Speedrunners approach Path of Exile’s challenges with laser focus and tight routing. If your goal is time efficiency, then every second spent in the game must contribute to at least one—preferably several—challenges.

Start by analyzing the full list of 40 challenges and mark which ones you can complete while leveling. Map this list to your league-start path, ensuring you activate PoE Currency each challenge checkpoint as you progress through the acts and early Atlas.

Once into maps, maximize value by stacking mechanics. Choose a single goal—like farming Legion—and shape your Atlas accordingly. At the same time, pick maps where unique boss fights, map mods, or league mechanics align with challenge goals.

Use crafting and vendor recipes to quickly knock out gear-based challenges. Don’t wait to naturally roll a 6-link or reach 20 quality—buy or craft them early. The sooner you get credit, the sooner you focus on complex content.

During the rush to 36 challenges, avoid time sinks. League mechanics like Blight or Expedition are rewarding but slow. Instead, favor Incursions, Breaches, and Delirium for speed. Clear density quickly and keep moving forward.

Efficient routing also applies to invitations. Don’t run a Maven Invitation unless you’ve witnessed all five relevant bosses. Stack up progress and only run invitations when you're sure they’ll count toward multiple objectives.

Every map should serve at least two purposes: filling Atlas progression and progressing a challenge. Use filtered loot to keep inventory clean, Poe 1 Divine Orb and avoid sidetracking with side quests or inefficient crafting.

When it comes to the final few challenges, prepare a checklist of missing objectives. Often these are niche conditions like “Kill X boss while affected by Y debuff.” Set up your builds and flasks in a controlled arena to fulfill these precisely.

Finally, track your time and split it into segments. Challenge completion isn’t a sprint, but shaving off wasted minutes each hour adds up over a league. Efficiency builds momentum—and momentum builds results.