Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict – Major Update

Author:iGRush|Reviewer:iGRush

Publication date : 2025-08-21

The Path of Exile 2 0.3.0 update is finally here, dropping on August 29, 2025, and it’s packed with massive changes that will shake up the game in a big way. If you’ve been following the Early Access, you’re in for a treat. This update brings fresh areas, leagues, balance changes, and more. Let’s break down the key features.


New Area: Act 4 – Ngamakanui Archipelago

Act 4 expands with the new Ngamakanui Archipelago. This area introduces eight unique islands, each filled with its own bosses and dangerous environments. Expect intense challenges and new enemies lurking around every corner.

Brutal Difficulty Gone, Interludes Are Here

In a significant change, Brutal Difficulty has been removed, and instead, the Interludes system is being introduced. These are temporary side stories that will push your character to level 65, setting the stage for the endgame experience.

New Leagues – Rise of the Abyssals

The new seasonal league, Rise of the Abyssals, brings a whole new economy into the mix. You can create private leagues with Standard, Expert, or Solo Constructed versions. Here’s the catch:

  • Rifts appear on the map, summoning Abyssal creatures.
  • Close rifts to unlock treasure chests and use the Well of Souls system to enchant your gear with Ancient Bones. The new Desecrated prefix enhances your crafting options in exciting ways.

Major Character Balance Overhaul

Expect big changes to character balance across the board. The late-game just became more diverse, with new skills and character archetypes to improve playability. Every build feels more rewarding as the game progresses.

Overhauled Support Gem System

The Support Gem system has received the most extensive overhaul of any core feature.

  • No gem limits—now you can equip as many as you like.
  • 11 new support gems and 40 Lineage Support gems will be available in the endgame.
  • Some older gems have been adjusted for balance and moved to the primary tier. The system is now more flexible than ever before.

New Skills and Keystone Passives

New skill gems have been added to all categories: strength, agility, intelligence, and buffs. Notable skills include Forge Hammer, Fortifying Cry, Toxic Domain, and Ravenous Swarm. Additionally, Keystone passives like Hollow Palm Technique and Blackflame Covenant offer even more build variety.

Endgame System Updates

The endgame system has been revamped with new mechanics:

  • Splinters replace the old boss fragment system, letting you fine-tune the difficulty you want.
  • Uber difficulty is now available for the Arbiter of Ash, unlocked with Calamity Fragments.
  • Map boss passive points now function differently, giving you more control over your endgame strategy.

Essence System Refactor

Essences have been revamped into four tiers: Lesser, Normal, Greater, and Perfect. They now provide more direct benefits and can be used to upgrade magic items into rare ones. Seven new Essence types have been introduced to add variety.

Player Changes: Sprinting & Fire Damage Overhaul

  • The Sprint feature allows you to move faster out of combat by holding the dodge button. Just don’t get hit, or you’ll faceplant.
  • The Fire Damage system has been reworked: Flammability now applies a chance to ignite enemies with fire attacks.

Ascension and Passive Tree Changes

  • Significant adjustments have been made to Ascension mechanics, giving more build flexibility.
  • The Passive Skill Tree has been reworked with new clusters, Keystone changes, and more diverse build paths.

Unique Item Updates

Expect updated support for gems and traits, plus the addition of cosmetic microtransactions like Angelic Armor, footprints, and pets to enhance your visual flair.

Quality of Life Improvements

A ton of quality of life improvements have been made to the game, including updates to the UI, teleportation system, currency trading, and NVIDIA Reflex support.

For more information about this content update, check out pathofexile2

For more detailed information about  The Third Edict version, please refer to the official announcement: Path of Exile 2.



The Path of Exile 2 0.3.0 update delivers a ton of new content and improvements. With new leagues, balance adjustments, and an overhaul to core systems, there's a lot to dive into. Need to get your hands on some gold, items, or currency? Head over to iGRush.com, the best place to score the best gear and items for Path of Exile 2. Gear up, grind hard, and make sure you’re ahead of the competition!

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