The evening of April 8, 2021 had a lot to offer action RPG fans: Not only did the closed alpha phase of Diablo 2: Resurrected start, there was also a lot of new information about the major competitor Path of Exile.
For the first time since its announcement, the developers published a lot of information and new gameplay for the successor Path of Exile 2, plus the official announcement of the next expansion, »Ultimatum« for PoE 1.
This is what the Ultimatum League is all about
Like every new season, Ultimatum also brings its own league mechanics with it: As soon as you enter Wraeclast with your new league character, you will meet the Trialmaster regularly. This NPC is a servant of the god of chaos and invites you to entertaining arena fights.
Before each fight, you can see what rewards await you. If you have successfully fought the battle, the Trialmaster will face the eponymous ultimatum: Take the prize or continue fighting in increasingly difficult encounters in order to be able to get additional loot.
By holding the next prize in front of you at any time, the Trialmaster wants you in ever harder fights Curls. However, once selected, modifiers remain active for the entire cycle. So you can expect some incredibly difficult fights – if you dare. Those who can survive ten laps should also be rewarded with a very special prize. What it is, however, is not yet known.
In the endgame you occasionally enter the realm of the Trialmaster and are faced with particularly risky fights: For this you first have to make a sacrifice, for example a Chaos or Exalted Orb. If you successfully pass the exam, double the amount is returned. If you die, both the stake and the additional loot are lost forever.
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Path of Exile – Trailer for the upcoming ultimatum league promises a lot of loot
New skills and even more loot
However, you can not only make big loot in the ultimatum challenges: According to the developers, more valuable items should now be found in all content of Path of Exile. This includes old season mechanics, but also, for example, the Lord’s Labyrinth, in which players can now get their desired helmet enchantment more quickly through a selection option.
So that you can master the difficult new challenges, there are of course again numerous new spells and abilities. “Corrupting Fever” and “Exsanguinate” let you fire your own blood as a projectile, while Reap grinds down your enemies with a magical scythe – also at the cost of your life points.
However, there are also defensive options, because “Petrified Blood” strengthens your life bar. If you have activated this spell, lethal damage is not caused directly, but over a short period of time. So you have the time again to save yourself from death with Life Leech or healing potions.
A full list of all new skills, items and changes can be found on the official PoE website. The ultimatum league starts on April 16, 2021 at 10 p.m. and, as always, is a free update for existing and new players.
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