The teaser for Path of Exile 2’s 0.4.0 update has officially revealed the upcoming Fate of the Vaal league, confirming a return to Wraeclast’s ancient and dangerous Vaal civilization. Launching alongside The Last of the Druids expansion, this update is shaping up to be one of the most important milestones of PoE 2’s early access cycle.
This guide serves as your central hub for everything coming in Patch 0.4.0 and the Fate of the Vaal league.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- All confirmed details from the 0.4.0 reveal
- Key dates, livestream info, and launch timing
- How the dual release (expansion + league) works
- Atziri’s return and its gameplay implications
- Expected league mechanics and corruption systems
- How the new league may integrate into mapping and endgame
- Economy expectations and league-start market impact
- How the Druid class affects early gearing and build choices
- Difficulty expectations and what players should prepare for
Fate of the Vaal: Confirmed Patch 0.4.0 Details & Release Schedule
Before diving into theorycrafting, here is what has been officially confirmed:
- League & Expansion: The 0.4.0 content update is titled “The Last of the Druids,” and its associated challenge league is “Fate of the Vaal.”
- Key Dates: A full GGG live reveal will detail everything on December 4, 2025, at 11 AM PST. Following the stream, the developers will likely publish a detailed blog post with all the changes. The patch and league then launch on December 12, 2025, with a free-to-play weekend running from December 12–15.
- New Class: The Druid, a new Strength/Intelligence hybrid class, arrives with Patch 0.4.0. For a full breakdown of its forms, spells, and Talismans, see our dedicated Path of Exile 2 Druid Guide.
- Endgame Changes: GGG has confirmed that a major rework or further additions to the endgame are coming with this update.
| Date | Event |
| Dec 4, 2025 | GGG livestream reveal at 11 AM PST |
| Dec 4, 2025 | Patch notes + dev blog likely released |
| Dec 12, 2025 | Patch 0.4.0 launches |
| Dec 12, 2025 | Fate of the Vaal league begins |
| Dec 12–15, 2025 | Free-to-play weekend |
| Dec 12–19, 2025 | Early economy stabilization phase |
| Following weeks | New endgame + Atziri progression |
Fate of the Vaal League TL;DR (PoE2 Patch 0.4.0)
- What is it? A major patch (0.4.0) introducing the Druid class and a new temporary league called “Fate of the Vaal.”
- When does it release? The Fate of the Vaal league launches on December 12, 2025.
- When do we learn more? You can watch the live reveal for the league on December 4th, at 11 AM PST.
- What’s the theme? Ancient Vaal civilization, item corruption, and the return of Queen Atziri.
- What can we expect? A fresh economy, a new high-tier boss, and league mechanics likely focused on high-risk, high-reward crafting.
| Category | Details |
| Patch Version | Patch 0.4.0 — The Last of the Druids |
| League Name | Fate of the Vaal |
| Livestream Reveal | December 4, 2025 — 11 AM PST |
| Patch & League Launch | December 12, 2025 |
| Free-to-Play Weekend | December 12–15, 2025 |
| New Class | Druid (Strength/Intelligence Hybrid) |
| Endgame Update | Major rework / additions confirmed |
PoE 2 Patch 0.4.0 Explained: The Last of the Druids Expansion & Fate of the Vaal League
| Feature | The Last of the Druids (Expansion) | Fate of the Vaal (League) |
| Type | Permanent content update | Temporary challenge league |
| Character Requirement | Works for all existing characters | Requires a fresh character |
| Economy | Standard early access economy | New economy, resets each league |
| Longevity | Becomes part of the core game | Lasts ~3–4 months |
| Content Focus | New class, systems, endgame updates | Seasonal mechanics & progression |
| Primary Goal | Expand PoE2’s foundation | Provide replayable seasonal content |
To understand the 0.4.0 update, we can look at the structure of the previous 0.3.0 patch. That update paired “The Third Edict” expansion with the “Rise of the Abyssal” league. The 0.4.0 update follows this same pattern, delivering two distinct content packages at once:
- The Last of the Druids Expansion: This is the permanent addition to the core game, including the Druid class and system changes.
- Fate of the Vaal League: This is the temporary, three-to-four-month challenge league featuring its own unique mechanics. Players who want the full new experience must create new characters, while those who wish to continue on existing characters can do so in the standard league.
PoE 2 Atziri’s Return: What This Means for the Game
The official trailer prominently features Atziri, the last queen of the Vaal Empire. Her declaration, “I desire more than what this mortal flesh could provide me,” hints at the dark pacts central to the league’s narrative. Her return is more than just a lore point; it has significant gameplay implications, and she is expected to return as a new high-tier optional boss.
Build Implications (Speculative)
Based on her historical fight design in Path of Exile 1, players may want to prepare for the possibility of mechanics like damage reflection or curse reflection. While modern game design has moved away from harsh reflect mechanics, it remains a signature part of Atziri’s identity. If her classic mechanics return in some form, it would have major implications for build viability:
- Potentially Safer Builds: Archetypes that do not deal direct hits—such as Damage over Time (DoT), Minions, Traps, and Totems—are naturally immune to reflected damage and would likely have a significant advantage.
- The Potential Challenge for Hit-Based Builds: Characters that rely on direct hits might need to secure a source of reflect mitigation or immunity, requiring specific passive tree investment, unique items, or Ascendancy choices to survive.
Fate of the Vaal League Mechanics: What to Expect
This section is speculative, based on the teaser and GGG’s prior design patterns.
Currency & Crafting: A Focus on Corruption
The Vaal theme points directly to a focus on item corruption. While Path of Exile 2 already features Vaal Orbs, the league is likely to introduce a more advanced, high-risk corruption system. Players should be prepared for the possibility of a new, rare league-specific currency required for the highest tiers of crafting, which could potentially be more valuable than standard Vaal Orbs for achieving top-end results.
Core Gameplay Loop: A New Take on the Vaal Temple?
The Incursion mechanic from Path of Exile 1 is intrinsically tied to the Vaal. Following this successful model, there is a strong possibility that “Fate of the Vaal” will feature a similar system where players can build or influence a Vaal temple over multiple encounters, culminating in a high-tier instance run.
PoE 2 Endgame Integration: How Fate of the Vaal Fits Into the 0.4.0 Rework
With an endgame rework confirmed, it’s very likely the Fate of the Vaal mechanics will see mapping system integration. We can expect:
- Atlas Node Support: Talent points that improve Vaal encounters.
- A New Endgame Target: Atziri is a strong candidate to become a flagship boss for the league, setting a high benchmark for character power.
Economic Impact & League Start Tips
The start of a new league always resets the economy. Here are a few tips for what to expect:
- A Fresh Start: The Fate of the Vaal league will have its own fresh economy.
- The Druid Hype Effect: Expect starter gear for Strength/Intelligence hybrid archetypes, and especially the new Talisman weapon bases, to be in extremely high demand and thus expensive during the first week.
- The Free Weekend Flood: The influx of players from Dec 12-15 will likely flood the market with low-to-mid-tier items, creating a temporary price crash. This presents a key buying opportunity for experienced players to acquire bulk currency and materials cheaply.
The Impact of the New Druid Class
Patch 0.4.0 also introduces the Druid, a new Str/Int shapeshifter. Since this has major implications for league-start builds, we’ve covered the class in detail in our dedicated Path of Exile 2 Druid Guide (Patch 0.4).
Expected Difficulty: High-Risk, High-Reward Encounters
Vaal content has always skewed towards high-risk, high-reward gameplay. Players should expect — based on historical Vaal design — encounters that are significantly harder than the surrounding content but offer proportionally greater rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fate of the Vaal league in Path of Exile 2?
Fate of the Vaal is the 0.4.0 challenge league centered on the ancient Vaal civilization. It introduces corruption-themed mechanics, new encounters, and a fresh economy where all players start from zero. The league runs alongside The Last of the Druids expansion and serves as the primary seasonal content for this patch cycle.
When does the Fate of the Vaal league launch in Path of Exile 2?
The league officially launches on December 12, 2025, when Patch 0.4.0 goes live. It arrives at the same time as a free-to-play weekend, giving new players full access and ensuring a high-population start.
When is the Fate of the Vaal livestream reveal from Grinding Gear Games?
Grinding Gear Games will fully reveal the league on December 4, 2025, at 11 AM PST, during their official livestream. Expect the first look at league mechanics, systems, balance changes, and endgame updates, followed by a detailed blog post and patch overview.
What is included in Path of Exile 2’s 0.4.0 content update?
Patch 0.4.0 includes the Fate of the Vaal league, the new Druid class, endgame improvements, system updates, and expansion-level content from The Last of the Druids. It is one of the most substantial updates of PoE2’s early access period.
Who is Atziri in the Fate of the Vaal league?
Atziri is the last queen of the Vaal Empire, known in PoE1 for her ritual magic, blood sacrifices, and deadly boss encounters. In PoE2 she returns as a high-tier optional boss, acting as a major endgame test and likely serving as the league’s flagship encounter.
Will Atziri have damage reflection in Path of Exile 2?
It isn’t confirmed, but her PoE1 design strongly suggests some form of damage or curse reflection may return. These mechanics defined her earlier fights, so players should plan around the possibility, especially when choosing hit-based builds or high-crit setups.
What new league mechanics can we expect in Fate of the Vaal?
Based on the teaser and GGG’s design history, players should expect corruption-focused crafting, dangerous Vaal encounters, and a potential temple-building system inspired by Incursion. These mechanics typically reward risk-taking with high-value rewards.
Will the Fate of the Vaal league include new currency items?
A new corruption-related currency is likely, especially for high-risk crafting or endgame upgrades. If introduced, it would serve as a premium crafting item for modifying or perfecting gear and could surpass standard Vaal Orbs in value.
How does the dual release of the expansion and league work in PoE2?
PoE2 patches deliver a permanent expansion and a temporary challenge league together. The Last of the Druids adds lasting features to the core game, while Fate of the Vaal runs as a separate three-to-four-month league with a new economy and league-specific systems.
How does the new Druid class affect the Fate of the Vaal league?
The Druid’s release will heavily shape early demand for hybrid Strength/Intelligence gear, Talisman weapon bases, and spell-slam focused setups. This makes certain items disproportionately expensive during the first days of the league.
Will the Fate of the Vaal league connect to the PoE2 endgame?
Yes. Since Patch 0.4.0 includes endgame updates, the league’s mechanics will almost certainly appear in maps, Atlas nodes, and new endgame encounters. It may also introduce a long-term pinnacle boss path if Atziri joins the core endgame rotation.
What should players expect from the new league’s difficulty?
Players should expect harder-than-average encounters with corruption hazards and punishing fail states. Vaal content traditionally prioritizes challenge and burst damage, rewarding precise play, mitigation planning, and gear optimization.
How will the free-to-play weekend affect the Fate of the Vaal economy?
The influx of new accounts between December 12–15 will cause large supply spikes in early currency, rares, crafting materials, and low-tier uniques. Prices typically crash temporarily, giving experienced players a window to buy up bulk resources.
Is this league good for new or returning players?
Yes. With a free weekend, full reset, and clear thematic identity, Fate of the Vaal provides a strong entry point. The fresh economy gives everyone equal footing, and the corruption theme offers straightforward but rewarding gameplay loops.
Where can I find official updates on the Fate of the Vaal league?
Official details can be found on the December 4th livestream, GGG’s news posts on the PoE website, YouTube league trailers, and this guide, which consolidates all confirmed and speculative information in one place.
