League
Leagues in Path of Exile represent the game worlds or domains that characters exist within. A single character can only belong to one league at any time, and can't interact with characters outside that league. Leagues in Path of Exile are split in 3 different categories: permanent, temporary, and private leagues. Each league is narrowed down further with optional league flags that represent difference playstyles by introduce key conditions and restrictions to gameplay.
Permanent Leagues
Permanent leagues are standard, default leagues that only include mechanics that are core to the game, have no additional modifiers, and exclude any content from the current challenge league. Permanent leagues include: Standard (Softcore/Trade), Standard Hardcore, Standard Solo-Self Found, and Standard Hardcore Solo-Self Found.
Additionally, characters used in hardcore versions of ruthless mode or certain races (such as Endless Delve or Mayhem) are automatically transferred to a "void league" upon death in a hardcore league, or at the end of the race's duration. Characters in Void Leagues cannot be accessed from the character selection screen, and can only be deleted or kept as a trophy. Their equipment and passive trees are still visible on a player's profile and can be imported to Path of Building.
Temporary Leagues
Temporary leagues have a set duration, which can vary from 12 minutes to four months. They are usually defined by specific modifiers or features that the permanent leagues don't have. When a league ends, characters from temporary leagues are transferred to the corresponding permanent league, unless voided.
Challenge Leagues
Roughly every 13 weeks, a new challenge league is released that is intended to introduce and test new content and provide players with a fresh start and a set of optional challenges that can be completed for cosmetic prizes. Traditionally, challenge leagues are accompanied by a number of balance changes, new skill gems, and content from an accompanying expansion.
Older challenge league content may also be periodically removed from the core mechanics of the game. When a challenge league ends, all characters and their stash will be sent to their respective parent permanent league. Map progress will be transferred, along with maps and sextants. The challenge league currently running is the Sanctum league. Below is a list of all leagues in Path of Exile in order of release:
| Challenge League | Release Date | End Date | Release Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Necropolis league | 2024-03-29 6:00:00 PM | 3.24.0 | |
| Affliction league | 2023-12-08 7:00:00 PM | 2024-03-26 9:00:00 PM | 3.23.0 |
| Ancestor league | 2023-08-18 8:00:00 PM | 2023-12-05 9:00:00 PM | 3.22.0 |
| Crucible league | 2023-04-07 8:00:00 PM | 2023-08-15 10:00:00 PM | 3.21.0 |
| Sanctum league | 2022-12-09 7:00:00 PM | 2023-04-04 9:00:00 PM | 3.20.0 |
| Kalandra league | 2022-08-19 8:00:00 PM | 2022-12-06 8:00:00 PM | 3.19.0 |
| Sentinel league | 2022-05-13 8:00:00 PM | 2022-08-16 10:00:00 PM | 3.18.0 |
| Archnemesis league | 2022-02-04 8:00:00 PM | 2022-05-10 10:00:00 PM | 3.17.0 |
| Scourge league | 2021-10-22 7:00:00 PM | 2022-02-01 9:00:00 PM | 3.16.0 |
| Expedition league | 2021-07-23 8:00:00 PM | 2021-10-18 9:00:00 PM | 3.15.0 |
| Ultimatum league | 2021-04-16 8:00:00 PM | 2021-07-19 10:00:00 PM | 3.14.0 |
| Ritual league | 2021-01-15 8:00:00 PM | 2021-04-12 9:00:00 PM | 3.13.0 |
| Heist league | 2020-09-18 8:00:00 PM | 2021-01-11 9:00:00 PM | 3.12.0 |
| Harvest league | 2020-06-19 8:00:00 PM | 2020-09-14 10:00:00 PM | 3.11.0 |
| Delirium league | 2020-03-13 | 2020-06-15 | 3.10.0 |
| Metamorph league | 2019-12-13 8:00:00 PM | 2020-03-09 9:00:00 PM | 3.9.0 |
| Blight league | 2019-09-06 | 2019-12-09 9:00:00 PM | 3.8.0 |
| Legion league | 2019-06-07 | 2019-09-03 | 3.7.0 |
| Synthesis league | 2019-03-08 | 2019-06-03 10:00:00 PM | 3.6.0 |
| Betrayal league | 2018-12-07 | 2019-03-04 9:00:00 PM | 3.5.0 |
| Delve league | 2018-08-31 | 2018-12-03 9:00:00 PM | 3.4.0 |
| Incursion league | 2018-06-01 | 2018-08-27 10:00:00 PM | 3.3.0 |
| Bestiary league | 2018-03-02 8:00:00 PM | 2018-05-28 10:00:00 PM | 3.2.0 |
| Abyss league | 2017-12-08 8:00:00 PM | 2018-02-26 9:00:00 PM | 3.1.0 |
| Harbinger league | 2017-08-04 8:00:00 PM | 2017-12-04 9:00:00 PM | 3.0.0 |
| Legacy league | 2017-03-03 | 2017-07-31 10:00:00 PM | 2.6.0 |
| Breach league | 2016-12-02 8:00:00 PM | 2017-02-27 9:00:00 PM | 2.5.0 |
| Essence league | 2016-09-02 | 2016-11-28 | 2.4.0 |
| Prophecy league | 2016-06-03 | 2016-08-29 | 2.3.0 |
| Perandus league | 2016-03-04 | 2016-05-30 | 2.2.0 |
| Talisman league | 2015-12-11 | 2016-03-04 | 2.1.0 |
| Tempest league | 2015-07-10 | 2015-10-02 | 2.0.0 |
| Warbands league | 2015-07-10 | 2015-10-02 | 2.0.0 |
| Bloodlines league | 2014-12-13 | 2015-03-24 | 1.3.0 |
| Torment league | 2014-12-13 | 2015-03-24 | 1.3.0 |
| Beyond league | 2014-08-20 | 2014-11-20 | 1.2.0 |
| Rampage league | 2014-08-20 | 2014-11-20 | 1.2.0 |
| Invasion league | 2014-03-05 | 2014-07-05 | 1.1.0 |
| Ambush league | 2014-03-05 | 2014-07-05 | 1.1.0 |
| Nemesis league | 2013-10-23 | 2014-02-23 | 1.0.0 |
| Domination league | 2013-10-23 | 2014-02-23 | 1.0.0 |
| Onslaught league | 2013-06-07 | 2013-10-07 | 0.11.0 |
| Anarchy league | 2013-06-07 | 2013-10-07 | 0.11.0 |
Race Leagues
Race leagues are temporary leagues created specifically for a single race event.
These leagues have their own stash. At the end of the event, characters and their stashed items will be moved to the parent league, typically Standard, Hardcore, or Void League. The player's race stash may be placed in remove-only stash tabs if the parent league has no empty tabs. A list of race modifiers can be found here.
Private Leagues
Private leagues are purchasable, custom made leagues that allows adding additional modifiers that make Path of Exile more challenging. They can be based around the permanent leagues or the current challenge league. Additional modifiers can be added to the league, such as increased monster stats, no flask refill at towns, or disabled vendors or stash. Additional league duration and player slots can be purchased with points, with the option to allow other players to contribute to the purchase.
League Flags
There are currently 3 optional league flags under the permanent and temporary league categories: Hardcore, Solo Self-Found (SSF), and Ruthless. These flags can only be selected during the character selection screen and represent different popular playstyles by introducing key limitations.
- Hardcore (HC) has the hardcore modifier, meaning characters who die are instantly transferred to Standard. Hardcore is equivalent to permadeath in other RPGs, though characters and items are not automatically deleted. Non-HC leagues are referred to as Softcore or SC. Players can only migrate from HC to SC by dying.
- Solo Self-Found, also known as SSF, prevents players from joining a party or starting a trade with other players; players must rely solely on the items they find themselves. Non-SSF leagues are referred to as Trade. Players can migrate from SSF to Trade at any time on the character selection menu, with the option to migrate just a single character or all characters, stashes, and league progress.
- SSF Hardcore has the hardcore and SSF flags.
- Ruthless, also known as "hard mode," opts the character into extreme item scarcity and various other changes that fundamentally change the experience of the game. Players cannot migrate out of Ruthless. HC Ruthless players are voided on death.
Version History
| Version | Changes |
|---|---|
| 3.20.0 |
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| 3.4.4 |
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| 0.11.0 |
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| 0.10.8d |
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| 0.10.0 |
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| 0.10.0 | rel＝before
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