While the new expedition system is undoubtedly the biggest draw of Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame, it’s far from the only reason this update has caught my attention. Grinding Gear Games is making sweeping changes across the game, from bringing back fan-favourite mechanics to overhauling endgame systems and introducing some long-requested quality-of-life improvements.
One of the returning features is the Mercenaries of Trarthus, which are now becoming a permanent part of the core game. From Act 3 onwards, players will be able to challenge honour-bound warriors to duels, with victory rewarding not only their equipment but also their temporary service in battle. Mercenaries fight alongside you without increasing monster life or affecting item rewards, making them genuinely useful companions rather than a drawback.
The system has also been expanded significantly. Mercenaries encountered in Maps can now leave behind Warrants, allowing players to summon that same warrior again in future Maps, complete with their signature abilities and an entirely new equipment set. Those Warrants can even be traded with other players, while full Atlas Passive Tree and Scarab integration gives players much greater control over how often Mercenaries appear and the rewards they provide.
Grinding Gear Games is also introducing a brand-new Ascendancy for the Scion. The Luminary is built around commanding Mercenaries, letting players permanently recruit, equip, and customise their companions. It looks like a fun alternative for players who enjoy having allies on the battlefield, and the addition of new Mercenary variants, including one hidden within the new underwater expeditions, should help keep the system feeling fresh.
The endgame is also receiving some serious attention. Abyss has been completely reworked, replacing the old mechanic of chasing cracks around the map with encounters that begin immediately from open pits. The new version looks far more fluid, with corrupted enemies feeding souls into the encounter before culminating in a battle against Kulemak’s forces. Alongside the gameplay changes, Abyss becomes the exclusive source of Abyssal Jewels and Stygian Vises, while also gaining a new Pinnacle Boss, updated Atlas passives, fresh Scarabs, and exclusive Unique rewards.
Legion is getting a similarly substantial refresh. The biggest addition is Vestigial Unique Items, with Legion Generals now able to drop Enshrouding Crystals that transfer modifiers between Unique Armour pieces. Encounters themselves have also been streamlined, with less waiting around, larger Splinter stacks to reduce unnecessary clicking, and a much clearer reward tracker throughout each run.
Grinding Gear Games hasn’t stopped there either. Atlas Anomalies introduce entirely new optional encounters that can appear after completing Voidstone-influenced Maps. These self-contained events revisit familiar mechanics such as Heist, Expedition, Sacred Grove, and Reflecting Mists, while also bringing back characters like Cadiro Perandus. Better still, they don’t require players to spend another Map to access them, making them feel like worthwhile bonus content rather than another grind.
Now onto the main reason I’ll personally be diving into this league: the complete overhaul of coloured sockets.
As someone who started with Path of Exile 2, I’ve always found going back to the original Path of Exile a little awkward because of the old socket system. Having to find gear with the right links and socket colours often felt like an unnecessary hurdle, and, if I’m being honest, it’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve struggled to properly get into the game.
Thankfully, that’s changing hugely. With Curse of the Allflame, you’ll be able to socket any skill gem into linked equipment regardless of its socket colour. The coloured sockets themselves aren’t disappearing, but instead of restricting which gems you can use, they’ll now provide bonuses when the socket colour matches the skill you’ve equipped. To me, this feels like the best of both worlds. It removes one of the game’s biggest barriers for newer players while still giving veterans a reason to optimise their gear.
Spellcasting as a whole is also receiving plenty of love. Intelligence-focused Ascendancies are being improved, caster staves are getting stronger, and elemental archetypes are being given clearer identities. The update also introduces Pacts, a new class of Exceptional Skill Gems that dramatically changes the behaviour of self-cast spells in exchange for powerful demonic drawbacks. If these work as well as they sound, I can already imagine players coming up with some incredibly creative builds.
Finally, there are two new cosmetic Supporter Pack collections, The Plague and Remidus. Both include their full value in points alongside armour sets, weapon skins, pets, portals, hideouts, and plenty of other cosmetics inspired by their respective themes. As always, they’re entirely cosmetic and won’t affect gameplay, with every item also carrying over to Path of Exile 2.
Overall, Curse of the Allflame is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious Path of Exile expansions in recent memory. Whether you’re interested in the new underwater expeditions, the refreshed endgame, or quality-of-life improvements like the revamped socket system, there’s a lot here to be excited about. For me, though, that socket overhaul is the feature that finally gives me a reason to jump into Path of Exile without feeling like I’m fighting the game’s systems before I’ve even started.
For full patch notes, visit: Path of Exile.com
