Grinding Gear Games has dropped another major teaser for Path of Exile 2, officially confirming the name of the upcoming 0.4 League: Fate of the Vaal. Scheduled to launch on December 12, 2025, the update is shaping up to be one of the most lore-rich expansions the game has seen so far. The teaser strongly hints at the return of Atziri, the legendary Queen of the Vaal, suggesting that the ancient civilization will play a major role in the upcoming storyline.

This reveal follows the previous teaser showcasing Druid, the game's newest character class. But unlike that announcement-which was fairly straightforward of the Vaal raises far more questions than answers. With the Vaal, corruption themes, and Atziri all tied together, this update has the potential to reshape Path of Exile 2's gameplay, lore, and endgame.

Below are our top predictions for what players can expect from the Path of Exile 2 Fate of the Vaal League.

Path of Exile 2: Fate of the Vaal League Predictions

1) The Return of Vaal Gems

One of the most exciting possibilities for the 0.4 update is the return of Vaal Gems, a staple of the original Path of Exile. These corrupted Skill Gems provided powerful, alternate versions of existing abilities-often transforming them into burst-damage or utility tools-but required players to charge them by killing enemies before activation.

With Atziri confirmed as a central figure in the teaser, the likelihood of Vaal Gems being introduced into PoE 2 is higher than ever. Each 0.3 and 0.2 patch added new Gems, and GGG has shown a willingness to bring back fan-favorite mechanics in modernized form.

Key possibilities include:

·A new Vaal Uncut Spirit Gem, parallel to the current Gem-acquisition system

·A return of the corruption process, where players could corrupt a regular Skill Gem to obtain its Vaal counterpart

·A brand-new Vaal Gem acquisition system through Vaal temples, Incursions, or Atziri-related content

If Vaal Gems do return, players may want to stock up early or buy POE2 Currency to invest in crafting and trading as new meta-defining gems emerge.

2) A Major Endgame Overhaul (Finally)

While Path of Exile 2 remains in early access, many players agree that its endgame needs significant improvement. Patch 0.3 focused heavily on campaign restructuring and quality-of-life updates, leaving the endgame in a relatively simple state where players mostly loop through maps with increasing modifiers.

Fate of the Vaal may be the update that begins the endgame transformation players have been waiting for.

Predicted endgame changes:

·A deeper Atlas or new endgame progression system

·A rework of map-based loot scaling to reduce reliance on stacking rarity mods

·Improvements to Delirium and its fog overlay, which currently lacks strategic variation

·More deterministic currency farming mechanics to stabilize the early PoE 2 economy

·New league content designed to integrate directly into endgame mapping loops

If these changes land, endgame farming strategies-and demand for high-value Path of Exile 2 Items-will shift dramatically.

3) Another Secret Ascendancy?

Patch 0.2's Abyssal League surprised everyone with the introduction of the Abyssal Lich, a secret Ascendancy that was not revealed before launch. Could GGG do it again?

The Vaal theme makes it a real possibility. Several classes could make interesting candidates:

Huntress

·Already associated with dark, ritualistic themes

·Could receive a corruption-focused Ascendancy

·Fits Vaal aesthetics and lore surprisingly well

Witch

·The Witch's Bloodmage Ascendancy shares strong Vaal thaumaturgy vibes

·Blood, corruption, sacrifice, and soul manipulation all align with Vaal culture

While GGG rarely repeats major surprises back-to-back, the community is already speculating heavily about a hidden Vaal-inspired Ascendancy. If one arrives, expect it to integrate tightly with Vaal Gems, blood mechanics, or corrupted gear.

4) Incursion Returns and an Atziri Boss Fight

A Vaal-themed league almost guarantees the return of Incursion, one of PoE's most beloved mechanics. With Alva already present in Path of Exile 2, players are expecting a revitalized version of the temporal temple system.

In the original PoE:

·Incursions allowed players to build a custom Vaal Temple

·The Vaal Omnitect served as the final boss

·Completing the temple provided unique loot and corrupted items

With Atziri teased in 0.4's artwork, a new pinnacle boss fight seems likely. In PoE 1, entering her domain required four Sacrifice Fragments, a system that could easily be reimagined for PoE 2's endgame.

Possible boss additions:

·Atziri, Queen of the Vaal, is a pinnacle encounter

·Uber Atziri variant using new mechanics

·A reworked Vaal Omnitect for PoE 2's combat engine

·New fragment-farming mechanics within Incursions

Regardless of the format, players should expect Atziri to play a major role in endgame progression.

5) A New Martial Weapon Type - Likely Swords

Patch 0.4 will also introduce a brand-new martial weapon type. GGG hasn't revealed what it is, but the community strongly believes the answer is Swords, possibly including Greatswords.

The logic is compelling:

PoE 1 had two unique Vaal-themed swords:

·Story of the Vaal

·Fate of the Vaal

Both were tied exclusively to Incursion content.

·Swords fit perfectly with ancient Vaal martial lore

·The Druid class teaser hinted at melee synergies that align well with Greatswords

While shield, spear, or whip archetypes have also been suggested, swords remain the strongest thematic fit.

Final Thoughts

Path of Exile 2's Fate of the Vaal update is shaping up to be a massive turning point for the game, combining fan-favorite lore, expected mechanics like Vaal Gems and Incursion, and desperately needed endgame improvements. With Atziri returning, a new weapon type launching, and the potential for hidden Ascendancies or new progression systems, patch 0.4 could deliver the most impactful update since early access began.