Path of Exile 2: All Endgame Changes in 0.3.1 Explained

Patch 0.3.1 made quite a few changes to the endgame of Path of Exile 2, drastically altering the gameplay loop players have become accustomed to since release. The Tower system, in particular, was reworked significantly, freeing fans from the need to find three overlapping Towers in the Atlas in order to juice maps to a level where they become rewarding enough.

The grindy nature of the endgame and the lack of potent rewards have been the two major gripes players have had about Path of Exile 2. Patch 0.3.1 directly addresses those problems, much to the relief of the player base.

Map Changes in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.3.1

• All maps now contain 1 to 3 extra instances of Breach, Delirium, Ritual, Expedition, Shrines, Strongboxes, Essences, Wisps, Rogue Exiles, and Summoning Circles by default. This content is added in addition to what is introduced by Tablets and special modifiers.
• Maps with larger-than-normal sizes that led to longer completion times have been made smaller: Penitentiary, Vaal City, Channel, Bastille, Grimhaven, Epitaph, Oasis, Augury, Hidden Grotto, Wetlands, Savannah, Blooming Field, Rupture, Slick, and Fortress.
• Low-tier maps now have fewer monsters to make the transition from the campaign to the endgame smoother. However, as players go up in tiers, the number of monsters increases back to previous levels by the time they reach Tier 15 and above Waystones.
• Monsters are now more evenly spread out across the map in the endgame.
• Citadel spawn rate has been increased by 66%.
• Ground effects for frost, burning, and lightning cover a significantly smaller portion of the maps they are applied to, making them less tedious to navigate. 75% less for Tier 1 to 5 Waystones, 68% less for Tier 6 to 10 Waystones, and 62% less for Tier 11 or higher Waystones.
• Idol of Estazunti now drops when players interact with a Vaal Beacon in a map connected to a Sealed Vault, instead of from a rare monster.

Map Boss Changes in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.3.1

• Every map now has a map boss. Defeating the map boss is the only way to complete a map. Killing rare monsters is no longer required (their location will still be marked after a certain number of monsters are killed).
• Map Boss icons in the Atlas indicate the presence of a “Powerful Map Boss,” which are typically more challenging and rewarding than regular bosses. Map Boss-related Atlas Passive skills now require the presence of a Powerful Boss to be activated.

Tablet Changes in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.3.1

Previously, Precursor Tablets were only usable on Towers, with the express purpose of adding difficulty and increasing rewards in the maps that surrounded that specific Tower. Due to widespread community complaints about the system being too restrictive, GGG has done away with this mechanic entirely and changed the implementation while keeping the core purpose of Tablets the same.

• Tablets can be used on all maps in the Atlas, instead of only at Towers.
• Tablet drop rate has been drastically increased.
• Tablets now come with charges/number of uses (default 10). Using a Tablet on a map consumes one of its charges. Once all charges are used up, the Tablet is destroyed.
• By default, only one Tablet can be used on a single map. However, if the Waystone used to access the map has additional modifiers, more Tablet slots open up to a maximum of 3. The number of Tablets that can be used on a map depends on the number of modifiers on the Waystone, not its tier.
• You cannot use Tablets on failed maps.
• 7 new Tablet modifiers have been introduced:
  • Area contains 1 additional Azmeri Spirit
  • Area contains an additional Essence
  • Area is inhabited by 1 additional Rogue Exile
  • Area contains an additional Summoning Circle
  • Area contains an additional Strongbox
  • Area contains an additional Shrine
  • Area has 25 to 50% increased chance to contain a Summoning Circle

Tower Changes in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.3.1

• Completing Towers reveals a large area surrounding said structure, but offers no benefits to the nearby maps.
• A Precursor Tablet is rewarded every time a Tower is completed.
• The Visions of Paradise Unique Precursor Tablet now adds the Irradiated modifier rather than removing it.