Overview
- The Forbidden Rites mini‑season and patch 0.5.5 will launch Friday, September 4 and include an economy reset to give players a fresh start.
- The update expands the Ritual mechanic with empowered Ritual clusters that can stack multiple bosses in a single encounter and drop powerful unique items.
- The Trial of Chaos has been overhauled with redesigned modifiers, faster room transitions, more combat‑focused rounds, easier lower‑level runs and new high‑risk rewards for players who push to room 30.
- Grinding Gear Games confirmed the Duelist class and the full Path of Exile 2 1.0 release for December 11 and said broad balance sweeps will be held for that 1.0 launch rather than shipped in 0.5.5.
- Forbidden Rites will run as a bonus event alongside the ongoing Runes of Aldur league and is designed to speed endgame progression and reshape player economies while leaving major meta changes until December.