Unravel the mysteries in the Karui archipelago, Ngamakanui, in search of the great Weapon to slay the Beast. Path of Exile 2’s latest content expansion, the Third Edict, sees the introduction of Act 4 and the Interlude, which are replacing Cruel difficulty. There’s also a complete overhaul to various systems, including character balance and support gems.
Far from an idyllic paradise, the Ngamakanui archipelago is home to eight islands where gauntlets of horrors await. Set sail from Kingsmarch to the serene sands of Whakapanu Island, where the tides whisper with the voices of the drowned, to the smoldering hellscape of the Isle of Kin, where the earth itself bleeds fire, danger, and new bosses. Act Four is non-linear, and players can visit the islands in any order they desire.
Cruel Difficulty has been replaced with three temporary Interlude acts to enrich the post-campaign experience without playing it twice. The set of side stories introduces 19 new areas and 9 new bosses, which will enable players to progress smoothly from the campaign to the endgame:
Resist the rise of the Abyssals in the first exclusive Path of Exile 2 League, by fending off fissures that are home to hordes of dangerous monsters. Slay them, and an Abyssal Trove will rise from the depths, offering epic bounty. Delve deeper into the Abyssal Depths, and encounter new monsters, a new crafting system, three new boss encounters, and a new Endgame Pinnacle Boss.
The restriction of one of each support gem has been removed allowing for much more experimentation with character builds. In addition Support gems now have multiple levels allowing you to upgrade them through the campaign.
Wielding extensive power in contrast to regular support gems, Lineage Supports are rare and can be found from specific bosses. There are 40 new Lineage Supports to discover, upgrade, and refine skill builds in the endgame.
Available on all character classes, players can now Sprint by holding down the dodge roll button. This makes navigating out of zones when not in combat a much swifter experience, but watch your surroundings, as taking a hit will result in tumbling to the ground.
The Third Edict brings significant improvements to individual character classes, ascendancies, the addition of new notables, skills, and more. Read more about the balance changes here: pathofexile.com/edict-patch-notes.
Players will be able to empower their character through numerous updates to crafting, including higher-tiered basic currency items. For example, the Greater Orb of Transmutation can be used on Normal items to upgrade them to Magic, ensuring that the modifier generated is of a minimum level. There are many more new improvements and additions to crafting to forge items with immense power.
The Third Edict features many new Unique Items, some of which are exclusive to the Abyss League. With the introduction of Act Four, there are also new base types themed around Karui culture.
Act Four and the Interlude will bring in 25 new Endgame Maps featuring fresh monsters and bosses. Unearth unique locales like Rockpools with its Siren-filled shores and Goblin King, Cliffside’s haunted town with a divine axe-wielding brute, and Holten’s storm-wielding reaper. Disrupt a wild Sandstorm to face a time-slicing Faridun Swordmaster, clear a Maelstrom’s beacons to reveal its hidden boss map, or gather keys to breach a Vaal Vault and battle elite foes.
These new encounters each contain uber versions of the Act Four boss and the bosses at the end of each part of the Interlude. Claim powerful Lineage Support Gems which drop from specific bosses, that will completely redefine, empower, and upgrade your skills.
In the Third Edict, a long requested feature is finally here – Asynchronous Trade. This system allows players to purchase items without requiring the seller to be online.
Explore the new archipelago and more in the Free Weekend campaign happening from 29 August 1PM PDT – 1 September 1PM PDT. For the very first time, players can try the new and existing content without requiring an Early Access key.
Set for shore on Path of Exile 2: Third Edict launching 29 August, on PC, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Epic Games Store. Any purchase of the Early Access Supporter Pack grants access to Path of Exile 2, including the Third Edict expansion, and the Justice and Trarthan Executioner Packs starting from USD 30.
