Path of Exile’s popular Legacy of Phrecia event is officially returning in late January 2026. The game’s publisher and developer, Grinding Gear Games, has confirmed the news, giving players something to look forward to while they wait for the next major update.
This event serves as a bridge, filling the gap before the release of the free-to-play action-RPG’s 3.28 update. It offers a three-week period where players can experiment with entirely new character builds and mechanics.
The event is scheduled to begin on January 29, 2026, and will run until February 19. The main attraction of this event is the introduction of alternate ascendancies. These replace the standard options found in the regular game, allowing players to try out fresh builds while hunting for large amounts of currency and valuable loot.
New Ascendancies and Wild Ideas
The development team has described this event as a way to bring their most creative concepts to life. In an official announcement, they stated: “Become a Servant of Arakaali and raise spiders to fight alongside you; use the powers of nature itself as the Daughter of Oshabi or just ascend into a Harbinger – this event manifests the wildest ideas of our design team into reality.”
Players interested in seeing what is available can check the list of alternate ascendancies. However, the developer has noted that some balance changes will be implemented with this specific iteration of the event. These adjustments ensure that the new options are fair and fun to play.
In addition to the new ascendancies, idols are making a return to the game. These items come with a new set of modifiers specifically designed for the Settlers League and Atlas Memories. It is important to note that modifiers for Breach have been disabled for this event.
The developers have also promised “a few extra twists” to keep things interesting. One significant change is that a random number of map modifiers will be assigned to each area. These modifiers will scale based on the area level.
To improve the gameplay experience, GGG has “removed many modifiers from the pool that would brick builds, such as reflect.” This means players are less likely to encounter situations where their own damage is reflected back at them, which often leads to instant death.
Challenging Bosses and Event Timing
Furthermore, the event will introduce new mechanics for campaign bosses and some pinnacle bosses. Additionally, all unique monsters will now enrage when they are on low life, making fights more intense as enemies near defeat.
The three-week duration of the Legacy of Phrecia event brings players close to the launch of the 3.28 update. Currently, that update is slated for release in early March, making this event a perfect way to pass the time.
