Patch 0.3.0 The Third Edict Reveal Summary

Patch 0.3.0, also known as The Third Edict, brings one of the most important updates to Path of Exile 2 so far. This reveal outlines new systems, balance adjustments, and exciting features that reshape how players progress and interact with the game. For both long-time fans of the franchise and new players testing the beta, this patch sets the stage for a deeper, more refined experience.

The update focuses on improving class mechanics, expanding skill variety, and enhancing endgame depth. At the same time, it addresses community feedback from earlier test phases, making gameplay smoother and more rewarding. Whether you are exploring fresh builds, experimenting with new items, or preparing for advanced encounters, this patch creates opportunities to rethink strategies and discover more powerful synergies.

In this summary, we will highlight the most significant changes from The Third Edict and explain why they matter. From revamped systems to brand-new content, this patch is more than just a minor update—it is a step forward in shaping the identity of Path of Exile 2. Let’s break down what makes 0.3.0 a milestone in the game’s development and how you can take full advantage of it.

Release Date

The long-awaited Path of Exile 2 Version 0.3 update, titled The Third Edict, is officially set to launch on August 29, 2025. This marks the second major update introduced during the game’s Early Access period and represents a significant milestone in its ongoing development.

With this release, players can expect not only a continuation of Grinding Gear Games’ commitment to refining gameplay systems but also the introduction of new mechanics, balance changes, and expanded progression. The timing of this patch highlights the studio’s goal of maintaining a steady flow of meaningful updates that keep the community engaged and eager to explore fresh content.

As the update date approaches, both new and veteran players will want to prepare by reviewing existing builds, clearing unfinished content, and getting ready to test the sweeping improvements that The Third Edict promises to deliver. This release will likely set the tone for upcoming expansions, making August 29 a key date for anyone invested in Path of Exile 2’s future.

Free Weekend Access

To celebrate the launch, Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict will be available for a special Free Weekend event. From August 29th, 1 PM PDT to September 1st, 1 PM PDT, players who do not currently own Early Access will be able to try the game at no cost.

This event gives newcomers the perfect opportunity to experience the updated systems, explore the new Act Four content, and test builds before deciding whether to purchase Early Access. It also provides returning fans a chance to revisit the game with friends, lowering the barrier for group play and community growth during launch week.

Act Four – The Karui Archipelago Adventure

The highlight of Patch 0.3.0: The Third Edict is the introduction of Act Four, a brand-new chapter that pushes the campaign into fresh and exciting territory. Instead of simply extending the traditional linear structure, this act brings a completely different approach to progression. Set in the Karui Archipelago, players will journey across eight unique islands, each presenting its own landscapes, dangers, and fearsome bosses. From lush beaches to volcanic shores, the variety of environments ensures every step of the adventure feels distinct and challenging.

What makes Act Four stand out is its non-linear design. Unlike previous acts, players are free to choose the order in which they explore the islands. This freedom allows for a more personal pacing of the story and replayability, as no two playthroughs need to follow the same path. Combined with over 100 new monster types, 16 new areas, and 12 bosses, Act Four creates a rich ecosystem of encounters where strategy and adaptation play a key role.

Another major change is the removal of the traditional Cruel difficulty. Instead, the leveling experience is now restructured with Act Four and three Interlude Acts. These Interlude Acts are designed as shorter, linear storylines that supplement the main campaign and provide smoother progression toward endgame. This overhaul ensures players can advance naturally without the grind of repeating difficulties, keeping the campaign both challenging and rewarding from start to finish.

In terms of lore, Act Four continues directly after the events of Act Three, with Doryani guiding you on a quest to find a powerful ancient weapon to battle corruption. The combination of narrative depth, flexible progression, and diverse encounters makes this act one of the most ambitious additions to Path of Exile 2 so far. Whether you are a first-time explorer or a veteran ready to test your build against new foes, Act Four promises to deliver a fresh, dynamic journey into the heart of the Karui islands.

Interlude Acts – Side Stories Toward Endgame

Alongside Act Four, Patch 0.3.0: The Third Edict introduces three Interlude Acts, which replace the old Cruel difficulty and provide a smoother path toward endgame. These Interludes are short but impactful side stories that carry players through to level 65, at which point the true endgame begins. Each Interlude offers a distinct narrative and setting, making them more than just filler content—they act as meaningful chapters that expand the world of Path of Exile 2 while keeping progression dynamic and rewarding.

Interlude 1 – The Curse of Holten

The first Interlude takes players back to Ogham Village, a settlement plagued by corruption that manifests during the night. Here, you must uncover the root cause of the blight, facing eerie encounters and twisted foes along the way. This Interlude blends mystery with danger, emphasizing exploration and investigation as you work to cleanse the village from its haunting curse.

Interlude 2 – The Stolen Barya

In the second Interlude, the journey leads you to the Vastiri Desert. You will aid Asala in completing her ritual by tracking down enemies and reclaiming the stolen Barya. This story arc is rich with desert-themed challenges, hostile ambushes, and ritualistic elements, presenting players with fast-paced action and tactical combat scenarios. It highlights the importance of community ties and alliances within the harsh desert environment.

Interlude 3 – Doryani’s Contingency

The final Interlude escalates the tension by sending you up a dangerous mountain path toward the Vault at its peak. As you ascend, the biomes become colder and more hostile, testing both survival and combat skills. This chapter ties closely with Doryani’s storyline, presenting a scenario where ancient power and dangerous conditions merge. The climb itself acts as both a physical and symbolic journey, setting the stage for the challenges that await in the endgame.

Together, these three Interludes not only replace outdated difficulty mechanics but also enrich the campaign experience. They provide a streamlined progression system while immersing players in fresh lore, diverse environments, and unique encounters that keep momentum strong right up to the gates of endgame.

Support Gem System Overhaul

One of the most transformative changes in Patch 0.3.0: The Third Edict is the complete rework of the Support Gem system. These gems are the backbone of build customization in Path of Exile 2, and the new update aims to expand creativity, improve balance, and offer more flexibility for players looking to design unique playstyles.

Support Gem Limit Removed

Previously, each Support Gem could only be used once per character, creating restrictions that limited build diversity. That restriction is now gone—players can socket the same Support Gem across multiple Active Skills. For example, a gem like Martial Tempo can now enhance every attack skill you use, opening the door to more synergistic and combo-heavy setups. This change encourages experimentation without forcing players to choose between their favorite abilities.

Tiered Support Gems

The patch introduces a brand-new tier system for Support Gems. Instead of being static, gems can now progress through multiple levels of power. At higher tiers, they grant increased stats or even entirely new effects, adding more depth to how skills evolve over time. For instance, early ranks of a casting support gem may boost raw speed, while higher ranks unlock advanced mechanics that alter how a spell behaves. With five tiers available instead of three, this system ensures more room for growth and strategic decision-making.

Lineage Support Gems

Perhaps the most exciting addition is the introduction of Lineage Support Gems. These powerful gems function almost like Unique items, offering distinctive effects that can redefine entire builds. Over 40 Lineage Supports have been added, available only through endgame content. Some drop from specific bosses, while others appear as rare monster loot. Because of their exclusive nature, these gems provide build-defining opportunities that reward players for pushing deeper into challenging content. In many cases, they can completely alter how a skill interacts with the game world.

Additional Improvements

• ✔️ 11 brand-new Support Gems added with Patch 0.3.0.
• ✔️ Simplified naming conventions to make gem effects more intuitive at a glance.
• ✔️ Certain outdated gems and mechanics have been retired or rebalanced for clarity.
• ✔️ Adjusted cooldowns and clarified wording to better reflect actual functionality.

Altogether, these changes elevate the Support Gem system into something far more dynamic and rewarding. By removing outdated restrictions, introducing powerful tiered upgrades, and adding unique endgame-focused gems, Path of Exile 2 gives players unprecedented control over their builds. Whether you want to refine an existing strategy or create something entirely new, the reworked Support Gem system ensures endless possibilities for experimentation.

New Content and Features

Patch 0.3.0: The Third Edict is more than just balance adjustments—it introduces a wealth of brand-new content that broadens gameplay variety and deepens progression. From powerful new Skill Gems to entire sets of maps and currencies, this update ensures that both leveling and endgame feel fresh and rewarding. Below is a breakdown of the most notable additions.

New Skill Gems

A wide selection of new Active and Persistent Buff Gems has been added, offering creative ways to expand combat strategies:

• ✔️ Fortifying Cry – A Warcry that boosts Guard and unleashes shockwaves when paired with Shield Attacks.
• ✔️ Forge Hammer – Hurl a fiery hammer that embeds in the ground and can trigger eruptions when recalled.
• ✔️ Ancestral Cry – Channel the spirit of Kaom, empowering melee attacks with volcanic eruptions and fiery footsteps.
• ✔️ Toxic Domain – Create poisonous blooms that detonate over time, spreading deadly toxins to enemies.
• ✔️ Ice-Tipped Arrows – Empower your bow or spear to generate sharp ice fragments on impact.
• ✔️ Frost Darts – Fire chilling shards of ice that break into damaging chunks when hitting frozen ground.
• ✔️ Iron Ward – Store physical damage prevented by armor and unleash it as spikes.
• ✔️ Mortar Cannon – Summon a totem that fires grenades with powerful cooldown recovery scaling.
• ✔️ Mirage Archer – Spawn spectral archers that replicate your ranged attacks after dodge rolls.
• ✔️ Ravenous Swarm – Release unending insect swarms that attack and poison enemies nearby.
• ✔️ Siphon Elements – Infuse enemies with elemental remnants when they are Frozen, Shocked, or Ignited.

Passive Skill Additions

Several new Keystone Passives have been introduced, each designed to dramatically shift playstyles:

• ✔️ Hollow Palm Technique – Enhance unarmed combat with devastating Quarterstaff synergy.
• ✔️ Ritual Cadence – Modify Invocation timing, spreading casts evenly while reducing Energy costs.
• ✔️ Blackflame Covenant – Convert Fire Damage to Chaos, causing ignites to inflict Chaos-based burns.
• ✔️ Walker of the Wilds – Enable Mana Leech on Elemental Damage instead of Physical attacks.

Currency and Item Expansions

Economy and crafting systems see a big upgrade with new orbs and currencies:

• ✔️ Multiple upgraded Greater and Perfect Orbs for Transmutation, Augmentation, Chaos, Regal, and Exalted, each offering enhanced modifiers.
• ✔️ Hinekora’s Lock – A new currency item that reveals the outcome of crafting actions but prevents further modifications once used.

Endgame and Gear Content

Endgame players will find plenty of new reasons to dive deeper:

• ✔️ Over 10 new Unique items to collect and build around.
• ✔️ More than 50 new base item types for crafting and upgrading builds.
• ✔️ Over 20 new Endgame Maps, expanding the diversity of encounters and environments.
• ✔️ 15 fresh Omens, providing new conditional effects that add tactical layers to gameplay.

Altogether, these additions ensure that Patch 0.3.0 delivers not only a refined campaign experience but also a significantly expanded endgame. With new tools, challenges, and rewards, players will have countless opportunities to experiment, adapt, and push their builds to new heights.

Endgame Changes

Patch 0.3.0: The Third Edict introduces sweeping adjustments to the endgame, aiming to reduce frustration, refine progression, and provide more meaningful challenges. Instead of relying on outdated systems that created unnecessary barriers, the new design allows players to access high-tier content more smoothly while still preserving difficulty and reward balance. Here are the most impactful updates to the endgame experience:

Key and Splinter System

Previously, most pinnacle encounters required the same single key, regardless of whether you wanted to run the fight at its easiest or hardest level. This often led players to sell their keys instead of engaging with the content. The new system fixes this by introducing Splinters. Every pinnacle activity (except The Arbiter of Ash) now drops Splinters, which can be inserted into the Realmgate. Doing so opens an interface where you can choose your preferred difficulty, each with its own entry cost. This ensures flexibility while keeping progression rewarding.

Atlas Passive Rework

The Atlas Passive Tree has been updated so that its nodes no longer influence difficulty. Instead, they are dedicated purely to enhancing the types of content available on the Atlas. Bonuses that previously sat in the Arbiter’s passive tree have now been integrated directly into his loot pool, streamlining progression without punishing experimentation.

Arbiter of Ash Adjustments

The Arbiter of Ash encounter has been overhauled. It is now a static difficulty fight with unlimited portals, making it more accessible while still rewarding players with valuable loot. A new Uber version of this boss has also been added, requiring Calamity Fragments that drop only from Citadel Bosses when their passives are fully invested. This ensures only the most dedicated players can access the peak challenge.

Map Boss Progression

Acquiring Atlas Passive Points from map bosses has been refined. Instead of random drops, points are now earned through specific objectives, such as:

• ✔️ Defeating Map Bosses in level 79+ maps with at least 6 modifiers.
• ✔️ Defeating Map Bosses in level 80+ maps with at least 6 modifiers.
• ✔️ Defeating Anomaly Map Bosses in level 79+ maps with at least 6 modifiers.
• ✔️ Defeating Citadel Map Bosses in level 79+ maps with at least 6 modifiers.
• ✔️ Completing the Pinnacle of Flame Quest.

Waystone and Item Modifiers

Waystones have undergone a major rework. Each modifier now comes with both a downside (e.g., monsters deal +20% damage) and an upside (+10% pack size, higher drop chance). This ensures that players weigh the risks and rewards of their setups more carefully. Additional updates include:

• ✔️ Waystones can no longer exceed 8 modifiers when corrupted.
• ✔️ Unidentified Corrupted Waystones can now open a Corrupted Nexus.
• ✔️ High-level items with random quality may now reach up to 30% quality (up from 20%).
• ✔️ Items with 2 Sockets now have a slim chance to roll 3 Sockets in higher tier maps.
• ✔️ Items with 1 Socket now have a slim chance to roll 2 Sockets in higher tier maps.

Additional Updates

Other endgame refinements include:

• ✔️ Simulacrums, Breachstones, and Audience for the Kings now grant Splinters instead of functioning in the Realm itself.
• ✔️ Olroth, Origin of the Fall, no longer spawns in Logbooks.
• ✔️ Mysterious anomalies may now appear directly on the Atlas.
• ✔️ The Abyss Map has been renamed to Marrow.

All these changes combine to create a more streamlined, player-friendly endgame that rewards investment while preserving the challenge. With Splinters, refined boss fights, and reworked Waystone mechanics, Path of Exile 2 is shaping its endgame into a more dynamic and strategic journey.

Crafting Overhaul

Crafting has always been one of the defining features of Path of Exile, and with Patch 0.3.0: The Third Edict, the system receives a major overhaul. These updates not only introduce new item types and crafting tiers but also streamline the progression from campaign to endgame, ensuring that crafting remains both powerful and accessible at every stage of play.

New Currency Tiers

Currency Orbs now come in three levels of strength: Regular, Greater, and Perfect. These tiers determine the power of the modifiers applied when crafting. For example, a Perfect Orb of Transmutation guarantees the highest possible modifier tier when upgrading an item. This tiered system extends to multiple crafting currencies, including Augments, Regals, Exalts, and Chaos Orbs, giving players more control over item outcomes and progression.

Essences

Essences have been expanded to four distinct tiers: Lesser, Regular, Greater, and Perfect. Lesser Essences will be easier to acquire during the campaign, helping newer players reliably upgrade gear, while Perfect Essences introduce powerful, unique effects that go beyond simply scaling up lower-tier bonuses. This change makes essence crafting a more meaningful tool throughout the game’s lifecycle.

Exceptional Items

Exceptional Bases are a brand-new category of item drops. These items come with higher quality, additional sockets, or special implicit modifiers. Exceptional Uniques also exist, providing rare opportunities for builds to access gear that surpasses traditional items in strength and flexibility. For crafters and collectors, these items represent some of the most desirable finds in the new patch.

Sanctified Items

Another major addition is the introduction of Sanctified Items. These items randomize the numeric values of their modifiers, then amplify them by 80–120%, allowing players to achieve higher-than-ever stats. However, once sanctified, an item can no longer be further crafted or modified, making this mechanic the final step in perfecting mirror-tier gear. This adds a high-stakes layer to endgame crafting, where the decision to sanctify an item becomes a defining moment in build optimization.

Additional Crafting Features

• ✔️ New Omens tied to crafting, offering unique conditional effects.
• ✔️ Hinekora’s Lock, a new currency that allows players to foresee the outcome of a craft before committing to it, at the cost of future modifications.

Together, these changes significantly enhance the crafting experience. From the accessibility of Lesser Essences to the game-changing potential of Sanctified Items, crafting in Path of Exile 2 now offers deeper progression, better item control, and more exciting endgame possibilities than ever before.

Ascendancy Changes

Alongside the sweeping system updates in Patch 0.3.0: The Third Edict, a major focus has been placed on Ascendancy reworks. These adjustments modernize outdated mechanics, refine passive skill trees, and introduce more build diversity across multiple classes. Each Ascendancy now has more defined strengths and updated tools to make them competitive in the new meta.

Warbringer & Smith of Kitava

The Warbringer archetype has been streamlined, with several nodes reworked to better emphasize Warcry synergy. Totem capacity has been expanded, Warcry cooldowns are easier to manage, and ancestral-themed skills now cast faster with wider areas of effect. This Ascendancy feels more explosive and reliable in group play.

Meanwhile, the Smith of Kitava has gained improved defensive scaling. Body Armour passives now not only enhance defense but also boost regeneration and elemental protection. Minion-based effects were swapped for personal scaling buffs like Strength, Accuracy, and Attack Speed, ensuring more consistency for melee players.

Gemling Legionnaire & Tactician

Gemling Legionnaire now revolves around dynamic charge generation and socket synergy. Instead of blanket cost reductions, players gain specialized buffs depending on gem colors, providing unique build customization. The overhaul encourages creativity and opens new ways to balance attributes and gem setups.

Tactician benefits from stronger Totem support and defensive tools. Several nodes now improve Glory generation, while Artillery and Siege Ballistas gain huge boosts against immobilized enemies. The rework clearly pushes the Ascendancy into a strategic commander role, blending utility with raw damage.

Ritualist, Amazon & Pathfinder

The Ritualist Ascendancy simplifies its tree by merging nodes and enhancing recovery mechanics. Amazon receives a sharper identity, with Critical Strikes and Elemental Surges now offering direct synergies with charge generation. Pathfinder has perhaps the most significant update—its Flask-themed Concoctions have been redesigned, splitting into Acidic, Fulminating, Shattering, Bleeding, and Explosive variations. These changes make flask management more dynamic while massively increasing build variety.

Deadeye & Invoker

Deadeye has moved away from distance-based accuracy, instead adding mechanics like automatic projectile chaining and easier Frenzy generation. This ensures smoother scaling without overcomplicated conditions. Invoker now has a faster-casting toolkit, with Meditate and Faith nodes updated to provide stronger scaling for elemental builds and Energy Shield recovery.

Acolyte of Chayula

The Acolyte of Chayula tree has been significantly modernized. Many outdated conditional effects have been replaced with multi-choice notables, letting players align their path with Life, Mana, or Power themes. Darkness mechanics are streamlined with shorter durations but stronger immediate effects. Volatility, Chaos resistance scaling, and Chaos damage amplification are now core features, making this Ascendancy a top pick for experimental dark-magic builds.

Other Ascendancies

• ✔️ Blood Mage gains stronger Life-to-damage scaling and better flask interactions, removing clunky requirements.
• ✔️ Infernalist enhances Demon Form and Infernal Flame for more spell-based destruction.
• ✔️ Lich improves Curse utility and Energy Shield sacrifice mechanics, rewarding high-risk playstyles.
• ✔️ Chronomancer replaces old cooldown passives with time-based stacking buffs, amplifying both speed and AoE potential.
• ✔️ Stormweaver reworks Elemental Infusion nodes, adding Mana-based sustain and improved elemental cycling.

Altogether, these Ascendancy reworks ensure every archetype has a clearer identity, more impactful passives, and better scaling into endgame. By shifting away from outdated mechanics and embracing more interactive bonuses, Path of Exile 2 sets the stage for greater class diversity and exciting build opportunities.

Tips for Patch 0.3.0

• Review your builds – Ascendancy nodes and Support Gems have been reworked, so check your current setup. Some builds may no longer work as intended, while others could become much stronger.
• Experiment with new skills – Try gems like Forge Hammer, Iron Ward, or Ravenous Swarm. They open up fresh playstyles and might become hidden meta picks.
• Use the Free Weekend – From August 29 to September 1, the game will be free to play. Take advantage of this event to test the new content or invite friends.
• Plan around crafting – With new Greater and Perfect tiers of currency and essences, item crafting is more impactful. Remember that Sanctified Items are final upgrades and cannot be modified afterward.
• Adapt to the Splinter system – Pinnacle boss encounters no longer use one key. Collect and manage Splinters strategically to control difficulty and rewards.
• Invest in Atlas Passives wisely – These now determine what type of content appears rather than its difficulty, so choose nodes that match your farming strategy.
• Stay flexible – The meta will shift heavily after this patch. Be ready to respec, experiment, and explore community builds instead of locking into one strategy.

Conclusion

Patch 0.3.0: The Third Edict is one of the most ambitious updates Path of Exile 2 has received so far. With the introduction of Act Four, the Interlude Acts, a complete overhaul of the Support Gem system, major crafting improvements, and extensive endgame reworks, this patch reshapes both the leveling journey and the late-game experience. Players will notice smoother progression, more flexible build opportunities, and a wider variety of content to explore.

What makes this update stand out is not only the amount of new content but also the focus on reducing unnecessary barriers. Whether it’s the removal of outdated difficulty scaling, the introduction of Splinters for boss fights, or the tiered crafting system, the changes are designed to make the game more rewarding without losing its trademark challenge. For both veterans and new players, The Third Edict sets the stage for the future of Path of Exile 2 and shows how the game will continue to evolve.

If you’re preparing to jump into the update, the best approach is to stay flexible, experiment with the new systems, and take full advantage of the Free Weekend event to bring in friends or test different builds. This patch is a clear signal that Path of Exile 2 is moving toward a more refined, content-rich, and engaging future.

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• 24.08.2025 - Patch 0.3.0 The Third Edict Reveal Summary published.