Summary

ExileCon 2026 could be a defining Divine Orb moment for both Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2. With PoE 2 preparing for its free-to-play 1.0 launch on December 11 and Path of Exile 3.30 scheduled for November 13, Grinding Gear Games has several major announcements to deliver. Players are anticipating more class reveals, significant endgame improvements, a possible Sirus-related encounter, and clues about the franchise's long-term future. Here are six predictions worth watching, along with their potential impact on builds, progression, and POE 2 Currency management.

1. Four Remaining PoE 2 Classes Could Take Center Stage

The remaining character classes are among the biggest talking points ahead of ExileCon. The Duelist has already been confirmed for the 1.0 release following its Gamescom reveal, while the Shadow has received attention ahead of the convention.

The Templar and Marauder are also attracting interest, with potential weapon associations including flails and axes. Current class and weapon expectations include swords for Duelist, daggers for Shadow, flails for Templar, and axes for Marauder.

However, there is no confirmation that all four remaining classes will arrive simultaneously in 1.0.

The real excitement lies in build diversity. New starting positions on the passive skill tree, additional Ascendancies, and specialized mechanics such as traps could introduce entirely different combat strategies. Players should wait for official skill details before investing heavily in equipment for an unconfirmed class.

2. Path of Exile 2 Could Receive Another Endgame Overhaul

Although new campaign content attracts attention, the endgame will have a greater influence on long-term player retention.

Patch 0.5 introduced the Fortress system, Atlas Masters, additional questlines, and improvements to league progression. However, some players still find repeated progression tasks unnecessarily time-consuming.

Version 1.0 could introduce several improvements:

Atlas progression: More freedom to choose preferred endgame activities.

Quest requirements: Less repetitive progression when starting additional characters.

Pinnacle bosses: More demanding mechanics that reward preparation and execution.

League integration: Better connections between different activities and character development.

Boss difficulty also deserves attention. Increasing enemy health alone does not create meaningful challenges. Better attack patterns, positioning requirements, and rewarding combat mechanics would make pinnacle encounters more engaging.

3. Could Sirus Return in Path of Exile 3.30?

Path of Exile 3.30 is scheduled to launch on November 13, 2026, with its full reveal planned for ExileCon.

One interesting prediction involves a possible new pinnacle encounter connected to Sirus and the Atlas storyline.

Sirus remains one of the most recognizable antagonists in the original game. His connections to Zana and the Atlas provide opportunities for GGG to revisit familiar characters through a new encounter rather than simply repeating an existing boss fight.

A return would also give experienced mapping players another challenging objective to pursue.

However, a Sirus-related boss remains speculation. Players should also watch for broader Atlas improvements and changes to the relationship between mapping, invitations, and pinnacle encounters.

4. Chris Wilson and the ExileCon Race Finals

ExileCon is also about the people and competitive activities that have shaped the franchise.

Chris Wilson's possible appearance would attract considerable attention from longtime fans. A developer discussion or roundtable could provide valuable insight into the evolution of Path of Exile since Path of Exile 2 was first announced in 2019. However, his attendance has not been confirmed.

The race finals offer a more concrete competitive highlight. Announced PoE 1 finalists include allexpleblord, imexile, MOSTPOSITIVEMAN, and Ben_.

ImExile is particularly interesting following his narrow championship loss to Tyty23 in 2023.

For competitive players, these races demonstrate the importance of efficient routing, resource management, fast decisions, and precise boss execution. The rewards are primarily competitive recognition and the excitement of watching top-level gameplay.

5. Could Path of Exile 1 Eventually Receive a 4.0 Update?

Another major question concerns the future of the original Path of Exile.

Before PoE 2 became a separate game, it was associated with plans for a major 4.0 update. Although development eventually followed a different direction, some players still wonder whether GGG could revisit that idea.

WASD movement is another potential improvement worth discussing. Introducing alternative movement controls could change positioning, skill usage, and combat responsiveness, although implementation would require careful balance adjustments.

There is no official confirmation of a standalone PoE 1 4.0 project. Regular expansions and meaningful endgame improvements could remain sufficient to keep the original game thriving.

6. What Players Should Prepare Before ExileCon 2026

The upcoming announcements could influence character progression and equipment decisions across both games.

Build planners: Watch for confirmed class availability, Ascendancies, and skill changes.

Endgame farmers: Pay attention to Atlas progression and potential pinnacle encounters.

League starters: Keep alternative builds ready until the balance details become clear.

Currency traders: Avoid committing all your POE 2 Currency before the new class and economy information arrives.

Players considering whether to buy POE 2 Items should also wait for the official 1.0 balance details. Changes to skills and equipment interactions could significantly affect build effectiveness.

Final Verdict

ExileCon 2026 has the potential to shape the <a href="https://www.mmoexp.com/Poe-2/Currency/Divine-orb.html">Divine Orb</a> next several years of Path of Exile. New PoE 2 classes, a redesigned endgame, and fresh PoE 1 pinnacle content are among the most exciting possibilities.

The key dates are November 6–7 for the main announcements in Pacific Time, November 13 for Path of Exile 3.30, and December 11 for the anticipated free-to-play Path of Exile 2 1.0 release.

Ultimately, the biggest success will be GGG demonstrating a sustainable development strategy for both games. Players should follow the class reveals, endgame changes, and balance announcements carefully before making expensive build decisions.