#New Zealand #Path of Exile 2 #Grinding Gear Games #West Auckland #Druids

Path of Exile 2: Unleashing the New Update

Grinding Gear Games has announced an exciting campaign to celebrate their upcoming update to Path of Exile 2, titled "The Last of the Druids," set to release on December 13, 2025. This campaign will feature a free weekend play session where players can enjoy the game without any cost while also engaging in exclusive promotional events that reward participation.

Free Weekend Play Overview

From 4 AM on December 13 until 4 AM on December 16, players can dive into the world of Path of Exile 2 available on platforms including PC, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic Games Store. This limited-time offer is the perfect opportunity for new players to experience the depths of the game alongside returning fans.

Special Rewards from Campaigns

Starting December 13, players can partake in two special campaigns to unlock unique rewards by completing various conditions:

Twitch Drops Campaign

During the campaign, players can earn exclusive rewards by watching Path of Exile 2 streams on Twitch. Here are the specifics:

• - Week 1 (December 13 - December 20): Rewards include the Blood Moon Wolf Pack Skill Effect and Mask of the Vaal for watching a Path of Exile 2 category channel for a total of 3 hours.
• - Week 2 (December 13 - December 20): Rewards include the Atziri's Royal Cache Stash Skin under the same watching conditions.
• - Support Streamers (December 13 - December 27): Players who subscribe or gift a total of 2 subscriptions during the campaign will receive The Red Queen's Portal.

For more insights on the Twitch Drops, players can refer to this explanation video.

Discord Quest

A simple yet rewarding challenge awaits in the Discord Quest during the same period. By playing Path of Exile 2 for 15 minutes, players can earn a special Discord avatar, enhancing their online presence with themed imagery.

Update Highlights: The Last of the Druids

The latest update introduces an all-new class, the Druid, featuring three powerful shapeshifting forms and unique weaponry known as Talismans. These transformations allow players to unleash ferocious powers:

• - Wolf: Freezes enemies and leads devastating packs into battle.
• - Bear: Charges with accumulated Rage and crushes all in its path using the move “Maul.”
• - Wyvern: Ascends above the battlefield, unleashing devastating attacks of lightning, fire, and aerial bombardment.

In human form, the Druid wields the power of the earth and storms, summoning volcanoes, ensnaring foes with roots, and striking with lightning. Notably, the Druid can deploy a new skill called Spell Totem, allowing players to set up totems that autonomously cast chosen spells for a certain period.

Within the Druid class, two ascendant classes provide further customization:

• - Shaman: Amplifies elemental destruction by consuming Rage and harnessing ancient runes for advanced builds. Investing in Bringer of the Apocalypse activates multi-attribute storms that can overpower any enemy.
• - Oracle: Utilizes the Foresight node to predict enemy movements, enhancing skill damage based on foresight accuracy and accessing over 130 new passive skills, including unique abilities like Self Sacrificing and Corruption Endures.

Gameplay Enhancements and Balance Adjustments

The update brings over 30 new support gems, significantly expanding build diversity. Moreover, it introduces 11 new unique items alongside a substantial balance overhaul of dozens of existing unique items. Players seeking detailed patch notes can find them here.

New League: Fate of the Vaal

In the new league titled Fate of the Vaal, players face the legacies of the Vaal as they construct temples and battle the Royal Architect, culminating in a fight against the new pinnacle boss, Queen Atziri. Customization of temple layouts, uncovering multiple unique room types, and engaging with a new Vaal crafting system enhance the thematic experience.

Among the exciting mechanics is the Juatalotli’s Triumph, allowing players to rewrite corrupted Vaal unique items, as well as other relics and mechanics that boost gameplay in innovative ways.

Dive into the Abyss

Abysmal mechanics are now part of the permanent gameplay content, integrated into endgame through Atlas passives and enhanced tablets. While some complexities have been removed, such as Abyss crafting with waystones, upgrades and enhancements have made elements even more powerful.

For more details about the highly anticipated Path of Exile 2: The Last of the Druids and the associated campaign, visit the official page here and check out the media kit here.

About Grinding Gear Games

Founded in 2006 and based in West Auckland, New Zealand, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) is known for its diverse team background from AI and software security to industrial design and professional gaming. GGG has remained committed to delivering continuous updates and new content for their acclaimed title Path of Exile, alongside the upcoming early access of Path of Exile 2 in 2024.