Grinding Gear Games is once again shaking up the world of Path of Exile with its newest update, Keepers of the Flame (patch 3.27). This expansion breathes new life into the classic Breach mechanic, introducing layered endgame content, deep crafting systems, and enhanced gameplay variety. Whether you're a new Exile exploring Wraeclast for the first time or a long-time veteran hunting Uber bosses, Keepers of the Flame delivers fresh ways to build power and master the Atlas.

Here's a complete breakdown of the five biggest features coming with Path of Exile patch 3.27-and why this expansion may be one of the most ambitious in recent years.

1) Bloodline Ascendancies - A New Level of Power

One of the most revolutionary additions in Keepers of the Flame is the Bloodline Ascendancy system. Acting as extensions of existing Ascendancies, these provide secondary passive trees that further specialize your character's strengths or introduce entirely new playstyles.

Unlike previous Ascendancy reworks, Bloodline Ascendancies don't replace nodes-they exist alongside your main class path. This means players can now mix offensive and defensive bonuses from two Ascendancies at once, opening up unprecedented build diversity.

To unlock a Bloodline Ascendancy, you'll need to defeat specific endgame bosses and absorb their essence, effectively claiming a portion of their power. However, activating these new passives requires spending additional Ascendancy points, ensuring they're a meaningful investment rather than a free boost.

This new layer of progression gives endgame players more goals to chase and offers build-crafting possibilities that rival the biggest expansions in Path of Exile's history.

2) New Skill and Support Gems - Expanding Build Diversity

Every new League brings exciting skill options, but patch 3.27 may take things a step further. Keepers of the Flame introduces a selection of new Skill and Support gems that cater to all playstyles-from AoE-focused screen clearers to precision-based boss slayers.

Some of these new abilities excel at crowd control and elemental manipulation, letting players chain attacks or enhance other core skills with unique interactions. Others act as synergy-based Support gems, designed to enhance flexibility in scaling and rotation setups.

For example, players can now pair newly introduced lightning or fire spells with reworked Supports that amplify their AoE or alter damage types. The result is a wider range of meta-viable League starter builds and creative endgame combinations that make Keepers of the Flame a dream come true for theorycrafters.

3) Genesis Tree Crafting - The Heart of the Keepers' Power

At the center of the Keepers of the Flame expansion lies the Genesis Tree, a massive new system tied to both the League's narrative and its crafting core.

The Genesis Tree functions as a passive crafting network made up of interconnected nodes. Each node influences item rarity, modifier weighting, or crafting outcomes, allowing players to specialize in their preferred crafting style. You can tune the tree toward currency creation, Path of Exile Items enhancement, or unique item upgrading, depending on your goals.

To interact with the Genesis Tree, players must defeat Breach enemies and collect Graftblood, a special resource dropped during encounters. Feeding Graftblood into specific sections of the Tree unlocks new crafting opportunities, from enhancing rare gear to generating powerful league-exclusive items.

This system encourages experimentation and rewards dedication. For crafters and traders alike, maintaining a healthy supply of Path of Exile Currency is key to fully exploring the Genesis Tree's potential. Those looking to gain an edge may even choose to buy POE Currency early to streamline crafting progress and avoid bottlenecks.

4) Grafting Mechanics - Customize Your Build on the Fly

One of the standout gameplay additions in patch 3.27 is Grafting, a modular customization feature connected to the revamped Breach encounters.

Grafts are biomechanical enhancements-think Breach-born augmentations can be equipped to your Exile for passive bonuses or entirely new active skills. Each Graft grants a unique benefit, such as improved elemental resistances, increased resource regeneration, or even bonus projectile attacks.

As you progress through the League, you'll unlock a second Graft slot, allowing dual customization and hybrid effects that bridge offensive and defensive mechanics. Some Unique Grafts-dropped exclusively by Breachlords or within Hive Cities-can transform entire builds, introducing new meta-defining interactions.

Because experimenting with Grafts can be resource-intensive, players are encouraged to stockpile or trade Path of Exile Currency. Having spare orbs allows smoother rerolling, mod refinement, and the flexibility to test multiple Graft combinations without stalling progression.

5) Asynchronous Trade - Streamlining the Economy

Quality of life improvements have long been a focus for Grinding Gear Games, and Keepers of the Flame introduces perhaps the most impactful one yet: Asynchronous Trade.

This new system allows players to list items for sale in a dedicated Merchant Stash Tab, setting fixed prices that remain active even when offline. Buyers can browse the marketplace, purchase directly, and instantly visit your hideout to complete the transaction without any need for player-to-player interaction.

This streamlining fundamentally improves Path of Exile's economy, reducing downtime and enabling faster circulation of items and currency. Whether you're flipping items for profit or simply trying to buy a specific map fragment, Asynchronous Trade ensures smoother and more reliable transactions.

Final Thoughts

Path of Exile: Keepers of the Flame represents the next evolution of GGG's long-running ARPG masterpiece. By combining Bloodline Ascendancies, Genesis Tree crafting, and Grafting customization with meaningful trade and economy improvements, patch 3.27 reinvigorates nearly every core system in the game.

For crafters, traders, and endgame grinders alike, this update offers powerful new tools to chase perfection. So, stock up on your Path of Exile Items, prepare your Atlas strategy, and get ready to face the fiery challenges of the Keepers.

Whether you're experimenting with Grafts, mastering the Genesis Tree, or diving into Bloodline synergy, Path of Exile 3.27: Keepers of the Flame is shaping up to be one of the most transformative updates in the franchise's history.