Version 1.1.0

Version History
← 1.0.6b February 4, 2014	1.1.0 March 5, 2014	1.1.0b → March 5, 2014

Version 1.1.0 introduces the Sacrifice of the Vaal "mini expansion", which adds new content and features to the core game in Path of Exile.

Patch notes

These are the official patch notes for version 1.1.0 released by Grinding Gear Games.

Notes

• Due to substantial balance changes, every existing character has been granted an optional full passive reset. To use this, click the "Reset all Passives" button on the passive skill screen. Note that you must use this before allocating or refunding any other points otherwise the option will go away.

New Four-Month Challenge Leagues

• Four month challenge leagues are a great opportunity for a fresh start. All your old characters and items are still present in the Standard and Hardcore leagues, but you're encouraged to join the new economies, complete challenges and climb the ladder!
• The new challenge leagues include a set of eight new challenges! If you complete all of them, you'll receive an exclusive Ambush/Invasion challenge shirt. 23 players completed all the challenges in the last pair of four-month leagues.
• Ambush: Various new types of chests called Strongboxes can be found throughout Wraeclast. These chests are guarded by monsters that ambush the player when they are opened. The ambushing monsters must be slain before the contents of the Strongbox can be claimed. Sometimes you'll encounter magic, rare or unique Strongboxes which have mods like items do. Prefixes affect the difficulty of the ambush by adding more monsters, springing traps or affecting your character. Suffixes improve your rewards from the Strongbox. You can use currency items to reroll these mods. One of the new challenges is to open Strongboxes with each mod.
• Invasion: Invasion is a Hardcore league (characters who die are converted to Standard characters). In the Invasion league, areas of Wraeclast have substantially more monster variety, so players will run into unexpected and dangerous invading monsters from other levels or acts. A unique boss monster from an invading monster type is also lurking in each level. Higher difficulty levels contain expanded monster variety and the invading bosses with more abilities. One of the new challenges is to kill each invading Unique monster.
• A new item type has been added to the challenge leagues: Unset RingUnset RingRequires Level 5Has 1 Socket. It's a ring with a socket as its implicit property.
• Eight new types of quivers have been added to the challenge leagues. The old quiver types do not exist in the challenge leagues.
• Out of the 13 total Unique items added in this update, there are two new Unique items that can only drop in either challenge league, plus one that can only drop in Ambush and one that can only drop in Invasion.

Major Features/Content

• Added a final encounter with Queen Atziri and her guardians in the Apex of Sacrifice. To access it, cleanse areas of Vaal corruption and look for fragments of their ancient civilisation. There's a competition where the first 50 players to kill Atziri and her guardians in each of the new challenge leagues will receive an exclusive Vaal-themed character effect. More information will be announced in the news.
• As you explore Wraeclast, you'll occasionally find Vaal-influenced secret corrupted areas that are indicated by a glowing, beating heart and swirling ribbons of blood. These corrupted areas have magical properties, similar to end-game maps, which substantially increase their difficulty. At the heart of each corrupted area is a new boss monster, guarding a chest that is guaranteed to drop a Vaal Skill Gem or Vaal Fragment. End-game maps do not contain secret corrupted areas.
• The Vaal civilization may have existed thousands of years ago, but it had its own form of Skill Gems. Brutally powerful and fueled by the sacrifice of foes, these gems are the ultimate version of many contemporary Path of Exile skills. Vaal Skill Gems charge up as you kill enemies and can be unleashed for a devastating effect. Where applicable, cosmetic microtransaction effects do work on the equivalent Vaal skills. There are 17 Vaal Skills Gems in this patch and more will be added in later updates.
• Added a new currency item: Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 10Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again.
  Shift click to unstack.. It corrupts a target item, modifying it unpredictably. Once an item is corrupted, further currency cannot be applied to it. This includes restoring imprints. There are many possible outcomes of corruption, some of which may be undesirable. Consider its use carefully!
• Added over 60 new boss monsters for secret corrupted areas and the Invasion league. They use complex combinations of skills and can be very dangerous. Higher difficulty versions often use more skills and supports.
• Added a new monster to Act One and Act Three: Soulless Watcher. It uses a charged up attack that blinds you if you're facing it.
• Free-for-all PvP is available in the Sarn Arena (at the top of the steps in the Sarn Encampment). Normal and Cruel difficulty Arenas have level caps of 40 and 60 respectively.
• Added 13 new Unique Items, some of which are Vaal themed and can only be dropped by Atziri herself.
• We've added some new cosmetic microtransaction skins: Seraph Body Armour, Seraph Helmet, Seraph Boots and Seraph Gloves. There's also a bundle that contains all four.
• Information on cut-throat events will be announced soon!

Minor Features/Content

• Added a new armour base type which only drops from Queen Atziri: Sacrificial GarbSacrificial GarbArmour: 329
  Evasion: 329
  Energy Shield: 64
  Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 72, 66 Str, 66 Dex, 66 Int+1 to Level of all Vaal Skill Gems.
• Dozens of Unique items have been updated with their own 3d art.
• Many monsters throughout Wraeclast have been updated with improved death animations. This includes zombie dismemberment.
• Waypoints now have effects that indicate whether they are activated or not.
• You are now able to select between multiple OpenAL audio devices in the audio options.
• If you don't have a full bar of Stash Tabs, a button is now shown next to your last tab that allows you to purchase more.
• Vaal items can now also be found in the Vaults of AtziriVaults of Atziri
  Vaal Pyramid MapMap Level: 79
  Map Tier: 12
  Guild Character: gChests have (2500-3500)% increased Item Rarity
  Area contains no monsters
  Chest drop scaling is disabled. (Hidden)
  Found Items have a (20-40)% chance to drop Corrupted in Area"Should I depart this mortal coil,
  so shall all of my treasures."
  - Atziri, Queen of the VaalTravel to this Map by using it in the Templar Laboratory or a personal Map Device. Maps can only be used once..
• World objects that drop quest items now have green text.
• Golden Chests [sicSīc erat scriptum (Latin: “Thus it was written”) – This quote is reproduced faithfully from its source with the preceding errors.] have been removed from most areas due to Corrupted Secret Areas taking over some of their role. They still exist in the Vaults of Atziri for the achievement.
• Several new shrine icons have been added so that the shrines can be more easily distinguished.
• Continued to incrementally improve the sound, art, effects and environments.

General Balance

• Shrines can now spawn in all leagues. The Thorned shrine no longer spawns.
• All rare monsters have a chance to spawn with a Nemesis mod, in all leagues. The Camouflaged Predator Nemesis mod no longer spawns. The Blessing of Elements Nemesis mod now does considerably more damage. The Shroud Walker Nemesis mod now gives the monster a smoke effect with a larger radius. The Storm Herald Nemesis mod will not appear until level 60.
• The way leech applies to the player has changed. If you leech additional life while currently leeching, it no longer queues after the current leech. Technically, where multiple leeches are stacked, the largest one is used.
• The Vaal Oversoul's Smash is now fully considered an attack. It can now be evaded or blocked, but cannot be spell blocked.

Skill and Support Gem Balance

• and now have multiplicative cast and attack speed penalties.
• Barrage: the attack speed penalty has been removed.
• Desecrate: the maximum level of a created corpse has been changed to being higher than the required level of the skill. This scales up to a monster level cap of 100 by level 20 of the gem. Desecrate also now enforces a limit of 15 corpses at a time.
• Spectral Throw: this now deals 46% of weapon damage at level 1, but increases as it levels. By level 15 of the gem, you will dealing 60% of weapon damage.
• Burning Arrow: the ignite chance on levels over 20 continues to progress linearly, rather than slowing the progression as it previously did.
• All Support Gems now support values up to level 30.

Passive Skill Balance

• The Marauder starting area has been reworked substantially.
• The area between the Duelist and Marauder has been reworked substantially.
• The wheels of primary defenses around the Scion opening area have been changed to allow fast lateral progress. The values of the life wheel have been reduced. The Elusiveness notable has been removed.
• The effectiveness of early Scion passives have been reduced.
• Several Energy Shield passives have been improved.
• Most spell damage, elemental damage and specific elemental damage passives have been improved.
• Vaal Pact no longer suppresses life recovery from flasks. It still prevents life regeneration and now also reduces your leech by 60%.
• The Berserking notable passive now only offers 12% attack speed.
• Elemental Adaptation has been moved to between the Witch and Templar.
• Larger groups of critical strike multiplier have had some minor nodes removed.

Item Balance

• Two-Stone Rings can now drop in all leagues.
• Sanctified Life FlasksSanctified Life FlaskRecovers 1460 Life over 3.00 seconds
  Consumes 15 of 30 Charges on useRequires Level 50Right click to drink. Can only hold charges while in belt. Refills as you kill monsters. and Sanctified Mana FlasksSanctified Mana FlaskRecovers 1100 Mana over 6.50 seconds
  Consumes 7 of 35 Charges on useRequires Level 50Right click to drink. Can only hold charges while in belt. Refills as you kill monsters. can now drop in all leagues.
• Jade FlaskLasts 4.00 Seconds
  Consumes 30 of 60 Charges on use
  +1500 to Evasion RatingRequires Level 27Right click to drink. Can only hold charges while in belt. Refills as you kill monsters. and Quartz FlasksQuartz FlaskLasts 4.00 Seconds
  Consumes 30 of 60 Charges on use
  Phasing
  6% chance to Dodge Attack Hits
  6% chance to Dodge Spell HitsRequires Level 27Right click to drink. Can only hold charges while in belt. Refills as you kill monsters. can now drop in all leagues.
• Prismatic RingsPrismatic RingRequires Level 30+(8-10)% to all Elemental Resistances will no longer drop, but can still be crafted. The TamingThe Taming
  Prismatic RingRequires Level 30+(8-10)% to all Elemental Resistances20% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments per Freeze, Shock or Ignite on Enemy
  +(20-30)% to all Elemental Resistances
  30% increased Elemental Damage
  10% chance to Freeze, Shock and Ignite
  30% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills"Moon after moon did Berek make fools
  Of the great and Untamed Three
  Until malice for a Brother
  Slew the hatred of the Other
  And Berek did hunt
  Alone and free."
  - Berek and the Untamed can also be crafted.
• Unique items that were exclusive to Domination and Nemesis can no longer drop.
• The [sicSīc erat scriptum (Latin: “Thus it was written”) – This quote is reproduced faithfully from its source with the preceding errors.] Support Gem can no longer drop.
• Increased Item Quantity mods can no longer spawn on magic or rare items.
• Increased Item Quantity mods on Unique items have been reduced by around 30%.
• Reduced the implicit resistance values on hybrid strength/intelligence shields.
• Quivers are no longer awarded as quest rewards.
• Mods that provide critical multiplier have been reduced.
• A Fracturing mod has been added to the map affix pool.

Unique Item Balance

• Deshret's Vise has been renamed Meginord's ViseMeginord's Vise
  Steel GauntletsQuality: +20%
  Armour: (185-208)Requires Level 35, 52 Str+100 to Strength
  10% increased Global Physical Damage
  (40-60)% increased Armour
  Regenerate 2% of Life per second with at least 400 StrengthRide with pride,
  strike with vengeance,
  live with honour. and the Attack Speed penalty has been removed from it. Old versions will not change.
• The following Unique items have been changed (using a Divine OrbDivine OrbStack Size: 10Randomises the numeric values of the random modifiers on an itemRight click this item then left click a magic, rare or unique item to apply it.
  Shift click to unstack. on an existing version will roll new mods in the new ranges):
  • Aegis AuroraAegis Aurora
    Champion Kite ShieldQuality: +20%
    Chance to Block: 32%
    Armour: (903-1118)
    Energy Shield: (176-218)
    Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 62, 85 Str, 85 Int(300-400)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
    +10% to all Elemental Resistances
    +5% to maximum Cold Resistance
    +6% Chance to Block
    Replenishes Energy Shield by 2% of Armour when you Block
    (10-20)% increased Elemental Damage with Attack SkillsBorn from the marriage of ice and sky,
    the aurora evokes both awe and power.: the Replenishes Energy Shield based on your Armour when you Block mod has been reduced from 4% to 2%.
  • RainbowstrideRainbowstride
    Conjurer BootsQuality: +20%
    Energy Shield: (88-102)Requires Level 53, 94 Int(4-6)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
    (140-180)% increased Energy Shield
    +(40-60) to maximum Mana
    +20% to all Elemental Resistances
    25% increased Movement Speed"They say that you should take life's troubles in your stride.
    Some men have a longer stride than others."
    - Gaius Sentari: Elemental Resist has been increased from 8% to 20%. Maximum Mana has been reduced from 80-100 to 40-60. Increased Energy Shield has been reduced from 150-200 to 140 to 180.
  • Saffell's FrameSaffell's Frame
    Branded Kite ShieldQuality: +20%
    Chance to Block: 24%
    Armour: 223
    Energy Shield: 43
    Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 59, 76 Str, 76 Int+4% to all Elemental Resistances(15-20)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
    (20-30)% increased Spell Damage
    +10% to all Elemental Resistances
    +4% to all maximum Resistances
    Cannot Block AttacksA swift mind solves problems before they occur.: Block Chance Applied to Spells has been reduced from 100-120 to 70-80. All Maximum Resistance has been reduced from 5% to 4%.
  • Bringer of RainThe Bringer of Rain
    Nightmare BascinetQuality: +20%
    Armour: (518-680)
    Evasion: (745-978)Requires Level 67, 62 Str, 85 DexSocketed Gems are Supported by Level 18 Melee Physical Damage
    Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 18 Faster Attacks
    Socketed Gems are supported by Level 18 Blind
    6% Chance to Block Attack Damage
    Adds 20 to 30 Physical Damage to Attacks
    (200-300)% increased Armour and Evasion
    +(200-220) to maximum Life
    20% chance to gain an Endurance Charge when you Block
    Can't use Chest armour
    Extra gore"What lies beneath your feet?!"
    "Sacred ground, watered with tears of blood!": Maximum Life has been reduced from 200-220 to 120-160. The supporting Blind is now level 6 and the supporting Faster Attacks is now level 12. On a legacy Bringer of Rain item, a Divine will reroll the Maximum Life, but not the level of the supports.
  • Maligaro's VirtuosityMaligaro's Virtuosity
    Deerskin GlovesQuality: +20%
    Evasion: (127-142)Requires Level 21, 33 Dex+(20-30) to Dexterity
    5% increased Attack Speed
    50% increased Global Critical Strike Chance
    (60-80)% increased Evasion Rating
    Your Critical Strike Multiplier is 300%Maligaro operated effortlessly,
    with great speed and terrible consequences.: Critical Multiplier has been reduced from 40-50 to 28-36.
  • Romira's BanquetRomira's Banquet
    Diamond RingRequires Level 60(20-30)% increased Global Critical Strike Chance+333 to Accuracy Rating
    +(15-25)% to Global Critical Strike Multiplier
    +(40-60) to maximum Mana
    0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana
    Gain a Power Charge on Non-Critical Strike
    Lose all Power Charges on Critical StrikeThe Empress gave Romira two sons
    Born of his brother's seed
    Romira threw her a banquet
    A perfidious meal indeed.: Critical Multiplier has been reduced from 10-20 to 10-15.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug in the race prize awarding where multiple characters on the same account could receive points prizes for the same race. Now, the highest level (alive) character that participated counts for points. Multiple characters can receive points in Descent, Descent: Champions and Endless Ledge races.
• Fixed various graphical glitches related to totems with arrows stuck in them.
• Fixed a bug where secondary hits from Lightning Arrow would not check evasion.
• Fixed a bug where the gore projectiles fired by Dominus, Ascendant would check spell evasion instead of attack evasion for their area of effect.
• Fixed a problem that could cause crashes on certain Creative sound hardware.
• Fixed some bugs with the 40% quality vendor recipe so that it better accounts for certain groups of items.
• Gem experience is now displayed with correct thousands separators.
• Fixed a bug where the the Ice Nova graphical effect wouldn't scale correctly.
• Fixed a bug where Offering skills would affect some shrine effects on you.
• Various bugs were fixed related to the display of skill tooltips.
• Fixed bugs with font keming.

Update (March 4) - added the following notes

• Increased the damage of Fireball at low and high levels.
• Increased the damage of the following skills at low levels: Spark, Cold Snap, Ice Spear and to a lesser extent, Freezing Pulse and Storm Call.
• Monster Unrighteous Fire now deals a controlled value of fire damage, rather than being based on maximum life.
• Improvements have been made to early cast speed passives in the Witch and Shadow sections and to early attack speed and life passives in the Shadow section. We're investigating more detailed revamps of the caster classes (Witch, Templar and Shadow) in the future.
• Adjusted the PVP scaling of and Searing Bond. These have only been conservatively adjusted. A more thorough adjustment to PVP scaling of skills will be ongoing throughout 1.1.x.