MMOEXP-Whether you're planning to farm Abyssal Depths for day

[sheliepaley]

With the Third Edict update, POE2 Currency raised the stakes of its endgame by introducing one of the most coveted challenges yet: Kulemak's Invitation. This rare and powerful item serves as the key to facing Kulemak, the Abyssal Sovereign, a new Pinnacle Boss whose defeat is tied directly to unlocking the Abyssal Lich Ascendancy—one of the darkest and most potent new character paths in the game.



For many exiles, this content represents the perfect storm of PoE design: high risk, massive reward, and complex systems that demand both knowledge and resourcefulness. Whether you plan to farm it yourself or trade your way into the fight, understanding the process behind acquiring and using Kulemak's Invitation is essential. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know—from drop sources and preparation, to fight mechanics and the Ascendancy unlock.



What Is Kulemak's Invitation?



Kulemak's Invitation is a unique invitation item that functions much like Maven's Invitations or The Feared in the original Path of Exile. When placed into the Atlas Map Device, it opens a gateway to Kulemak's Abyssal Domain, where you'll face off against one of the hardest encounters currently available in Path of Exile 2.



The key distinction is its exclusive reward structure. Defeating Kulemak for the first time permanently unlocks the Abyssal Lich Ascendancy option for your character. Beyond that, farming Kulemak becomes a way to access powerful loot pools including:



Abyssal-themed Uniques exclusive to this fight



Currency bundles tied to the Abyss and Lich mechanics



Endgame crafting materials for darkness-based modifiers



Elevated Abyss jewels with new mods



How to Obtain Kulemak's Invitation



As with most endgame invitations, simply finding one is a challenge in itself. Here are the known acquisition methods:



1. Abyssal Depths Farming



The most direct way to obtain Kulemak's Invitation is by farming maps with Abyssal Depths encounters. A rare drop from Abyssal Liches found deep within these areas, the invitation has a low drop chance, meaning players often need dozens of runs to see one.



Tips for farming:



Use Abyss Scarabs to force Abyss encounters in maps.



Invest in Atlas passives that increase Abyssal Depths spawn chance.



Run higher-tier maps for improved drop odds.



2. Third Edict League Mechanic



The Third Edict league introduced Dark Reliquaries, special encounters where players fight waves of shadow creatures. Completing them has a slim chance to reward Kulemak's Invitation, especially at higher corruption tiers.



3. Boss Fragment Exchange



The new Sanctum of Trade NPC, introduced in 3rd Edict, allows players to exchange fragments from Pinnacle Bosses for a chance at rare invitations, including Kulemak's. This system adds a deterministic path for those willing to grind multiple other bosses.



4. Trading with Other Exiles



For many players, the most practical route is to trade for the invitation using PoE 2 Currency. Prices fluctuate heavily depending on the league stage—early on, expect it to be extremely expensive, while later it may stabilize as more invitations enter circulation.



Preparing for the Encounter



Kulemak's fight is not meant to be tackled casually. It is designed to push players' builds to their limits. Before entering, make sure you're properly prepared:



Gear Requirements



High Chaos & Darkness Resistance: Many of Kulemak's attacks bypass traditional elements and deal shadow-type damage.



Movement Speed: Much of the encounter revolves around avoiding spreading pools of darkness.



Life & Energy Shield Recovery: Sustain is crucial, as the fight involves long-duration damage-over-time effects.



Flask Setup



A Staunching Flask is essential for Abyssal bleed effects.



Phasing or Elusive flasks help with navigating Kulemak's arena.



Build Recommendations



While nearly any endgame-optimized build can clear the fight, certain archetypes excel:



DoT builds (like Caustic Arrow or Ignite) allow for consistent chip damage during mobility-heavy phases.



Minion builds take advantage of the fact that adds constantly spawn during the fight, giving them more fuel.



High burst melee builds can struggle, but with enough investment they can take Kulemak down quickly.



The Fight Against Kulemak



The encounter is divided into three phases, each escalating in difficulty:



Phase 1: Shadow Chains



Kulemak binds the arena in chains of abyssal energy. Players must dodge sweeping chain attacks and pools of corruption that slowly cover the battlefield. Staying mobile is key.



Phase 2: Abyssal Collapse



At 66% health, Kulemak summons massive Abyssal fissures. These collapse in timed waves, forcing precise movement while continuing to manage adds. Damage ramps up here, testing sustain.



Phase 3: Sovereign's Wrath



In the final phase, Kulemak fully embraces his power, shrouding the arena in near-total darkness. Only small zones of safety remain lit, requiring players to fight strategically in confined spaces. His ultimate attack, Oblivion Maw, is a one-shot mechanic unless mitigated with perfect timing or defensive layers.



Rewards and Unlocks



Defeating Kulemak for the first time is the gateway to the Abyssal Lich Ascendancy, a dark specialization offering new passives around:



Shadow Energy Manipulation (boosts damage over time and darkness scaling)



Life-from-Death (powerful leech and sustain from slain enemies)



Abyssal Minions (unique summons fueled by darkness)



Subsequent kills reward a chance at rare Abyssal Uniques such as:



Chains of the Sovereign (belt granting abyss jewel synergy)



Oblivion Maw (staff with DoT amplification)



Depthwalker's Greaves (boots that negate darkness degeneration)



Trading and Economy Impact



Because of its rarity and importance, Kulemak's Invitation has quickly become a high-value item in the PoE 2 economy. On trade boards, its price rivals some of the game's most powerful uniques. For players who excel at farming Abysses or Reliquaries, farming and selling invitations can be one of the most profitable currency-making strategies this league.



Conversely, players with the wealth but not the time to grind can simply purchase the invitation with PoE 2 Currency, skipping the grind and diving straight into the fight.



Final Thoughts



The addition of Kulemak's Invitation in the Third Edict update represents Path of Exile 2 at its best—layered, challenging, and rewarding. Unlocking the Abyssal Lich Ascendancy is a true badge of honor, reserved for those who either master the grind or invest wisely in the economy.



Whether you're planning to farm Abyssal Depths for days, push corruption tiers in Reliquaries, or make a big purchase on the trade market, this invitation is your ticket to one of the most ambitious pieces of endgame content Path of Exile 2 Orbs  has ever seen.