People keep treating the PoE2 economy like it's all about running more maps, faster, louder. I did that too, for a bit. Then you sit on the trade board long enough and you notice the gap: the real margins aren't in raw gold, they're in outcomes that are hard to mass-produce. That's why I started building around Temple of Atzoatl, and why I keep an eye on pricing signals like poe2 cheap divine orbs when I'm planning how aggressively I can scale the next batch of corruptions.
The new gem setup made basic links less of a flex, but it didn't make the "right" item any easier to create. Vaal implicits are still the choke point, and Level 21/23 gems don't magically appear because you ran one more map. So demand bunches up at the same place: Double Corrupt results people can't craft on a whim. You're not selling volume here, you're selling a shot at something that's legitimately scarce. And if you're watching listings, you'll see it—clean bases move slowly, but spicy outcomes vanish fast, especially when the implicit combo actually makes sense for a popular build.
Most players get tunnel vision chasing a specific room tier and forget the temple has to be runnable. If you break the route to the Apex, you've basically paid for a nice screenshot. I treat connectivity like the first checkpoint, always. Then room tier. You want the Omnitect kill, because those Vaal splinters matter and skipping the boss is leaving value on the floor. Atlas choices should reflect that pace: "Time Dilation" buys you breathing room, and "Contested Development" is the workhorse because it speeds up swaps and upgrades. The goal isn't a museum-quality temple. It's a temple you can run quickly, repeatedly, without bricking your own pathing.
This approach is brutal if you're broke. You need scarabs, you need maps, and you need a steady stream of high item level bases that are actually worth corrupting. Some runs will feel awful. You'll brick gear and it'll sting, no matter how many leagues you've played. So keep the routine tight: (1) rush the Architect, (2) only clear what blocks you, (3) prioritize T3 Locus, then T3 Gem room, then whatever keeps the path alive, especially explosives when the layout fights you. Don't drift into "just one more pack." Your profit is in cycles, not in sightseeing.
Variance is the tax you pay for high ceilings, so treat it like a business cost. Set a limit on how many temples you'll run before you pause and sell results, even if you're on a heater. Price your hits to move, not to brag, and don't marry any single base like it's destined to be legendary. If you do want to skip the early slog and start with enough capital to survive a cold streak, some players use U4GM to pick up currency or items fast, then focus their playtime on the actual temple loop instead of scraping together the first stack of investment.