Your Hideout is your personal retreat in Path of Exile 2, an essential feature that you will visit frequently while engaging in the endgame activities. The Hideout operates like a completely customizable town that’s always at your fingertips. It includes every crafting station available in Path of Exile 2, a variety of merchants, and any decorations you choose to set up. However, it’s not merely about aesthetics; it’s also vital for several endgame mechanics, including the Atlas of Worlds mapping system that facilitates your travel and advancement through the game.
Before you can fully enjoy the benefits of your Hideout, you’ll need to unlock it. Fortunately, this process is straightforward and practically unavoidable by the time you reach PoE 2‘s endgame. Here’s everything you need to know about unlocking, managing, and personalizing your Hideout in Path of Exile 2.
How to Unlock Your Hideout
Completing the Main Quest
After finishing the main quest of Path of Exile 2 up to “Legacy of the Vaal,” you will be instructed to head back to the Vaal Ziggurat to speak with Doryani for your next objectives. By doing this, Doryani will introduce you to the Atlas of Worlds, which serves as PoE 2‘s endgame map. Your mission here is to eliminate the enemies occupying various nodes of the map, gradually purging each area of corruption and ultimately saving the realm. But first, you will need a home base.
Following a brief introduction to the Atlas, you’ll select a node to start from. Look for nodes marked with blue fleur-de-lis icons; these are your potential Hideouts. Choose one, but don’t fret too much about the location – you can unlock additional Hideouts as you progress. You will then be transported to your chosen map node, where you will need to clear it of monsters before you can claim it.
And just like that, your Hideout is established. Afterward, you can roam around other parts of the map, tackling nodes and advancing through the Atlas. You will periodically return to your Hideout (and unlock new ones), using them to stash your loot and enhance your gear between battles. Over time, you will customize your Hideout to match your personal style.
How to Change Your Hideout
Changing Your Hideout’s Location
Switching your Hideout’s location is as easy as using a Waystone to unlock a new Hideout node on the map and then defeating the enemies there. Essentially, your Hideout is mobile and will appear at any node you have successfully conquered.
Changing Your Hideout’s Map & Tileset
If you wish to visually alter your Hideout, you’ll need to unlock different Hideout types by exploring the Atlas. As you clear more nodes, you will discover that some have different themes. Currently, there are four Hideout types: Canal Hideout, Felled Hideout, Limestone Hideout, and Shrine Hideout.
Once you’ve connected to a new node of a different type, you can change any Hideout’s map by talking to Alva at the Hideout and selecting the “Select Hideout” option. Additionally, you can customize each of the four Hideout maps individually, allowing for quick adjustments in the resources at your disposal.
How to Customize Your Hideout
Adding Crafting Stations, Decor, & NPCs
Now comes the enjoyable part: customization. You can personalize your Hideout any time you are there by clicking the arrow at the bottom of the screen. This action will open up the editing menu, where you can drag, drop, and rotate NPCs, crafting stations, and decor items, much like in The Sims. Over time, you may unlock new NPCs or items to add to your Hideout.
Once it’s unlocked, you can return to your Hideout using the map or by typing /hideout in the chat.
You can decorate your Hideout however you desire—just ensure that all the resources you frequently use are available there. You also have the option to save your layouts and automatically import them to future Hideouts for convenience. Typically, players will have one or a few pre-defined layouts ready to implement whenever they discover a new Hideout.
Now you possess all the knowledge needed to unlock and personalize your Hideout. Although design options are currently limited, additional designs are expected to be introduced in upcoming updates throughout the early access phase of Path of Exile 2.
