Path of Exile 2 Returns with a New Mini-League
After the Return of the Ancients update, Path of Exile 2 feels better than ever and is ready for release later this year. Grinding Gear Games announces a new mini‑league next week, and I’ll be diving in.
Forbidden Rites and Trial of Chaos Updates
On September 4, the first PoE 2 event league, Forbidden Rites, launches. It’s a simple league with a small twist to the campaign and a major rework of the Trial of Chaos, the endgame activity many players have avoided.
Ritual altars appear during the campaign, spawning waves of monsters and rewarding loot. Some altars combine multiple bosses and can grant a powerful unique item if you survive the gauntlet, making the experience both challenging and rewarding.
The new Trial of Chaos will be less punishing: early modifiers are milder, you receive a small boost to loot quality, doors open faster, and rounds begin more quickly, making it a tolerable—perhaps even fun—way to unlock your ascendancy class.
Forbidden Rites speeds up endgame progression, letting you explore the endless world map earlier. You’ll find glowing green ravines filled with Abyss monsters, and the former Expedition mechanic becomes a core part of the league.
The upcoming patch won’t include the sweeping balance changes that were planned; those will arrive with the full 1.0 release on December 11. This means endgame strategies are likely to stay the same.
Some players will skip the league, but I plan to try something new, inspired by the new duelist class clips, and maybe finally put down spells for a melee character when 1.0 drops.
