Mark your calendars, fellow adventurers! If you've been eyeing Path of Exile 2 but haven't yet taken the plunge, or perhaps you're a seasoned exile looking for a fresh start, you're in luck. The upcoming 'The Third Edict' update is bringing with it a fantastic opportunity: a completely free-to-play weekend.
This isn't just a limited demo, mind you. From August 29th at 1 PM PDT until September 1st at 1 PM PDT, you'll have full access to everything the game has to offer. That means no level caps, no locked areas, and no restricted classes. It's a genuine chance to experience the full breadth of what Path of Exile 2 has become, without spending a dime. This is particularly exciting as 'The Third Edict' is the second major update for the game's Early Access, promising significant changes and additions.
What can you expect in this update? Well, for starters, the campaign is getting a revamp. Gone is the 'Cruel' difficulty, replaced by Act 4 and three new 'Interlude Acts.' These are designed to streamline your journey to the endgame, taking you through new environments like the Karui Archipelago in search of an ancient weapon, and offering linear side stories to flesh out the experience.
Support Gem changes are also a big deal. The old limit of one support gem per character is out. Now, you can stack them on multiple active skills, opening up a whole new world of build possibilities. Plus, Support Gems now have tiers, meaning they can become more powerful as you unlock higher levels, and there are even new 'Lineage Support Gems' that act like unique items, offering potent and distinct effects.
Movement is getting a boost too, with the addition of a Sprint mechanic. This is intended for faster traversal through maps when you're not in combat, making those long treks a bit more bearable. And for those who love a good defensive layer, 'Deflection' is being introduced. Tied to Evasion and Dexterity, it offers a chance to deflect incoming damage, reducing it significantly. Armour also gets a new trick up its sleeve with a modifier that allows a portion of it to apply to elemental damage taken from hits.
On the league mechanic front, get ready for 'Rise of the Abyssal.' If you're familiar with Path of Exile 1, you'll recognize the familiar challenge of facing more monsters from the Abyss. Defeating them will yield a new currency called 'Bones,' which can be used to add an extra modifier to your items, similar to the crafting bench in PoE 1. This league also brings new unique items and bosses.
And for the endgame enthusiasts, the Atlas is expanding with 25 new maps, complete with new monsters and bosses to conquer. It sounds like 'The Third Edict' is packing a serious punch, and this free weekend is the perfect way to see it all firsthand.
