While the name of the 3.27 expansion hasn’t been revealed yet, there’s already plenty to unpack: timing, preparation, and predictions based on GGG’s development cycle and design trends. This guide will break down what to expect from the 3.27 expansion, how to prepare your account before the Mercenaries League ends, and what players should focus on during the transition week leading up to the October 31st launch.

1. The End of the Mercenaries League (October 27)

The Mercenaries League—introduced in patch 3.26—was one of Path of Exile’s most ambitious leagues in recent memory, featuring squad-based tactical missions, recruitable NPC companions, and a layered faction war system. As the league wraps up, players should take advantage of the final days to secure their rewards, wrap up Atlas goals, and prepare their accounts for the next phase.

Here’s what to do before the league ends:

Redeem all unclaimed rewards: Complete your remaining Mercenary Contracts and turn in your faction reputation. Any unused contracts or recruitment tokens will likely be removed or converted when the league ends.

Finish your challenges: The Mercenaries League Challenges offer cosmetic wings, portals, and weapon effects at 12, 24, and 36 challenges respectively. You’ll want to lock these in before October 27 to avoid missing out.

Organize your stash: Transfer valuable items and currency you plan to keep into a “Standard Migration Tab.” When the league merges into Standard, this will save you the chaos of sorting dozens of remove-only tabs.

Wrap up endgame goals: Finish your Eldritch, Maven, or Atlas objectives if you want your Standard character to start 3.27 with strong progress. Some endgame bosses may receive mechanical changes or loot rebalances in the next patch, so completing them early is ideal.

Expect a three- to four-day downtime window between the end of the Mercenaries League and the launch of 3.27, as GGG prepares servers, balance changes, and patch deployment.

2. What to Expect from the 3.27 Expansion

GGG has kept the expansion’s name and theme under wraps, but based on their yearly update cadence, we can infer several things.

a. A Brand-New League Mechanic

Every Path of Exile expansion introduces a fresh seasonal league, and 3.27 will be no exception. Following the companion-based Mercenaries League, GGG tends to rotate between combat-driven, crafting-focused, and world-altering mechanics.

Given recent developer comments, the next league could feature:

Spirit or soul-based gameplay, expanding upon the Spirit Gem system revealed for Path of Exile 2.

A return to darker thematic roots, with a focus on ancient Vaal or Karui ruins.

Integrated crafting or relic-hunting mechanics that tie directly into endgame map modifiers.

While this is speculation, GGG has historically alternated between tactical or narrative-heavy leagues (like Heist, Expedition, and Mercenaries) and more fast-paced, loot-driven systems (like Sentinel, Crucible, or Ritual). This means 3.27 may lean toward a high-action loop with deep build rewards.

b. Major Balance Pass

Expect a comprehensive balance rework for skills, ascendancies, and key item bases. GGG often uses the pre-PoE2 window to fine-tune older archetypes. Popular builds such as Toxic Rain, Righteous Fire, and Spark might see adjustments, while underused playstyles (like cold melee or trap builds) could receive buffs.

A few likely areas of change:

Mana economy tweaks – Since PoE2 introduces new resource systems, 3.27 may start standardizing mana costs and recovery rates.

Defensive overhaul – To reduce one-shot deaths, expect tuning for Armour, Evasion, and hybrid defenses.

Gem tag updates – More gems could gain the new “Spirit” or “Echo” tags, hinting at shared technology with PoE2.

c. Endgame Additions

GGG often expands Atlas content alongside new leagues. 3.27 could include:

New Map bosses or Maven invitations tied to the new league mechanic.

Updated Atlas passive tree nodes for enhanced mapping diversity.

Potential new Uber boss variants for top-tier players chasing mirror-tier loot.

3. Preparing for 3.27 League Launch

With the release date confirmed for October 31st (PDT), players have roughly three weeks to prepare. Here’s how to optimize your start for the upcoming league:

a. Plan Your League Starter Build

League starts are always competitive, especially for trade and racing players. As patch notes drop (usually a few days before release), pick a build that is:

Budget-friendly

Strong at early mapping

Not overly reliant on specific uniques

Historically reliable options include Boneshatter Juggernaut, Toxic Rain Pathfinder, Seismic Trap Saboteur, or Righteous Fire Inquisitor. However, the patch notes may buff or nerf specific archetypes, so flexibility is key.

b. Manage Your Currency

Save up Chaos Orbs, Divine Orbs, and Exalted Orbs from Mercenaries before the merge. These resources are invaluable early in a new league for gearing up, crafting, or flipping early uniques. If you play both Standard and League, consider converting excess league currency into valuable crafting bases or high-tier maps before the reset.

c. Clean Your Stash

Before 3.27 drops, do a “stash purge.” Move essential maps, div cards, and fragments into labeled tabs. This ensures you’re ready for a clean start on launch day without sorting through hundreds of remove-only tabs.

d. Test the PoE2 Beta Mechanics (if available)

Since the PoE2 beta overlaps developmentally with PoE1’s updates, testing Spirit Gem mechanics or combat changes there can give you early insights into how 3.27 might evolve.

4. Post-League Transition: What Happens to Mercenary Content

GGG has confirmed they’ll share more about “what will be happening to our Trarthan friends (and enemies)” closer to October 27. Historically, GGG either:

Adds parts of the league mechanic to the core game, or

Vaults the system entirely, revisiting it later as a special event or Atlas encounter.

If the Mercenaries League is integrated into core PoE, expect limited recruitment missions or contract-based encounters to appear in future maps, similar to Heist and Expedition’s implementation.

5. Final Thoughts

Path of Exile 3.27 marks the final major expansion before Path of Exile 2’s launch window in 2025, making it a crucial turning point for both games. With the Mercenaries League ending on October 27th and the new expansion launching on October 31st, players have a perfect opportunity to reset, reorganize, and dive into a fresh experience.

Stay tuned for the official expansion reveal, expected in mid-October, and buy POE orbs use the coming weeks to fine-tune your builds, stockpile resources, and prepare for what could be one of the most defining leagues of Path of Exile’s pre-sequel era.