From the very start of Path of Exile 2's development, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) promised something far more ambitious than just a visual upgrade. Their goal has always been to modernize the ARPG experience while keeping the brutal depth that makes Path of Exile unique. With each Edict patch, the game inches closer to release-and with The Third Edict (patch 0.3), we're seeing some of the most sweeping changes yet.

This update doesn't add new Ascendancies or classes, but it fundamentally reshapes combat pacing, defenses, trade, and progression. For both seasoned veterans of Wraeclast and newcomers considering their first dive, The Third Edict feels like a turning point.

In this breakdown, we'll explore the five biggest changes in Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict and why they matter for the game's future.

1. Sprinting: The End of Downtime

One of the most persistent complaints in PoE history has been pacing. Combat is fast, flashy, and chaotic-but everything between battles felt sluggish. Characters trudged across empty spaces, and movement was often tied to Quicksilver Flasks or restrictive movement skills. Slower builds felt punished, while speedy ones dominated.

The Third Edict finally solves this with Sprinting. Players can now hold the roll button to chain into a sprint, greatly boosting movement speed. Sprinting seamlessly blends into dodge rolls, skill animations, and attacks, creating a smooth, fluid flow that feels more modern.

The impact is huge:

·Campaign pacing is dramatically improved, especially in the new Act 4 and interlude areas.

·Travel downtime is reduced, making farming less fatiguing.

·Every build, from slow tanky Juggernauts to nimble Rangers, now has a baseline sense of mobility.

GGG avoided mounts (something players speculated about for years) and instead leaned into the game's gritty tone with a mechanic that feels grounded but practical.

Why it matters: Sprinting eliminates dead time and levels the playing field between slow and fast builds, improving the overall rhythm of Path of Exile 2.

2. Support Gem Revolution: Stacking and Lineage Gems

Support Gems have always been the heart of Path of Exile's build system, enabling customization and crazy combos. But there was always a frustrating restriction: you couldn't use multiple copies of the same Support Gem.

That's gone. In patch 0.3, players can stack multiple copies of the same Support Gem, multiplying the impact of their chosen mechanic. Imagine:

·Poison builds stacking several Lesser Poison Supports for massive scaling.

·Projectile skills boosted with multiple Pierce Supports for extreme coverage.

·Niche skills are becoming viable late-game with stacked multipliers.

This is more than a power boost-it's a design philosophy shift. GGG is handing players more freedom to break rules and push creativity.

But the change doesn't stop there. The Third Edict also introduces Lineage Support Gems-40+ new gems that rewrite mechanics in strange, exciting ways. Some invert damage types, others trade raw DPS for unique utility, while a few fundamentally alter how a skill works.

Why it matters: Support stacking and Lineage Supports drastically expand build diversity. For theorycrafters, this is a dream update. For casual players, it means more viable archetypes to enjoy.

3. Hollow Palm Technique: Martial Arts Combat

While the Third Edict doesn't add new Ascendancies, it might as well have with the Hollow Palm Technique Keystone, which unlocks a full-fledged Martial Arts playstyle.

This keystone lets characters fight unarmed with quarterstaff-like animations. Its mechanics are unique:

·Damage scales off skill gem levels, not weapon DPS.

·Attack Speed scales with Evasion, rewarding dexterity and mobility.

·Critical Strike Chance scales with Energy Shield, blending defense with offense.

The result is a Monk-style archetype unlike anything in PoE before. Hollow Palm combat is flashy, high-skill, and thematically fresh. More importantly, it proves that GGG is willing to experiment outside traditional archetypes, adding playstyles that feel as impactful as Ascendancies without being tied to them.

Why it matters: Martial Arts offers a new fantasy and mechanical depth, showing PoE 2's commitment to variety beyond weapon-based builds.

4. Defensive Overhaul: Deflection and Armor Reworks

Path of Exile's defenses have long been lopsided. Energy Shield dominated, while Armor and Evasion often felt lackluster. The Third Edict addresses this with major reworks that finally balance survivability across attributes.

Deflection for Dexterity Builds

Dexterity-based classes can now convert part of their Evasion into Deflection. This stat gives a flat chance to reduce incoming hits or ailments by 40%. Unlike Evasion's RNG or Block's strict caps, Deflection is more consistent, rewarding agility without making characters too fragile.

Armor + Elemental Resistance Synergy

Strength-based characters benefit from a revamped Armor system. New passive notables allow Armor to convert into elemental resistances, plugging a major defensive gap for melee bruisers. Instead of being brittle against spell damage, Strength builds now have a rounded defense profile.

Together, these changes create clear defensive archetypes:

·DEX → Deflection (consistency, agility)

·STR → Armor + resistances (balanced mitigation)

·INT → Energy Shield (large buffer)

Why it matters: Defenses are finally balanced, meaning players won't feel forced into Energy Shield to survive late-game content. Builds can stay true to their fantasy while remaining viable.

5. Asynchronous Auto-Trading: A New Economy

Perhaps the most revolutionary change isn't combat-related at all. It's Path of Exile 2 trade.

In Path of Exile 1, trading was clunky and time-consuming. Players had to whisper to strangers, negotiate, and wait in hideouts. Many avoided trading altogether because of the hassle.

The Third Edict fixes this with asynchronous automated trading. A new NPC, Ange, acts as your shopkeeper. By converting Premium Stash Tabs into shop tabs, you can list items for fixed prices. Other players can buy them using PoE 2 currency-even if you're offline.

This preserves the player-driven economy but makes it vastly more accessible and modern. No more waiting around. No more spam whispers. Just clean, efficient transactions.

Why it matters: Auto-trading modernizes PoE's economy, bringing it in line with contemporary ARPGs. It removes barriers that have frustrated players for over a decade.

Conclusion: A Turning Point for PoE 2

Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict may not bring new classes or Ascendancies, but its changes are transformative:

·Sprinting makes exploration and combat smoother.

·Support Gem stacking + Lineage Supports blow open build diversity.

·Hollow Palm Martial Arts introduces a fresh archetype.

·Deflection and Armor reworks balance defensive systems.

·Asynchronous Auto-Trading revolutionizes the economy.

Taken together, these updates feel like a love letter to long-time players and a welcome mat for newcomers. GGG isn't just fixing old frustrations-they're reinventing core systems in bold, creative ways.

For veterans, this is a moment to reimagine builds and strategies. For new players, it's the perfect entry point into Wraeclast.

One thing is certain: with The Third Edict, the road to Path of Exile 2's full release has never looked more exciting.