Path of exile expansion, Atlas of Worlds, and therefore the accompanying essence challenge league. Here are the ten things that basically stood out on behalf of me when speaking with him, from new content to performance improvements. So, let's talk maps.

1. The expansion has an end-game focus.

Chris mentioned that this newest expansion would have an end-game focus, as current end-game players may feel a touch underserved. Now, experienced players will have a replacement thanks to occupy their time in Wraeclast.

2. Zana plays a task.

You remember Zana, right? She's your favorite Master Cartographer and one among the eight forsaken masters. Zana will encourage you to explore the maps, determine how they're being created, and – most importantly- discover who's creating them.

With Zana involved, you'll probably assume this expansion is all about maps. You assumed correctly!

3. Maps are changing.

Before, a map was a single-use item that allowed you to access a randomized instance. Well – that's technically not changing, but now there's tons more thereto . Once you complete a map, it'll be marked on your Atlas. What's the Atlas? It's a map for your maps, of sorts. Maps now hook up with each other , and that they all cause one compass rose within the middle. Hmm – that seems important? I'll talk a touch more that later.

As you'll see on the Atlas, there are different map types. There are maps located during a graveyard, maps located in forests, and so on. Certain new items may only drop by certain map areas.

Oh, you'll now use an Orb of Alchemy to upgrade your map to a better tier. You'll use a Shaper's Orb to upgrade a map on the Atlas by five levels. An Orb of Alchemy are often wont to add upgrades to a map, as seen during this screenshot, but the tier remains an equivalent .

There's also a Cartographer's Sextant, which you'll use to use certain mods to a map on your Atlas. Once applied, a red circle will appear on your Atlas, and it'll tell you exactly what mods are applied to the maps within the circle. it'd be great, it'd be horrid. Either way, the mods will remain on the chosen maps for five visits.

4. Maps are being added and revamped.

Previously, there have been 70 maps within the game. In Atlas of Worlds, there are 30 more, and therefore the previous maps are being upgraded. Chris described the prevailing map tiers as a pyramid shape, with tons of lower-tier maps, but less mid-tier instances. As you'll see on the Atlas, there are now less low-level maps and tougher encounters.

And I haven't even talked about the map design. it's amazing. It's amazing.

5. The new maps look really awesome. Like, really awesome.

Let's face it, Wraeclast may be a little gloomy. The new maps, however, are vibrant, dream-like, colorful, vivid, and just wonderful. I saw an oasis with lush grass and pools of water. I saw red rock mesa (a favorite of Chris) with bright rocky cliffs. I saw pools of lava, oceans, and plenty of variety.

Chris mentioned that these new maps were the planning team's first dive into height changes. By that, I mean you'll be high on a rampart fighting enemies and see other creatures and paths down below. Eventually, you'll be ready to descend from the high wall and explore the world you were previously viewing from above.

He also mentioned the new juxtaposition between indoor and outdoor areas. a replacement random generator will combine these two areas within the map worlds, mixing the order of city structures with the organic nature of cliffs and ravines. Very cool.

6. There are new map bosses.

19, to be exact. i used to be introduced to Sumter the Twisted, a boss of fireside and ice that presents tons of unique challenges – mainly that fighting him is like fighting two separate bosses directly . (Also, his name is Sumter – like summer and winter. Grinding Gear Games is funny.)

As you advance through of these map encounters, battling boss after boss, you'll eventually find yourself within the single golden compass rose within the middle of the Atlas. There's someone there – the controller of maps himself.

7. You're going after the Shaper.

Yes, the Shaper is that the figure highlighted within the above game trailer. We don't know an excessive amount of about him – just that he's very powerful, he hates the important world, and he features a weird beard. He's hiding call at the void, and you're coming to urge him.

Unfortunately, it's not that easy.

8. The Four Guardians substitute your way.

The Shaper has four guardians protecting his hideout, and you'll got to defeat all . Each guardian encounter is essentially a tier 16 map, and completing the map will offer you a key. The four guardian keys are often combined to access the Shaper. It's worth mentioning that these keys are often traded.

The guardians are the hydra, the phoenix, the minotaur, and therefore the chimera. i used to be ready to view a touch of the fight with the Guardian of the Phoenix, and every one I can say is – good luck. there have been fire tornadoes and fire phoenixes everywhere. (Also, something cool, the Guardian of the Phoenix's armor are going to be an available cosmetic during a Supporter Pack.)

So, you've got new maps, new bosses, a terrifying new foe, plenty of new items – what else could you want? How a few new challenge league.

9. The new challenge league is all about essence.

In the three-month Essence League, you'll encounter groups of monsters trapped in several sorts of essences. By breaking them out and defeating them, you'll steal their essence and craft powerful items. Essences will have different tiers and different rarities, and therefore the sort of essence will impact the monster's fight mechanics. Pretty cool, right?

But, there's more thereto . When lecture Chris, he emphasized one thing about the Path of Exile community. You all like risks. Rolling the dice and having a potentially awesome scenario or a potentially horrifying scenario are some things players enjoy. So, there's many that within the Essence League.

When you apply an essence to an item, it'll replace the item's mods – for better or for worse. you'll have an honest head piece that you're curious about upgrading with an essence – but you would possibly lose the item's awesome mods and truly add on a couple of unfavorable ones also . the selection is yours.

Also, there's a touch something called Remnant of Corruption. This item will corrupt a monster trapped in essence, modifying it unpredictably. within the example i used to be shown, a Screaming Essence of Wrath was modified to also include an Essence of Anguish. The monster are going to be harder to beat now, but you'll get double the rewards.

Of course – there are risks. I saw an example of a Screaming Essence of Misery modified into a Screaming Essence of Horror. This caused all the monsters round the player to unfreeze and begin attacking the player. The worst part? No essences dropped from any of the monsters.

10. this is often the simplest game performance of any release yet.

Grinding Gear Games has multi-threaded Path of Exile's game engine to require full advantage of CPUs. In larger fight situations, your frame rate might be twice as high – counting on your PC.

This new expansion is strictly what end-game players are expecting , and it's only a couple of weeks away. If you're curious about learning more about Path of Exile, make certain to prevent by the Path of Exile Wiki on Gamepedia. It includes plenty of awesome content about in-game items, microtransactions, bosses, and more.