The “The Third Edict” update for Path of Exile 2 brings significant rebalancing and new mechanics to several Ascendancy classes, aiming to enhance their viability, early-game experience, and endgame power. These changes include adjustments to existing abilities, the introduction of new skills and notables, and the removal of certain restrictions.

Witch Ascendancy Classes

The Witch’s Ascendancy classes, specifically the Blood Mage and Infernalist, have received targeted improvements:

• Blood Mage:
  • Previously, players were required to spend their first points on Sanguimancy, which was intended as a drawback to access other powerful abilities in the class.
  • Sanguimancy has now been made free, unlocking the full power of the Blood Mage class immediately, making it a better early-game option.
  • Additionally, a new Ascendancy-aligned notable called Sanguimatic Rituals allows Arcane Surges to generate life instead of Mana, making this support gem viable for Blood Mages.
• Infernalist:
  • The Demon Form ability was underutilized because players lost their weapon stats while transformed.
  • This restriction has been removed; players no longer lose weapon stats in Demon Form, making it a much more appealing and viable option.

Accolyte of Chayula

Recognized as one of the least used Ascendancy classes, the Accolyte of Chayula has received a substantial overhaul to improve its effectiveness and unique identity:

• Chaos Damage Enhancement: A primary goal was to make the Accolyte’s Chaos damage more useful.
• Elemental Ailment Application: A new skill has been added that allows Chaos damage to Ignite, Shock, Chill, and Freeze, embracing an “Elemental Prowess” in a “truly Chaotic fashion”.
• Chaos Leech: The Accolyte can now make all its Chaos damage leech.
• Buffed Base Skills: The effects of the previous 4-point nodes for Into the Breach and Embrace the Darkness have been moved into the base skills, making them more potent earlier.

• New Notable – Grasp of the Void: The Accolyte gains a new notable that causes them to leave Void Illusions behind when dodge rolling. If these illusions are killed, they trigger massive explosions of darkness, dealing damage to nearby enemies.

Ascendancy-Aligned Notables

Beyond direct Ascendancy class changes, the passive tree has been expanded with new notables that align thematically with certain Ascendancy classes, offering synergistic benefits:

• Gemling Legionare – Crystallized Immunities: This notable grants immunity to different status ailments depending on which support gem color you have most of socketed.
• Blood Mage – Sanguimatic Rituals: As mentioned above, this notable allows Arcane Surges to generate life instead of Mana, providing a powerful synergy for Blood Mages.

Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict Guides and Overview

• Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict and Abyssal League Revealed
• Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict – Act IV and Interludes overview
• Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict – Support Gems Upgrades