Path of Exile fans can be excited for a long time because Path of Exile 3.9 was released this week, bringing with it both the Conquerors of the Atlas expansion, and the Metamorph challenge league. Numbers of new content has been released, which includes new bosses, massive atlas remakes, new gems, and more poe currency. Although we will do our best to combat important content, we cannot cover everything. If you need more information, check out the newly official patch notes or launch videos for more details.

3.9 Atlas Changes

Atlases have been fully revised in upcoming patches. Right away, you start at the center of the atlas and go out, instead of being outside as before. First, there are about 90 maps on the atlas, but they are all white. The map is divided into sections, each of which has an "Watchstone" area where you can insert up to four Watchstone. Earn s by defeating the new Atlas leader.

Watchstones is used to raise the level of a certain part of the atlas to a higher red map (someone mentioned that you can make each map on an atlas of 14 or higher if you like). They will also show more maps as they upgrade, changing the atlas from 90 to 155. Although it's not explicitly discussed, it also implies that you will be able to find "stones" that will also add modifiers to this section of the atlas.

The sextant is also applied to Watchstone, not individual maps. The sextant is no longer restricted by levels, but has been resized to have stronger modifiers from higher-level sextants. The sextant has also been renamed Simple, Prime and Awakened sextants for each layer. They can no longer be upgraded by suppliers, which means that higher-level sextants may be more expensive than just three times their next three times.

New Endgame Bosses

Although the Shaper and Elder task lines have been deleted, they have shown that you can still access them, and although it is unclear how, they have been deleted. It has been replaced by a new story line shown in the 3.9 trailer. Zana tells the story of a past exile who accompanied her to kill the shapers and elders. They succeeded, but the desire to fight did not stop. They keep coming back, seeking more and more conflicts. In the end, Zana worried about them and sealed them in atlases. They found their way back.

You will face five new Exile bosses, all of whom face similar endgame difficulties, to buy poe orbs may make things become more easier. These new bosses will forego new exclusive rewards, including the Watchtower, which has become the focus of the new atlas.

3.9 Map Changes

Zana will no longer provide the option to upgrade the map to a higher level. Presumably because of the fact that maps no longer have set layers and can be upgraded using Watchstones.

Zana will now sell maps affected by Shaper and Elder with the same functionality as before. The Shaper and Elder storylines have been replaced with new boss storylines, which means that these Shaped or Eldered maps will be the only way to get items within Shaper or Elder's influence.

The synthetic boss maps will now drop as the only map, giving players regular access, not just wanting Zana to provide them. Unique maps have variable levels based on where they are found, making all unique maps potentially useful at all points in the game.

Blight has been added to the game as a core mechanic, similar to Breach and Abyss, and it will appear 10% of the time when running the map. They have also adjusted the rewards to ensure that a Oil or Blighted Map is dropped every time a Blight instance is run.

New Support Gems

One of the most exciting things about the new patch is the addition of Awakened Support Gems. These gems are existing Awakened versions that support gems, but are much more powerful. Surprisingly, there are 35 awakening support gems in total, far exceeding my expectations.

These will fall from the new final atlas boss. They are just stronger versions of existing gems. For example, "Awakening Ancestor Summon" targets three enemies, while traditional ancestor summons only target two enemies.

This is a huge gain and adds too much, which will allow for more powerful builds, especially those that can use multiple new "Awakened Support Gems". It would be very interesting to see their value and find the price of the broken higher version (if it exists).

Metamorph Content

Although it may be obscured by all other changes, a new challenge alliance has emerged: Metamorph. In Morph you will find samples of some enemies you killed. These samples will be used to summon a boss. Depending on the strength of the material used to create him, the boss will receive more rewards and possibly other bonuses.

These bosses will also abandon a new currency called Catalyst, which can improve the quality of rings, amulets and belts (all items that previously had no quality rating). You can also summon endgame bosses by merging the samples you get from the atlas.

In terms of actually challenging the league content, this is definitely a smaller league, but with the addition of 3.9, there will be plenty of new content anyway. As for the bosses themselves, if the loot is enough for them to cultivate, it will be very interesting to see the metadata turn to the boss killer instead of speeding up the cultivation.