Grinding Gear Games has revealed Path of Exile 2 update 0.5.5, which will launch on September 4 at 1PM PDT / 4PM EDT. This update introduces the limited-time Forbidden Rites event league alongside significant changes to the Trial of Chaos, faster Atlas progression, and several new endgame activities. Complete patch notes will be released closer to the update’s arrival.
Forbidden Rites will spread Ritual encounters throughout every area of the campaign. Players will discover Ritual sites occupied by enemies guarding mysterious effigies. After defeating the enemies, players can activate the effigy to resurrect their fallen opponents and battle them again while dangerous plagues affect the surrounding area.
Completing these encounters generates Tribute that can be exchanged for different rewards. Party members will now earn their own Tribute and spend it individually, preventing one player from claiming all the available items. Unique clusters of Ritual Effigies will also appear on the World Map and offer special rewards.
Ritual encounters will continue into the endgame, where players can obtain a Sacred Bloom and use it to add a Wildwood entrance to a map. Inside the Wildwood, players will have a limited amount of time to collect Primal, Vivid, and Wild Wisps. These Wisps empower monsters in different ways, increasing the difficulty of encounters while improving the potential rewards. A rare fourth variety called the Sacred Wisp can also be discovered.
Forbidden Rites includes eight event challenges, with objectives such as completing campaign Rituals, defeating named Rare Monsters, and reaching level 90. Players can earn four exclusive cosmetic rewards and a commemorative Hideout Statue.
Update 0.5.5 also delivers an extensive overhaul of the Trial of Chaos. Players will be able to pause the Trial between rooms and return later to continue their run. Objectives have been simplified to focus more heavily on defeating enemies, while new Wager Modifiers introduce additional risk-and-reward decisions.
Endgame Trials can now extend to 30 rooms, with the difficulty and rewards increasing throughout the run. Players who reach the later rooms can obtain all three Trialmaster Fragments during a single attempt. New Abyssal Ravines will also appear across the Atlas, with players who reach the final map receiving a guaranteed Abyssal boss encounter.
Path of Exile II is currently available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
