The first Path of Exile 2 race event arrives today, and I’d encourage anyone who’s been enjoying the new ARPG to give it a try. Back in the early days of the first PoE, I dipped into the feature out of pure curiosity. Even though I wasn’t very good at first, I found myself enjoying the game even more and getting better at it along the way. It opened my eyes to a newfound appreciation for PoE, and I’d recommend everybody has a go. If you need more incentive, however, you can even win a powerful, stylish unique helmet, or even a custom Path of Exile 2 gaming laptop.
The next big Path of Exile 2 update is still about a month away, although developer Grinding Gear Games already has been teasing some of the new features we can expect. While we wait, this feels like the perfect time to introduce a race event. Back when I first started trying PoE 1 races, which helped convince me it was one of the best games like Diablo, it was still at a time where there were just three acts (rather than the ten we have today) and you would loop through multiple difficulties much like the current PoE 2 early access build.
If you think you’re not good enough, don’t worry. Taking part is the real joy, and you might do better than expected – I found myself setting aside time to compete in some of the shorter-form races regularly, and was even able to break into the top ten on a couple of occasions. More importantly, it really got me into the true rhythm of an ARPG. I found myself becoming smarter and more decisive with my gear comparisons, learning what stats really made a difference to my success, discovering smart tactics to clear out dangerous areas more quickly, and experimenting more with crafting to maximize my build.
The new Path of Exile 2 races are free to enter and open to all, and you can take part easily in-game with no requirement to stream your perspective. The goal is simple: make it to the end of act three and defeat Doryani before anyone else does. All players are on a fixed layout, so there’s no concern about a bad map ruining your chances. It’s solo self-found, meaning no trading, and while hardcore permadeath rules don’t apply you will be locked in place for a one-minute penalty if your character dies. You’re also forbidden from using any mods, and choosing inappropriate character names may result in disqualification.
There are three races taking part over the next three weeks, and each one will feature six Demigod’s Virtue Unique Helmets as a prize for the players that finish top on each of the Path of Exile 2 classes. This luxury helm dramatically boosts your item rarity bonus, and there’s the option to convert it into a cosmetic item if you’d rather just equip it for the fashion instead of the stats. GGG notes that future race events will cycle through the full set of Demigod items, so you could potentially collect them all if you’re good enough.
Additionally, the single fastest player in the third and final race (which begins on Sunday March 16) will earn themselves an Alienware gaming laptop with a custom Path of Exile 2 decal. As mentioned, however, it’s less about the winning and more the taking part. Races add a fresh sense of excitement to proceedings, and even if you end up falling short you might well find yourself falling in love with some new Path of Exile 2 builds along the way.
The first three Path of Exile 2 race events begin at the dates and times below:
- Week one: Sunday March 2 at 11am PST / 2pm EST / 7pm GMT
- Week two: Sunday March 9 at 12pm PDT / 3pm EDT / 7pm GMT
- Week three: Sunday March 16 at 12pm PDT / 3pm EDT / 7pm GMT
You can find more details on the event and its prizes, along with the full list of rules, on the official Path of Exile 2 website courtesy of Grinding Gear Games. Try it out – you might just surprise yourself, or at least gain a newfound appreciation for parts of PoE 2.
Have you finished all the Path of Exile 2 quests yet? If you’re hungering for some more competition, the best multiplayer games on PC right now are the place to be.
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