Heists are undeniably the coolest minigame in Path of Exile. They break up the game’s monotony, offer a unique way to earn valuable rewards, and are a great source for all kinds of items.
Another good thing about heists is that they’re abundant with resources. You can always buy PoE currency, but if you don’t mind getting into it, here’s everything you need to know about heists.
What are Heists?
Heists are a type of minigame within Path of Exile that offers a different experience from the usual PoE gameplay loop of hacking, slashing, and destroying. In heists, stealth, subterfuge, and cunning are the name of the game.
You unlock heists by reaching Act 6, after which enemies have a small chance of dropping Rogue Markers when slain. Rogue Markers are a currency you can use in towns and hideouts to teleport to Rogue Harbor, where you can begin your heisting career.
Upon arriving in Rogue Harbor you’ll have to talk to Kurai, who gives you a task to go around and talk to everyone present in the harbor. These are the rogues that will be assisting you in your future heists, so get to know them well and what their abilities are, as mastering their skills could lead you to an Exalted Orb or two.
After that, you’ll be given a “tutorial heist” to show you how heists work and what to expect.
The Mechanics of Heists
There are two types of heists: regular heists and grand heists. Both have effectively the same mechanics, the only thing they differ in is their scale.
Preparation
Before you begin a heist, you must prepare. This includes going to a rogue market, paying your fees, selecting the rogue you’ll use, and selecting the heist you want to undertake. The most important part here is selecting the right rogues, as that decision alone can either make or break the heist.
Infiltration
You begin each heist in the infiltration phase, which is the “low alert” mode. There are fewer guards around, everyone is relaxed, and there isn’t much of a rush. You can leave at any time during this phase.
Lockdown
This phase will be announced by a timer counting down till lockdown. Lockdowns are triggered whenever you lockpick too many chests or remove too many guards. During lockdown, chests can only be unlocked by either Tibbs or Niles. If you manage to get out successfully, you get to keep everything you’ve acquired, if not, everything goes bust.
Contraband
Items you acquire during heists are considered contraband. They become legitimized only after you’ve successfully finished a heist or whenever you leave prematurely. Keep in mind that leaving a heist doesn’t end it. It’s when you fail that all contraband items are forfeited.
Death
Dying during a heist doesn’t mean automatic failure, so long as a lockdown hasn’t begun. If you happen to die during a heist, all your contraband items are dropped at your last location, meaning you can go back in and pick them up. The only time death is an instant failure is during a lockdown.
Meet the Rogues
Choosing the right rogues for the heist is the most critical thing to do. Making the wrong choice will, at best, slow down the heist and, at worst, lead to its bust. Here’s who you’ll be working with.
| Name | Level 5 Skill | Perk | Max Level Skills | Attack Type |
| Karst, the Lockpick | Lockpicking | 15%-35% less alert gain pert chest opening | Lockpicking (5) Perception (3) Agility (2) | Ranged |
| Tibbs, the Giant | Brute Force | Ability to unlock 1-2 more chests during lockdown | Brute Force (5) Demolition (4) | Melee |
| Isla, the Engineer | Engineering | 25%-45% more time before lockdown | Engineering (5) Trap Disarmament (4) | Spells |
| Tullina, the Catburglar | Agility | 6%-22% chance to find additional heist targets & 4%-12% less alert gain | Agility (5) Lockpicking (3) Trap Disarmament (2) | Melee |
| Niles, the Interrogator | Counter-Thaumaturgy | Can unlock 1 – 2 more chests after lockdown & discovers a blueprint reveal after completing a heist | Counter-Thaumaturgy (5) Deception (4) | Spells |
| Nenet, the Scout | Perception | Scouts nearby enemy patrols & 5%-17% less alert level gain | Perception (5) Counter-Thaumaturgy (4) | Ranged |
| Vinderi, the Dismantler | Demolition & Trap Disarmament | 4%-12% chance that a chest will have double the rewards & 10%-26% less alert level gain | Demolition (5) Trap Disarmament (5) Engineering (2) | Melee |
| Gianna, the Master of Disguise | Deception | 5%-25% reduced blueprint revealing cost &discoveres a blueprint reveal after completing a mission | Deception (5) Counter-Thaumaturgy (3) Perception (2) | Spells |
| Huck, the Soldier | None | Powerful combatant that grants buffs to the player and 5%-25% increased experience gain | Lockpicking (3) Brute Force (3) Demolition (3) Engineering (3) | Melee |
Remember that rogue bonuses stack if you use them for multiple jobs during the blueprint stage of preparations. For example, if you place a rogue with alert level reduction on multiple jobs, then the benefit from that will stack based on how many times you’ve placed it.
Tips for Pulling off a Successful Heist
Now that you know the basics of heists, let’s discuss some ways to increase your chances of success.
- If you score a valuable item, leave the heist and secure it, then come back in again.
- Don’t play heists like you’d typically play Path of Exile. Avoid combat as much as possible.
- Don’t stay too long after the lockdown has started; the experience gained is not worth it.
- Study the layout of each heist and plan your movements before beginning.
- Try to level up as many rogues as possible instead of just your favourites.
