When Does New PoE 2 League Starts?

Many players have been waiting, and finally the developers have announced the release of a full-fledged league in Path of Exile 2. Before this, there was something like a trial launch with a league called Dawn of the Hunt. But very soon a proper league will begin, bringing back the familiar atmosphere from the first game. Let’s take a closer look at when the league sarts and what we can expect from it.

New PoE 2 League Release Date

The league officially launches with the release of the biggest patch in the game’s history — 0.3.0 on August 29, 2025. The end date for Rise of the Abyssals League has not yet been announced. However, it is confirmed that this league will feature unique drops that can only be obtained by completing its exclusive content.

Very important information for those who haven’t played PoE 2 yet but would like to try it without buying: from August 29 to September 1 you will be able to play the new league for free, test all of its mechanics, and decide whether you want to continue playing or if the game is not for you.

Story of Rise of the Abyssals League

The story of the new league unfolds around an ancient horror that has been lurking underground for thousands of years. During the age of the Precursors, forbidden necromantic magic gave birth to the Abyssals — monstrous beings imprisoned in the depths of Wraeclast. For centuries, they hid in the darkness, waiting for their moment.

Now, with their General calling upon them, the Abyssals begin to break free. The surface of Wraeclast is splitting apart with fissures, from which this ancient threat emerges. Players will have to face the rising army of darkness, seal the cracks, and stop the rise of the Abyssals to save the world from catastrophe.

What to Expect from the New PoE 2 League: Rise of the Abyssals

And so, let’s take a closer look at what awaits us in the new league. The league starts with a completely fresh economy. All old characters remain, but thanks to a free passive tree reset you can adapt to the changes. However, the best way to fully experience the updates of Patch 0.3.0 is to start anew in Rise of the Abyssals.

Abyssal ThreatThe main enemies of the season are the Abyssals. Created by dark necromantic magic during the age of the Precursors, they have been waiting underground for centuries. Now, obeying their General, they burst to the surface through fissures spreading across Wraeclast. Players will have to fight this army and seal the cracks to stop the ancient evil.

Abyss Cracks and Scaling EncountersAs you explore the world, you will encounter fissures that drain the life force of nearby monsters. After killing them, empowered Abyssals with new necromantic abilities will appear. Closing the cracks opens Abyssal Troves with valuable items, and sometimes gives a chance to go deeper and engage enemies directly. As progress continues, the Abyss becomes larger, stronger, and more varied.

New Crafting System: Ancient Bones and the Well of SoulsPlayers will be able to find ancient bones that allow them to imbue items with hidden Abyssal modifiers. In Act 2, the Well of Souls becomes available, where you can reveal Desecrated properties and transform them by choosing one of three options. This works during the campaign (making it easier to craft regular mods) and in the endgame, where completely new and powerful options appear. Additionally, the Well of Souls affects Waystones, increasing difficulty but boosting rewards.

Abyssal Depths and Ancient SpireThe Abyssal Depths are a separate dungeon, swarming with the undead and holding powerful rewards. There you can also discover the ominous Ancient Spire and challenge the Abyssal commanders preparing to plunge Wraeclast into darkness.

League VariationsRise of the Abyssals is available in Standard, Hardcore, and Solo Self-Found modes. Players can also create private versions of the league.

What Else to Expect in the New League and Patch 0.3.0

As I mentioned earlier, this is the biggest update released so far for Path of Exile 2. While the previous patch turned out to be quite controversial — making the game harder, slower, and more tedious — Patch 0.3.0 takes a more player-friendly direction by streamlining the experience.

One of the standout quality-of-life features is Sprint, allowing any character to move quickly without fatigue. This single addition already makes progressing through the campaign much faster and smoother.

If you want a detailed breakdown of everything included in this update, check out the full Path of Exile 2 Patch Note 0.3.0. There you’ll find all the major highlights, including new content, weapons, support gems, and more.