In the world of Path of Exile (PoE), there’s a unique and often misunderstood aspect of the game that goes beyond just completing end-game content and farming for optimal gear: end-league projects. These ambitious endeavors take the idea of grinding and Path of Exile 2 Currency accumulation to new heights, transforming the game into a content-creation experience rather than just a traditional grind. As players delve deeper into the game’s mechanics and push the boundaries of what’s possible with in-game resources, the idea of end-league projects emerges as both a spectacle and an exploration of the game’s extremes. One notable figure in this space is Empirion, a long-time PoE streamer and content creator, who has become synonymous with massive currency liquidations, absurdly expensive crafting projects, and the creation of some of the most unique and extreme builds in the game. In this article, we explore what end-league projects are, how they evolve, and why some players, like Empirion, end up with thousands of divines and high-end gear by the end of a league.
What Are End-League Projects?
End-league projects in Path of Exile are large-scale, often highly experimental and impractical, challenges that players take on at the tail end of a league. These projects go beyond the typical grind for high-level end-game gear and involve crafting, collecting, and experimenting with items that push the game’s mechanics to their absolute limits. Players focus on creating the most extreme or unique builds possible, often with a combination of multiple challenges in mind.
These projects are typically started after a player has completed their usual progression during the league—achieving end-game content, obtaining a decent stash of currency, and then moving on to a new, more unconventional goal. These projects often involve using large amounts of in-game currency and trading with other players to acquire the necessary resources. They serve as a form of self-imposed challenge for top-tier players who have already experienced much of the game’s standard content and seek something different and entertaining.
Empirion, one of the most well-known streamers in this space, has been a prime example of someone who has turned these types of projects into content. His streams and videos, which often showcase PoE’s most outrageous crafting attempts, help bring attention to the existence of end-league projects. But what exactly makes these projects so special?
The Evolution of End-League Projects
Empirion’s journey into the world of end-league projects started approximately seven years ago, during his early days of playing Path of Exile. According to him, he originally stumbled into this type of content after getting tired of the regular grind toward end-game gear and achievements. Instead of quitting the game or waiting for a new league, he began investing his currency into end-league projects.
One of his early projects was the famous Energy Shield Project, where the goal was to maximize the energy shield of a single character, reaching an absurd value of over 140,000 energy shields at the time. As with many of his projects, this goal caught the attention of the PoE community. Players started contributing their resources and gear to these ambitious endeavors, making the projects even more extravagant and pushing Empirion’s creativity further.
Over the years, the nature of these projects has only expanded. Some of the notable end-league projects Empirion has completed include:
- Project Cyclone AOE: Aiming to achieve the largest area of effect (AOE) possible with the Cyclone skill. This project sought to create a melee build that could clear entire screens, effectively pushing the limits of AOE scaling.
- Project Movement Speed: A fun experiment in creating the fastest possible character in PoE. By maximizing movement speed, Empirion built a character that could outrun enemies, players, and the game itself in a way never seen before.
- Project Isle: A project focusing on increasing the number of projectiles on screen, leading to chaotic, screen-filling effects as dozens (if not hundreds) of projectiles are launched at once.
- Project Clones: The goal here was to summon as many minions as possible, creating a chaotic battlefield of summoned creatures to see how far the game’s mechanics could be pushed.
These projects were not just about having fun with the game—they were designed to be visually entertaining and technically impressive. The results were sometimes hilarious, often mind-boggling, and always impressive in their scope.
The Role of the Community in End-League Projects
One of the most interesting aspects of these end-league projects is the involvement of the PoE community. Empirion’s audience has played a key role in supporting these initiatives by donating gear, currency, and crafting materials for these grand experiments. This community support is what allows these projects to escalate to levels that would be impossible to achieve through solo efforts.
Empirion has always maintained that he never actively asks for contributions. Instead, these donations come from players who simply want to see the projects succeed and are interested in seeing the most extravagant ideas come to fruition. For many viewers, the act of contributing to an end-league project is an opportunity to be part of something larger than themselves, offering them a stake in the outrageous and often mind-boggling results.
As Empirion’s audience grew, so did the scale of his end-league projects. Donations escalated to the point where entire leagues would be dedicated to creating the most outlandish gear and crafting the rarest and most expensive items. The currency tabs for these projects, which Empirion keeps separate from his stash, would often contain hundreds of divines, sometimes reaching up to 100 million or more in value.
The Economics of End-League Projects: How Currency Plays a Role
One of the most frequently asked questions by newcomers to Path of Exile is how players end up with such massive amounts of currency. Empirion’s story provides some insight into how currency accumulates over time, particularly about the liquidation process of these end-league projects.
For Empirion, much of the currency used in these projects comes from the excess currency he accumulates during a league’s early and mid stages. After completing the primary objectives of a league, such as leveling characters, clearing end-game content, and optimizing gear, he begins to liquidate his resources into larger and larger projects. These projects often require the purchase of expensive items—like headhunters, unique items, and high-end crafted gear—many of which would be otherwise unobtainable without large-scale currency contributions.
At the same time, Empirion has learned to maximize efficiency when liquidating the gear and crafting materials from previous leagues. He carefully prices and trades his items with other players, seeking the best deals and liquidating items that no longer serve his immediate purposes. For players like Empirion, the concept of currency tabs becomes crucial, as they need a place to store the wealth they’ve accrued over time in preparation for their upcoming projects or buy POE 2 Orbs.
This “cycle” of earning currency, using it for crafting and gear acquisition, and then liquidating it for future projects is a hallmark of the end-league project experience.
Upcoming End-League Projects in Path of Exile 2
As we look toward Path of Exile 2, Empirion has already begun planning his next round of ambitious end-league projects. Two of the most anticipated projects are:
- Project Movement Speed (PoE2): Given how popular the movement speed project was in PoE1, Empirion is bringing this challenge to PoE2. This time, he is working with other content creators like Bazooka Tank to create the fastest possible character in the new game.
- Project Speedrun with Havoc: Speedrunning has always been a popular activity in PoE, and Empirion is teaming up with speedrunner Havoc to optimize leveling gear and complete the first three acts of the game as quickly as possible. Havoc has been practicing for months, routing each act to minimize leveling time.
These upcoming projects are shaping up to be even more insane than anything seen before, with new mechanics, new gear, and an entirely new set of challenges to overcome.
Conclusion
End-league projects in Path of Exile represent a unique and exhilarating side of the game, one where the standard grind is thrown out in favor of creativity, excess, and community involvement. These projects push the boundaries of what’s possible in PoE, resulting in some of the most entertaining and visually stimulating content available. Through massive currency accumulation, the support of the community, and an undying passion for the game, Empirion has become a key figure in showcasing the wild possibilities that can emerge when a game’s mechanics are pushed to their absolute limit. With the release of Path of Exile 2, these projects are set to continue—and who knows just how far the next round of absurd builds and insane crafting will take the game’s already expansive universe.