Crucible Week 2: News, Meta Analysis & Winning Strategies

It’s worth the wait! The developers of two major MMOs have finally released the next league update for Path of Exile, which they released more than a decade ago. The very stable league update cycle has been the core of the developers’ marketing of Path of Exile and attracting a wider audience over time. In fact, they have done a great job so far, especially POE 3.25 Settlers of Kalguur League, which has attracted the most concurrent players on Steam. However, it must be noted that this league has been running for nearly ten months, and even though it has excellent game content, players are gradually getting tired of it. So when the developers finally announced that they would provide a new league for the original game, all players were excited and said that they would finally turn their attention back to the firstborn, because this is the first time that the update window has been so long since the league system was first introduced in 2013. According to the developers, Path of Exile 3.26 will have the theme Secrets of the Atlas and will be officially released on June 13th. In fact, when the name of this league appeared, many players were wondering whether this update would bring the long-awaited Atlas Expansion into the game? The specific content of this new league requires you to participate in GGG Live, which will start at 1 pm on June 5, so we can only guess that it will be introduced one by one, after all, now is the best time to launch this expansion. If you are interested in it, then follow this guide to find out! The Importance Of 3.26 As we all know, this developer announced that it would release a sequel with a completely different game style from the original in 2022, nearly 10 years after the release of Path of Exile. But unfortunately, this slogan has been shouted from 2022 to 2024. It was even announced that the official release of the early access version in November 2024 was delayed to December because of micro-transaction issues. During this process, many players who wanted to try new game content were fooled and gradually lost confidence in exploring POE 2. However, thanks to its long-term marketing, the sequel set a record for the number of concurrent online players on many gaming platforms as soon as it was released. In view of this, the developers assigned all the staff who should have worked on the original game to update the sequel, forcing Path of Exile to be robbed of a lot of attention by its sequel. However, as the negative reviews of POE 2 0.2.0 patch increased, the developers paid more and more attention to the development of the sequel and ignored the need to update the league in the original game, even though a new event was launched during the period. So in this case, where the players of both games have not been completely pleased, the developers can prove through the latest league update in Path of Exile 3.26 that many of their promises to players are entirely true. Among them, introducing this Atlas-focused expansion into the game would probably be the easiest to accomplish. Why Is Atlas The Key To This Expansion? It is worth affirming that the developers really want to make some substantial changes in this POE 3.26 update to satisfy the players. Whether it is to add in-game mechanisms or change some gameplay, it is very effective. But why is it speculated here that the focus of this new expansion is Atlas map? First of all, no matter which game manufacturer, developing and releasing a new expansion that includes the entire game content is a very time-consuming and labor-intensive task. For Path of Exile, most developers and innovators are still developing POE 2, and the in-game resources are not enough to support the development of this type of expansion. And as the end of POE 2’s early access is getting closer, players are more and more eager to have a game with a similar gameplay style and new things to explore as a replacement after it exits the game world. Therefore, if POE 3.26 really brings an excellent expansion of the Atlas map, players of the original and sequel can enjoy a smooth gaming experience. Another reason is to think from the developer’s perspective. This Atlas Expansion is sure to bring players so many interesting and challenging boss encounters, maps, and ways to farm POE Currency that players may explore it for months and gradually forget about the official release of the sequel. This could give the developers some time to polish POE 2 so that they can provide a long-polished and perhaps successful sequel to the players who still love this dark game in a few years, or even longer. Not only that, during this polishing process, the developers can still make a high profit from the original game with a large player base. Of course, this is just my unilateral speculation, and the specifics may need to wait for the developer to admit it. But who will admit it? In addition, from the trailer released by the developer for POE 3.26, Atlas and its secrets are mentioned many times, which is a very clumsy way of leaking. In general, no matter how high the developers’ expectations are for POE 3.26 Secrets of the Atlas, most players are still waiting to see. Although there is a lot of discussion in the player community and on social platforms about whether a prefect Atlas Expansion will be released in this update, the final information still needs to be learned from the live broadcast next month. I wish you a happy game!

Embark on a thrilling journey through the Affliction League with our comprehensive review of the Destructive Cast On Critical Tornado Shot Ice Spear Deadeye build in Path of Exile 3.23. If you're seeking a powerful combination of Cast on Critical mechanics and ranged precision, this build is designed for you. Join us as we explore the pros and cons, budget considerations, and key aspects of this formidable build. Build Overview Pros: 1. Incredible Clear Speed: Revel in the joy of capturing a plethora of Ice Spears from Tornado Shot projectiles, providing an astonishingly fast map-clearing experience.   2. Boss Damage Mastery: The build excels in dealing substantial single-target damage to bosses, even from a considerable distance. 3. Safety First: Play with confidence as you freeze monsters and map bosses in place. With a 90% chance to evade attacks, high spell damage suppression, and robust armor, the build ensures a safe gaming experience. Cons: 1. Resource Intensive: This build demands a significant investment in POE Currency, making it less accessible for budget-conscious players. 2. Complex Building Process: Assembling this build can be challenging due to the requirement of specific rare items, adding an extra layer of complexity. Budget Considerations Prepare for a substantial investment with a budget of at least 15 Divine Orbs. This high-cost requirement is one of the trade-offs for the exceptional power this build brings to the table. Mandatory Unique Items: 1. Asenath's Mark Helmet: Triggers socketed skills on attack, adding even more Ice Spears to your arsenal. 2. Maloney's Mechanism Quiver: Exclusive sockets debuff bosses for increased damage potential. 3. Intuitive Leap Jewels (x2): Essential for saving valuable points in the passive tree. Performance Ratings Clear Speed: - Rating: 10/10 - Description: The build delivers an outstanding combination of speed and satisfaction, ensuring a swift and enjoyable map-clearing experience. Boss Damage: - Rating: 10/10 - Description: With the ability to cast numerous Ice Spears hitting the target, the build achieves an impressive shotgun effect, earning it a perfect rating for boss damage. Survivability: - Rating: 9/10 - Description: Boasting the capability to handle threats from a safe distance, freeze enemies, and with high evasion, armor, and spell suppression, survivability is commendable. Careful positioning is key when facing Guardians and Pinnacle bosses. Conclusion What are your thoughts on the Cast On Critical Tornado Shot Deadeye? If you crave a build that combines speed, boss-slaying prowess, and a safety net, this could be your ideal match. While it demands a substantial investment, the rewards in terms of power and gameplay satisfaction are well worth it. Don't miss the chance to experience Path of Exile 3.23 in all its glory with this exhilarating build. Keep building, keep conquering!

For those who relish chaos, crave devastation, and dare to dance on the edge of danger in Path of Exile, Suzu520's Herald of Ice Wormblaster build is a revelation. This unique and audacious build unleashes the power of worms in a symphony of destruction. So, prepare your POE currency and embark on this exhilarating journey into the unknown. Introducing Suzu520's Herald of Ice Wormblaster for POE 3.22 If you've never encountered a worm-based build before, this is your opportunity to delve into the extraordinary world of Suzu520's Herald of Ice Wormblaster. This audacious build defies convention and promises an experience like no other in Path of Exile. How Does It Work? At the heart of this build lies the enigmatic worm. Each flask slot is occupied by a Writhing Jar, a vessel that releases two tiny worms upon use. These worms, though enemies, interact with on-hit and on-kill effects. The secret to this build's success lies in the Mother's Embrace belt, which acts as a nurturing guardian for these wormy minions. Whenever you summon minions, they partake in the essence of all five flasks simultaneously, spawning multiple worms. For example, summoning a single skeleton can lead to the creation of ten worms. With a setup of four skeletons, you can unleash an army of 40 worms. But what's the purpose of this wriggling assembly? Just as a good mother protects her offspring, we detonate them. The Tattoo of Arohongui Warmonger is the key. This tattoo has a chance to shatter slain enemies. By accumulating a sufficient number of these tattoos, you can achieve a 100% chance to shatter on kill. Suzu520 discovered an explosive synergy between these tattoos and the Herald of Ice skill. When active, the Herald of Ice causes Shattered enemies to explode. This means you can create a legion of worms and trigger a chain reaction of 40 explosions by simply stepping on them. Offensive Strategies Ensuring your flasks don't run dry is essential to this build's success. To maintain flask charges, Suzu520 has harnessed the power of the Soul of Ryslatha Pantheon option. It provides three flask charges every three seconds, provided you haven't used a flask recently. The beauty of this strategy is that your minions use the flasks, ensuring charge recovery remains uninterrupted. This build also invests in charge gain by selecting specific passive clusters, such as "2 Flask Charges Gained" and "1 Careful Conservationist." Cluster jewels, like Mender's Wellspring, further enhance charge recovery. As a result, Suzu's build regenerates an impressive 17.5 flask charges every three seconds, enabling a continuous stream of worms. However, the real challenge is scaling damage. Herald of Ice explosions do not benefit from spell damage scaling, requiring creative solutions. Generic Damage, Elemental Damage, and Critical Strikes are your pathways to success. Suzu has identified several unique items that significantly boost the build. The Annihilating Light triples elemental damage at the cost of resistances, a trade-off well worth it for the damage increase. Calamitous Visions, a unique jewel providing the Lone Messenger keystone, contributes a substantial 100% damage boost to the Herald of Ice. While this prevents the use of other Heralds, it's a minimal sacrifice. The Heatshiver helm allows the use of cold damage to deal fire damage, adding an extra layer of scaling. To maximize cold damage, the Cold Mastery debuff is utilized. It causes enemies you shatter to spread Frost, increasing the cold damage they receive. The Bonechill Support further elevates the cold damage by enhancing the debuff. In tandem with a well-structured curse setup, your damage output reaches formidable levels. The Complex World of Critical Strikes This is where the build becomes pricier and more complex. Suzu employs three Voices jewels, allowing for extensive customization of the passive tree. The build focuses on Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, which grants critical strike chance to Heralds. These costly clusters also provide an opportunity to enhance your area of effect, which would otherwise be limited. Notably, Herald of Ice does not expand further as its gem levels increase. The piece de resistance of this intricate structure is a unique jewel known as "Impossible Escape." It enables the allocation of passives in the vicinity of a particular keystone without the need for direct pathing. In this case, Suzu incorporates the Elegant Hubris timeless jewel, which dramatically alters the nearby passive nodes. Elegant Hubris transforms these notables into a 10% generic damage boost per frenzy charge or power charge. By acquiring all these notables, the build achieves a colossal damage increase, approximately 440% more damage. Furthermore, Pain Attunement is converted into Supreme Ostentation, which allows the disregard of attribute requirements on gear. To maximize this, small passive allocations are directed toward tattoos instead of attributes. A Fragile Yet Potent Defense In this audacious build, your most robust defense is to shed your fear. Fear is the mind-killer, the little-death that leads to obliteration. The key to surviving lies in releasing fear and allowing it to pass through you. A portal, linked to Cast on Death, is your final safeguard. Suzu520 has crafted a meme glass cannon build, renowned for its immense power and minimal survivability. As Suzu humorously states, "With great power comes no survivability." However, the immense damage output is undeniable. With skilled evasion and dodging, it's entirely possible to defeat Uber Bosses with nothing but your army of worms and your tactical wit. In the world of Path of Exile, Suzu520's Herald of Ice Wormblaster build is a testament to the creative and daring spirit of the player community. While it may not be the most conventional approach, it certainly offers a thrilling and unique gameplay experience.

In the realm of Path of Exile (PoE), anticipation is mounting as players gear up for the exhilarating challenges presented by the Path of Exile 3.22: Trial of the Ancestors League. As players prepare to navigate this uncharted terrain, the Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build emerges as a formidable contender, promising an intriguing journey through its mechanics and capabilities. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of the Path of Exile 3.22 start build, providing insights into its mechanics, skill tree, and recommended gear. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be poised to triumph over the trials of the Trial of the Ancestors League. Overview of POE 3.22 Hexblast Ignite Starter Build: A Glimpse into the Pros and Cons Pros: - Exceptional clearing speed - Offers a thrilling gameplay experience - Encompasses comprehensive utility Cons: - Single-target damage reduction - Increased currency requirement in later stages At the core of the Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build lies the Hexblast spell, which triggers the detonation of linked curses on enemies, dealing substantial damage contingent on the number of curses inflicted. Although Hexblast underwent a slight nerf, it remains a potent choice for League starters. This build eliminates the need for specialized weapons to amplify your DPS, making it well-suited for beginners. The majority of required items can be found on the ground, with only two items demanding a minor investment. Thanks to its ignite mechanics, the Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build showcases impressive potential with ignite proliferation – a particularly advantageous feature in the Heist league. While it may not be the fastest build available, its flexibility empowers players to tackle various content with ease. Optimal Gears for Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build 3.22 - Weapon 1: Rebuke of the Vaal, Vaal Blade - Weapon 2: Aegis Aurora, Champion Kite Shield - Amulet: Jacle Amulet - Ring: Doedre’s Damning, Paua Ring - Belt: Pyroshock Clasp, Leather Belt - Flasks: Granite Flask of the Tortoise, Masochist’s Silver Flask of the Ibex, Physician’s Quartz Flask of the Petrel, Abundant Quicksilver Flask of the Catfish, Effervescent Divine Life Flask of Sealing Skill Gems that Enhance the Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build: - Tempest Shield, Vitality, Determination, Infernal Cry, Malevolence - Lifetap, Faster Casting, Flammability, Flame Dash - Flame Surge, Arcanist Brand, Wave of Conviction, Lifetap - Molten Shell, Lifetap, Cast when Damage Taken - Temporal Chains, Blasphemy, Vaal Smite - Hexblast, Burning Damage, Combustion, Deadly Ailments, Inspiration, Ignite Proliferation Mastering the Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build: The Art of Progression and Pantheons Ascending through the ranks with the Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build requires a thoughtful approach to progression. Starting with Holy Flame Totem and Magma Orb, players can transition to Armageddon Brand as they level up. The true power of Hexblast becomes accessible at level 28, allowing players to unleash its potential to devastating effect. The ascendancy choices of Instruments of Virtue and Sanctuary are pivotal in bolstering your build's prowess. Why Opt for the Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build in POE 3.22? - Harnessing Hexblast's Strength: Hexblast is the cornerstone of this build, igniting enemies with its curse-based explosions. Inquisitor's elemental damage synergies complement this mechanic seamlessly. - Calculated Chaos: Hexblast releases beams that ricochet between foes, inflicting curses and damage over time. Inquisitor's bonuses amplify hex-based ignites, making this build highly effective. - Scaling for Success: This build thrives on gem levels and gear enhancements, embracing increased elemental damage, spell damage, and area of effect. The synergy between Hexblast and Inquisitor's attributes ensures a potent combination. - Versatility in Combat: The Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build excels in both clearing speed and boss damage, thanks to ignite proliferation from Hexblast chains. Choosing the Ideal POE 3.22 Starter Build: Your Path to Triumph - Field Testing: Before committing to a League starter, thoroughly test your build in actual gameplay. Relying solely on Path of Building (PoB) theorycrafting or adopting endgame builds without considering early mapping and leveling capabilities may lead to setbacks. - Harmonizing with League Mechanics: Familiarize yourself with the upcoming league mechanic to determine if your chosen build aligns with its demands. - Synergy with Content: Select a build that complements your preferred playstyle and suits the content you intend to tackle during the league. Whether your focus is on mapping, boss encounters, or specific league mechanics, your build's compatibility is paramount. - Avoiding Uncharted Territory: Refrain from untested abilities, classes, or unique items lacking community feedback. - Leveraging POE Ninja: Analyze successful builds from previous league starts to gauge their popularity and effectiveness. Top 3 Recommended POE 3.22 League Starter Builds: Rising to the Challenge of the Trial of the Ancestors League As the Path of Exile 3.22: Trial of the Ancestors League beckons, consider these potent builds to embark on your journey: 1. Venom Gyre Deadeye 2. Ignite Ethereal Knives 3. Tornado Shot Berserker As the Trial of the Ancestors League unfolds, the Hexblast Ignite Inquisitor Build stands as a beacon of versatility and power. With a strategic approach to gear, skill gems, and leveling, this build promises a rewarding experience in PoE 3.22. As you weigh your options among the top recommended builds, remember that your path to triumph awaits, and the choice is yours to make.