If you are looking for the latest PoE2 patch notes, here is the short version. At the time of writing, the newest PoE 2 patch I could find is 0.5.5e, released on October 5, 2026.
It sits on top of the 0.5.5 “Forbidden Rites” update, which launched on September 4, 2026. The next big milestone is the 1.0 full release on December 11, 2026.
So what did those updates truly change? How can you read PoE 2 patch notes without drowning in 200 bullet points? What did the old PoE 2 0.3 patch notes introduce? And how do patch notes for the original PoE work? I’ll explain all this in the rest of this tutorial. Finally, we examine how patches change prices, as that is where the vast majority of players make or lose money.
Where to Find the Official PoE 2 Patch Notes
The only place that is always right is the official Path of Exile forum. Grinding Gear Games uploads every patch for PoE 2 under the Early Access Patch Notes area, with the version number in the thread title, e.g. “0.5.5e Patch Notes.”
Third party sites are great if you want a summary or a search box or a tidy look. Readable breakdowns are published by Maxroll, Game8, Mobalytics and the community wiki. Use them to get a feel for the notes, but visit the official thread for the stuff that actually matters, like the number on a skill you’re about to spend currency on.
How to read the version number: In 0.5.5e, the 0.5 part is the major content update, the .5 is the patch inside it, and the letter is a hotfix. A patch marked “restartless” is deployed without restarting the servers, so you may only need to restart your client to get it.
Latest PoE 2 Patch Status
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Newest patch found | 0.5.5e (October 5, 2026) |
| Current content update | 0.5.5 “Forbidden Rites” (September 4, 2026) |
| Current event league | Forbidden Rites (Standard, Hardcore and Solo Self-Found versions) |
| Previous major update | 0.5.0 “Return of the Ancients” (late May 2026) |
| Next milestone | 1.0 full release, December 11, 2026 |
What did the last hotfix do? This is a cleanup patch for 0.5.5e. It also added a Texture Quality setting for low VRAM machines, repaired a bug where killing certain bosses would prevent Ritual encounters from starting, fixed access to the Tomb of the Fallen Knight, and fixed slow-loading regions and missing artwork on a Sovereign Hideout decoration. Nothing significant, however if you have an older graphics card, there is a texture setting worth testing.
PoE 2 Patch History
PoE 2 has advanced significantly since it launched into early access on December 6, 2024. So you can put whatever patch note you read . Here is a short schedule of the key content updates .
| Version | Name | Roughly when | What it was known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | Early Access launch | December 2024 | The first public release, followed by many small hotfixes |
| 0.2 | Dawn of the Hunt | Spring 2025 | A large rebalance and a long set of class and gear changes |
| 0.3 | The Third Edict | August 29, 2025 | Support gem and crafting changes, plus new endgame maps |
| 0.5 | Return of the Ancients | Late May 2026 | The largest update so far, with the Runes of Aldur league |
| 0.5.5 | Forbidden Rites | September 4, 2026 | Trial of Chaos rework and a fresh event league |
| 1.0 | Full release | December 11, 2026 | Free to play, new class, final campaign acts |
Exact dates can differ slightly by region and by source, so use the official forum thread when you need a precise day.
PoE 2 0.5.5 Patch Notes: Forbidden Rites
The 0.5.5 update arrived with the Forbidden Rites event league and a very long list of changes. Instead of repeating all of it, here are the parts most players actually felt.
A reworked Trial of Chaos: This was the headline. The Trial of Chaos now has 30 rooms, scaling in difficulty and rewards as you progress. Added wager modifiers, optional risks that pay out more if you survive them. Rewards are now currency or Soul Cores and corrupted objects are no longer a possible reward. It also made death less punishing, you don’t lose all you’ve acquired up to that point.
Ritual changes: You can now build an extra altar on a map containing more than one Ritual Tablet, if there is space to do so. It also increases the number of Azmeri Wisps you collect in the Viridian Wildwood. A new noteworthy on the Atlas tree called Royal Lenience affects the way Tribute donated to the King can be spent.
League and mechanic tweaks: Expedition Tablets can be found in Standard and in the Forbidden Rites league (but not in the Runes of Aldur league). The Deadliest Hunt Atlas passive was changed so Rogue Exiles have a better chance to carry unique items.
Soul Cores and uniques: Several outside breakdowns reported a major reshuffle of Soul Cores, with new ones added and others reworked. If you build around Soul Cores, read that section of the official notes line by line.
Why it matters for traders: the shift toward currency and Soul Core rewards from the Trial of Chaos can change what is common and what is scarce. We cover how to spot that in the market section below.
After 0.5.5 launched, hotfixes 0.5.5b, 0.5.5c, 0.5.5d and 0.5.5e followed. These fixed things like Expedition not spawning naturally in the endgame, a questline blocker after the Arbiter of Divinity fight, and Azmeri Spirit manifest chances.
PoE 2 0.3 Patch Notes: The Third Edict
Many players still search for poe 2 0.3 patch notes (or type it as “poe 2 .3 patch notes”), because 0.3 changed how the game feels in a lasting way. It launched on August 29, 2025, and it was only the second major early access update, so it set the tone for a lot of what came later.
Here are the big pieces:
Support gems became more flexible: Before 0.3, a support gem could only be used on one skill at a time. After the change, the same support gem can be used across multiple active skills. That alone opened up many new build ideas.
Crafting got tiers: Currency orbs gained regular, Greater and Perfect versions. The tier of the orb affects the tier of the modifier you roll, so a Perfect Transmute aims at the best modifier tier. This applied to Augments, Regals, Exalts and Chaos Orbs. Essences also got four tiers: Lesser, Regular, Greater and Perfect, with Lesser Essences found more often during the campaign.
New endgame content: With Act 4 and the Interlude Acts, the Atlas gained about 25 new endgame maps, and the Atlas tree sections for Breach, Delirium, Expedition and Ritual gave their first two points earlier through a simpler quest instead of a pinnacle boss fight.
Quality of life. The full notes also included many small improvements that players still use today:
- Skill and persistent buff gems can be sold to vendors for gold, based on level and quality.
- Holding Ctrl when you pick a character logs you straight into town or your hideout.
- Checkpoints can warp you to the area’s waypoint, as well as to other checkpoints.
- Omens can stack up to 10.
- Uncut skill, support and reservation gems can be traded through the Currency Exchange.
- Unarmed attacks gained a 5% base critical hit chance.
Ascendancy changes: 0.3 touched many ascendancies. For example, Warbringer’s Answered Call gained an extra summoned totem, and Deadeye’s Called Shots started applying marks to nearby enemies passively.
If you only play the current version, you do not need to memorize 0.3. But if you read an older build guide that mentions “pre-0.3” or “post-0.3,” this is the update it means.
What Is Coming Next: PoE 2 1.0
Grinding Gear Games announced that Path of Exile 2 reaches 1.0 on December 11, 2026. At that point the game leaves early access and becomes free to play on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The 1.0 update is expected to bring the final two campaign acts and a new Duelist class built around swords. Anyone who already bought into early access gets the full game with no extra cost.
For you, that means the next set of PoE 2 patch notes will probably be the biggest since 0.5.0. A flood of new players also tends to move prices, so keep our PoE 2 trade guides handy before launch day.
PoE Patch Notes for the Original Game
“PoE patch notes” can mean either game, so here is the quick version for Path of Exile 1.
PoE 1 versions use a 3.x numbering, such as 3.29.0b. A new number like 3.29 usually means a new challenge league and a big content patch, while the letters mark follow-up fixes.
- 3.28 Mirage launched on March 5, 2026, with major changes to the Atlas and endgame, a new league mechanic and new gems.
- 3.29 Curse of the Allflame launched on July 24, 2026. It brought back mercenaries as a core league mechanic, revamped Abyss, Legion and Talisman systems, and added the Luminary ascendancy for the Scion.
- After launch, 3.29 got several patches. The latest patch notes thread I found in the official PoE 1 section was 3.29.3b from September 4, 2026.
PoE 1 notes are posted in the Patch Notes section of the official forum, and big content patches are also announced in the Announcements section.
Curious how the original game’s story and history shaped things? Our post on what Path of Exile 3.0 was explains the Fall of Oriath expansion.
How Patch Notes Change the Market
This is the section most guides skip, and it is where the real value is. A patch note is not only a list of changes. It is a map of which items will gain or lose value.
Here is how to read a patch with your wallet in mind:
- Look for buffs to skills or ascendancies. A strong buff often creates a new popular build within days. Gear for that build gets more expensive, usually fast.
- Look for nerfs. If a popular build is nerfed, the items it needs often drop in price, and sometimes recover later when players adapt.
- Check drop and reward changes. When a mechanic gives more of one currency or item, that item usually gets cheaper. When it gives less, the price often climbs.
- Look at crafting changes. New crafting methods change the value of base items, orbs and essences.
- Compare before and after. Open the economy page on Poe Ninja and watch the numbers over the next few days. Our guide to the Poe Ninja economy shows how to read the charts without being fooled by thin listings.
Want to go deeper into trading itself? Start with how to trade in PoE, then read our analysis on whether PoE trade is slowing down to understand why activity changes between patches.
One more practical tip: after a patch, test a build in Path of Building before you buy expensive gear. If you are not sure how to move an item over, our walkthrough on copying an item from PoE trade into PoB takes about two minutes. If you want build ideas, our PoE 2 builds section pairs Poe Ninja data with notes on cost and difficulty.
How to Read Patch Notes Without Wasting an Hour
Big patches can run to hundreds of changes. You do not need to read every line. Try this order:
- Start with the summary or headline section. GGG usually leads with the most important changes.
- Search for your class, ascendancy or main skill with Ctrl+F.
- Search for your key items. If you own an expensive unique, check it directly.
- Scan the endgame and league sections. These decide what you will farm.
- Skim the bug fixes last. Most are minor, but the occasional fix removes a known exploit or unlocks something you were stuck on.
- Watch for the words “restartless” and “hotfix.” They tell you whether you need to restart the game or wait for downtime.
FAQ
What are the latest PoE2 patch notes? As of October 25, 2026, the newest PoE 2 patch I found is 0.5.5e from October 5, 2026, which follows the 0.5.5 Forbidden Rites update. Check the Early Access Patch Notes section of the official forum for anything newer.
Where can I read PoE 2 patch notes? The official Path of Exile forum has every PoE 2 patch in its Early Access Patch Notes section. Maxroll, Game8, Mobalytics and the community wiki also publish readable summaries.
What did the PoE 2 0.3 patch notes add? Version 0.3, called The Third Edict, launched on August 29, 2025. It let the same support gem be used on multiple skills, added tiered currency and essences, introduced about 25 new endgame maps, and included many quality-of-life changes.
When does Path of Exile 2 1.0 release? December 11, 2026. The game goes free to play on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at that time, with a new Duelist class and the final campaign acts.
What do the letters in a patch number mean, like 0.5.5e? The first numbers show the major update and patch. The letter marks a follow-up hotfix, so 0.5.5e is the fifth fix-up release after 0.5.5.
Are PoE patch notes the same for PoE 1 and PoE 2? No. Each game has its own patch notes, its own version numbers and its own forum section. PoE 1 uses 3.x versions, while PoE 2 uses 0.x versions until 1.0.
How do patch notes affect prices? Buffs usually raise demand for the gear a build needs, nerfs lower it, and changes to drops or crafting shift the value of currency and base items. Check Poe Ninja and live trade listings after each patch.
Hello! My name is Jennifer Allaway. I’m a narrative designer and writer living in the greater Seattle area of Washington! I broke into the game industry with landmark research on the prevalence of sexism in the game industry and it’s impact on game content. When I finally made the leap into development, I completed contract work on several successful indie games, including IGF Narrative nominee Unavowed, 2064: Read Only Memories and Shardlight
