A while ago, we hosted a series of polls for the community to collectively design a new microtransaction! This process produced great results and so we're doing it again! For today's poll, you'll decide which microtransaction type we should create! In future polls, we'll narrow down themes and various other options until we get to the final design.

We want to keep things fresh, so because we designed a skill effect last time we've removed it from the options this time around. Use the poll options above to select which type of microtransaction you'd like to see the community design: Helmet, Cloak, Wings, Weapon Effect, Weapon Skin, Shield, Character Effect or Pet.

This poll is available from this time of this post until Tuesday September 20th (PDT) next week. Note that there are several polls running across our other language news posts and we'll tally the results together to determine the outcome.

To vote, head over to the poll on our forum here.

We look forward to seeing the results!

From clenching close calls to bursts of incredible luck, the opening weekend of Zizaran's Iolite Class Gauntlet has been a ball! Check out some of these amazing highlights which we've condensed for you on our forum here.

We've pulled together some concept art from a variety of popular new microtransactions to give you a glimpse into our creative process! Be sure to check them out below!

Recently, Twitch streamer Preach joined community streamers TarkeCat, RaizQT and Nugiyen on Baeclast to talk about his blind Path of Exile experience as a new player. We've really enjoyed watching his playthrough and wanted to highlight the podcast to the community in case you've missed it! Check it out below.



Also, don't forget about Royale which starts up again this weekend! Our Hideout Competition will also end soon, and you have until Sunday the 12th of September at 10pm PDT to get your entries in.

To add a bit more flair to our forums, we've added X new avatars featuring various NPCs you would have crossed paths with in Wraeclast. Check them out below!



To change your forum avatar, visit the website and go to your User Profile located in the top left corner by clicking your username, then click "Change avatar" in the panel on the right.

Later this week we are planning to deploy Patch 3.15.3b which contains a variety of bug fixes and other improvements. To give you an idea of what to expect, we've prepared a preview of the patch notes for you!

Please note that the patch notes may be changed prior to their deployment.

3.15.3b Patch Notes

• Improved the visuals of Vorana, Last to Fall’s storm skill to make the outer ring more discernible.
• Improved the description of the Twice Tempted Atlas Passive to more accurately reflect its functionality.
• Fixed a bug where the Flask Enchantment to reuse a Flask at the end of its effect could reuse a Flask multiple times.
• Fixed a bug where additional Physical Damage reduction could cause Armour to provide Physical Damage reduction even if you had the Transcendence Keystone Passive allocated.
• Fixed a bug where Zana would not offer you another mission in a Map if portals to the previously selected mission failed to open.
• Fixed a bug where adding an Itemised Beast to your Bestiary would not unlock relevant Beast Recipes.
• Fixed a bug where Catarina, Master of Undeath could become stuck and fail to perform any actions.
• Fixed a bug where Syndicate Safehouse portals could open around the player instead of Jun in Map areas.
• Fixed a bug where some sound effects, such as the gong in Oba’s Cursed Trove, were not playing.
• Fixed a bug where filtering the Map Stash Tab with a quoted search term was not working properly.
• Fixed a bug where some modifier value ranges would sometimes not show on the Forbidden Taste and Doedre’s Elixir Unique Flasks.
• Fixed a bug where the 3D Art for Kaom’s Heart had lost some of its glow.
• Fixed an instance crash.

Just under a week remains for our Hideout Competition! We've loved looking through your entries and have selected a few more to show off in today's news post. Check them out in the video below!


We hope these highlights have inspired you! For more information on the Hideout Competition, you can find the original thread here. Entries close Sunday the 12th of September at 10pm PDT, so you have about one week left to get your entries in!

Best of luck to all entrants!

In case you missed it, the recording from Chris Wilson's interview with community streamers GhazzyTV, Grimro and Crouching_Tuna is now available! A lot of important topics about the current state of Path of Exile were covered so be sure to check out the video below.


Thank you all for your continued feedback and for taking the time to listen to these conversations.

On Sept 11th PDT, community streamer Zizaran is organising a 10-day Class Gauntlet Event. Racers will compete and earn points by leveling characters, killing bosses and delving to see how all of the classes fare in some of Path of Exile's most difficult encounters. The event will take place as a Hardcore Solo Self-Found Event League provided by us with a range of damage and life mods active. The prize pool is funded by the community and Zizaran's Event Partner.



The event will have Increased Monster Damage, Monster Life, Monster Speed, Monster Elemental Damage, Reduced Player Resistances as well as the return of Additional Monster Projectiles. As with last Gauntlet, we have created this as an Event League that is available to all players. To join, simply log in on the day of the event and click "Join" in the bottom right corner of the character select screen.

Players will receive points based on levels, specific boss kills as well as Delve. Don't forget, to get boss kill points you must submit your kills in the Path of Exile Community Racing Discord which you can join by clicking here.

Start time: 11th September (PDT). The event will last for 10 days. A countdown is available here.

The prize pool is crowdfunded by Zizaran's event partner and community streamers such as RaizQT, DS_Lily, Zizaran and more! In addition, streamers and their communities will be able to create a bounty with the money they fundraise for the event. Bounties are a custom prize that can be awarded to players for achieving a specified goal in the event. Keep an eye out on their social media for announcements regarding when their fundraisers are taking place and what they will be!

Zizaran's Event Partner will be matching all contributions to the prize pool (Up to $25,000). The total prize pool will be split as follows:

• Operational Costs: 5% of Overall Prize Pool - To be distributed amongst Community Developers, and League Moderators
  
• The bounties placed by streamers and their communities during the fundraisers
  
• The prize pool minus bounties and operations cost will be awarded as follows:

Rank 1 Overall: Gauntlet Trophy + 2% Bonus
Witches

• Top Witch: 8%
  
• Second Witch: 4%
  
• Third Witch: 2%
  
• Fourth Witch: Temple Portal Effect and Temple Character Effect supplied by GGG

Shadows

• Top Shadow: 8%
  
• Second Shadow: 4%
  
• Third Shadow: 2%
  
• Fourth Shadow: Temple Portal Effect and Temple Character Effect supplied by GGG

Rangers

• Top Ranger: 8%
  
• Second Ranger: 4%
  
• Third Ranger: 2%
  
• Fourth Ranger: Temple Portal Effect and Temple Character Effect supplied by GGG

Duelists

• Top Duelist: 8%
  
• Second Duelist: 4%
  
• Third Duelist: 2%
  
• Fourth Duelist: Temple Portal Effect and Temple Character Effect supplied by GGG

Marauders

• Top Marauder: 8%
  
• Second Marauder: 4%
  
• Third Marauder: 2%
  
• Fourth Marauder: Temple Portal Effect and Temple Character Effect supplied by GGG

Templars

• Top Templar: 8%
  
• Second Templar: 4%
  
• Third Templar: 2%
  
• Fourth Templar: Temple Portal Effect and Temple Character Effect supplied by GGG

Scions

• Top Scion: 8%
  
• Second Scion: 4%
  
• Third Scion: 2%
  
• Fourth Scion: Temple Portal Effect and Temple Character Effect supplied by GGG

Leveling your characters to certain thresholds will also make you eligible for the randomly-drawn prizes made up of both merchandise and microtransactions provided by Zizaran's Event Partner, as well as 1000 Midnight Pact Mystery Boxes supplied by us! The general prizes listed below will be randomly drawn from all appropriately-leveled characters except for the Level 90+ Armour Pack prizes, which will be drawn per class. You can gain more than 1 ticket per account for the microtransaction/physical prizes. However, you cannot win more than one prize per category below:



You can catch exciting moments from the event by checking out Zizaran’s Youtube Channel where Skryah and OMGitsJousis are teaming up to deliver some epic highlights!

There will also be live casting by Octavian and BigSil every day on Zizaran’s Twitch Channel.

Shoutcast Schedule:

• Sep 11, 2021 6:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 11, 2021 12:00 PM (PDT)
  
• Sep 12, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 12, 2021 11:00 AM (PDT)
  
• Sep 13, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 13, 2021 11:00 AM (PDT)
  
• Sep 14, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 14, 2021 11:00 AM (PDT)
  
• Sep 15, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 15, 2021 11:00 AM (PDT)
  
• Sep 16, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 16, 2021 11:00 AM (PDT)
  
• Sep 17, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 17, 2021 11:00 AM (PDT)
  
• Sep 18, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 18, 2021 11:00 AM (PDT)
  
• Sep 19, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 19, 2021 11:00 AM (PDT)
  
• Sep 20, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 20, 2021 11:00 AM (PDT)
  
• Post Show with Zizaran: Sep 21, 2021 5:00 AM (PDT) to Sep 21, 2021 7:00 AM (PDT)

Special thanks to community members Faderon, MrMadakey, ManWithHat, Skryah, OMGItsJousis and Viyro for their contributions to this event.

Good luck to all those participating!

Community streamer ThisIsBadger's Dark Ages private league has concluded, and we thought we'd share a few highlights of some great moments! Check them out in today's news post by clicking here.