplace can be handy; if you want a straightforward place to buy currency or items and keep your mapping plan intact, u4gm fits neatly into that routine without derailing the actual gameplay.