Since its release in 2013, Path of Exile has been loved by players for its excellent game balance, wonderful combat mechanism, rich build methods and complete POE currency system.
However, since the release of Settlers of Kalguur last July, POE has experienced a very long pause in updates. However, more than ten months later, the Path of Exile 3.26 trailer has finally been released, and players have been discussing it enthusiastically, speculating on what updates may be included in the new league.
In the adjustments of previous update, generally weakens stronger POE items or builds, and at the same time, enhances unpopular gameplay to maintain game balance.
So, based on the content of the current version and player feedback, what aspects may be weakened or enhanced in POE 3.26?
Weakened
Lightning Strike
Before the release of POE 3.25, Lightning Strike had similar damage to other well-performing melee skills, so players often used it.
However, POE 3.25 has comprehensively reformed Melee skills, and Lightning Strike has become one of the strongest skills, with excellent mechanisms and extremely high damage.
Except for Molten Strike of the Zenith, which is obtained in the late game, it is basically invincible.
So in order to balance the game with the experience of using other Melee skills, in POE 3.26, the damage value of Lightning Strike may be reduced or the speed of its consumption of Mana may be increased to weaken this skill.
Archmage
In POE 3.25, defensive power was greatly weakened, and some new base types were added to achieve relative balance, which still caused a significant reduction in the damage of some formed builds.
However, Archmage skill can increase its damage by increasing the maximum mana, and players can increase Archmage’s damage by using the buff effect of Archmage Support.
So, the damage of Archmage skill in POE 3.25 is still considerable, and it is still the mainstream skill of Settlers of Kalguur league.
But this also makes its build very simple, so in POE 3.26, Archmage Support may be changed, or Archmage’s value may be adjusted directly, thereby weakening Archmage skills.
Ephemeral Edge
At present, although the power of this special sword, Ephemeral Edge is mainly triggered by lighting damage, both the build and damage of this sword are very good, and because it is a Unique rarity weapon.
In POE 3.26, the rarity of this sword may be changed, and the change in rarity may also cause a series of chain reactions.
Its drop rate will change, which means that the POE 3.26 Currency required to trade it on the market and the cost of upgrading it will change.
The above is a prediction of what may be weakened in Path Of Exile 3.26 league, so what may be enhanced? Let’s continue the discussion.
Buffs
Self Cast
Self Cast is the least played gameplay in POE 3.25, and due to the weakening of Determination and Grace and the addition of new base types, the existing build of this gameplay has become very bad.
In addition, other builds of this gameplay have also been hit hard in other patches in the past.
So in POE 3.26 league update, it is very likely that this gameplay will be made more interesting by increasing the basic damage value and adjusting the combat mechanism to enrich the diversity of the gameplay.
Top-Side Defenses
In the current POE, you can light up Evasion and Energy Shield to increase your attack power, or light up defense to increase your damage tolerance.
However, the defense nodes in the current skill tree are scattered and inefficient, and the defensive skill points have been weakened, which forces players to rely on advanced defense equipment to improve defense and achieve game balance.
But this will lead to a problem. It is difficult for advanced defense equipment to obtain enough defense attributes, which will cause the player’s defense to decline.
Therefore, in POE 3.26, the defense nodes of the talent tree may be adjusted to a certain extent, and the values of low-level defense equipment may be increased, so that players can obtain enough defense to resist enemy damage.
Ascendancy
Currently, Ascendancy of many classes does not seem to be worth to unlocking, which makes players more inclined to play strong classes, which makes it difficult to balance the selection of each class in the game.
And the gain effect of some Ascendancy is very low, resulting in basically no one choosing it.
Therefore, it is necessary to adjust some of Ascendancy nodes, rework some Ascendancy, and adjust the values of some existing Ascendancy nodes to make the class build more diverse and give players more gain effects.
The above are some speculations about the weakening and enhancement of Path of Exile 3.26 Secrets of the Atlas. This is an update that players have been looking forward to for a long time. I hope POE will bring us some surprises.
