Path of Exile 3.27 “Keepers of the Flame” is a dark, ambitious sequel to the Breach league, launching October 31, 2025. It introduces grotesque body-mod mechanics, a full Breach overhaul, 10 new Ascendancy classes, and major quality-of-life upgrades.
League Theme: A Sequel to Breach
Keepers of the Flame is Path of Exile’s first-ever sequel league, continuing the story of the 2016 Breach expansion. The Breachlords are no longer confined to their realms—they’re invading Wraeclast with terrifying constructs and corrupted zones. Players join forces with Ailith, leader of the Order of the Keepers of the Flame, to push back the invasion.
- League Mechanic: In Breach-infested zones, players must protect Ailith as she channels the Flame to purge corruption. These encounters are dynamic, with objectives ranging from defending hives to destroying Breach constructs.
- Narrative Depth: The lore expands on Breach’s cosmic horror roots, with new voice lines, journals, and world events tied to the Keepers’ struggle.
Body Modification System
One of the most striking additions is the body-modification mechanic, inspired by Elden Ring’s grotesque aesthetics.
- Grafting System: Players can graft body parts onto their Exile, gaining powerful buffs and altering gameplay. These modifications are earned through Breach encounters and rituals.
- Fleshy Gear Growth: Instead of crafting gear traditionally, players can grow organic equipment with warped stats and unpredictable affixes.
- Risk vs Reward: Some mods come with trade-offs, such as boosting damage at the cost of movement speed or resistances.
10 New Ascendancy Classes
The update introduces 10 new Ascendancy classes, each tied to the Keepers’ bloodlines. These offer fresh build diversity and synergy with the new mechanics.
- Bloodline Themes: Each class represents a different Keeper lineage, with unique passive trees and interactions with body mods.
- Examples:
- The Foulborn: Focuses on corruption and chaos damage.
- The Incarnate: Enhances Breach interactions and kinetic skills.
- The Emberguard: Specializes in fire and purification mechanics.
Breach 2.0 Overhaul
Breach is no longer a simple portal-based encounter. It’s been reimagined with new objectives, enemy types, and loot systems.
- Construct Hives: Breach monsters now build hives that must be destroyed before they spawn overwhelming waves.
- Boss Encounters: Breachlords appear more frequently and have new mechanics, including multi-phase fights and environmental hazards.
- Loot Rework: Breach loot tables have been updated to include body-mod materials, new uniques, and currency bundles.
Gameplay & System Changes
Several major system upgrades arrive with 3.27:
- Asynchronous Trading: Players can now list PoE items and complete trades without being online at the same time—a long-requested feature.
- Tier 17 Maps: These new endgame maps offer enhanced modifiers for item quantity, rarity, and monster density.
- Atlas Tree Updates: The Genesis Tree introduces new Breach nodes, body-mod crafting options, and boss encounter enhancements.
- Quality of Life:
- Improved stash tab sorting.
- New crafting filters.
- Heist rogue leveling rework.
Combat & Skill Gems
Combat gets a kinetic upgrade with new skill gems and support options:
- Kinetic-Flavored Skills: Borrowed from PoE2’s design, these skills emphasize movement, momentum, and combo chaining.
- New Gems:
- Flame Pulse: A fire-based AoE that scales with body mods.
- Hivebreaker: A Breach-specific skill that deals bonus damage to constructs.
- Blood Surge: Buffs attack speed and life leech based on grafted organs.
League Start Tips
To get ahead in Keepers of the Flame, consider these strategies:
- Early Breach Zones: The Mud Flats are infested from Act 1—prepare for tough fights early.
- Crafting PoE Currency: Stockpile Chaos and Divine Orbs for fleshy gear experimentation.
- Ascendancy Exploration: Try out new bloodline classes early to find synergy with grafting and Breach mechanics.
- Atlas Planning: Focus on Breach nodes and boss enhancements for optimal progression.
Key Dates
- Reveal Livestream: October 23, 2025, with Twitch Drops enabled.
- League Launch: October 31, 2025, on PC and console.
Final Thoughts
Keepers of the Flame is one of the most ambitious updates in PoE’s history. It blends horror, innovation, and deep customization into a league that rewards experimentation and risk. Whether you’re a veteran or a newcomer, this is a perfect time to dive into Wraeclast’s darkest chapter yet.
