Path of Exile Patch Notes | 3.29: Curse of the Allflame
Path of Exile 3.29.0 launches Curse of the Allflame — sockets drop color requirements, Mercenaries return, and the new Luminary Ascendancy debuts.
When is the next update?
Path of Exile rolls to its next season around December 7, 2026.
3.29.0 — July 24, 202611 changes
The Path of Exile 3.29.0 patch notes launch the Curse of the Allflame league — sockets no longer require a matching color to slot a gem, the Mercenaries of Trarthus return as permanent companions, and the new Luminary Ascendancy builds a whole class around them. Track the live Path of Exile season countdown for the Allflame league.
TL;DR — 11 changes: 4 buffs, 2 nerfs. Biggest buff: Assassin base Critical Hit Chance 6% → 10%. Biggest nerf: Hierophant Ritual of Awakening damage per Summoned Totem 5% → 3%. Meta impact: self-cast casters, minions and crit-focused Assassins gain ground while Totem-stacking Hierophant and Kinetic Blast builds fall off; the socket-color change frees itemization broadly across every build.
Mechanics
- Socket colors no longer required to slot a gem — a matching color now grants +10% Quality instead of being a hard requirement buff
- Mercenaries of Trarthus reintroduced — recruit, equip and permanently customize a companion active
- Luminary — new Scion Ascendancy built around permanently recruiting and customizing a Mercenary active
- Abyss and Legion reworked active
- Curse of the Allflame deep-sea mechanic added, including a new Pinnacle boss active
- Reflection removed, replaced by a new Thorns damage system active
- Assassin Ascendancy base Critical Hit Chance increased 6% → 10% buff
- Non-Spectre minions (Raised Zombies, Golems, Summoned Raging Spirits, Summoned Skeletons) no longer pause while attacking, raising their DPS buff
- Frostbolt gains a 25% chance to Freeze; Critical Chance increased 5% → 7.5% buff
- Hierophant — Ritual of Awakening damage per Summoned Totem reduced 5% → 3% nerf
- Kinetic Blast significantly nerfed nerf
All Path of Exile patches
| Version | Date | Season | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.29.0 | July 24, 2026 | 3.29: Curse of the Allflame | 11 changes: 4 buffs, 2 nerfs. Biggest buff: Assassin base Critical Hit Chance 6% → 10%. Biggest nerf: Hierophant Ritual of Awakening damage… |
| 3.28.0j | Jun 24, 2026 | 3.28: Mirage | Event-support patch: Silver Coins and all Trial of the Ancestors exclusive Tattoos added, Karui Afterlife Arena re-enabled. Return of the An… |