Irradiated

An Irradiated map has +1 to Monster Level. That raises the level used by monsters and normally raises the item level of their drops as well. A Tier 15 Waystone normally creates a level 79 area, so Irradiated makes its monsters level 80. Insert an Irradiated Tablet beside the Waystone in the Map Device before opening an unattempted map. The normal tablet has 10 uses, and opening a map with it consumes one use. Current random drops of Irradiated Tablets require the Eons of Contamination Atlas notable, although the Precursor Towers quest awards one directly.

Irradiated adds one Monster Level

The current keyword is exact: an Irradiated area has +1 to Monster Level. It changes the monsters in the area rather than adding a Waystone modifier tier or turning the Waystone itself into a higher-tier item.

Higher Monster Level affects drops

Items dropped by ordinary monsters usually use the monster's level as their item level. Rare monsters normally add 1 item level and Unique monsters normally add 2. Irradiation therefore matters when farming item bases or affix tiers whose drop or item-level requirements sit just above the map's normal level.

Use the tablet in the Map Device

Tablets are applied directly while opening a map. Place an Irradiated Tablet in an available Tablet slot beside the Waystone. The old system of placing ordinary Tablets into a Tower is no longer the normal application method.

Tablet slots depend on Waystone modifiers

A map can use up to three Tablets, but the number of available slots depends on the Waystone's modifier count. A Waystone with six modifiers enables all three Tablet slots. Irradiated is one map state, so its definition grants one +1 Monster Level bonus rather than +1 for every Irradiated Tablet inserted.

The normal tablet has 10 uses

A non-Unique Irradiated Tablet has 10 uses. Opening a map while applying it removes one use, and the Tablet is destroyed when no uses remain. Tablets cannot be applied after an area has already been attempted.

Random drops need Eons of Contamination

Eons of Contamination currently allows Irradiated Precursor Tablets to be found in level 70 or higher areas after completing the Eastern or Western Gateway requirement. This unlock affects random acquisition; it is separate from the guaranteed item level 70 tablet awarded by the Precursor Towers quest.

Check the opened area, not only the preview

Version 0.3.1 fixed a case where the Map Device did not display the +1 Monster Level from an Irradiated Atlas icon. The area modifier and area level after entry are the authoritative checks if the pre-open preview appears inconsistent.