Don't get higher tier maps

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GreyLensman wrote:

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If I put a tier 5 map in my map device and I have watchstones socketed for that area of the map does it automatically raise the tier of the tier 5 map?

No, it stays t5.

There are several constraints for map planning.

As previously mentioned, the rules for max tier of drop in a given map have not changed. So if you are running a tier n map, it cannot drop higher than tier n+2.

New constraint in the new atlas is that a map can only drop the tier that is showing in the atlas. Since watchstones determine the map tier that is showing, you have to manage your watchstones.

For example, if you are going for t7 maps, you will want to be running t5-7 maps. AND, you must have t7 maps showing in the atlas. If all your regions have either no stones or 3 stones, you will have no t7 maps showing and will never drop a t7 map.

You can certainly run a t5 map in a region where that map is showing as, say, t13 because of the number of stones. That t5 map can still drop maps of up to t7, as long as you have those tiers showing in your atlas. But, honestly, if you are trying to progress your atlas and are just getting into yellow maps, there is no reason to have red maps showing in your atlas. (Well, you might want to do it to raise the awakening level via regions where you know you don't want the maps right now, but that is a more advanced strat.)

There are a lot of videos on strategy for progressing your atlas. You need to figure out what maps you want next, and then socket your atlas so that (a) the maps you want can drop, and (b) there are a minimum number of competing maps in the same tier. In this way, you have the best chance of getting the specific maps you want.

Also note that there are a very few cases where map drops are not constrained by what is showing in our atlas. These include, I believe, maps that drop from Metamorphs, Blight encounters, the Temple, and Delve.

"

This map shit is way more confusing than it should be.

It's designed to be a complex sub-game to replace the old "manage elder-shaper influence" sub-game. The rules are actually pretty simple once you understand them.