While *Path of Exile 2* continues its early access development, Grinding Gear Games is once again proving that there’s still plenty left to explore in the original *Path of Exile*. After so many years, it’s hard to imagine the dungeon crawler having any firsts left to offer—but the upcoming *Keepers of the Flame* league will be just that. It will mark the very first time *Path of Exile* features a direct sequel to a previous league.
*Path of Exile*’s Breach league originally debuted in December 2016. Given how much time has passed since its release, a quick refresher is likely in order. This league introduced various breaches that led to parallel realms, each filled with new and exceptionally powerful monsters. The core gameplay loop revolved around defeating monsters relentlessly until the breach eventually collapsed on itself.
Back then, breaches were unstable and unpredictable. However, the Breachlords have since learned a great deal and managed to stabilize the gateways between worlds. This development has set the stage for a hostile invasion by the Breachlords and their forces, giving rise to the *Keepers of the Flame*.
The Keepers represent an order dedicated to defending Wraeclast from the Breachlords. They grant players the power of the Flame to help battle the surging numbers of invading hive monsters spilling into the exile continent. Players will be tasked with entering the Mud Flats, where these hive monsters are gathering, defeating them, and destroying the hives they are constructing by harnessing the cleansing power of the Flame.
The hiveborn breaches players will encounter are essentially the same as those from 2016, but after nearly a decade of upgrades by the Breachlords, they now present significantly greater challenges. These breaches feature stronger monsters and special conditions that players must overcome to succeed.
Mechanically, Grinding Gear Games has applied the lessons learned over the years to enhance the player experience. The development team highlights an improved user interface tracking system and a more satisfying victory sequence upon defeating breaches. While *Keepers of the Flame* is a step forward from the old Breach league, the developers note they didn’t want to fix what wasn’t broken; instead, they focused on marginal improvements to an already solid experience.
Supporting the Keepers will reward players handsomely. The Keepers will offer access to their Genesis Tree, which allows players to cultivate a variety of rewards. Through the Genesis Tree, players can grow currency, unique items, equipment, and a new type of reward called Grafts.
Grafts are special enhancements that fuse directly to the wearer’s body, channeling power from the Breach world itself. These can provide new skills or potent stat buffs. Players are encouraged to experiment with Graft abilities, mixing them with their existing builds to create characters with unprecedented power levels.
A notable caveat is that Grafts cannot be modified by any currency outside of what is grown on the Genesis Tree, adding a layer of strategic choice to their use.
There’s even more coming in *Path of Exile: Keepers of the Flame*. The update introduces fresh skills, including an entirely new build centered around kinetic energy. Additionally, characters will gain the ability to absorb powers from fallen bosses, converting them into new Ascendancy class options called Bloodlines.
Grinding Gear Games has promised a full patch notes post later today, which will detail the ten different Bloodline classes players can expect to explore.
Stay tuned for more updates as *Path of Exile* continues to evolve with *Keepers of the Flame*, promising exciting new challenges and opportunities for both new and veteran exiles alike.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146478/path-of-exile-keepers-of-the-flame-preview