När börjar den nya ligan i PoE 2: Utgivningsdatum för patch 0.4.0, ny karaktärsdruid och mer

The new PoE Patch 0.4.0 is just around the corner, and plenty of rumors have already started circulating around it. In this blog, I’ll break down everything that is currently known about the upcoming update. This information is based on public comments from GGG developers as well as their post-launch interviews with ZiggyD.

Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.4.0: Release date

The new Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.4.0 The Last of the Druids will be released on December 12 (PST) on PC and consoles. And, as usual, GGG will host an official livestream where you’ll be able to learn more about the upcoming update, check out the patch notes, and ask questions directly to the developers. All of this will take place during the official broadcast on December 4 at 11:00 AM PST. GG Live will begin on December 4 at 11:00 AM PST.

During GGG Live, the team will reveal all details about the new Path of Exile 2 content update. After the main presentation, Jonathan and Mark will join ZiggyD for a Q&A session, followed by the full patch notes release.

As always, Twitch Drops will be enabled during the livestream and will run for several days. The rewards haven’t been announced yet, but GGG will reveal them soon. Co-streaming will also be allowed.

Players will be able to jump into The Last of the Druids starting December 12 at 11:00 AM PST on all platforms.

Additionally, starting December 12 (PST), the game will be free to play for three days. This will give players full access to all currently available Path of Exile 2 content, including The Last of the Druids update.

Path of Exile New Character Druid

Credit: X(@pathofexile)

In his interview with ZiggyD, Jonathan mentioned that the Druid was almost ready back in Patch 0.3, but its release was delayed due to unfinished animation work for Rise of the Abyssal. The team now believes that the class is very close to being finished. Jonathan and Mark also noted that adding swords after the Druid would be the logical next step, even calling their absence at this stage of development almost a “crime.” In the first Path of Exile, swords are traditionally tied to the Duelist, so it’s reasonable to assume that this will be the next new class — though it’s unlikely to appear in Patch 0.4 and is expected later.

It’s quite possible that Patch 0.5.0 or more likely Patch 0.6.0 will introduce the Duelist along with sword mechanics. However, it’s still too early to be certain, as there is very little information, and the developers are currently balancing work on multiple projects at once. This is precisely why patch releases are taking longer and the full launch of the game continues to be pushed back.

PoE Patch 0.4.0: Endgame Rework

In their interview, Mark and Jonathan mentioned that they want Patch 0.4.0 to be much more focused on endgame content. According to them, the current endgame progression system and many existing league mechanics need stronger narrative grounding and better integration into the overall endgame structure. Because of this, PoE Patch 0.4.0 is expected to introduce more story-driven elements tied to unlocking and progressing through endgame content, along with a more coherent narrative connection to league mechanics players are already familiar with.

Some of these changes can already be seen in Patch 0.3.0: the exile frees Tangmazu, the Delirium trickster god, in Act 4, which directly links the player to the Delirium mechanic. Rise of the Abyssal also introduced adjustments — such as the removal of towers and updates to tablets — which can be seen as an early preview of the direction the endgame might take in Patch 0.4.0.

Trial of the Ancestors — Ascension Trial

While discussing the release of Patch 0.3.0, the developers mentioned that TOTA was originally planned for that update, but due to time constraints, it had to be postponed. Even now, parts of the required content — maps, zones, assets, and animations — are already partially present in the “Eye of Hinekora” area in Act 4. Moreover, the large arena where you meet Hinekora is essentially the Trial of the Ancestors arena from the first Path of Exile. Jonathan noted that the team would like to include the full TOTA in Patch 0.4.0, but there are no guarantees — if development timing becomes an issue again, this feature may be delayed once more.

Abyss as a Core Mechanic

The developers have already confirmed that the Abyss mechanic will become a permanent part of the game’s core systems. However, the exact level of its integration in Patch 0.4.0 is still unclear. Some features and items from Patch 0.3.0 may be too strong or too weak for the core experience in their current state, so balance adjustments are very likely. What is certain, though, is that the Abyss mechanic is here to stay.

PoE 0.4.0 New Ascendancies

Jonathan also mentioned that several ascendancies originally planned for Patch 0.3.0 weren’t finished in time. There is still no official confirmation, but it seems likely that some — or even all — of these ascendancies may appear in Patch 0.4.0. The most probable candidate is the “Martial Artist,” the third Ascendancy for the Monk, which has already surfaced through artwork leaks and datamined files.

New League Mechanic in PoE Patch 0.4.0

This topic is still purely speculative. Some players believe the new league mechanic could be Delve, mostly due to old datamined assets and a few hints found in the mines on Goblin Island that reference Niko. However, there have been no official statements confirming this. The only thing the developers have stated for sure is that all league mechanics in the beta will be updated or reworked versions of mechanics from the original Path of Exile.

Based on that, the list of possible candidates includes:

• Delve
• Heist
• Blight
• Harvest
• Bestiary
• Settlers (Kingsmarch)
• Betrayal
• Beyond (partially already present through Corruption Zones)
• Harbinger
• Legion
• Incursion
• and other mechanics

So all we can do now is wait for December 4 and the official livestream on twitch.tv/pathofexile, where we’ll finally see what the new league looks like and what exactly awaits us in Patch 0.4.0.