Grinding Gear Games has deployed the Path of Exile update 1.060, also known as patch 3.28.0, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. This substantial update, released on March 7, 2026, launches the new Mirage Challenge League, introduces a new Scion Ascendancy, and fundamentally reworks the Atlas and mapping endgame. The patch also phases out Awakened Support Gems in favor of a new system and integrates the Keepers of the Flame league into the core game while removing Harbinger content.
The Mirage Challenge League Confronts the Afarud
Players are called to the Mirage Challenge League to confront the Afarud, a twisted sect of the Faridun. In league with the necromancer Saresh, the Afarud are capturing and torturing Djinn to siphon their power for dark purposes. Allied with the Maraketh Sekhema Varashta, players must free these spirits and thwart the Afarud’s plans for dominion over Wraeclast.
League Mechanics and Rewards
The core loop involves defeating Afarud Warlocks to find imprisoned Djinn. After a successful battle, Varashta allows entry into The Astral Realm—a Mirage that creates an imperfect copy of the surrounding area. Before entering, players can choose one of three Wishes from Varashta, which powerfully modifies the Mirage to increase monster difficulty and reward specific loot types, such as powerful currency, special caches, or mysterious coins.
The objective within the Mirage is to fight through astral hazards and enemies to shatter the tether holding the Djinn, progressively weakening the Afarud’s schemes. The league offers Standard, Hardcore, and Solo Self-Found variations, with 40 new challenges. Rewards include pieces of the Orb Regalia Armour Set and the Mirage Totem Pole hideout decoration.
New Scion Ascendancy and Exceptional Support Gems
A significant addition is the Reliquarian Ascendancy Class for the Scion. Its notable passive skills borrow powers from Unique items found throughout Wraeclast, with the twist that these notables will change each league. Consequently, they cannot be obtained via Forbidden Flame or Forbidden Flesh Unique Jewels.
Replacing the Awakened System
Awakened Support Gems are being phased out and replaced by over 40 new Exceptional Support Gems, found in the endgame. A new currency system of Coins—Coin of Knowledge (Intelligence), Coin of Power (Strength), and Coin of Skill (Dexterity)—allows players to corrupt a level 20 Skill Gem, imbuing it with a random valid Support effect of the corresponding attribute.
New Skill Gems and Transfigured Variants
The update introduces several new Strength/Intelligence skill gems with a holy theme, including Divine Blast, Holy Hammers, Holy Strike, and Shield of Light. Multiple new Transfigured Skill Gem variants have been added for existing skills like Shockwave Totem, Static Strike, and Kinetic Fusillade, offering fresh playstyles. New Support Gems like Blessed Call, Excommunicate, Exemplar, and Hallow further expand build possibilities.
Atlas and Endgame Receive Ground-Up Overhaul
The most extensive changes in 3.28.0 target the Atlas and mapping system, designed to streamline the experience while removing frustrating elements.
Flexible Map Items and New Atlas Structure
Map items are no longer tied to a specific Map Area. Instead of finding a Tier 10 Mesa Map, players find a generic Tier 10 Map item. To run a specific map, players select the desired location (e.g., Mesa) on the new Atlas interface, place the Map item into the Map Device, and activate it. This provides unprecedented flexibility, as any dropped higher-tier Map can be used to run any revealed Atlas location.
The Atlas itself has been restructured. Exploration begins at the center, with each corner housing a Voidstone slot. All endgame content accessible via the Map Device is now visually represented on the Atlas. Unique Maps are present on the Atlas, and completing each grants 1 Atlas Skill Point, up to a maximum of 10.
Shaped Regions and Arcane Astrolabes
Eagon, with a new goal of stopping Zana, utilizes Arcane Astrolabes. Using an Astrolabe on a Map manifests a Shaped Region affecting many Maps in that Atlas quadrant. Different Astrolabes apply different Shaped Region types. Completing the Shaped Region’s content removes its influence and adds an additional modifier to every other Map remaining within it. Successfully clearing a Shaped Region grants access to one of four Memory Vaults, each associated with an Atlas quadrant and offering powerful targeted rewards.
Voidstone and Progression Changes
Voidstone acquisition has been adjusted. The Decayed Voidstone is now obtained from killing both the Shaper and the Elder. A Voidstone is received from each of the Searing Exarch and the Eater of Worlds. An additional Voidstone is now obtained from killing the Incarnation of Dread. Each Voidstone now upgrades the minimum Map Tier in its quadrant to 16, causes Maps there to drop one Tier higher, converts lower-tier maps to Gold, and provides a special global bonus.
The Favoured Map system has been removed. Tier 17 Maps are now Nightmare Maps, which award Atlas Skill Points. The system for catching up Atlas progress on Standard has been simplified.
Scarab Reworks and Kirac Changes
Numerous Scarabs have been reworked, renamed, or had their effects adjusted. New Scarabs have been introduced, such as the Abyss Scarab of Descending and the Expedition Scarab of Infusion. Kirac no longer offers Atlas Missions, and related Atlas passives have been removed. His shop has been expanded to sell a wider variety of Map-related items for Gold, which can be rerolled.
Currency and Item Adjustments
Cartographer’s Chisels can no longer be obtained, and Map Device crafting options are removed. The quality bonus on Maps has been reduced, and related items like Maven’s Chisels have been adjusted. Currency items now account for a larger portion of dropped items, with Exalted and Regal Orbs becoming comparatively more common. Ancient Orbs and Fracturing Orbs have been added to the core drop pool following Harbinger’s removal.
Keepers of the Flame Integrated, Harbinger Removed
The Keepers of the Flame league mechanics have been added to the core game. Players first encounter Ailith in Act 6, fighting Breach Hives and Unstable Breaches. The system has been streamlined: Breachstones are non-functional, Hivebrain Glands open portals directly, and the Genesis Tree is fully grown by default. New Atlas keystones and passive clusters support Breach content.
Conversely, the Harbinger league has been removed as a core mechanic. Harbinger-specific currency like Engineer’s Orbs and Horizon Shards can no longer be obtained. Fracturing Orbs and Ancient Orbs have entered the core drop pool to compensate. All Harbinger-related Atlas passives and Scarabs have been removed or converted.
League-Specific Updates and Balance Changes
Significant adjustments have been made to other league content. In Settlers of Kalguur, new shipping routes to Karui ports offer specific Tattoos or Runegrafts. Bestiary, Betrayal, Delve, Expedition, Heist, and other leagues have seen reward rebalances and integration tweaks to align with the new endgame economy and removed mechanics.
Player, Skill, and Item Balance
The Templar’s starting skill is now Holy Strike, with Hallow Support. Intelligence now grants 1% increased Maximum Energy Shield per 10 Intelligence (previously per 5). Numerous skill gems have been rebalanced, with buffs to skills like Absolution, Dominating Blow, and Penance Brand. Vaal Breach is temporarily disabled.
Ascendancy classes have been tweaked, including the Guardian gaining a new Notable, Marshal of Divinity. Several Unique items have been rebalanced, with changes to Bino’s Kitchen Knife, Bloodseeker, Essentia Sanguis, Lioneye’s Glare, and The Pledge of Hands, among others.
Quality of Life and Bug Fixes
The update includes numerous interface improvements, such as Ritual completion notifications, enhanced Currency Exchange features, and better controller support for the Atlas Passive Tree. Hundreds of bug fixes address issues with skills, items, monsters, and encounters, including problems with the Incarnation of Dread fight and various legacy mechanics.
Path of Exile 3.28.0 represents one of the most consequential updates in recent memory, fundamentally altering the endgame landscape while delivering a rich new challenge league and a swath of character-building tools. The changes aim to reduce friction, increase player agency in the Atlas, and set a new foundation for the game’s future.
