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Path of Exile 2 is currently in late early access, one of the most crucial stages before officially entering version 1.0. ExileCon 2026 is not only an offline gathering for players, streamers, and the development team, but also plays a vital role in announcing the game's future direction.

However, before ExileCon officially takes place, the developers have arranged multiple rounds of the Path of Exile 2 Race Qualifier, allowing players worldwide to compete for a spot in the on-site Race Finale.

This event, ostensibly a speedrun competition, is actually a concentrated test of Path of Exile 2's current class balance, resource management, and route planning. For ordinary players, the competition among professional players doesn't necessarily mean replicating their builds or completion times, but the game understanding demonstrated is a crucial window into understanding the core mechanics of PoE2.

What is ExileCon Qualifier?

Path of Exile 2 ExileCon Qualifier consists of four rounds, each with the same objective: players must progress through the campaign from scratch in a specific environment - Solo Self-Found, Runes of Aldur, and a fixed map layout - and be the first to defeat Tavakai in Act 4.

While not Hardcore, character death incurs a penalty, rendering the character immobile for two and a half minutes. For professional players vying for first place, this penalty almost guarantees disqualification from the championship with a single serious mistake.

The specific times for the four Qualifier rounds are as follows:

• Qualifier 1: August 6th, 2 PM PDT
• Qualifier 2: August 13th, 2 PM PDT
• Qualifier 3: August 20th, 2 PM PDT
• Qualifier 4: August 27th, 2 PM PDT

That is to say, the first three rounds have concluded, and the final online qualifier will be held on August 27th. The official tournament page confirms that players who have won the Qualifier once cannot win subsequent rounds; therefore, the four finalist spots will ultimately be awarded to different players.

Rewards: More than a Championship Title

The winner of each Qualifier round will receive full qualification to attend ExileCon in New Zealand. The official rewards include:

• Round-trip airfare to Auckland
• ExileCon weekend accommodation
• Path of Exile 2 Race Finale qualification
• Ultra VIP ExileCon ticket
• A Demigod's Virtue Unique Helmet

Therefore, this competition is essentially a direct route for players to ExileCon main stage online.

The tournament also has strict streaming requirements. Participants must connect their Path of Exile 2 accounts to Twitch and stream the entire competition. This means the competition is not just player-versus-player content, but also a complete live esports event. For the developers, this allows them to showcase the game's depth, top player skill, and the entertainment value of PoE2 simultaneously.

What can you learn from the pros?

What ordinary players can learn most is not which build professional players ultimately used, but how they handle game information.

Learn to Accept Imperfection

Gear in competitions is often not ideal. Professional players quickly assess drops based on actual loot, rather than waiting for perfect gear. Ordinary players can learn from this: if a piece of gear is sufficient for a character's progress, there's no need to linger too long on theoretically optimal affixes.

Especially during character development, the rational allocation of PoE 2 currency is equally important. Instead of investing all resources in gear that isn't immediately usable, prioritize addressing the issues that most currently impact map clearing efficiency and survivability.

Reduce Ineffective Actions

Many PoE2 campaigns don't directly help players achieve their current objectives. Because it's a speedrun, professional players constantly ask themselves: Is this area necessary? Is this monster worth killing? Is this chest worth opening? Is this gear worth stopping to compare? This mindset also applies to ordinary players.

Build Your Character Around Your Core Skill

Professional players don't invest all their abilities evenly. Instead, they focus on getting one core damage-dealing mechanic up and running as quickly as possible, then build around it for survivability, resources, and mobility. For average players, this means avoiding frequent build changes based on new skills. A simple build with consistent damage output is usually more effective than a character that's constantly experimenting but never quite reaching its full potential.

Route Knowledge is Power

Many efficiency gains in Path of Exile 2 don't come from damage numbers, but from a familiarity with the map, quests, and bosses. Someone who knows where to go next, even with a less-than-ideal build, is likely to be more efficient than a player with higher damage output but who keeps getting lost.

Risk Management

Because death incurs a two-and-a-half-minute immobility penalty, professional players can't blindly pursue maximum speed. They need to judge when it's worth taking risks and when to reduce them. While average players don't have the same strict time pressure, this mindset still applies to high-difficulty maps and most endgame content: if a failed adventure would result in a significant time loss, then slightly slowing down and improving survivability is often more worthwhile.

Overall, ExileCon Qualifier was more than just a speedrun competition for ExileCon qualification; it also showcased the competitive potential of Path of Exile 2 before its official 1.0 release. For average players, the most valuable aspects of the competition were learning from their route selection, resource management, and risk assessment. These details are what truly make speedrun competitions worth paying attention to.

In Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, there are some exceptionally rare items that represent the ultimate goal for many builds and can be worth hundreds of Divine Orbs.

Let's take a look at the endgame Unique items in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0 that require no complicated crafting and can drop directly, with values ranging from dozens to several thousand Divine Orbs. They are still a long way from a Mirror of Kalandra, but they remain highly desirable targets.

Here are 10 items most worth chasing in the endgame:

1. Bursting Decay Unset Ring
2. Choir of the Storm (Level 20 Lightning Bolt)
3. Right of Passage Series
4. Headhunter
5. Palm of the Dreamer
6. Prism of Belief Diamond
7. Mageblood
8. Runeseeker's Call
9. The Last Flame and Temporalis
10. The Gnashing Sash

10. Bursting Decay Unset Ring

Bursting Decay is an entry-level endgame Unique item that can randomly drop during Atlas content when exploring Corrupted Nexus areas. However, it cannot be obtained by gambling with an Orb of Chance.

An Uncorrupted Bursting Decay, regardless of whether it is identified, is currently worth around 40 Divine Orbs.

It is useful for life-stacking physical damage builds, but this playstyle is not particularly mainstream in the current League, so overall demand remains relatively low.

9. Choir of the Storm (Level 20 Lightning Bolt)

Choir of the Storm can randomly drop by defeating Breach Bosses and the additional monsters around them. It also cannot be obtained by using an Orb of Chance on a normal Jade Amulet.

The most important special effect of Choir of the Storm is that Critical Damage can ignore enemy Lightning Resistance, while also allowing Lightning Bolt to trigger.

A standard Choir of the Storm has little value. The real target is a version with Level 20 Lightning Bolt. An Uncorrupted version that naturally has the level 20 Lightning Bolt modifier is worth around 50–60 Divine Orbs.

If the boss drops a corrupted version, or if Lightning Bolt is below Level 20, its value drops significantly.

8. Right of Passage Series

Right of Passage has a chance to drop when Rare Monsters or Unique Bosses possessed by the corresponding Animal Spirit are defeated.

It always provides 15% increased Rarity of Items found and automatically triggers when you kill a Rare or Unique enemy. Once triggered, you become possessed by an Azmeri Spirit for 10–20 seconds and gain the special effect associated with that Spirit.

Right of Passage drops with a fixed Spirit variant, and the actual combat effects vary significantly between versions. Spirit of the Stag is worth around 80 Divine Orbs, while Spirit of the Cat is worth around 255 Divine Orbs.

An Uncorrupted version can have its duration modified to 18–20 seconds with a Divine Orb, and versions with this duration are worth more.

7. Headhunter

Headhunter has a chance to drop directly from monsters in any map content, provided the monsters meet the required level.

The value of an Uncorrupted version has been gradually declining and is currently around 70–80 Divine Orbs.

It can also have a chance to appear when using Remnants during Expedition to craft Rare Belts or Unique items.

Another option is using an Orb of Chance on a Heavy Belt. However, the success rate is extremely low, at roughly 1/2,000 to 1/3,000, so this method is not recommended.

A more efficient approach is combining Ritual with Head of the King. Since Headhunter can appear directly in Ritual Favours shop, this provides a more targeted way to farm it than simply running maps.

6. Palm of the Dreamer

Palm of the Dreamer is an extremely powerful Scepter that causes slain enemies to explode, dealing Chaos Damage equal to 25% of their maximum Life. This can significantly improve clear efficiency while farming maps.

Palm of the Dreamer drops directly in an Uncorrupted state. You need to corrupt one of the following three base Scepters to obtain it:

• Guiding Palm of the Heart
• Guiding Palm of the Eye
• Guiding Palm of the Mind

Corrupting any one of these has approximately a 3% chance of transforming it into Palm of the Dreamer. These three base Scepters are worth around 1.5 Divine Orbs, while Palm of the Dreamer is currently valued at 80–220 Divine Orbs.

5. Prism of Belief Diamond

Prism of Belief can only drop from The Arbiter of Ash. It randomly selects a skill and increases its skill level.

An Unidentified version is worth around 50 Divine Orbs. Once identified, however, its value can vary enormously depending on the resulting modifier.

A +1 modifier for an unpopular skill may bring its value down to less than 1 Divine Orb, while a +3 modifier for a meta skill can potentially push its value above 1,000 Divine Orbs.

4. Mageblood

Mageblood provides effects through Charms equipped on Utility Belt, allowing it to simultaneously provide substantial defensive mechanics, ailment protection, and resistances. Its value is around 280 Divine Orbs.

Like Headhunter, Mageblood can drop from monsters throughout the game, but Expedition and Ritual are the best ways to target it. It is also not recommended to use an Orb of Chance on a Utility Belt, since the odds are far too low.

3. Runeseeker's Call

Runeseeker's Call can enhance socketed Runes, and its value has risen from around 400–600 Divine Orbs early on to approximately 1,300 Divine Orbs.

You first need to obtain a Depleted Mana Rune, then charge it into an Infused Mana Rune. After reaching 10,000 Mana to complete the required objective and finishing the remaining Farrow objective, you can obtain Runeseeker's Call.

Completing the required objectives requires a substantial investment, and each character can only obtain it once. Farming it therefore requires creating multiple alt characters, which makes the item particularly valuable.

Instead of creating the alt and wasting a lot of time, you can directly buy PoE 2 Currency at PoEcurrency.com and trade with other players. Farming the boss and completing the quest yourself could take dozens of hours.

2. The Last Flame and Temporalis

The Last Flame is a Unique Incense Relic. Completing the challenge with it causes Zarokh, the Temporal to drop Temporalis.

Temporalis is dropped by Zarokh, the Temporal in Trial of the Sekhemas, and the chance is extremely low. Its direct value is around 3,500 Divine Orbs.

Obtaining Temporalis is also extremely difficult. In addition to using The Last Flame, you must defeat Zarokh, the Temporal without losing Honor, meaning you need to finish the fight with 1 Honor remaining. Otherwise, The Last Flame will be consumed.

Unless you have a highly specialized build and extensive practice, using The Last Flame yourself is not recommended.

1. The Gnashing Sash

When equipped, The Gnashing Sash allows Flask recovery to exceed your maximum Life, temporarily giving you more recovery than your Max Life and creating an additional Life buffer.

It also increases Flask Charges gained and Flask Life Recovery, making the mechanic easier to sustain.

The Gnashing Sash can only drop from Corrupted Boss in Corrupted Nexus. It is extremely rare, and very few players list it. Its value is around 3,500–4,500 Divine Orbs.

Obtaining these items either requires a substantial amount of currency, an extremely powerful build, or both. However, most of them do not drop consistently, so they are best viewed as additional rewards that can appear while farming.

Discussions about Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 have been heating up recently, with the most pressing question for players being: Will GGG add a new class to this patch?

Let's start with the conclusion: the probability of Patch 0.5.5 directly adding a class isn't as high as some might think. Rather than releasing a test class early, the official team is more likely to use Gamescom on August 25th at 11 AM as a major promotional event to showcase the direction of the official PoE 2 Patch 1.0 release.

However, don't despair! GGG has a history of skillfully building suspense at major events, and new classes, new gameplay, and demo content are all possible glimpses at Gamescom.

But considering the overall pacing, 0.5.5 seems more like a tweaking update paving the way for the official release; the real big content will likely be saved for 1.0.

New Content Predictions

For many PoE 2 players, Gamescom has become a crucial window into the future direction of PoE 2.

Looking back at previous events, the official team does have a habit of releasing playable demos of classes at exhibitions. The most typical example is Druid class; before its official release, a playable build was offered at this exhibition, allowing players to experience the class early.

However, the showcase build underwent numerous adjustments between the demo and the final release. Early showcases were more about demonstrating the direction of development than the final product.

Therefore, the appearance of playable content at Gamescom is expected. However, what GGG will ultimately choose to show remains to be seen.

Currently, new chapter content is unlikely to be a focus. This is because the story experience of PoE 2 is a major selling point of the full release, especially later chapters. Revealing too much too early could easily diminish the sense of exploration for players on their first playthrough.

New Class?

Necromancer

Speaking of new classes, one of the most discussed topics in the community is Necromancer.

After all, in the eyes of ARPG players, summoner builds always hold a special place. Many players also hope that PoE 2 will add this classic class. However, judging from the current official design of PoE 2 class system, the possibility of Necromancer being added is not very high.

This is because PoE 2 and PoE 1 have different understandings of class roles. In PoE 1, a character's final style largely depended on their Ascendancy class. For example, a Witch could go through different Ascendancy paths to Summoning, Elemental, or other routes, with the class itself bearing a significant role in theme creation.

But PoE 2 aims to reduce this limitation. The developers hope that players will create their own playstyles through skill selection, gear combinations, and talent paths, rather than being fixed in a certain gameplay framework simply by choosing a class.

This direction seems to offer more freedom, but it has also sparked considerable discussion among players.

Passive Tree Limitations

Many veteran players loved PoE 1, largely because of its extremely high degree of freedom. You could see many strange builds, such as a character who seemed destined to charge with a shield, but ended up being played as a Summoner or Spellcaster.

PoE 1's Passive Tree allowed players to traverse vast areas to find the attributes and nodes they needed, which was one of the game's greatest charms.

However, things changed in PoE 2. Because of the adjusted Passive Tree structure, a character's starting point has a more significant impact on gameplay direction. If a character wants to switch to a completely unique system, they need to invest more resources.

For example, a melee class wanting to play a summoner build isn't theoretically impossible, but it might require a significant investment of resources, including substantial PoE 2 Currency, and even special equipment. This results in some playstyles existing but not as natural as in PoE 1.

This is why Necromancer class is controversial. If the developers insist on letting skills determine gameplay, they might not design a separate summoner specialization class, but continue to adjust the system, allowing players to create summoner builds through combinations.

Templar and Duelist

While the possibility of Necromancer is low, player speculation about the new class hasn't stopped. Currently, the two most discussed directions are Templar and Duelist.

Templar has always been a class many veteran players have been hoping for. This class itself possesses very distinct elements of strength, faith, and holiness; if added to PoE 2, it could greatly expand melee and support gameplay.

Especially with the addition of more new weapon systems in the second generation, many players are eager to see how the developers will design paladin-style characters.

However, based on recent demonstrations, a Duelist-oriented approach is also highly probable. Previous footage showed two-handed swords and daggers, leading many to speculate that the developers might prioritize a new, more agile, melee-focused class.

Compared to a traditional summoner class, sword and dagger classes are more likely to showcase combat differences in gameplay demonstrations and are better suited to a large-scale event like Gamescom.

Transitional Update

The answer to whether a new class will be added in 0.5.5 is likely to be no.

Of course, GGG could still choose this approach, as a new class would help boost testing activity and attract more players to get beta access. However, from a development and marketing perspective, a single class is unlikely to sustain a major update on its own.

To make it impactful enough, it needs to be bundled with more content, which could disrupt the developers' current schedule for Patch 1.0.

In contrast, releasing a class, new gameplay, and a large amount of new content in Patch 1.0 would have a stronger impact. The official launch of PoE 2 is a significant milestone. A larger initial launch attracts more streaming platforms, content creators, and new players.

For a long-running ARPG, the initial buzz is crucial. Once a community and content ecosystem are established, the game's influence will continue to grow.

Therefore, it seems likely that Patch 0.5.5 will focus more on balance adjustments and system optimizations, while Gamescom will showcase the future direction of Patch 1.0.

If GGG really wants to create a surprise, they might announce a new class at Gamescom.

However, more than a new class, players are probably more concerned with whether Patch 0.5.5 can demonstrate the overall plan for the official PoE 2 release and what direction the game will take in the future.