0.5.0|May 22, 2026
View on Steam↗Content Update 0.5.0 — Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients
5/5 Game-Changing
Runes of Aldur league arrives alongside the Martial Artist and Spirit Walker Ascendancy classes and a massive Origins of Divinity endgame overhaul.
Key Changes
- 1New Runes of Aldur challenge league featuring Remnant crafting and Verisium currency
- 2Two new Ascendancy classes: Martial Artist (Monk) and Spirit Walker (Huntress)
- 3Origins of Divinity endgame overhaul with a 300+ node Atlas Passive Tree
- 4Introduction of the Masters of the Atlas progression system
- 5New Runic Ward defense system and Verisium Runeforging
- 6Leech mechanic rework with a 40,000 damage cap per hit
- 7Fate of the Vaal league mechanic integrated into the core game
- 860+ new Unique items added including Mageblood and Facebreaker
- 9Complete revamps for Delirium, Breach, and Ritual league mechanics
- 10Campaign length reduced and progression flow improved for replayability
All Changes
⚔️Runes of Aldur League(17)
- newRunes of Aldur League: Introduced the Runes of Aldur league featuring Remnant crafting encounters.
- newVerisium: Added Verisium metal as a new currency dropped by Remnant monsters.
- newFarrow: Added new NPC Farrow with 4 campaign quests to unlock crafting features.
- newVerisium Runeforging: Introduced Verisium Runeforging to add Runic Ward to armours.
- newRunic Ward: Added Runic Ward, a new defense that protects players when they reach 1 life.
- newAlloy Currency: Added 13 Alloy currency items to replace existing modifiers on items.
- newUnique Verisium Runeforging: Added Unique Verisium Runeforging to upgrade base types of low-level unique armours.
- newAncient Runes: Added 13 Ancient Runes with powerful weapon-specific bonuses.
- newMythical Runes: Added 13 Mythical early game runes for level 15+ characters.
- newFluxes: Added 3 Fluxes to transform item resistances between elements.
- newCrafting Runes: Added 15 Meta crafting runes and 60+ runes created by destroying uniques.
- newRunic Ward Runes: Added 15+ Runic Ward Runes to modify Runic Ward properties.
- newKalguuran Skills: Added 21 Kalguuran Skills including Animus Exchange, Skyfall, and Voltaic Barrier.
- newKalguuran Supports: Added 8 Kalguuran Supports including Fist of Kalguur and Scouring Flame.
- changeExpedition Remnants: Converted Expedition Remnants into Runes of Aldur Remnants.
- newOcean Exploring: Added 'The Ruins of Kingsmarch' hub area and Ocean Exploring mechanic for logbooks.
- newFaction Leaders: Added Medved, Vorana, and Uhtred as new Faction Leaders in the Ocean.
🗺️Endgame Overhaul(8)
- newOrigins of Divinity: Introduced the Origins of Divinity storyline and the Fortress system.
- changeAtlas Passive Tree: Expanded the Atlas Passive Tree to over 300 nodes; points are now gained via Fortress maps.
- removeAtlas Tree Respecialization: Removed Atlas Tree respecialization as the entire tree can now be fully allocated.
- newAncient Modifiers: Added 40+ Ancient Modifiers that can appear on maps outside the fortress.
- newArbiter of Divinity: Added the Arbiter of Divinity as a new Pinnacle Boss.
- newMasters of the Atlas: Introduced Masters of the Atlas system with Jado, Hilda, and Doryani providing unique bonuses.
- newMaps: Added 30 new Endgame Map Areas.
- changePinnacle Bosses: Pinnacle Bosses now have deterministic quest versions and repeatable farm versions.
🌟Ascendancy Classes(7)
- newMartial Artist: Added the Martial Artist Ascendancy Class for the Monk, focusing on illusions and unarmed combat.
- newSpirit Walker: Added the Spirit Walker Ascendancy Class for the Huntress, utilizing spectral companions.
- buffBlood Mage: Vitality Siphon (Blood Mage) now grants 20% Spell Damage Leeched as Life (was 10%).
- changeChronomancer: Reworked Chronomancer: Removed Rapid River, added Now and Again (20% Echo/Repeat chance) and Phased Form.
- nerfChronomancer: Inevitable Agony (Chronomancer) damage reduced from 50% to 25% of Hit Damage, but duration increased to 12s.
- nerfPathfinder: Overwhelming Toxicity (Pathfinder) now grants 50% less Poison Duration (was 35%).
- nerfWitchhunter: Obsessive Rituals (Witchhunter) now grants 50% less Armour and Evasion (was 35%).
⚙️Gameplay Systems(6)
- buffBleed: Bleed damage on players is no longer increased while moving.
- nerfLeech: Leech is now limited to a single instance per resource; hits above 40,000 damage are capped at 40,000 for leech calculations.
- changeDeflect: Adjusted Deflect formula and capped chance to Deflect at 95%.
- changeCampaign: Shortened multiple campaign areas and rearranged Act 3 for smoother progression.
- newBuild Guides: Added support for .build files to allow players to download and follow community build guides.
- changeWaystones: Waystones must now be identified before they can be activated in the Map Device.
🌀League Mechanics(5)
- newFate of the Vaal: Integrated Fate of the Vaal into the core game with a new Atlas Passive Tree.
- changeDelirium: Delirium updated with a progress bar, Grand Mirrors, and the Trial of Madness mechanic.
- changeBreach: Breach updated with the Genesis Tree crafting system and Stabilised Breaches.
- changeRitual: Ritual updated with the Rite of the Nameless mechanic and 'Audience with the King' sacrifice.
- removeExpedition: Expedition League and Recombinators have been temporarily disabled.
💎Items(3)
- newUnique Items: Added 60+ new Unique items including Mageblood, Facebreaker, and Loreweave.
- newLineage Supports: Added 21 new Lineage Support gems.
- newSupport Gems: Added Minion Splash and Minion Splash II Support Gems.
Summary
The Return of the Ancients expansion marks the first major content update for Path of Exile 2. It introduces the Runes of Aldur challenge league, featuring a new crafting system centered around Verisium and Runic Ward defenses. The update also delivers a comprehensive overhaul of the endgame via the Origins of Divinity system, which introduces a 300-node Atlas Passive Tree, the Masters of the Atlas progression system, and several new Pinnacle Bosses. Players can now access two new Ascendancy classes—the Martial Artist (Monk) and Spirit Walker (Huntress)—alongside 60+ new Unique items and significant reworks to core mechanics like Leech and Deflection.