Ever wondered how your favorite ARPG evolved over the last decade? Well, grab some snacks, and let's dive into a decade-long journey of Path of Exile, right from its release in 2013 to the present day. From its initial release to the present day, we're covering all the major expansions and game-changing updates! It's a story of constant innovation, thrilling expansions, and a game that's grown with its community.

 

• The Humble Beginnings (2013)
• Laying the Groundwork (2014)
• Big Bangs and Whispers (2015)
• A Whirlwind of Innovation (2016)
• The Dawn of a New Era (2017)
• The Year of Game-Changers (2018)
• Experiments and Excitement (2019)
• Unleashing New Realms (2020)
• The Year of Adjustments (2021)
• Peaks and Valleys (2022)
• Embracing the Present (2023)
• A Decade of Constant Expansion
• Looking Forward

 

 

↖ The Humble Beginnings (2013)

Back in 2013, Path of Exile made its grand debut. Launching with the Dominus boss fight, the introduction of the Scion class, and two challenging leagues - Domination and Nemesis - it set the stage for a journey full of excitement and constant growth.

 

↖ Laying the Groundwork (2014)

 

Sacrifice of the Vaal:

Kicking off with a bang, 2014 saw the release of the Sacrifice of the Vaal expansion. This wasn't just a mini expansion; it was a game-changer. It introduced PoE's first real endgame boss, Queen Atziri, along with the corruption concept, Ambush (hello, strongboxes!), and Invasion leagues (where monstrous mobs made surprise appearances in your maps).

 

Forsaken Masters:

Next up, Forsaken Masters brought the Master missions concept and introduced a heap of Masters with their unique, sometimes maddening missions. Remember Rampage and Beyond leagues? Yep, they were part of this expansion, giving us kill streaks and demonic bandits leaping out of corpses.

 

Torment and Bloodlines:

Wrapping up the year, we got Torment and Bloodlines leagues. Ghosts buffing monsters in Torment, and Bloodlines adding new pack modifiers - quite the thrill!

 

 

↖ Big Bangs and Whispers (2015)

 

The Awakening:

2015 started with a roar with The Awakening. We're talking a whole new Act IV, the introduction of Jewels, the much-needed lockstep feature to tackle desync, and the Divination card system. Warbands and Tempest leagues added their unique twists, and let's not forget about item filters and map changes.

 

Talisman:

Later in the year, Talisman league crept in. This league was a bit divisive, with azurite talismans powering up monsters (and you, if you defeated them). Chris Wilson may have loved it, but it wasn’t everyone's cup of tea.

 

↖ A Whirlwind of Innovation (2016)

 

Ascendancy:

2016 was a year of non-stop action, starting with the Ascendancy expansion. This update brought Ascendancy classes, offering three archetypes per class (except Scion). The Lord's Labyrinth was introduced, a true test of skill and perseverance, rewarding successful Exiles with powerful passives. The Perandus League, alongside its quirky character, Cadiro Perandus, brought a new trading dynamic to the game.

 

Prophecy, Atlas of Worlds, and Breach:

Following that, Prophecy league introduced Navali and her prophecies, while the Atlas of Worlds expansion redefined endgame content with a structured map system, the Shaper, and his Guardians. Breach league, with its simple yet addictive mechanics, closed the year on a high note, alongside significant engine updates.

 

↖ The Dawn of a New Era (2017)

 

Legacy League and 3.0:

2017 kicked off with the Legacy League, a grand homage to PoE's past 17 leagues, and the perfect build-up to the monumental 3.0 update. Legacy was all about reliving and supercharging those classic leagues for both veterans and newcomers. And let's not forget - solo self-found mode made its debut!

 

The Fall of Oriath:

Then came the big one, The Fall of Oriath. Dropping six new acts, it flipped the game on its head - no more difficulty modes, just a straight shot from Act 1 to 10 into the endgame. The community lost its collective mind with excitement! This update revamped everything from the character select screen and Pantheon system to the Harbinger Challenge League, introducing ethereal invaders and new currency types.

 

↖ The Year of Game-Changers (2018)

 

Bestiary and Uber Elder:

2018 started with a roar with Bestiary League. Remember our favorite beastmaster, Einhar? This league was all about capturing beasts (Pokémon vibes, anyone?) and using them for crafting. The big talk was the Uber Elder fight, a challenging clash against the Elder and Shaper. Talk about an adrenaline rush!

 

Incursion and Delve:

Then came Incursion, where we met Alva Valai and traveled back in time to influence the present – super cool! Delve was another massive hit, introducing the Azurite Mine, a seemingly endless dungeon that tested the limits of every exile.

 

Betrayal:

Wrapping up 2018 was Betrayal, which reworked the Forsaken Master system. It introduced a web of syndicate members to manipulate, leading up to a showdown with the mastermind Katarina. It also brought unified crafting, impale mechanics, and the beloved skill gem Winter Orb.

 

↖ Experiments and Excitement (2019)

 

Synthesis and Legion:

2019 was a year of experimentation. Synthesis had a rough start but was an ingenious concept combining crafting and mapping. Legion, on the other hand, was a hit with its simple yet engaging "break monsters out of crystal stasis" mechanic. It also revamped melee combat, making Cyclone a fan favorite.

 

Blight and Metamorph:

Blight mixed things up with tower defense gameplay, introducing Sister Cassia. Then Metamorph allowed us to play mad scientist, creating our own bosses for unique rewards. It was like playing with monster Lego blocks!

 

Conquerors of the Atlas:

The year ended with a bang – Conquerors of the Atlas reshaped the endgame, replacing the Elder and Shaper with new bosses and introducing Watchstones to the Atlas.

 

↖ Unleashing New Realms (2020)

 

Delirium and Harvest:

In 2020, Delirium brought the Mirror of Delirium, adding extra challenges and rewards. Harvest was a crafting paradise, offering unprecedented control over item crafting, and it was a hit with the community.

 

Heist:

Heist League added a fresh twist, with Rogue Harbor and heist missions offering new gameplay dynamics and a treasure trove of unique items.

 

↖ The Year of Adjustments (2021)

 

Echoes of the Atlas and Ritual League:

2021 started with a bang! Echoes of the Atlas introduced the maven, a challenging new endgame boss, alongside the Ritual League, a beloved bartering reward system. The addition of the atlas passive trees and watchstones transformed how we interacted with the atlas, while 11 new maps spiced up our adventures.

 

Ultimatum and Expedition Leagues:

Ultimatum followed, introducing a high-risk, high-reward mechanic, and Expedition League brought a treasure hunt vibe with new NPCs, bosses, and bartering mechanics. But hold your horses, because 3.15 was a game-changer, implementing a significant balance update that toned down the overall power level of characters. It was a controversial move, but GGG stood their ground.

 

↖ Peaks and Valleys (2022)

 

Siege of the Atlas and Arc Nemesis:

2022 kicked off with Siege of the Atlas, a massive endgame revamp featuring a single atlas-wide passive skill tree and four new Pinnacle bosses. The Arc Nemesis League added the ability to create loot-pinata monsters, a mechanic met with mixed reactions.

 

Sentinel and Lake of Kalandra Leagues:

Sentinel League brought in robot companions to amp up the loot and challenge. However, Lake of Kalandra was a different story – it's widely regarded as one of PoE's least popular leagues. The combination of Atlas memories and new uniques couldn't save this league from its underwhelming reception.

 

↖ Embracing the Present (2023)

 

Crucible and Trial of the Ancestors:

In 2023, PoE continued its innovation streak. Crucible League introduced the Forge mechanic, allowing us to add passive skill trees to weapons. Then, Trial of the Ancestors shook things up with an auto-battler league mechanic, alongside new Atlas keystones to rejuvenate various playstyles.

 

Anticipation for Affliction:

As we look ahead, Affliction League is poised to drop soon, promising to be another ambitious update. The community is buzzing with speculation, hoping for a grand update to close out the year.

 

↖ A Decade of Constant Expansion

Over the past 10 years, Path of Exile has seen an incredible 33 expansions! Each brought something unique, from new items, monsters, and crafting systems to innovative rewards and boss fights. Let's highlight a few key milestones:

 

• The Shrines from Domination: Revolutionized gameplay mechanics.
• Head Hunter from Nemesis: Became one of the game's most coveted items.
• The Awakening: Introduced jewels, adding depth to the passive tree.
• Atlas of Worlds: Brought in the Shaper and his Guardians, changing endgame dynamics.
• Breach League: Added a new dimension with breach stones.
• Betrayal: Overhauled the Master system and added safehouses.
• Conquerors of the Atlas: Introduced the fearsome Sirus and conquerors, along with Metamorph Catalysts and Awakened Gems.
• Echoes of the Atlas and Ritual League: Brought new endgame challenges and mechanics.

 

↖ Looking Forward

As we anticipate the upcoming 3.23 Affliction expansion, there's a lot to be excited about. What's your favorite expansion? Which one impacted your gameplay the most? The journey continues, and the future of Path of Exile looks as thrilling as ever!