Hey Exiles, big news from Grinding Gear Games! The Third Edict (patch 0.3.0) lands on August 29, and to celebrate there’s a full Free Weekend with progress saved to your account. Below is a clean, verified breakdown of what’s new—no filler, no made-up items, and no image files required.
Explore eight Karui islands with new foes and stories.
Progress straight through new interlude acts up to ~65.
Crack fissures, spend Bones, delve the Well of Souls.
Evolution of PoE2: Interactive Comparison
Path of Exile 2 has changed massively since early access began. Use the toggles below to see how things looked before, what’s live now with The Third Edict, and where the game is heading next.
Early Access: Slower traversal and more repetition.
- Campaign required replaying a harder difficulty (“Cruel”).
- Support gems were more restrictive for experimentation.
- No sprinting; movement felt slower out of combat.
- Trading generally required both parties online.
- Endgame variety was more limited.
The Third Edict: Fresh campaign beats, smoother trading, and a wider endgame.
- Interlude Acts replace Cruel; you progress through new story content.
- Support Gem system overhaul—more flexible links and new options.
- Sprinting (hold Dodge) for faster out-of-combat travel.
- Asynchronous Trading: list items and buy even if the seller is offline.
- Over 20 new Endgame Maps and revamped encounter access.
What’s Next: Ongoing class and skill balance, plus more endgame.
- Additional acts and side content over time.
- Ascendancy and skill polish based on data from the league.
- More pinnacle challenges as systems expand.
What’s New in The Third Edict
- Eight islands (including places like Whakapanu and the Isle of Kin) with non-linear progression.
- 12 new bosses and 100+ new monster types across Act 4.
- Three new Interlude acts bridge the campaign to endgame, taking characters to roughly level 65 before maps.
- Support Gem system overhaul removes past restrictions and adds 11 new supports.
- 40 new Lineage Supports drop from specific bosses, enabling stronger build twists.
- Fight waves from Abyss fissures, spend Bones on crafting, and delve the Well of Souls.
- 20+ new Endgame Maps with unique tilesets and bosses.
- Streamlined access to content like Breach/Simulacrum via splinters and Atlas tweaks.
- Sprinting: Hold Dodge to move faster while out of combat.
- Asynchronous Trading: List and purchase items even if the other player is offline.
- Tiered currency (e.g., Greater/Perfect orbs) for improved mod outcomes.
- Hinekora’s Lock and broader Essence rework to deepen item progression.
Prep Checklist for the Free Weekend
- Plan your route: finish Act 3 → Interludes → jump into maps with the updated Atlas.
- Test sprinting binds (hold Dodge) and practice weaving it between packs.
- Try the Support Gem overhaul with a simple 1-skill setup, then layer Lineage supports as you find them.
- Save Bones from Abyss events for early crafting spikes.
- Use async trade to gear upgrades without waiting for sellers.
Countdown to Launch
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Community Hype Poll
Final Thoughts
The Third Edict is a legit step up for Path of Exile 2: a new act with eight islands, Interludes replacing Cruel, a more flexible Support Gem system (plus 40 Lineage supports), sprinting, async trading, an Abyss-themed league, and a broader endgame. Whether you’re returning or trying the Free Weekend, it’s a perfect time to dive in.
Seriously, those Lineage Supports sound absolutely wild. I’m already brainstorming build possibilities! The Interlude Acts replacing Cruel is a fantastic idea, smoothing out the progression feels like a welcome change after some of the earlier builds. It makes me think back to trying to optimize my mercenary in Diablo II, constantly tweaking their skills and gear to maximize their effectiveness. I’m really looking forward to seeing what crazy builds people come up with!