Ruthless mode

This article describes new Path of Exile content released in version 3.20.0. Information may be missing or incorrect.

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Ruthless mode (also known as Hard Mode) is a character creation flag that significantly increases the difficulty and changes the playstyle of the game by opting in to extreme item scarcity and various other changes. It is expected to release alongside version 3.20.0 on December 9th, 2022. Challenges will not be available in Ruthless in 3.20. An Alpha testing phase based on version version 3.19.0 is expected to begin in early November 2022, with invitations via sign-up.

Named after the historical Ruthless difficulty from Closed Beta, it employs item scarcity and shifts of relative item values to simulate the Path of Exile experience in the early days (without the desync). This mode is meant to be intentionally brutally difficult, where reaching higher acts is an achievement, and traditionally weak items are felt as valuable. For example, a player may have difficulty equipping a full set of items by Act 4. Most items found will be normal rarity, and crafting currency will be extremely rare.

This mode was designed as a pet project of Chris Wilson and other senior developers over 18 months. Features of Ruthless mode will have little to no impact on the core gameplay of the rest of the game. It is intended as a testing ground for radical changes and experiments (such as mid-league buff/nerfs). A change being made in Ruthless is not an indication that we will make that change in the regular game.

Overview

Ruthless can be selected by ticking a checkbox in the character selection screen. This is only available after rescuing the Scion in Act 3. A Ruthless character can only be created on initial character creation, but the Ruthless flag can be removed from a character at any time by migrating it into the corresponding regular league.

Ruthless characters will play in a separate league with their own ladder. Together with the flag, this results in the following restrictions:

Items

• All items and currency drop rates are significantly reduced.
• The quantity of items dropped are significantly reduced globally.
• Magic, Rare, and Unique items are significantly rarer globally.
• Rings, Amulets and Belts are much rarer globally.
• League reward systems (e.g. Extra Content) only drop items specific to that league, or core drops.
  • Delirium is the only source of Cluster Jewels
• Many deterministic items like Divination Cards or Oni-GoroshiOni-Goroshi
  Charan's SwordOne Handed Sword
  Physical Damage: 5-11
  Critical Strike Chance: (8.50-9.50)%
  Attacks per Second: 1.45
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metres40% increased Global Accuracy RatingUses both hand slots
  (70-90)% increased Critical Strike Chance
  Adds 2 to 3 Physical Damage to Attacks per Level
  Gain Her Embrace for 3 seconds when you Ignite an Enemy
  While in Her Embrace, take 0.5% of your total Maximum Life and Energy Shield as Fire Damage per second per Level
  Item has 6 Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden)
  Uses goddess player audio (Hidden)"Your name is Demon Slayer? Really? Good name for rotgut, that."
  She said: I prefer "The Goddess Of Swords". Much more dignified. And accurate.
  "Demon Slayer The Cheap And Nasty it is then. Burns going down, burns coming up?"
  She said: Every single time, Charan. And still...you'll bathe me, and you'll drink my love. Until you can't. cannot be obtained.
• Many bosses like Atziri that guarantee unique drops still do, but are often harder to access.
• Support gems can only be found as random drops. They cannot be obtained deterministically.

Crafting

• Master crafting is not available.
• The Crafting Bench is disabled.
• Veiled items cannot be obtained.
• , Orb of BindingOrb of BindingStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a rare item with up to four linked socketsRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it., Orb of DominanceOrb of DominanceStack Size: 10Removes one Influenced Modifier from an item with at least two Influenced
  Modifiers and upgrades another Influenced Modifier
  Upgrading a modifier of the highest tier transforms the
  modifier into an Elevated Modifier
  Attempting to upgrade an Elevated Modifier rerolls its values
  Can be used on Body Armours, Boots, Gloves and HelmetsRight click this item then left click an item with at least two Influenced Modifiers to apply it., Elderslayer's Exalted Orb and Awakener's OrbAwakener's OrbStack Size: 10Destroys an item, applying its influence to another of the same item class
  The second item is reforged as a rare item with both influence types and new modifiersRight click this item, then left click the item you wish to take the influence from, then left click an item of the same item class you wish to apply it to. cannot be obtained.
• Reforging mods on an influenced item removes the influence.

Vendor changes

• Rings, Amulets and Belts cannot be purchased from Vendors.
• Gems cannot be purchased from vendors.
  • The quests A Fixture of Fate and Death and Rebirth each award you a token that can be traded to Siosa for any Skill Gem of level 31 or lower.
• Items vendor for fewer currency shards.
• Many vendor recipes are disabled. A few vendor recipes unique to Ruthless mode are available.

Core game mechanics

• A compounding experience penalty is applied to your character from level 68.
• Gems gain less experience.
• Flask charges and Life/Mana are not refilled automatically when you enter a town or hideout. Vendors that sell flasks (or Helena at your hideout) can refill your flasks.
• Utility Flasks can not gain charges while active and have lower duration than they do normally.
  • Utility Flasks cannot be crafted with Enkindling OrbEnkindling OrbStack Size: 20Adds an enchantment to a utility flask that will improve it
    but prevent it from gaining charges during its effect
    Replaces any existing enchantmentRight click this item then left click a flask to apply it.s or Instilling OrbInstilling OrbStack Size: 20Adds an enchantment to a utility flask that will cause
    it to be used when certain conditions are met
    Replaces any existing enchantmentRight click this item then left click a flask to apply it.s
• If you die near a quest boss in the campaign, it recovers some Life.
• Hardcore Ruthless characters are not migrated to Standard Ruthless upon death. They will be permanently dead.

Endgame mechanics

• Content from past leagues is encountered less often than normal.
• Vaal side areas do not spawn in Ruthless mode.
• Scarabs only enable mechanics in a map. They do not scale in power with their tiers. Instead, higher tiers of Scarabs are needed for higher tiers of maps. Winged Scarabs do not exist.
• You do not accumulate free daily Atlas Missions.
• There is a Ruthless-specific Atlas Passive Skill Tree.

Miscellaneous

• Onslaught does not grant increased movement speed.
• Item allocation in parties is always marked Free-for-All.
• Ruthless mode uses a different item filter type than the core game.

Drop disabled items

The following items cannot be obtained in Ruthless mode:

• All Divination cards
• Enkindling OrbEnkindling OrbStack Size: 20Adds an enchantment to a utility flask that will improve it
  but prevent it from gaining charges during its effect
  Replaces any existing enchantmentRight click this item then left click a flask to apply it.
• Instilling OrbInstilling OrbStack Size: 20Adds an enchantment to a utility flask that will cause
  it to be used when certain conditions are met
  Replaces any existing enchantmentRight click this item then left click a flask to apply it.
• Orb of BindingOrb of BindingStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a rare item with up to four linked socketsRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it.
• Orb of DominanceOrb of DominanceStack Size: 10Removes one Influenced Modifier from an item with at least two Influenced
  Modifiers and upgrades another Influenced Modifier
  Upgrading a modifier of the highest tier transforms the
  modifier into an Elevated Modifier
  Attempting to upgrade an Elevated Modifier rerolls its values
  Can be used on Body Armours, Boots, Gloves and HelmetsRight click this item then left click an item with at least two Influenced Modifiers to apply it.
• Crusader's Exalted OrbCrusader's Exalted OrbStack Size: 20Adds Crusader influence and a new Crusader modifier to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a high-level rare item with no influence to apply it. Rare items can have up to six random modifiers.
• Hunter's Exalted OrbHunter's Exalted OrbStack Size: 20Adds Hunter influence and a new Hunter modifier to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a high-level rare item with no influence to apply it. Rare items can have up to six random modifiers.
• Redeemer's Exalted OrbRedeemer's Exalted OrbStack Size: 20Adds Redeemer influence and a new Redeemer modifier to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a high-level rare item with no influence to apply it. Rare items can have up to six random modifiers.
• Warlord's Exalted OrbWarlord's Exalted OrbStack Size: 20Adds Warlord influence and a new Warlord modifier to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a high-level rare item with no influence to apply it. Rare items can have up to six random modifiers.
• Awakener's OrbAwakener's OrbStack Size: 10Destroys an item, applying its influence to another of the same item class
  The second item is reforged as a rare item with both influence types and new modifiersRight click this item, then left click the item you wish to take the influence from, then left click an item of the same item class you wish to apply it to.
• Oni-GoroshiOni-Goroshi
  Charan's SwordOne Handed Sword
  Physical Damage: 5-11
  Critical Strike Chance: (8.50-9.50)%
  Attacks per Second: 1.45
  Weapon Range: 1.1 metres40% increased Global Accuracy RatingUses both hand slots
  (70-90)% increased Critical Strike Chance
  Adds 2 to 3 Physical Damage to Attacks per Level
  Gain Her Embrace for 3 seconds when you Ignite an Enemy
  While in Her Embrace, take 0.5% of your total Maximum Life and Energy Shield as Fire Damage per second per Level
  Item has 6 Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden)
  Uses goddess player audio (Hidden)"Your name is Demon Slayer? Really? Good name for rotgut, that."
  She said: I prefer "The Goddess Of Swords". Much more dignified. And accurate.
  "Demon Slayer The Cheap And Nasty it is then. Burns going down, burns coming up?"
  She said: Every single time, Charan. And still...you'll bathe me, and you'll drink my love. Until you can't.
• Winged Scarabs

Skill Gems

Most movement skills are not available in Ruthless mode.

• Blink ArrowBlink ArrowAttack, Minion, Duration, Movement, Travel, Bow
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (14-20) Mana
  Cooldown Time: 3.00 sec
  Can Store 1 Use(s)Requires Level 10Fires an arrow at the target destination. When the arrow lands, you are teleported to it and a clone is summoned at your old location. The clone is a minion that uses your bow and quiver.Base duration is 3.00 seconds
  (0-47)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
  Minions deal (0-57)% more Damage
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (2-40)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• BodyswapBodyswapMovement, Spell, AoE, Fire, Travel
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (8-23) Mana
  Cast Time: 0.70 sec
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%Requires Level 10Violently destroys your body and recreates it at the location of a targeted enemy or corpse, dealing spell damage in an area at both locations. If there is no specific target, it will prioritise corpses over enemies. If targeting a corpse, the corpse will also explode, dealing damage around it that is not affected by modifiers to spell damage, and cannot be reflected. This spell cannot be repeated.This Spell deals (3-210) to (5-315), plus 4% of your maximum Life, as base Fire Damage
  Explosion deals base Fire Damage equal to (6-7.9)% of the corpse's Maximum Life
  +(0-0.2) metres to radius
  200% more Area of Effect if Consuming a corpse
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  Deals +(0.2-4)% of your maximum Life, as base Fire DamagePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• Charged DashCharged DashMovement, AoE, Channelling, Attack, Lightning, Melee
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: 4 Mana
  Attack Speed: 160% of base
  Attack Damage: (95-121)% of base
  Effectiveness of Added Damage: (95-121)%Requires Level 28Channel to project an illusion which you steer. You gain stages while it moves, until it stops at a maximum total distance. Waves of area damage frequently pulse along its path, based on your attack speed. Stop channelling to teleport to the illusion, dealing a final wave of damage. Requires a Melee Weapon.50% of Physical Damage Converted to Lightning Damage
  Deals 150% more Damage while Channelling if Illusion has finished moving
  Hits from Final wave deal 75% of Damage per stage
  Illusion moves at 130% of your Movement Speed
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  Illusion moves at an additional +(1-20)% of your Movement SpeedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• DashDashSpell, Movement, Travel, Blink
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (4-16) Mana
  Cooldown Time: 2.50 sec
  Can Store 1 Use(s)
  Cast Time: 0.15 secRequires Level 4Performs a series of quick teleports towards a targeted location. If using the "Attack in Place" option, the direction is reversed. Shares a cooldown with other Blink skills.(0-19)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
  (0-57)% increased travel distance
  This Spell's Cast Speed cannot be modified
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (0.5-10)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• Flame DashFlame DashSpell, Movement, Duration, Fire, Travel, Blink
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (8-23) Mana
  Cooldown Time: 3.50 sec
  Can Store 3 Use(s)
  Cast Time: 0.80 sec
  Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
  Effectiveness of Added Damage: 140%Requires Level 10Teleport to a location, damaging enemies and leaving a trail of burning ground. Shares a cooldown with other Blink skills.Deals (19.7-1738.6) Base Fire Damage per second
  Base duration is 4.00 seconds
  Deals (7-659) to (11-988) Fire Damage
  Modifiers to Spell Damage apply to this Skill's Damage Over Time effect
  (0-19)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (0.5-10)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• FrostblinkFrostblinkSpell, Movement, Duration, Cold, Travel, Blink, AoE
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (12-22) Mana
  Cooldown Time: (3.00 sec-2.60 sec)
  Can Store 1 Use(s)
  Cast Time: Instant
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  Effectiveness of Added Damage: 250%Requires Level 4Teleport to a location, damaging enemies and leaving Chilled ground in an area at both ends of the teleport. Shares a cooldown with other Blink skills.Deals (9-1144) to (14-1716) Cold Damage
  Base duration is 3.00 seconds
  +(0-0.3) metres to radius
  (15-19)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate for each Normal or Magic Enemy in Area
  (80-99)% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate for each Rare or Unique Enemy in Area
  (0-38)% increased maximum travel distance
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (0.5-10)% increased maximum travel distancePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• Leap SlamLeap SlamAttack, AoE, Movement, Travel, Slam, Melee
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: 10 Mana
  Attack Damage: (100-150)% of base
  Effectiveness of Added Damage: (100-150)%
  AoE Radius: 15Requires Level 10Jump through the air, damaging and knocking back enemies with your weapon where you land. Enemies you would land on are pushed out of the way. Requires an Axe, Mace, Sceptre, Sword or Staff. Cannot be supported by Multistrike.(20-39)% increased Stun Duration against Enemies that are on Full Life
  +0.55 seconds to Attack Time
  Base radius is 1.5 metres
  Damaging Hits always Stun Enemies that are on Full Life
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (2-40)% increased Stun Duration against Enemies that are on Full LifePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• Lightning WarpLightning WarpSpell, AoE, Duration, Movement, Lightning, Travel
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (9-26) Mana
  Cast Time: 0.70 sec
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  Effectiveness of Added Damage: 90%
  AoE Radius: 16Requires Level 10Waits for a duration before teleporting to a targeted destination, with the duration based on the distance and your movement speed. When the teleport occurs, lightning damage is dealt to the area around both where the player was and where they teleported to. Casting again will queue up multiple teleportations to occur in sequence.Deals (1-51) to (19-965) Lightning Damage
  +(0-0.4) metres to radius
  (30-49)% reduced Duration
  Can queue up to 50 uses
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (1-20)% increased Cast SpeedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• Shield ChargeShield ChargeAttack, AoE, Movement, Travel, Physical, Melee
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: 10 Mana
  Attack Time: 0.50 sec
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  AoE Radius: 8 / 16Requires Level 10Charges at a targeted location or enemy, pushing away enemies in your path and repeatedly dealing off-hand damage in a small area in front of you. You deal damage in a larger area when you reach the target. The further you travel, the more damage you deal, and the greater your chance of stunning enemies. Cannot be supported by Multistrike.(12-134) to (18-200) Base Off Hand Physical Damage
  (3-5) to (4-7) Added Physical Damage per 15 Armour or Evasion Rating on Shield
  75% increased Stun Threshold reduction on enemies at Maximum charge distance
  100% more Damage with Hits at Maximum Charge Distance
  (90-109)% increased Movement Speed
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (1-20)% increased Movement SpeedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• Smoke MineSmoke MineMine, Spell, AoE, Duration, Movement, Travel, Blink
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (6-13) Mana
  Reservation: (6-13) Mana
  Cooldown Time: 5.00 sec
  Can Store 3 Use(s)
  Cast Time: 0.50 secRequires Level 10Throws a mine that will teleport you to it when detonated. It covers both your escape and arrival with a cloud of smoke that blinds enemies, and gives you a temporary buff to movement speed. Shares a cooldown with other Blink skills.Mine lasts 8 seconds
  Base duration is (4.00-5.00) seconds
  Base secondary duration is 1.00 seconds
  Increases and Reductions to Mine Duration also apply to this Skill's Buff Duration
  Only one Mine of this type can Detonate in each Detonation Sequence
  Buff grants (20-29)% increased Movement Speed
  Mines cannot be Re-armed
  Mine Detonation is Instant
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  Buff grants (1-20)% increased Movement SpeedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
• Venom GyreVenom GyreAttack, Projectile, Chaos, Duration
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: (5-7) Mana
  Attack Speed: 120% of base
  Attack Damage: (125-165)% of base
  Effectiveness of Added Damage: (125-165)%Requires Level 12Fires a returning projectile that can be caught. Caught projectiles spiral outwards when you use Whirling Blades and do not return. Requires a Dagger or Claw.Base duration is 12.00 seconds
  60% of Physical Damage Converted to Chaos Damage
  Projectiles Return to you
  40% chance to Poison on Hit
  Returning Projectiles deal 75% less Damage with Hits and Ailments
  Returning Projectiles Pierce all Targets
  Maximum 30 caught Projectiles
  40% chance to keep each caught Projectile fired with Whirling Blades
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  Maximum +(0.5-10) caught ProjectilesPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. (disabled due to its reliance on Whirling Blades)
• Whirling BladesWhirling BladesAttack, Movement, Travel, Melee
  Level: (1-20)
  Cost: 10 Mana
  Attack Damage: (100-150)% of base
  Effectiveness of Added Damage: (100-150)%Requires Level 10Dive through enemies, dealing weapon damage. If dual wielding attacks with both weapons, dealing the damage of both in one hit. Only works with Daggers, Claws, and One-Handed Swords. Cannot be supported by Multistrike.When Dual Wielding, Deals 75% Damage from each Weapon combined
  +0.6 seconds to Attack Time
  
  Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
  (0.5-10)% increased Attack SpeedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.

Strategy

Here are some tips for your first character :

• Have a build ready that mostly uses gems that can be acquired through quest rewards since gem vendors are disabled.
• Do not make a build that would be reliant on a specific unique item since drop rates are heavily reduced and divination cards are disabled.
• Having the option to take resistance nodes on the tree can serve as a stop-gap until better gear resistance is acquired.
• Life based characters are generally easier to acquire gear for than energy shield based characters:
  • Characters gain life on every level up as well as through strength
  • Life or strength rolls on gear are common.
  • Leather BeltLeather BeltRequires Level 8+(25-40) to maximum Life or Coral RingCoral Ring+(20-30) to maximum Life can be used to supplement the HP pool.
• Stash gear and skill gems that might be useful for other characters.
• Use a very lenient filter due to extreme item scarcity.
• Do not risk gambling with currency that may irreversibly change stats (Such as Vaal OrbsVaal OrbStack Size: 20Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again.) on items that you cannot afford to lose.

Version history

Version	Changes
3.19.0