TL;DR
- Inspiration acts as an energy shield that protects your resolve from damage during Sanctum runs
- Unlike resolve, inspiration has no maximum cap and can be accumulated indefinitely through various methods
- Strategic affliction management can transform minor setbacks into massive inspiration gains
- Relics and merchant purchases provide reliable inspiration sources for consistent progression
- Advanced players use inspiration stacking to create virtually unstoppable Sanctum runs
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Among the crucial mechanics you’ll encounter in Path of Exile’s Forbidden Sanctum league is Inspiration, a protective resource that significantly impacts your run longevity. While the game provides minimal explanation, mastering this system dramatically improves your success rate in challenging encounters.
Think of Inspiration as your run’s energy shield counterpart to resolve’s health pool. This secondary protective layer absorbs damage before your resolve takes any hits, creating a buffer that can mean the difference between completing a floor or failing your attempt. The mechanic features dedicated boons, specialized relics, and specific afflictions that interact exclusively with inspiration mechanics.
How to restore Inspiration in Sanctum
Neither resolve nor inspiration naturally regenerates during your Sanctum exploration. However, while resolve maintains a fixed maximum value throughout your run, inspiration possesses no upper limit whatsoever. You cannot technically restore lost inspiration points, but you can acquire additional inspiration through multiple strategic avenues to rebuild and expand your protective buffer beyond its previous levels.
How to earn Inspiration in Sanctum
The most straightforward method involves purchasing inspiration from the Merchant using Aureus coins accumulated during your run. She periodically offers varying amounts of inspiration at different price points, making currency management essential. Another significant source comes from specific Boons that grant inspiration under certain conditions – for instance, one particular boon provides 100 inspiration each time you receive a Minor Affliction. This creates a powerful synergy where what would normally be setbacks become opportunities to strengthen your defensive capabilities.
Radiant Fountains consistently provide 100 inspiration when encountered, making them high-priority locations during room selection. Additionally, certain relics can grant starting inspiration or provide inspiration gains through specific actions or conditions. Finally, Accursed Pacts may offer inspiration rewards in exchange for accepting debilitating effects that impact your run’s difficulty.
For experienced Path of Exile players looking to optimize their Sanctum performance, inspiration management becomes a cornerstone of advanced strategy. Prioritize rooms with guaranteed inspiration sources early in your run to build a substantial buffer before encountering difficult encounters. The Affliction-to-Inspiration conversion boon deserves special attention – if you can manage minor negative effects without crippling your build, this becomes the most powerful inspiration generation method available.
When planning your route through the Sanctum, identify clusters of inspiration-generating opportunities. Combining merchant visits with fountain locations and affliction-heavy paths can result in inspiration gains exceeding 500-800 points per floor when executed properly. This approach transforms inspiration from a supplementary resource into your primary defensive mechanism.
Relic selection should prioritize inspiration-related modifiers when available. Starting with 200-300 inspiration fundamentally changes your early-floor risk assessment, allowing more aggressive playstyles and faster completion times. Consider our Complete Guide for similar strategic approaches to game mechanics mastery.
Many players undermine their Sanctum progress through preventable inspiration-related errors. The most frequent mistake involves poor Aureus coin allocation – spending currency on minor upgrades instead of saving for substantial inspiration purchases from merchants. Another common error is overvaluing inspiration at the expense of resolve preservation; remember that both resources contribute to run success.
Avoid the temptation to take debilitating afflictions solely for inspiration gains unless you have specific countermeasures in place. Some afflictions create compounding difficulties that far outweigh the benefits of 100 inspiration. Instead, focus on balanced acquisition methods that don’t cripple your overall progression.
New players often underestimate the value of inspiration-stacking relics, preferring immediate combat advantages instead. However, as you progress to later floors, the sustained protection from well-developed inspiration pools consistently outperforms temporary power spikes. For complementary gameplay advice, check our Weapons Unlock guide for similar progression optimization principles.
Finally, ensure you’re making informed decisions about Accursed Pacts. While the instant inspiration can be tempting, carefully evaluate whether the accompanying debuff aligns with your current build capabilities and remaining Sanctum objectives. Our Class Guide offers additional insights into build-specific decision making.
Action Checklist
- Prioritize inspiration-granting boons, especially affliction conversion types
- Save Aureus coins for merchant inspiration purchases rather than minor upgrades
- Route plan to include Radiant Fountains and merchant locations
- Evaluate Accursed Pacts carefully before accepting inspiration rewards
- Acquire and utilize inspiration-generating relics for consistent gains
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides » What is Inspiration in Forbidden Sanctum PoE 3.20. How to get Inspiration, can you restore it Master Path of Exile's Inspiration mechanic to build massive protective pools and conquer the Forbidden Sanctum