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With the content reveal for Path of Exile 3.26, Grinding Gear Games also released early patch notes. These included everything coming in the Secrets of the Atlas update, including changes to Skill Gems and Character Ascendancies. As one would expect, there’s a shift in meta, with some underutilized skills shining again.
This article will go over some of the most significant buffs and nerfs coming in the upcoming update. Note that this isn’t the complete list of all changes.
Biggest buffs to Skill Gems and Ascendancies in Path of Exile 3.26
Some of the most popular skills, which are also among fan favorites, have received a lot of attention from GGG. The buffs range from damage increase to completely changing how they used to work.
Trending
Cyclone: After multiple Leagues, Cyclone is back in action. Damage is up from 111% to 125%, while the movement speed penalty is being reduced from 30% to 20%. Lastly, the area of effect for the skill is now 15% instead of 10%. It’s finally the time to bring back the spin-to-win meta.
Spell Echo: The best way to deal damage is to cast a skill twice. Spell Echo does that without needing to cast a skill twice. In Secrets of the Atlas, the Cost and Reservation multiplier is reduced to 140% from 150%, and the 10% damage reduction for repeating skills will be removed.
Essence Drain: Essence Drain is a great map AoE skill, and it’s getting even better with a 19% damage increase. Note that the damage at the base gem level remains the same, but as you level up the gem, this damage ramps up as well.
Arcane Surge: Arcane Surge rewards you for spending Mana, and with patch 3.26, it will do that even better. The supported skill will now deal 35% more damage, up from 25%. Additionally, you’ll have a 30% increased Mana regen and a 20% increased cast speed at all gem levels.
Golems: Golems in Path of Exile 3.26 update will be much stronger. Ice Golem grants 40% increased Critical Strike, while Flame Golem grants up to 29% increased damage. In addition to healing, Stone Golem also grants 20% increased defenses.
Ascendancy changes
Guardian: The Guardian is more of a support Ascendancy, which received class-appropriate changes. Harmony of Purpose Ascendancy passive will grant you a shrine buff every 10 seconds, while Unwavering Faith will grant 50% reservation efficiency to skills.
Champion: Received improvements for both offense and defense.
- Fortitude Ascendancy will grant the maximum stacks instead of 15.
- Unstoppable Hero will grant 3% more Armor and Evasion Rating and Attack Speed per fortification above 20.
- Worthy Foe will no longer require Conqueror Ascendancy.
- Conqueror is being replaced with Worthy Causes, which grants a 50% increase to banner duration and does not stop you from gaining valor even after placing banners.
Elementalist: Received a lot of love in the upcoming update.
- Shocks from your Hits in Shaper of Storms Ascendancy always increase Damage taken by at least 25% (previously 15%).
- Shaper of Flames does not provide 25% more Damage with Ignites but causes Ignited Enemies to convert 40% of their Physical Damage to Fire.
- Liege of the Primordial now grants +2 to maximum summoned Golems instead of +1.
- Elemancer Ascendancy Passive will be replaced by Bringer of Ruin, which grants 66% increased Mana Reservation Efficiency of Herald Skills and 66% increased Herald Skill Buff Effect.
Also Read: Path of Exile 3.26 Secrets of the Atlas: Runegrafting explained
Biggest nerfs to Skill Gems and Ascendancies in Path of Exile 3.26
As with each league, there are also several nerfs coming as part of balance changes. These are done to have players try something else. While these skills and Ascendancies may still be viable, they aren’t as strong as they used to be.
Splitting Steel: Projectiles from Splitting Steel don’t return by themselves and require Returning Projectiles support. With patch 3.26, this won’t be the case as GGG is dropping the ability to equip Returning Projectiles on the skill, which is a massive damage reduction.
Fire Trap: If you love playing a Righteous Fire or Saboteur build, patch 3.26 may slow down your clear speed. The overall base damage for Fire Trap is being reduced from 3018.8 to 2566 at max gem level. That’s 14% damage, which can make boss fights a bit longer.
Returning Projectiles: This was one of the most popular support skills for Splitting Steel, but it worked well with others, too. The skill is facing an increase in the damage reduction for all returning projectiles from 66% to 61%. This may not sound a lot, but can easily add up.
Lightning Strike: Lightning Strike converts 50% of physical damage to Lightning, and despite being a melee, the skill occasionally shoots lightning projectiles. Moving forward, the skill will deal 50% less damage with all Hits and Ailments.
Power Siphon: Building up Power Siphon was already a challenging task, and Path of Exile 3.26 is making it even harder. The overall effectiveness of the skill is down to 105% from 159% at max gem level. Although, it did receive an increase in attack speed.
Ascendancy changes
Hierophant: If you’re looking to stack reservation skills in the upcoming Mercenaries of Trarthus League, the Hierophant Ascendancy will not be the best pick. The Sanctuary of Thought Ascendancy Passive Skill will no longer provide a 50% reservation reduction. Instead, you will gain 1% Mana regen per second.
Trickster: Trickster was already struggling to maintain its popularity, and Path of Exile 3.26 is reducing the Polymath Ascendancy Passive Skill will now provide 2% damage for each Mastery passive instead of 3%.
These are some notable Skill Gems and Ascendancies that were common across many builds. You aren’t required to always go with a popular build, as many other skills remain untouched and viable for patch 3.26
