While *Path of Exile 2* continues its early access development, Grinding Gear Games is once again showing that there’s still a lot left in the original *Path of Exile*’s tank. After so many years, it’s hard to imagine that the dungeon crawler has any firsts left in it, but the upcoming *Keepers of the Flame* league will be just that. It will mark the first time that *Path of Exile* features a direct sequel to a previous league.
*Path of Exile*’s Breach league first debuted back in December 2016. With so much time having passed since its release, a refresher is likely in order. This league featured various breaches that led to parallel realms, each containing new and excessively powerful monsters. The idea was to continue defeating monsters until the breach eventually collapsed on itself.
Back then, the breaches were fairly unstable. However, the Breachlords have learned a lot in the time since and have found a way to stabilize the gateways between worlds. This development has set the stage for a hostile invasion by the Breachlords and their forces.
This invasion introduces the titular *Keepers of the Flame*. The Keepers represent an order dedicated to protecting Wraeclast from the Breachlords. They grant players the power of the Flame, which helps battle the increasing numbers of invading hive monsters on the exile continent.
The primary objective in this league is to enter the Mud Flats—where the hive monsters are gathering—defeat them, and destroy the hives they’re constructing by using the cleansing power of the Flame.
The hiveborn breaches players will encounter are essentially the same as those introduced back in 2016. However, after nearly a decade of upgrades by the Breachlords, these breaches now present greater challenges. They contain more powerful monsters and include special conditions that players must complete to prevail.
Mechanically, the development team has also learned a lot. They are touting an improved UI tracking system and a more satisfying victory sequence upon winning breaches. While *Keepers of the Flame* is a step forward from the original Breach league, the team notes that they didn’t want to fix what wasn’t broken. Instead, they focused on marginal improvements to an already solid experience.
Aiding the Keepers of the Flame will result in substantial rewards. The Keepers will graciously offer players the use of their Genesis Tree, a unique system that allows players to grow a variety of rewards. These include currency, unique items, equipment, and a new type of reward called Grafts.
Grafts fuse directly to the wearer’s body and grant power from the Breach world itself. This can include new skills or strong stat buffs. Players will be encouraged to experiment with these new Graft abilities, mixing them with their current builds to create characters possessing previously unfathomable power levels.
However, there is a catch: Grafts cannot be modified by any currencies other than those grown on the Genesis Tree.
There is much more to look forward to in *Path of Exile: Keepers of the Flame*. Fresh skills are being added, including an entirely new build that utilizes kinetic energy. Additionally, characters will gain the ability to absorb abilities from fallen bosses and convert them into new Ascendancy class options known as Bloodlines.
Grinding Gear Games has a full patch notes post planned for later today, which will detail the ten different Bloodline classes players can expect to explore.
Stay tuned for more updates and prepare to face the evolving Breachlords with the power of the Flame!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146478/path-of-exile-keepers-of-the-flame-preview