Path Of Exile 3.25: The Way To Farm And Employ Thaumaturgic Dust In Settlers Of Kalguur

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• Path Of Exile 3.27 Foulborn Uniques Explained | How Do They Affect The Meta Game?

  Upon entering a new PoE league, to quickly farm sufficient resources, you'll need to learn new content and adapt to updates to existing mechanics, especially if these updates enhance your combat power.

  Take the recent Keepers league as an example. This league introduced a new crafting system called Genesis Tree, which, once unlocked, grants various bonuses, one of which is granting Foulborn Uniques.

  Returning to our initial point - Foulborn Uniques aren't a completely new mechanic. Instead, they utilize Genesis Tree to replace the original modifiers of your existing Uniques with new and potentially more powerful ones.

  As you know, enhanced affixes mean a more powerful piece of gear, and the changes brought by "Foulborn" mean you can utilize the gear to create more build crafting possibilities.

  Next, we'll explain the workings of Foulborn Uniques in 3.27 league, as well as Uniques and their affix effects that significantly impact the meta game.

  

  Overview Of Foulborn Unique Items

  First, not all unique items have a chance to unlock a Foulborn variant; this mechanism only exists in certain gear. Once the variant is unlocked, the corresponding gear's name will be marked with a purple "Foulborn" prefix.

  Aside from the affix replacement, Foulborn Uniques are no different from other unique items. Items with Foulborn variants typically have about 2-4 affixes that can be replaced.

  To obtain Foulborn unique items in 3.27 league, the following methods are possible:

  • Add Ancient Wombgift to Genesis Tree, which increases the chance of obtaining Foulborn affix by affecting the type of item generated.
  • Obtain Grasping Coffer chest in Hive Fortress or Hive Colony.
  • Defeating It That Was Esh in Hive Colony as a drop.

  Which Foulborn Uniques Have Significant Impacts On The Meta Game?

  While there is just a part of gear with Foulborn variants, not all of them have equally powerful effects. Some effects only improve the experience of certain parts of the battle, while others can impact the entire league's mechanics.

  Midnight Bargain

  Of the two Foulborn variants of this item, the one that increases the maximum number of Golems summoned by +2 is more important, as this effect works exceptionally well when combined with The Dark Monarch.

  The Dark Monarch randomly generates some summon types, including Golems. While you cannot summon other types of summons during this time, combining it with Foulborn variant of Midnight Bargain expands the maximum number of Golems available.

  Undoubtedly, this is a very useful effect for summoner classes and builds, but its effectiveness depends on overcoming its health and energy shield loss drawbacks.

  Because this Foulborn unique works by causing you to lose a certain percentage of health per second, you will die once this percentage accumulates to a sufficient level. Therefore, you must ensure you have a way to continuously regenerate health.

  Generally, methods that can help you do this include equipping skill gems with regeneration effects or unlocking Eternal Youth keystone passive skill. There are many options; once you find one, you can use Midnight Bargain without hesitation.

  

  Warped Timepiece

  This Foulborn unique item has only one alternative affix, which increases the rate at which debuffs on you disappear by 100%. The best way to maximize this affix's effect is to combine it with Beacon of Madness boots.

  These boots grant you the level 1 Embrace Madness skill, which is beneficial, but it constantly applies debuffs, once every two seconds in 3.27 league. This means that every two seconds you will be randomly affected by one of four debuffs.

  These debuffs might reduce movement speed, increase damage taken, or reduce regeneration speed - all generally bad, and each lasts for 20 seconds.

  However, Warped Timepiece solves this problem. Its Foulborn affix reduces the chance of Beacon of Madness debuff reappearing, preventing it from stacking and eliminating most of the negative effects, allowing you to focus on enjoying the boots' benefits.

  The Oppressor

  This Foulborn unique shield has two affix effects. While their specific functions differ, both provide damage reduction, enhancing your defense and survivability.

  The original affixes were designed with the same principle in mind, but combining them actually weakened the overall effect of the shield. Therefore, the game addressed this through Foulborn mechanic.

  Now, The Oppressor's two Foulborn variants offer a 10-15% chance to completely avoid all damage and a 20-30% chance to block spell damage.

  This makes the spell suppression chance provided by this shield even stronger than the highest-tier affix of a normal rare shield. Combined with a similarly high attack block chance, it will make your character extremely resilient in the current league.

  Kiloava's Bluster

  This is another excellent shield-type shield we'll discuss. Previously, one of its affix effects gave you a 30-40% chance of having your elemental resistance treated as 90% when attacked by enemies. The problem with this affix is ​​that if it fails to trigger, it's completely useless.

  Now, in 3.27 league, Foulborn affix in Kiloava's Bluster can replace the old affix with a more aggressive one, giving you a 25% chance to reverse monster elemental resistances.

  This means that when you attack a single enemy, there's a 25% chance their elemental resistances will be treated as reduced by 50%. In simpler terms, three out of four times you'll deal half damage, but once you'll deal triple damage, resulting in a 50% increase in total damage.

  Combined with other bonuses provided by Kiloava's Bluster, such as considerable dodge and block chances, it will help you progress through league faster by dealing more damage.

  That's all for this time. In fact, there are many more powerful Foulborn Uniques available in the game, and more will be added after 3.27.0c Patch this week! Stay tuned!

• Path Of Exile 3.27 Genesis Tree Guide | How To Use Graftblood & Wombgifts For Easy Crafting?

  Genesis Tree in Path of Exile 3.27 is a powerful mechanic that allows you to select specific item categories and modifier combinations. It reliably generates items with Fractured affix. It's similar to, but not entirely like, crafting, allowing you to easily acquire craftable gear.

  While it looks somewhat like the Atlas Tree, the actual operation is quite different. If you master this mechanic, crafting both currency and gears will be much easier.

  

  How To Unlock Passives?

  First, you need to obtain Graftblood by completing breach encounters. Then, you can use Graftblood to progress in the passive trees of Genesis Tree. Additionally, completing breaches will also yield green quest items, which directly unlock additional nodes.

  Graftblood And Wombgifts

  During unstable breaches, Graftblood and Wombgifts provide the highest yield per unit of time, while Hive Fortress also offers good returns but is more time-consuming.

  Graftblood

  Graftblood is stored in Grafts, and its capacity is determined by the combined capacity of the two Grafts you equip. However, you can increase Graftblood capacity through specific modifiers and quality bonuses on Grafts. Quality is randomized by a node on the passive skill tree.

  Note that Graftblood is untradeable, so Grafts modifiers that increase its yield are very useful. Also, you don't need to worry too much about capacity, and your focus should be on upgrading Grafts to improve capacity and modifier quality.

  Wombgifts

  Wombgifts are actual items added to the crafting tree, specifying the type of item you want to create. They fall into the following categories:

  • Provisioning Wombgift: Grows into equipment.
  • Lavish Wombgift: Grows into currency.
  • Ancient Wombgift: Grows into unique items.
  • Growing Wombgift: Grows into Graft items.
  • Mysterious Wombgift: Produces hybrid items, including maps, quality gems, and stacked decks. Other types of Wombgifts can also be produced after selecting Parthenogenesis notable node.

  Wombgifts can be traded asynchronously to focus on crafting specific types. You can bias the drop type of Wombgifts by using affixes on Grafts.

  Genesis Tree Branches

  Genesis Tree is mainly divided into several areas, corresponding to Wombgift types. You can use talent points to make it produce the corresponding items. Genesis Tree talent tree can be reset at will without consuming any items.

  Graft Item Womb

  Graft item wombs produce Grafts. You can use nodes to bias the drop of Grafts type you want. If you need Grafts from two types, you can assign the corresponding two Notable nodes to make the drop roughly even. If you need three or all types, don't assign any Notable nodes.

  Other nodes are used to obtain more and better Grafts and the currency for crafting affixes. You can add additional affixes to Grafts using Transmutation Orbs, Augmentation Orbs, Alteration Orbs, Regal Orbs, and Exalted Orbs.

  Current Item Womb

  Currency Item Womb obviously produces currency, and its talent node strategy is relatively fixed:

  • Fertile Genesis
  • Prodigal Offspring
  • Wild Growth

  These three nodes provide more and better currency, with a chance to drop full stacks of POE currency. Reflexive Contractions node is also an option, which can be used to gamble on Pioneer-related items. But remember not to choose Encrusted Fruit, as it may replace valuable currency with a large amount of gold.

  Additionally, Foulborn Currency Chance node at the top of the tree can convert regular currency into Foulborn Currency. However, if you need more currency for trading with other players, you can avoid this node and choose other nodes at the top of the tree.

  Unique Item Womb

  Unique Item Womb produces unique items. It allows you to specify item categories and attributes, and even improve sockets, increasing or decreasing the chance of an item becoming Foulborn.

  One of the affixes in Foulborn uniques will be replaced. Although the effect is random, some are very powerful, and you can try your luck.

  When you have a clear goal, specify the category and attributes, reduce unwanted attributes, and select the socket and quality nodes. Unstable Growth can randomly grant more than 20% quality, which is very useful for items like chest armor.

  Mysterious Item Womb

  Mysterious Item Wombs produce hybrid items, such as special boss maps, scarabs, Hivebrain Gland, Stacked Deck, etc. However, after selecting Parthenogenesis, they can also produce other Wombgifts.

  The passive tree for Mysterious Item Wombs isn't very large, but Parthenogenesis is a key node because high-item-level Wombgifts are generally more valuable than other items in the hybrid item tree. You can specialize in one type of Wombgift, but currently the differences between the various Wombgift types are not significant.

  Related: Path Of Exile 3.27 Explosive Arrow Champion: Best Starter Build - Easy And Powerful Guide In Keepers Of The Flame

  Equipment Item Womb

  Equipment Item Womb has the largest tree. When you select an item category, you can use the upper half of the tree to reduce the chance of unwanted affixes. Using the lower half of the tree, you can increase the chance of desired affixes and add additional bonuses such as quality, sockets, connections, and fracturing. Here are the important nodes:

  Solid Cysts

  Gives a 33% chance to make an affix Fractured (locked, immutable). This is an excellent starting point for advanced crafting, and Fractured items can be valuable in themselves.

  Severing

  Removes the lowest item level affix from an item. When used with Fractured, it increases the average quality of Fractured affixes and frees up space for bench crafting. However, it may remove lower item level affixes you want, so use with caution.

  Modifier Tier Rating

  This type of node depends on the type of item you are crafting. It increases the minimum affix value, making it easier to obtain higher-tier affixes.

  Divine Rolls

  This node works similarly to PoE Divine Orbs, allowing items to roll better values, but it has no effect on the affixes that cannot be divined.

  Additionally, the passive tree contains nodes that increase item level. If you use item level 83 Wombgifts in conjunction with these nodes, you can produce item level 86 gear. These nodes are very helpful if you need high-level gear.

  You don't actually need a fixed optimal Genesis Tree; instead, you should configure your Genesis Tree based on your gear needs. Choose nodes based on the base stats and required affixes of the gear you want to upgrade. Besides using it yourself, you can also monitor market trends and craft rare gear for popular builds to farm currency.

• Path Of Exile 3.27 Bloodline System Guide | How To Unlock And Master All 10 Bloodlines?

  PoE 3.27 league is now live! While this update doesn't bring a huge amount of new content, fully exploring it will still take some time. Therefore, I guess you haven't unlocked Bloodline system yet, as it requires defeating the corresponding endgame boss.

  If you have a general understanding of Keepers of the Flame league, you'll know that most of the league's new mechanics focus on adding usable buffs, such as Genesis Tree and Bloodlines.

  As a holistic system, Bloodlines are also called Bloodline Ascendancy because they are similar to your secondary Ascendancy classes. There are currently 10 known Bloodlines.

  Next, we'll explain how Bloodlines work and delve into the combat effects and acquisition methods of all 10 Bloodlines.

  

  Bloodline System Overview

  This system was added to Path of Exile after the release of Keepers of the Flame league. Each one must be unlocked by defeating the corresponding endgame boss or completing the relevant encounter.

  The similarity between Bloodline Ascendancy and regular Ascendancy classes lies in the shared allocation of Ascendancy passive skill points. The difference is that Bloodline selection is not restricted by the base class, allowing for free choice and the ability to change it later.

  After completing a related boss battle, an altar will appear nearby. Interacting with it unlocks the corresponding Bloodline. Interacting with new altars unlocks new Bloodlines and allows you to switch between them.

  Because they share the same allocation points, you need to be more careful and strategic when allocating points for Bloodlines and regular Ascendancy classes. However, reallocating points is not difficult, as points can now be refunded or returned in gold.

  1. Oshabi Bloodline

  This Bloodline requires defeating Oshabi, the Avatar of the Grove, the final boss you encounter while exploring Harvest mechanic, provided you consume Sacred Blossom to summon him in the corresponding map.

  To obtain this summoning item, you need to kill T4 enemies like Janaar, the Omen in Harvest Mechanic to get it as a drop. Then, enter The Sacred Grove and interact with a tree you encounter to meet Oshabi.

  Originally, killing this boss would reward you with items, including PoE currency. After 3.27 league launch, you will also be able to get Oshabi Bloodline, a special power based on Azmeri magic, from the altars that appear.

  2. Chaos Bloodline

  The boss corresponding to this Bloodline is The Trialmaster, who only randomly appears in T14 and higher-level maps with a very low probability. If you want to unlock Chaos Bloodline, it's best to use Ultimatum Scarab of Duelling to increase its spawn rate.

  Sometimes this boss will also appear as the ultimatum encounter boss in areas of level 81 and above, teleporting you to the arena for a duel. After defeating him, you will be able to master Vaal skills or corrupted powers through Chaos Bloodline.

  3. Aul Bloodline - Primordial Knight

  The corresponding boss, Aul the Crystal King (also known as Ahn), will randomly appear in Crystal King's Throne nodes of Primeval Ruins biome after you've explored more than 130 levels of Azurite Mine.

  Generally, the boss's appearance frequency only becomes more stable after you've explored at least 200 levels of Azurite Mine, so obtaining Aul Bloodline is highly dependent on luck.

  As for its effect, regardless of your base class, this Bloodline provides an opportunity to unlock a unique node, preventing your movement speed from being reduced.

  4. Lycia Bloodline - Herald

  This Bloodline is unlocked after defeating the boss Lycia, Herald of the Scourge. She is the boss of T17 Sanctuary map. You need to obtain Forbidden Tome by killing other normal enemies on the map before you can unlock her encounter.

  The effect of Lycia Bloodline is that when equipped, it unlocks a Herald node, granting the power of elemental conversion and profane ground options.

  5. Delirious Bloodline - Impostor

  Unlocking Delirious Bloodline doesn't require defeating a specific boss, but rather completing enough Delirium encounters to obtain 300 Simulacrum Splinters to complete Simulacrum.

  Generally, you need to complete at least 15 Delirium encounters to get enough Simulacrum Splinters. Unlocking Delirious Bloodline will increase your defense and attack power.

  6. Olroth Bloodline - Runesmith

  The corresponding boss, Olroth, Origin of the Fall, has a chance to appear in level 81+ logbooks while exploring Knights of the Sun site. The original loot included Olroth's Resolve, Cadigan's Crown, and Vorana's March.

  Defeating him will now unlock the altar to obtain Olroth Bloodline, helping you improve or better utilize Ward's power.

  7. Catarina Bloodline - Lich

  First, you need to kill the leaders in Betrayal Safehouses in areas of level 78 or higher to obtain Syndicate Medallion, which may drop. Then, use this item to enter Mastermind's Lair to unlock Catarina encounter.

  Catarina Bloodline grants summoning power, allowing you to summon additional minions for assistance. If your base or Ascendancy class is already summoning, you can choose this Bloodline to further enhance yourself.

  8. Farrul Bloodline - Animist

  As the easiest Bloodline to obtain, Farrul Bloodline's boss is Farrul, First of the Plains, located in Farrul's Den. You can unlock the portal to this location by Farric Tiger Alpha and any three yellow beasts.

  Once you obtain Farrul Bloodline, you will unlock nodes that allow summons or spells to deal more damage, making it a Bloodline focused on damage enhancement.

  9. Breachlord Bloodline

  To obtain this Bloodline, you need to defeat both It That Was Tul and It That Was Esh. These two bosses usually appear simultaneously in Hive Colony added in 3.27 league.

  10. Nameless Bloodline - Ritualist

  This Bloodline currently lacks a specific name, perhaps because the corresponding boss, King In The Mists, is quite challenging and difficult to defeat quickly.

  You need to clear enough Rituals to obtain the drop An Audience With The King, then use it in the map device to enter the boss arena, Crux of Nothingness.

  More information about Bloodline corresponding to King In The Mists will likely be revealed as the league progresses further. For now, your task is to choose Bloodline that best suits your abilities from the first nine Bloodlines!

• Path Of Exile 3.27 Keepers Of The Flame League Breach Mechanic Explained And Other New Features

  Path of Exile series has been around for over a decade, and its overall size has snowballed. This is because the game not only regularly updates with new leagues but also often retains popular core mechanics from older leagues.

  While this makes the game increasingly complex and difficult, once you get immersed, you might find yourself reluctant to quit due to the sheer amount of content to explore!

  The latest 3.27 league, confirmed for release on October 31st, is coming soon. Although it doesn't carry over the mercenary mechanics from the previous league for various reasons, its core mechanic is essentially a sequel to Breach league from several years ago.

  So how will Breach function in Keepers of the Flame league, and what kind of experience will it offer? We'll introduce it to you.

  

  Keepers Of The Flame League Core Mechanic

  While each new league release in Path of Exile brings multifaceted content, there's always a core mechanic that not only reflects the league's theme but also serves as the way you acquire limited powers within that league.

  In 3.27 League, this mechanic is a completely reworked Breach.

  What Is Breach?

  In the base game after Breach league ends, Breach is a special farmable event, highlighted on the map as a glowing dark purple area and a giant hand.

  Approaching and clicking on this giant hand will create a large, cracked circle around you, with a progress bar at the bottom representing the event's progress. The crack will then expand outwards, and the progress bar will slowly decrease over time.

  You can fill the progress bar by defeating Breach enemies, delaying the event's end as much as possible. The closer the event gets to its end, the more enemies need to be defeated. When the progress bar is about to finish, the cracked circle will begin to shrink, and the event will end.

  During the process of defeating enemies, you will continuously obtain various loot drops, and interacting with the hand that spawns in the cracked circle will grant additional rewards.

  Breach In 3.27

  Compared to the original model, 3.27 league integrates Breach mechanic with the main storyline of the league update. Based on the story within the Breach league, it introduces Ailith and Order of Keepers of the Flame she founded.

  In the new story, the evil forces of Breachlords further spread and corrupt Wraeclast, manifesting as various Breaches and hidden enemies within them. You must work with Ailith to eliminate them.

  Compared to the past, the new Breach gameplay is more systematic and strategic, as it is no longer a series of unrelated random events, but rather stems from the evil forces of a specific villain. The game also introduces several new Breach gameplay elements.

  First, when you enter Mud Flats area in Keepers league, you will find Breach Hives created by Hiveborn. These are actually large dungeons that you can exploit, with bosses and other battles yielding loot.

  As you progress through the league, you will randomly encounter new Unstable Breaches in various areas. Their gameplay is largely the same as regular Breaches: stabilizing areas by defeating emerging enemies to prevent the spread of corruption.

  To completely shut down an area's Unstable Breaches and thwart Breachlords' plot, you must defeat the corresponding boss. To permanently shut down all Breaches, you need to defeat the final boss, Vruun, Marshal of Xesht.

  It's worth noting that Ailith's purifying power from her flames is a significant aid in completing Keepers league's main questline centered around Breaches. She also provides a new way to enhance your character: Genesis Tree.

  What Enhancements Does Genesis Tree Provide?

  Genesis Tree is both a new mechanic in 3.27 league and closely linked to the league's core mechanics and new storyline. Once your relationship with Ailith is deep enough, she will guide you to Monastery of Keepers to activate Genesis Tree.

  Genesis Tree, with its biomechanical appearance, can be considered a league-exclusive talent tree. Points can be invested to unlock and upgrade Grafts, granting new usable abilities. Up to 16 Grafts are available for acquisition and selection.

  Note that the points used in this tree are Graftblood, obtainable only by defeating Breach enemies.

  Therefore, Genesis Tree and Breach are essentially complementary in 3.27 league. The former is enhanced by completing the latter, which helps you clear Breaches and other league challenges more efficiently.

  

  Other New Features To Note

  Undoubtedly, the revamped Breach and all related mechanics are the highlight of Keepers league, but some new features are also worth noting, especially some long-awaited by PoE players, such as asynchronous trade.

  After the introduction of automatic trading in Path of Exile 2, players have been calling for a similar feature in the first game to improve trading efficiency. Therefore, 3.27 league introduces asynchronous trade.

  Enter Act 6 and find NPC Faustus to complete the relevant quests to unlock this feature. Afterward, even if you leave the game, the system will automatically sell your tradeable items, accelerating the circulation of goods and currency.

  Another noteworthy new gameplay feature is Bloodlines system. It includes 10 specific Bloodlines, obtainable by defeating endgame bosses. Consuming Ascendancy passive skill points can enhance your Bloodlines.

  More key changes brought by 3.27 league are briefly listed below:

  • You can now get a gold refund for passive skill tree and Atlas tree points.
  • Rogues in Heist gameplay start at max level, eliminating the need for lengthy leveling quests.
  • More usable skills and support gems have been added.
  • Three variants of Uber Pinnacle boss have been added, increasing endgame difficulty while also providing rarer rewards.

  That concludes our introduction to Keepers of the Flame new content. With this league about to begin, get ready to start your Breaches-clearing journey!

• Path Of Exile 3.27 Best League Starter Builds | Top 5 Meta Builds For Keepers Of The Flame

  Path of Exile 3.27, Keepers of the Flame League, will be released on October 31st. The new patch brings many changes, including new endgame content and adjustments and reworks to various classes.

  So, what build should you use for the new league? A comfortable leveling build can shorten your early leveling time. If you want to switch to a different build, your leveling build's farming ability will also affect your ability to switch builds. Below, we recommend some starting league builds based on PoE 3.27 patch.

  

  1. Cyclone Gladiator

  Cyclone Gladiator is a classic build that can handle maps of all difficulty levels, but it depends on PoE currency you invest.

  It gets a recommendation because Cyclone skill has received a 20% buff at all levels. If you already use this build, you'll find it performs even better in 3.27. Its core mechanic uses Dancing Dervish Reaver Sword. It triggers Rampage, allowing the sword to automatically clear monsters.

  Pros And Cons

  Cyclone Gladiator build can defeat all Ubers when well-equipped, though it's not designed for hard bosses. Its high tankiness allows you to fight virtually unhindered from the start to T7 maps.

  However, it's not unkillable and can still die in T17 maps or if you're unfamiliar with the final boss mechanics. If you're willing to invest enough PoE Divine Orbs in this build, you can even use it to handle all endgame content.

  • Hundreds of Divine Orbs: It can handle everything in the game, including Uber bosses, T17 maps, Scarab of Risk, and Delirium maps. While it may occasionally die, it's still very powerful overall.
  • Around 20 Divine Orbs: The most cost-effective level. It can clear Simulacrum Wave 15 and most Tier 17 maps, but it struggles on really juiced maps with very difficult affixes.
  • A few Chaos Orbs: Most gear is worth only one Chaos Orb or less, but it's enough for the campaign.

  2. Siege Ballista Hierophant

  Siege Ballista Hierophant has been a very strong build for the past few seasons. Not only has it survived patch nerfs, but its Siege Ballista variant, Siege Ballista of Trarthus, even received a 35% damage buff. Siege Ballista Hierophant is perfect for the new League's Breach playstyle.

  Siege Ballista is a Totem build, or one-button build. Its operation is simple: simply place a totem, and it automatically attacks, making it easy for even new players to figure out how to use it.

  Its early game requirements are low, and all you need is a Divine Orb to get all the gear you need (by trade). Its survivability is quite good, and once you meet the required gear and skills, it boasts high dodge, spell suppression, and life regeneration, so it is not a glass cannon.

  League Start Progression:

  • Early Game: Use Holy Flame Totem.
  • After Chapter 3: Switch to Explosive Arrow.
  • Mid-Level 70s: Finally, transition to the core build Siege Ballista.

  3. Reap And Exsanguinate Hierophant

  Reap & Exsanguinate Hierophant is a tried-and-true build in multiple leagues, but it's relatively not very popular compared to other builds. But Reap and Exsanguinate have been continuously buffed, and the new Bloodline Ascendancy added in patch 3.27 provides stronger talent nodes, eliminating the need for a useless fourth talent point.

  You can directly equip Reap at level 28, but this requires you to take Recovery Mastery (which provides 50 health regeneration per second) on the talent board to maintain the skill consumption. Or, you can use standard Templar levelings like Rolling Magma and Armageddon Brand, and then re-level later.

  The two core skills of this build, Reap (Single Target) and Exsanguinate (Clear Skill), are both physical damage. Therefore, the core idea of Passive Tree is to find nodes for Life, Physical Damage Over Time, and Spell Suppression. Focus on health and damage early on, then head to the right path point to reach the Spell Suppression Cap and gain Elusive effect (via the Lethe Shade cluster).

  

  4. Kinetic Wander Elementalist

  Kinetic Wander Elementalist benefits from a host of new wand abilities (such as Wind Blast, Kinetic Rain, Wall of Force, Kinetic Fusillade) and the new wand base types Blasting Wand and Kinetic Wand.

  Combined with Assassin class rework, Kinetic Wander Elementalist build has the potential to be very powerful, becoming a meta build for new leagues, but it's probably not suitable for pure new players.

  It has advantages in the early game, such as smooth leveling, fast farming, good survivability, and low PoE currency required for item crafting. However, its drawbacks, such as lack of defense and damage, only become apparent in the endgame.

  Also Read: Path Of Exile 3.27 Keepers of The Flame Predictions: 5 Expected Unique Items And Trarthus Gem Changes

  5. Earthshatter Zerker

  Earthshatter was not nerfed in PoE 3.27, and its overlapping spikes mechanic can deal significant damage.

  Pros

  • Easily handles early maps (Tier 5 and below) even with minimal gear.
  • Large AOE range and fast clearing.
  • With increased investment, damage and tankiness can be increased to extremely high levels.

  Cons

  • During Acts 4-6, you may feel vulnerable if gear (especially resistances and weapons) isn't updated regularly.
  • It relies heavily on a high-damage Two-Handed Axe, which requires constant upgrades.
  • While it's not a high-frequency build, you need to adapt to the rhythm of alternating attacks and Warcry.
  • Not recommended for new Hardcore players, as the early stages require a precise balance of defense and damage.

  Also, this build can be used with Slayer, Juggernaut, or Chieftain classes, depending on whether you prefer more damage or defense.

  The above builds aren't necessarily optimal for the endgame, but most of them can easily clear Tier 17 maps if you're willing to invest heavily in Divine Orbs.

• Path Of Exile 3.27 Release Date, League Transition, And Preparation Guide

  A month ago, a teaser trailer for Path of Exile 3.27 was released, announcing its October release date. As expected, 3.27 is scheduled to release on October 31st., and Secrets of the Atlas League will conclude on October 27th, leaving players with approximately three weeks to continue polishing their builds.

  So, should you relax and enjoy the game during this time, or make a few extra bucks? What happens to your character after the league ends? How should you prepare for the new league?

  

  How To Prepare For The New League?

  PoE 3.26 lasted for almost five months, which naturally brought in a number of new players. Some of these players may not be fully aware of what the league transition represents.

  Simply put, it's similar to the season transition in Diablo. When 3.26 transitions to 3.27, all characters, items, PoE currency, experience, and progress in the current challenge league will be transferred to the permanent standard league. When you create a character in a new league, it won't be able to use any gear or currency from the previous league. This means any hard work you put into 3.26 won't carry over to the new league.

  If you want to prepare for 3.27, you can pay attention to the official announcements about the new league content and skill adjustments, note your desired build and the best upgrade build, and find a suitable loot filter to save you time searching through junk during gameplay. This will help you prepare early.

  Your first build shouldn't be the strongest in the meta, but rather the one you most want to play. Once you successfully reach the endgame with your desired build and accumulate some PoE currency and gear, you can switch to a Meta build, which will allow you to upgrade faster.

  Is 3.26 Still Worth Playing?

  Secrets of the Atlas League has fewer content updates than other leagues, leading players to call it the worst season.

  Judging by Steam online users and views on various streaming platforms, PoE 3.26 has fewer players than previous seasons. This may be due to the period of inactivity leading up to PoE2's release, which caused some players (including veterans who never switch leagues) to skip or join later.

  However, despite the decrease in total players, player retention is very high. Even amidst severe server issues (especially on European servers), a large number of players continue to play. So, if you continue playing now, you don't have to worry about finding someone to trade with. You can sell all your PoE currency before the league ends, and you might even make a small profit.

  Tier 16.5 Maps

  Tier 16.5 maps are one of the best features of 3.26, primarily due to the map layout options. Tier 17 maps have closed corridor layouts, which often restrict player movement, hinder ranged and AOE builds, and make certain activities (such as Breach and Legion) a poor experience.

  Tier 16.5 maps allow players to choose their favorite old map layouts, which greatly improves the gameplay experience. Furthermore, better layouts allow for more interesting builds that rely on area-of-effect effects, rather than just targeting specific Tier 17 meta builds.

  While Tier 17 maps may offer higher returns per map, Tier 16.5 maps, thanks to their efficient layouts, narrow the payoff per unit time, so even if you don't challenge Tier 17 maps, you won't lose much. Furthermore, farming efficiency on Tier 16.5 maps isn't much lower than Tier 17. Even after the mid-game fix for the bug that guaranteed Tier 17 modifiers with eight affixes, Tier 16.5 maps still offer good returns. Tier 16.5 maps are expected to be carried over to 3.27.

  Mercenaries League

  Mercenaries are a new mechanic added in 3.26. Mercenaries can serve as powerful support. You can equip them with special equipment to grant you auras or taunt enemies. You can even have them serve as your primary damage dealer, with you supporting them.

  When choosing equipment, you need to balance making your mercenaries powerful enough to enhance your own abilities with ensuring their survival. The mercenary system makes many previously unpopular Path of Exile items valuable.

  However, mercenaries significantly increase the power of all builds, making 3.26 easier. If this mechanic isn't added to the core game, players in 3.27 might struggle to adapt. If it is, the disruption to game balance caused by mercenaries could be devastating.

  Doryani's Prototype is a classic example of a design error. If you put this item, which grants negative lightning resistance, on a nearly indestructible mercenary, it overpowers the lightning build, disrupting the balance. Therefore, 3.27 may only retain a few mercenaries or their corresponding gems, while most mercenary-related content may be removed.

  Beyond the content of 3.26, there has been no official preview or announcement regarding 3.27's content. However, it is expected to include new bosses and PoE currency. Another long-awaited feature that will probably launch in 3.27 is Path of Exile 2's current asynchronous trading system. It performed almost flawlessly in 0.3.0, and this feature promises significant improvements to the trading system, making it well worth the wait.

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  Currently, Path of Exile 3.26's player base isn't at its peak, and with 3.27 still about three weeks away, finding players willing to trade with you might be challenging before the new trading system launches.

  However, IGGM will offer trading services from the start of the season until the end, allowing you to buy reliable PoE currency and items to complete your build.