Summary
2024 has been a big year for Grinding Gear Games, as it marked the release of two Leagues forPath of Exile 1and then the early access debut ofPath of Exile 2.Path of Exile 2is considered one of the best action RPGs on the market even though it’s still very much incomplete, something that GGG is and will be working on until the title is ready for its full release. Initially, GGG promised that it would develop both games simultaneously, alternating Leagues and major patches forPoE 1withearly access updates forPoE 2. As the company recently admitted through a video featuring Jonathan Rogers, this wasn’t possible. Still, despite the lack of a new League, February 20 will be a big day forPath of Exile.
The first League forPath of Exile 2may be a long time coming, as it’s not guaranteed to debut with patch 0.2.0, butPath of Exile 1has been stuck on Settlers of Kalguur for over 200 days. With its current duration being over 29 weeks, Settlers of Kalguur isPath of Exile 1’s longest League ever, and GGG decided to put together an event for fans as an apology. This event, starting February 20, is called Legacy of Phrecia, and it will feature 19 totally new Ascendancy classes themed around the game’s lore and mechanics.
Why Path of Exile’s Legacy of Phrecia Event is a Big Deal
WhileLegacy of Phrecia is not meant forPath of Exile 2, it doesn’t mean that it won’t eventually inspire somePoE 2event or League further down the line. More importantly, this is the first piece of new content forPath of Exilein a long time, and even as an apology event, it’s one of the most refreshing additions to the game. This is becausePoE 1has been around for almost 12 years, or even 14 counting the closed beta that started in 2011, and Ascendancy classes have been roughly the same for almost nine years now.
PoE 1’s Legacy of Phrecia Event Explained
Legacy of Phrecia doesn’t bring a major balance patch that dramatically shifts the meta, but rather it introduces 19 never-before-seenAscendancy classesfor players to toy with and make new builds that fill different niches. These 19 Ascendancies are a game-changer not only because of their novelty, but also because they use interesting concepts that would probably never make it into the game for regular classes or Ascendancies, includingPath of Exile 2.
A great example of this is the HarbingerAscendancy for the Witch, which is based entirely on the beings introduced in the respective League in 2017. Considering that Harbingers have canonically been enemies, even though a few Summon Greater Harbinger skills exist for players to use these beings as allies, it’s an interesting spin to play this Ascendancy. Likewise, the Marauder has access to the Antiquarian Ascendancy, which is all about using the effects of ancient artifacts as the class' power-ups. These are just examples of how Legacy of Phrecia will breathe new life intoPath of Exile.
Why Path of Exile 2 Players Shouldn’t Sleep on PoE 1’s Legacy of Phrecia Event
GGG has already confirmed that thealternate Ascendancy classeswill return in the future for private Leagues. Though the event will last for a month, with GGG being open to the idea of extending it based on player feedback and reception, it will also include some rewards that make playing this event all the more worthwhile - even forPoE 2players. At levels 20, 40, 60, and 80, players will receive pieces of the unique cosmetic Autumn Knight armor set, which will be usable in both games and won’t be made available for purchase. On top of that, players will also be able to get Twitch Drops during the first week of the event. As such,Path of Exile 2players shouldn’t sleep on Legacy of Phrecia, andPath of Exile 1fans will get some good new content, making it a win-win situation.
