For many Path of Exile players, some league mechanics hold a special place. The “Breach” league, which first appeared in 2016, is one of them. Its chaotic, rewarding system of tearing open reality to fight off hordes of monsters quickly made it a fan-favorite. Now, years later, Grinding Gear Games is revisiting this beloved concept with the game’s first-ever sequel league: Keepers of the Flame.
But this is not a simple re-release. The Breach mechanic has been completely overhauled, revolutionary new systems have been added to the game’s core, and a long-awaited asynchronous trading system is finally arriving in Path of Exile, following its introduction in PoE 2.
Here is a full breakdown of this massive expansion.
What is the new league mechanic in Keepers of the Flame?
The Breach mechanic has been completely overhauled and is no longer just about killing monsters pouring out of an expanding portal. The new system is strategic and objective-based, centered around protecting an NPC named Ailith as she cleanses corrupted structures.
Two new Breach concepts are also being introduced:
- Breach Hives: These large, fleshy dungeons are formed by the Hiveborn and can be raided by players to face powerful bosses and unique challenges.
- Unstable Breaches: These are area-wide events that spawn waves of monsters, requiring players to quickly stabilize the area by slaying enemies to prevent further corruption.
Crucially, after defeating a boss in an area, players can permanently close that breach, stopping further invasion attempts.
New character systems: Bloodline Ascendancies and Grafting
Keepers of the Flame introduces two major new systems for character customization and power.
Bloodline Ascendancies: A second Ascendancy class
This is arguably the most exciting new feature. All classes will now be able to select a secondary Ascendancy tree in addition to their main one. Called Bloodline Ascendancies, these 10 new trees will dramatically expand character customization and build diversity.
These secondary classes are unlocked by defeating specific past league bosses found in the world.
The Genesis Tree and Grafting system
A striking new crafting and empowerment system, the Genesis Tree, is a biomechanical “tree of life” that players feed with “Graftblood” from Breach monsters to unlock upgrades.
The most unique part of this system is Grafts—body augmentations that function as additional gear slots, offering new active or passive skills. This system adds a new layer of risk and reward to character building.
QoL improvements in Keepers of the Flame
This league brings one of the most requested features in the game’s history, along with several other major quality-of-life improvements.
- Fully asynchronous trade: Starting in Act 6, players will be able to buy and sell items through an NPC named Faustus, even while offline. This will fundamentally change the in-game economy and make trading far more fluid.
- Currency-based refunding: Players can now use gold currency to refund points on the Passive Skill Tree and Atlas Tree.
- Instant Stacked Deck unbundling: Stacked decks can now be unbundled instantly.
- Heist rogues at max level: Rogues in Heist missions now start at their maximum level, removing the tedious contract grind.
What other new content is in the league?
The expansion also brings new content for endgame players and build creators.
- New Skill and Support Gems: New skills like Kinetic Rain (a wand skill) and Conflagration (a bow skill) are being added, along with new support gems like Living Lightning and Windburst.
- New Uber Pinnacle Bosses: Three new, harder variants of the Incarnation bosses are being added for an extra layer of endgame challenge, rewarding exclusive Uber unique items.
- Heist Rework: With rogues starting at max level, the Heist mechanic is now more accessible for direct loot farming. Drop rates for rare gear have been rebalanced to account for the reduced effort.
Keepers of the Flame is far more than just a sequel league; it feels more like a full expansion. With the introduction of Bloodline Ascendancies, the grotesque Grafting system, a revamped Breach, and the long-awaited asynchronous trade system, this update is set to breathe new life into the game.
It creates a fresh playground for build experimentation and adds new layers of challenge for endgame players.
When is the release date for the new league of PoE?
The new Path of Exile league, Keepers of the Flame, will be released on October 31, 2025. This expansion will introduce a revamped Breach mechanic, new character customization systems, endgame bosses, and major quality-of-life improvements.
