The upcoming Path of Exile 2 patch 0.3, titled The Third Edict, is set to change the way players experience the campaign. Two of the biggest community complaints-repeating the campaign under Cruel difficulty and the slow pace of traversal on oversized maps-are finally being addressed.

The update introduces a brand-new Act 4 with a non-linear campaign structure and a Sprint mechanic that gives players more control over movement speed. Together, these updates not only make the leveling process more engaging but also significantly faster.

Here's a breakdown of how the campaign flow will change with Act 4, how the new Sprint mechanic works, and what these adjustments mean for both casual and veteran Path of Exile 2 players.

Act 4 in Path of Exile 2: A Non-Linear Campaign Shake-Up

One of the defining features of Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict (0.3) is the addition of Act 4, which takes players to the Karui Archipelago. This marks a major milestone in the game's story progression and a clear shift from the linear Act design that defined earlier stages of the campaign.

Exploring the Karui Archipelago

In Act 4, players set sail from Kingsmarch to a series of eight unique islands. For the first time in Path of Exile 2, players are given the freedom to choose which island to explore first. This non-linear approach allows adventurers to tackle bosses, challenges, and monster types in their preferred order.

Each island contains new encounters, with 12 unique bosses and over 100 new monster types, giving the campaign a fresh sense of unpredictability. Returning fans may recognize some of these islands from early demo footage, but now they will be integrated fully into the main storyline.

The End of Replaying Campaign Difficulty Modes

Perhaps the most important part of Act 4 is not just its content but its impact on campaign progression overall. In previous iterations of Path of Exile, players had to replay the campaign multiple times across different difficulty modes (Normal, Cruel, and Merciless) before reaching the endgame.

With patch 0.3, Cruel difficulty is officially gone. Instead of forcing players to repeat content, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) is expanding the campaign through additional Acts and Interlude chapters that transition smoothly into endgame content. This is a massive quality-of-life improvement, reducing the grind and making the road to endgame much more engaging.

Interlude Chapters: The Bridge Between Campaign and Endgame

GGG has also introduced three Interlude chapters that act as side stories, bridging the gap between the campaign and the endgame. These are designed to enrich the world of Wraeclast while giving players new challenges and loot opportunities.

The Three Interludes in Patch 0.3

·Interlude 1: The Curse of Holten - A mysterious storyline revisiting earlier regions, expanding the lore around cursed artifacts.

·Interlude 2: The Stolen Barya - A political and war-driven narrative involving rival factions and betrayal.

·Interlude 3: Doryani's Contingency - A lore-rich segment centered on the infamous thaumaturgist Doryani, tying into future endgame themes.

These Interludes are temporary features, planned to remain until the full release of Path of Exile 2. Once the complete game launches, GGG intends to merge them more naturally into the endgame mapping system, ensuring continuity without bloating the campaign.

For now, however, they serve as a fresh and streamlined alternative to replaying old difficulty tiers-another move toward making progression smoother and faster.

Sprinting in Path of Exile 2: Solving the Map Size Problem

The second big change in patch 0.3 addresses one of the most consistent complaints among playtesters and fans: Path of Exile 2's massive map sizes.

Maps in PoE2 are designed to be more open, detailed, and immersive than in the original game. However, this also made them feel slower to traverse, particularly during early leveling.

The Sprint Mechanic Explained

With the 0.3 update, GGG is introducing a Sprint mechanic to make navigation faster and more fluid. Here's how it works:

·Activation: Players activate Sprint by holding down the dodge button. After performing a dodge, the character immediately transitions into a sprinting animation.

·Purpose: Sprint allows characters to cover ground quickly, helping with exploration, questing, and repositioning in combat.

·Downside: If a player is hit while sprinting, they are knocked down, leaving them vulnerable and potentially leading to death.

This design choice keeps Sprint from becoming a simple "speed buff" button. Instead, it forces players to weigh the risk of sprinting past enemies versus staying safe by fighting them head-on.

More Than Just Movement

While Sprint is primarily designed as a traversal tool, it also introduces new tactical depth to combat. Players can now:

·Outrun enemies to kite more effectively.

·Reposition quickly during boss fights.

·Escape deadly AoE mechanics that would otherwise require slower dodges.

This makes Sprint not just a travel feature but a combat tool that enhances overall gameplay fluidity.

Why These Changes Matter

The combination of Act 4's new non-linear structure and the Sprint mechanic has huge implications for both new and experienced Path of Exile players.

1. Faster Campaign Completion - Removing Cruel difficulty and adding a larger but single campaign path significantly cuts down on repetition, making reaching the endgame faster.

2. Improved Player Choice - Act 4 lets players approach content in different orders, adding replayability without forced difficulty resets.

3. Engaging Travel Mechanics - Sprint reduces map traversal frustration while still keeping danger intact through the "knockdown on hit" mechanic.

4. Smoother Onboarding for New Players - Without the overwhelming grind of multiple campaign replays, PoE2 becomes more approachable.

5. Lore Expansion Through Interludes - The temporary Interlude chapters deepen the world's narrative while bridging the gap to endgame progression.

What This Means for the Future of Path of Exile 2

These updates suggest a clear design philosophy shift from GGG: Path of Exile 2 will no longer prioritize repetitive grinding as the main gatekeeper to the endgame. Instead, the campaign will evolve into a single, cohesive journey, with meaningful variety added through Interludes and flexible progression paths.

The Sprint mechanic, meanwhile, signals a willingness to modernize gameplay systems to meet community expectations while still preserving PoE's signature challenge.

When Path of Exile 2 fully launches, we can expect these systems to form the backbone of a streamlined campaign-to-endgame experience that prioritizes both accessibility and depth.

Final Thoughts

The Path of Exile 2 patch 0.3: The Third Edict is shaping up to be one of the most impactful updates yet. By eliminating the need for Cruel difficulty replays, introducing the flexible and expansive Act 4, and adding the Sprint mechanic, Grinding Gear Games is directly addressing some of the community's biggest concerns.

For long-time PoE veterans, this means less repetitive grinding and more opportunities to experiment with builds earlier. For new players, it means a smoother, faster, and more accessible campaign experience.

In short, patch 0.3 makes Path of Exile 2's campaign faster, more fun, and more engaging than ever before. Whether you're eager to explore the Karui Archipelago, test out Sprint's combat applications, or dive into the Interlude side stories, the future of PoE2 looks brighter-and faster-than ever.

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