Players of Path of Exile: Lake of Kalandra may have noticed how the expansion references the fabled Mirror of Kalandra, a currency item revered for its ability to duplicate most items in the game. Such was the mystery surrounding the Mirror that eagle-eyed fans may notice the Mirror’s design being present in the Path of Exile logo, which in turn fueled speculations about the nature of this enigmatic figure throughout the years.
While players will eventually learn through Ancient Etchings that Kalandra is a powerful figure stuck in the aforementioned lake, Path of Exile’s Lake of Kalandra expansion will expand on her story further via the Kalandra Challenge League. Unique to this experience is the Mirrored Tablet, allowing players to tinker with the environment and generate encounters that bring them toe to toe against powerful figures that yield equally-amazing rewards. However, just how can players use the Mirror Tablet efficiently?
What Is The Mirrored Tablet?
When players enter the Kalandra League, all areas and maps have a Mirrored Tablet Altar where players can “create” their own Lake of Kalandra. The main goal here is to acquire a Mirrored Tablet and, upon defeating enemies, gather more Mirrored Tablets that will offer Reflections or “tiles.” When players fill up their Mirrored Tablets, it can be itemized and activated to enter the Lake of Kalandra they have created that follows the format of the panels they have placed.
As with other challenge arenas in Path of Exile gameplay, each level in the player’s personal Lake of Kalandra has different enemies that yield rewards of different rarities, Areas become much more difficult to complete the further away they are from the entrance. In turn, the key mechanic players want to take advantage of with Mirrored Tablets is to create the “best” map configuration possible in order to reap the most rewards.
Mirrored Tablet: The Basic Properties
Before players focus on acquiring Mirrored Tablets in their Path of Exile experience, they may first want a basic gist on the offerings available at their disposal. Given the sheer customizability of Mirrored Tablets, every Lake of Kalandra can appear different per player. And since players can create multiple itemized maps, each Lake they create can be different from the last - all catering to a player’s preference and even according to their Path of Exile build. Given the vast number of options players have, here are some things players need to consider:
The Basic Configuration
When players get their first Mirrored Tablet, it might appear as a blank slate with various empty tiles as well as a set of tiles with waves (Water Tiles). These are all customizable depending on the properties or Reflections they obtain throughout the game. However, at face value, here are some important configurations associated with each Mirrored Tablet:
- 3 Choices Per Tablet: Players are given three sets of three choices or Reflections per Mirrored Tablet they obtain. The Mirrored Tablets are destroyed once all choices have been used, with certain runes able to manipulate the way the choices are presented.
- Different Size Per Area: Depending on where the base tablet was acquired, the size of the Mirrored Tablet can be as small as 2x2 (Act 1), 4x4 (Act 10), and even up to 4x5 and 5x5 in T16 areas. When converted into a map, these tiles can become large areas fit for Classes like the Marauder.
- Nodes Denote Difficulty: Some Reflection tiles will appear with multiple notches, nodes, or lines that denote their difficulty. When put in the Mirrored Tablet, these tiles will have a more difficult offering but will feature greater rewards.
- Entrance Dictate Difficulty: Reflections also scale in difficulty the further they are from the Entrance tile. Players who want longer Lakes but have access to bigger rewards tend to find ways to move the Entrance tile to the furthest corner of the map possible.
Basic Monster Reflections
These sets of tiles are element-themed and contain “packs” or sets of monsters. Defeating these sets of monsters will spawn a Unique “Effigy of X” creature, whose identity depends on existing Act Bosses or Invasion Bosses. By the time players defeat 95% of the tile’s set monsters, they can obtain a Submerged Chest of various rewards. Players will want to remove these tiles as soon as possible as they don’t offer as much in terms of rewards, especially on lower tiers. Given the potential of the Elites in these levels to get tougher, these tiles are ideal for tanky Templars.
- Reflection of Flame: Contains Bandits, Cannibals, Solar Elementals, Karui Soldiers, Infernal Vaal, Demons
- Reflection of Frost: Contains Lunaris Zealots, Brine Vassals, Crabs, Chilled Undead, Glacial Goatmen, Sea Witches
- Reflection of the Storm: Contains Electrified Undead, Spectral Pirates, Undying, Sand Leapers, Shavronne’s Toys, Holy Templars
- Reflection of Brutality: Contains Skeletons, Blackguards, Monkeys, Desert Creatures, Piety’s Miscreations, Beasts
- Reflection of Chaos: Contains Sewer Lurkers, Vaal Constructs, Spiders, Snakes, Infested Creatures
Boss Reflections
It’s unsurprising that map tiles that feature monsters will surely have counterparts that feature Path of Exile bosses. Through these special Reflections, players have access to special bosses based on the type of the Reflection. These bosses may be creatures from maps that players have yet to discover in their Atlas. Depending on the monster faced, players may acquire rewards such as currency, gems, cards, maps, and other Unique items. Players using DPS-intensive Classes like the Shadow may want to prioritize Boss Reflections, especially for the rewards they hold.
- Reflection of Conflict: Contains Rogue Exiles of a specific element based on the tile
- Reflection of Power: Contains a Map Boss of a specific element based on the tile’s image
- Reflection of Tyranny: Contains up to 3 Map Bosses, again depending on the element based on the image inscribed on the tile
Condition-Specific League Reflections
Some Reflections contain challenges oftentimes found in Path of Exile Leagues. Aside from more uncommon monster offerings, certain Reflections give “rewards” that modify conditions of gameplay throughout the duration of these encounters.
- Reflection of Kalandra: Contains Ethereal Reflecting Mist that scales depending on the level
- Reflection of Delirium: Contains a Mirror of Delirium that temporarily covers the Lake with Delirium fog
- Reflection of Paradise: Has Wild Animals that don’t drop items but lets players enjoy 1,000% boost in EXP gain
- Reflection of Angling: Contains an interactive Fisherman NPC and Tackle Box with a Mirrored Fishing Rod, which is the only item that can catch Mirrored Fish in the area
- Reflection of Domination: Contains difficult opponents but contain 3 more Shrines, with all Shrines having longer buff durations
- Reflection of Occultism: There are 3 more Shrines in the game alongside all Shrines having longer durations and double the effect
- Reflection of Perverted Faith: There are 3 more Shrines in the level, with all Shrines being Covetouus Shrines. However, these Shrines are now guarded by more monsters
- Reflection of Essence: There are 3 more Essences available for acquisition from Essence Monoliths, with Imprisoned Monsters potentially have other Essences
- Reflection of Imprisonment: There are 3 more Essences, with all Essences being of a higher Tier. This time around, Imprisoned Monsters have Remnants of Corruption
- Reflection of Thralldom: There are 3 more Essences, with all Essences being of a much higher tier. Imprisoned Monsters also now have 3 more Essences
Reward-Specific League Reflections
Compared to basic monster Reflections in the Path of Exile experience, these certain Reflections contain encounters from other existing Challenge Leagues in the game. However, compared to other League-specific Reflections, these ones focus on giving more concrete rewards to players.
- Reflection of the Broken Circle: Drops Artifacts, contains foes from the Druid of the Broken Circle
- Reflection of the Chalice: Drops Artifacts, contains foes from the Order of the Chalice
- Reflection of the Black Scythe: Drops Artifacts, contains foes from the Black Scythe Mercenaries
- Reflection of the Sun: Drops Artifacts, contains foes from the Knights of the Sun
- Reflection of Torment: Boosts items dropped by Tormented Spirits, Rare Monsters
- Reflection of Possession: Boosts items dropped by Rare Monsters, who are also Possessed and Touched
- Reflection of Guilt: Boosts items dropped by Less Common Tormented Spirits and Rare Monsters
- Reflection of Ambush: Contains 5 more Strongboxes
- Reflection of Entrapment: Contains 5 more Strongboxes that are either Rare or Corrupted
- Reflection of the Trove: Contains 5 more Strongboxes of Less Common types, with Strongboxes having 25% chance of being openable once more after activation
Component-Specific League Reflections
Unlike League Reflections that affect items that players can acquire, they can also use the Mirrored Tablets in their Path of Exile experience to acquire components of special currencies. That way, players can access much rarer items and experiences without having to get into their specific “events,” all courtesy of the player’s personal Lake of Kalandra.
- Reflection of Breach: Players get access to an additional Breach alongside more Breach Splinters in Breach Hands
- Reflection of the Dream: Players get another Breach, with each of them opening and closing half as fast while having twice the monster density
- Reflection of the Breachlord: Players get another Breach, with each of them opening and closing 30% slower. Each Breach now contains a Breachlord, who then drops a coveted Breachstone
- Reflection of Legion: Players get access to another Legion Encounter as well as more Timeless Splinters
- Reflection of Stasis: Players now have an additional Legion Encounter, each with 5 more Sergeants. Each of them has 40% more chance of having rewards of their own
- Reflection of the Monolith: Players get another Legion Encounter, this time with a General. Defeating a Legion will generate a War Hoard
- Reflection of Metamorph: Contains a Rogue Metamorph with 3 more Rewards
- Reflection of Catalysis: Has a Rogue Metamorph with 50% more life but has 8 more Rewards
- Reflection of Experimentation: Has a Rogue Metamorph with double life and damage, but drops duplicate the Catalysts and 8 more Rewards
- Reflection of the Harbingers: Contains 3 more Harbingers that reward more Currency Shards
- Reflection of Fractured Dimensions: Has 5 more Harbingers that have double the cooldown recovery
- Reflection of Phaaryl: Contains 2 more Harbinger Bosses that drop more Currency Shards
- Reflection of Delve: This contains more veins of Voltaxic Sulphite
- Reflection of Sulphite: This contains veins of Voltaxic Sulphite, with players having to face a Sulphite-Hoarding Monster
- Reflection of Azurite: This contains veins of Voltaxic Sulphite, each of which giving the same amount of Azurite
- Reflection of Scourge: Killing enemies close to each other will boost chances of triggering a Beyond Portal
- Reflection of Demonfire: Killing enemies close together always opens a Beyond Portal
- Reflection of the Nightmare: Killing enemies close to each other will always spawn a Beyond Portal that offers double the Tainted Currency from Beyond Demons
Special Situations
On top of having Reflection tiles that can have players face monsters and other challenges in their Path of Exile experience, they may also encounter special situations that can vastly affect the way their Lake of Kalandra would end up as soon as they itemize it. Some of these special situations take the form of tiles, abilities, and even encounters that players may want to study carefully, especially when using spongier glass cannons like the Witch. Here are some special situations that can affect one’s creation of their Mirrored Tablet:
Map-Altering Reflections
Alongside various enemy-themed Reflection tiles are map-altering Reflections. They don’t offer challenges but instead allow players to tinker with the way their maps are presented, allowing them to switch things up and rectify mistakes in order to make their Mirrored Tablets more cohesive.
- Swap Water Tile with an Empty Tile: This exchanges the position of a Water Tile with a usable tile of the player’s choosing
- Swap Entrance with an Empty Tile: This swaps the Entrance tile with another usable tile of the player’s choosing
- Swap a Reflection with another Reflection: This swaps two Reflections that are already set in the Tablet
- Change a Water Tile into an Empty Tile: This converts a Water Tile into a usable tile
- Destroy Tablet: This rerolls the Tablet and offers new sets of choices
Special Abilities
Upon unlocking a Mirror Tablet, players can get access to a three special Reflection “abilities.” More uses of these abilities are gained after completing various encounters at higher difficulties. These Reflection Abilities have straightforward effects that make the Mirror Tablet appear more like an optimization puzzle instead of a simple map-making tool.
- Reroll: Change the current set of choices into another set
- Skip: Skip the current selection of choices at the cost of a choice. This then transfers a new set of choices to players
- Exile: Render a Reflection useless for the entire Mirrored Tablet until players create another Mirrored Tablet to make a Lake of Kalandra
Reflecting Mist
In certain situations throughout a player’s Path of Exile gameplay, Kalandra herself may appear to give players a special Reflecting Mist. Completing this encounter will grant players two Reflected mirrored rare amulets or rings, all of which with unusual mods. Players may only choose one of these items, each of which offering polarizing stats.
There are situations when an angrier Kalandra will appear in a teal-colored mist that will mirror the tile’s Unique enemies while rewarding another Reflecting Mist. There are also situations where Kalandra will reward another Reflecting Mist without doubling the number of bosses faced.
Reflection Of Kalandra
Players attempting a Lake of Kalandra run may also be offered their own Reflection of Kalandra encounter that allows them to Reflect their own amulet or ring. Similar to Reflecting Mist, the resulting magnitude of mods players create will depend on the encounter’s difficulty, and players may also only have one of the resulting items.
Tip: Prolong The Path As Much As Possible
One of the worst mistakes players can make when accomplishing a Mirrored Tablet is to create a random-looking pathway. While it’s still possible to complete a Lake in this configuration, it’s not optimized to generate meaningful rewards. It’s likely for a randomized path to loop back into the Entrance, meaning a lot of the tiles won’t be of a higher difficulty. Fans who want to get through their Lake faster can make use of these maps, but those who want better rewards should instead focus on lengthening their pathway as often as possible.
To do this, players should organize their tiles in such a way that they’re able to progress through them one “tier” or “layer” at a time, each further away from the Entrance tile. That way, players always have a set of progressively-difficult encounters that are modified according to their Reflections. Despite the difficulty of these levels, they may be perfect for overpowered Path of Exile builds.
Tip: Move The Entrance Tile When Necessary
When players acquire a Mirrored Tablet in their Path of Exile gameplay, chances are their Entrance tile may be located at a spot away from the furthest corner of the map. This can ruin the overall “flow” of their pathway, leading to a lackluster Lake that won’t yield as much rewards in their Path of Exile experience. In order to make a more meaningful Mirrored Tablet, players shouldn’t hesitate moving the Entrance tile as close to the furthest corner of the path.
Players should be on the lookout for Swap With Entrance tiles as soon as possible in order to exchange places with the usable tile closest to the entrance. That way, players can focus more on building their ideal pathway based on the Reflection tiles they want to place.
Tip: Save The Starting Tile For The Entrance
Given how crucial of a tile the Entrance is, players of Path of Exile may want to skip filling out the starting tile until they find a way to get the Entrance tile there. Remember, while the Swap With Entrance choice is a neat way of placing the Entrance at the end of the Mirrored Tablet, it only works with usable but empty tiles.
That way, should there be no choice in terms of rigging the Mirrored Tablet to have the Entrance at the beginning of the map, players don’t have a lot of tiles to skip when fulfilling the Lake run.
Tip: More Nodes Go Further From The Entrance
As mentioned earlier, Reflection tiles that players can encounter in their Path of Exile gameplay may contain different notches or nodes that reflect various difficulty stages. Tiles with no nodes only base their difficulty and rewards on their placement in the Mirrored Tablet. However, Bronze (2), Silver (3), and Gold (4) tiles have increasing magnitudes of rewards with corresponding difficulty.
In order to maximize the reward offerings of these node tiers, players should put Gold tiles as further from the entrance as possible to boost their difficulty. No nodes and Bronze nodes should be discarded or replaced whenever possible. That way, players can maximize the possible DPS dealt by Classes like the Ranger with the level of enemies they may face in combat.
Tip: Skip Certain Tiles
Despite the many available Reflection tiles at the player’s disposal, creating an ideal Lake of Kalandra via the Mirror Tablet doesn’t always have to include all of those different Reflection types. In fact, it’s not necessarily advisable to include the different League-based tiles on a Mirrored Tablet unless players want them as placeholders until they get rerolls and exiles.
Despite the added challenge these offer to the Path of Exile experience, League-based Reflections don’t offer worthwhile rewards based on the difficulty they offer. It’s more practical to just keep higher-tier (Silver, Gold) Reflection tiles of a more ordinary variety for a more consistent experience.
Tip: Be Careful With Reflection Abilities
Due to the limited nature of Reflection Abilities, improperly using them can result in an underwhelming Mirror Tablet that won’t yield as much rewards. As a result, it’s advisable for players to follow certain guidelines when dealing with Reflection Abilities in order to maximize their uses and create more usable Lakes of Kalandra. At its core, players should pay attention to these certain Abilities:
- Reroll: Save this Ability until players feel it’s absolutely necessary to use them. This usually happens if they’re not offered a Swap Reflections option, and especially if they’re gunning for a Swap With Entrance tile.
- Skip: Aside from saving this unless absolutely necessary, this is something players could use if they don’t want to fill up the current tablet with the choices made available to them.
- Exile: Exiling all three choices will reroll the current set. Meanwhile, exiling a Monster Reflection exiles similar Monster Reflections of the damage type. Likewise, exiling an Encounter Reflection exiles all tiers of that particular Encounter.
Tip: Swap A Reflection Is A Reroll
Players who’ve had their fair share of creating Path of Exile builds and Mirrored Tablets know that the Reroll Reflection Ability is a rare acquisition and must be used sparingly. However, Path of Exile gameplay does offer a neat alternative should they find it in other Mirrored Tablets.
At its core, the Swap A Reflection tile choice can act as a free reroll. When players swap two Reflections with this ability, the game resets the choices available to players without costing them that particular choice. This can be a great alternative for players who want to secure an Entrance tile but couldn’t seem to find them in other Mirrored Tablets.
Tip: Get Smart With Reflection Of Kalandra
When players of Path of Exile are offered the opportunity to Reflect their own amulets or rings in a Reflection of Kalandra encounter, they can take full advantage of the magnitude of effects offered should they know what kinds of effects they’re looking for. These often depends on the player’s build and desired gameplay style, with the Path of Exile Wiki offering a comprehensive list of inverted mods. Here are the following aspects to be considered:
- Basic Modifiers: Most of the time, mods offered by a Reflect just convert positive traits into negative ones. They shouldn’t have a great effect unless paired with yet another negatively-modifying artifact.
- Modifies Elements, Not Numbers: Some inverted modifiers will change the type or “clause” of modification instead of the value of the mod itself. For instance, a flat Attack damage modifier may be Reflected to increase flat Attack damage against the player, with no reduction to the Attack damage offered.
- Consider Benefits Of Negatives: Depending on the player’s builds, certain negative modifiers may even be beneficial to them. For instance, slower projectile speeds on fast attacks may mean hitting more enemies, while reduced area of effect may mean more targeted strikes for AOEs. Some builds may even want players to have fewer resistances or stats in order to increase damage.
- Consider Non-Inverted Mods: Some modifiers also don’t have inverted counterparts, such as Askect Skills and Metamod Crafts, or the “basis” of certain triggers relying on new stats or effects instead of decreasing their value.
Path of Exile: Lake of Kalandra was released on August 19, 2022 in conjunction with the Kalandra League.