Path of Exile

Path of Exile returns on June 13 with its next free expansion, Secrets of the Atlas. Despite Path of Exile 2 already being in early access, Grinding Gear Games isn't letting go of the original game anytime soon. In fact, the studio seems more committed than ever, bringing in one of the most interesting additions in recent memory: mercenaries.

Anyone familiar with classic action RPGs knows that sooner or later, you get companions. Secrets of the Atlas brings that idea to PoE, but in its own, deeply customizable way. The expansion launches alongside the Mercenaries of Trarthus league, which introduces recruitable warriors with full gear, unique abilities, and strategic flexibility. They're fully outfitted characters who can support your build, absorb hits, or help you push through tough content. Each mercenary comes with their own equipment and stat layout, and players can preview it all before deciding how to interact.

Every time you meet a mercenary in the wild, you get a choice. You can hire them, duel them for a shot at their gear, or exile them to maybe find someone more suitable later. Duels feel like one-on-one PvP encounters, and each mercenary behaves like a real player, so you have to prepare for the battle. The loot angle makes it worth the risk, but the utility of having an extra fighter at your side is hard to pass up. Hired mercenaries provide passive bonuses and can be outfitted for specific roles, including tank, support, or hybrid setups. It's a whole extra layer of theorycrafting on top of an already complex system.

This isn't just about letting someone else do the fighting, though. Mercenaries open the door to a new kind of build planning. Since they can wear full sets of gear and wield support abilities, they become part of your overall strategy. Want someone who rounds up enemies with a Taunting Warcry? You can build that. Need a backup Aura bot for your min-maxed spellcaster? There's room for that too.

While the mercenaries take the spotlight, Secrets of the Atlas includes much more. A new endgame storyline is being introduced, unraveling broken memory threads tied to Zana. Players will explore strange realms shaped by distorted memories, where enemies drop short-term power-ups and new loot designed to fuel even riskier challenges. There's a batch of new bosses to face, new crafting tools to explore, and more gear aimed at expanding the way players push their builds forward.

Grinding Gear Games has made it clear that support for Path of Exile 1 isn't slowing down, even with the sequel in early access. The plan going forward is to continue releasing large expansions like Secrets of the Atlas every four months, bringing new content, leagues, and system updates in parallel with development on PoE 2.

The upcoming PoE 1 update caters to players who crave depth, complexity, and complete freedom in building their characters, and the addition of mercenaries takes that even further. You're no longer just thinking about your own character. Now you have to plan as a pair.