Druids Unleashed: Exploring the New Challenge League in Path of Exile 2s Patch 0.4.0

Employees of **Grinding Gear Games** recently held a comprehensive **presentation** of the major **update 0.4.0** for **Path of Exile 2**, set to launch on December 12 at 10 PM Moscow time, offering a wealth of new content. As in previous presentations, the event was hosted by **Jonathan Rogers** and **Marc Roberts**, who provided a summary of what players can expect in the coming week.

The update, titled **»The Last of the Druids,»** will introduce gamers to a new playable class—the Druid. This formidable nature mage stands out not only for his spells but also for his ability to transform into a bear, werewolf, and wyvern, with each form possessing its own set of combat skills.

In the storyline, the Druid lost his human form in the forests of Ogama after the demise of the other druids at the hands of the Master in the Mists. Now, upon awakening, he seeks to find his missing wife and regain his humanity. At the outset, the Druid will have access to two ascension classes.

In addition to the new class, the update also includes:

A notable addition is the challenge league **»Fate of the Vaal,»** where players will explore the grand temple of Queen Atziri at the height of her power. To preserve her youth, she is willing to risk her entire civilization, aided by her court servants, including the architect, who also serves as a boss alongside Atziri.

During the new league, players are tasked with sacrificing monsters infected with corruption, which can be found near the activated Vaal structures scattered throughout Reiklast. By doing so, heroes will fuel devices that allow them to teleport into Atziri’s temple.

A unique feature of the league is the ability to construct your own dungeon. Through sacrifices, players will gain energy to create their temple layouts, which will include various rooms, enhancements, challenges, and more. Each chamber of the temple will offer its own rewards, ranging from hidden stashes of currency and gear to «something more interesting.» The developers have prepared over a dozen types of rooms.

An early version of **Path of Exile 2** is available on PC (via **Steam**, **Epic Games Store**, and the **official client**), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. During an interview, **Jonathan Rogers** stated that the developers do not plan to delay the full release until 2027, but exact launch dates for version 1.0 remain unspecified. It’s worth noting that the game will be free-to-play following its release.