This week's Path of Exile: The Exiled Tribune is a good meaty one with news about forthcoming v2.4x patches and changes to the difficulty levels for the game with the arrival of v3.0 in 2017. In addition, there's a nice update from the community fan art competition, the build of the week and other interesting news. Pull up a chair and sit a spell!

Path of Exile Carnage Mystery Box Microtransaction Videos & the Darkness Mystery Box

The store has been updated with a bunch of cool videos to show off some of the contents of the Mystery Boxes that are now available in the store. Of particular note for those who like to channel the Gothic side is the Darkness Mystery Box that includes the Gloom Armor Set, the Obsidian Seraph Armor Set, Gloom Wings and Gloom Herald. 

You can also get a look at the Reaper Spectral Throw, the Boar Hood Helmet, the Stag Hood Helmet, the Bear Hood Helmet, the Carnage Shield and Wings, and the Gore Portal. 

Path of Exile Community Happenings

The Atlas of Worlds Fan Art Competition is in full swing and the site has been updated with a look at some of the amazing work that the community has turned in thus far. The contest challenges players to design armor sets based on a number of types (see the full list here). The contest runs through October 10th.
On the update page, several submissions are showcased that are well worth the time to go visit. Check them out here.
Also from the community is this week's Build of the Week. Coming to the community from djnat, the build is called Mistress of Agony and centers around a Level 93 Ascendant Scion that is a full on DoT specialist.
First of all, this is an entirely chaos-based character who relies on the spreading of a damage over time single-target skill, Essence Drain. The spreading happens via Contagion, another damage over time skill, but with a good area of effect radius. Mechanics are simple: you contagion an area, then target the potentially weakest mob in that area and shoot an ED bullet in its direction. When it dies, the entire Contagion area will be affected by both Contagion and Essence Drain dot damage. The single target damage is boosted by the "free" poison from Cospri's Will. It's like having a 7 link on toughest rares / uniques / bosses.
You can read the text version for the Mistress of Agony or check out the video below to see her in action.

Path of Exile Forthcoming v2.4x Patches

For those who like to get a forward look at upcoming patches, Grinding Gear does a great job putting out details before the actual release. In the latest patch update post, players will learn the v2.4x patches, get a rough idea of what's in store for each and when they might arrive.
Briefly:
2.4.1 will bring Sextant improvements
2.4.2 brings a trio of Channelling system skills on board alongside quality of life improvements and bug fixes
2.4.3 is a big one with the arrival of DirectX 11 for 64-bit systems. Once deployed, DX11 will be the default choice if a system is able to run it
All of these patches are groundwork for v2.5.0 which the team hopes to deploy in December and that will bring along a new Challenge League and super secret stuff the devs are not talking about right now.
Check out the full details of The Plan for Upcoming 2.4.x Patches.
Of further note updates-wise, a brief design Manifesto was posted to let players know that the deployment of v3.0 in 2017, Path of Exile's fifth act, will see difficulty levels adjusted from fifteen down to ten.
We want to confirm that our plan for 3.0.0 reduces the core game to ten total acts before the end-game. Changes of this nature dramatically alter the levels that maps and other systems start at, so we need Act Five to keep character progression relatively similar.

- Create Buy POE4ORBS.COM