Path of Exile: Biggest winners and losers of patch 3.27

With every major update for Path of Exile, there are some notable changes to characters and skills. The same is true for Keepers of the Flame, and with patch notes now available, we have a list of winners and losers of the next update coming on October 31, 2025. While the number of nerfs is much lower, they consist of popular skills/Ascendancies from patch 3.26.

Here are the most notable changes in Path of Exile’s patch 3.27 that we consider the biggest winners and losers of the update.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer’s opinions.

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Biggest winners of Path of Exile patch 3.27

A quick overview of patch 3.27 seems like an overall win for players with buffs to multiple popular skills and ascendancies.

Notable Ascendancy buffs in Path of Exile: Keepers of the Flame

Pathfinder

Pathfinder is even stronger in PoE 3.27 (Image via GGG)

Pathfinder mains are going to have another great League Start with just a single Notable change. The Master Distiller Notable is even more potent with:

• Bismuth Flask granting 25% Elemental Resistance penetration, up from 20%.
• Diamond Flask granting 250% increased Critical Strike Chance, up from 150%.
• Amethyst Flask granting 37% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage, up from 25%.

Necromancer

Necromancer remains a viable League starter (Image via GGG)

The Necromancer can reach 200% attack and cast speed two times faster with the improved Corpse Pact Notable. It now grants 4% increased attack and cast speed for each corpse consumed recently, up from 4%.

Assassin

Assassin is getting a facelift in patch 3.27 (Image via GGG)

The Assassin is the main highlight of Ascendacy in patch 3.27 with a complete rework. While we covered all the changes, the overview is that you’ll be able to deal poison damage and critical hits much more consistently. Additionally, the Unstable Infusion Notable will trigger Level 30 Assassin's Mark on each critical hit.

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Notable Skill Gems buffs in Path of Exile: Keepers of the Flame

Cyclone

Spin-to-win gets a sizable damage boost (Image via GGG)

Despite a buff in patch 3.26 and a new Unique weapon, Cyclone remained lower than average in terms of popularity as Smite Slayer became a more popular pick. However, with patch 3.27, the skill deals an additional 20% damage at all gem levels, meaning you’ll see results from the get-go.

Exsanguinate/Reap

Reap becomes an even stronger League starter (Image via GGG)

Exsanguinate and Reap are the two most popular skill combinations for Damage-over-Time builds in Path of Exile. The recent buffs add 15% more base Physical Damage per second with the Physical Damage over Time debuff to both skills.

Hexblast

Blast your enemies with Chaos explosions in patch 3.27 (Image via GGG)

Following a buff in Secrets of the Atlas, Hexblast received yet another substantial damage increase. Hexed enemies now take 200% more damage with hits and 90% more from ailments, up from 150% and 60%. While the two-second timer still holds the skill back, it will deal much better single-target damage in Path of Exile patch 3.27.

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Biggest losers of Path of Exile patch 3.27

When it comes to the ‘losers’ of patch 3.27, there aren’t many. The list of nerfs is much smaller, but there are a few notable ones that may have many swap their League start.

Notable Ascendancy nerfs in Path of Exile: Keepers of the Flame

Trickster

Trickster became too popular in patch 3.26 (Image via GGG)

Out of all Ascendancy nerfs, which weren’t many to begin with, Trickster received the short end of the stick. The Spellbreaker doesn’t provide spell damage suppression, and the Soul Drinker doesn’t grant 20% increased Attack and Cast Speed while Leeching Energy Shield.

However, that’s not all, the One Step Ahead Notable also received a nerf to action speed. And while the Heartstopper did receive a small bump in numbers, it wasn’t a popular pick to begin with.

Elementalist

Golem nerfs aren't the end of the world (Image via GGG)

As mentioned, the number of nerfs is suspiciously small in Path of Exile patch 3.27, and the next one comes from the Golems summoned by Elementalist. All of the buffs/effects provided by golems through Liege of the Primordial are now capped at 50%, down from 100%.

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Notable Skill Gems nerfs in Path of Exile: Keepers of the Flame

Blink Arrow of Prismatic Clones

BAMA gets a big nerf (Image via GGG)

Blink Arrow of Prismatic Clones is a popular League starter and a staple for BAMA builds. Sadly, it received nerfs to both damage and duration. The clone it summons now has a base duration of five seconds, down from 20, and your astral copies deal 20% less damage.

Poisonous Concoction

Poisonous Concoction received a damage adjustment (Image via GGG)

Despite a buff to Assassin, Poisonous Concoction received a notable damage reduction. It now deals 22-537 to 33-806, added Chaos damage, down from 30-716 to 44-1073. However, it will still be a great League starter in Path of Exile patch 3.27.

Volcanic Fissure of Snaking

Volcanic Fissure of Snaking may have to remove the meta crown in patch 3.27 (Image via GGG)

VFoS was one of the most popular skills in patch 3.26 due to excellent AoE and single-target damage. However, players weren’t the only ones who noticed this overpowered skill, and Grinding Gear Games dropped the nerf hammer on the skill. It now won’t target enemies hit by the Explosion of the previous Fissure in the Chain and doesn’t get the 50% more Area of Effect.

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Check out other related guides and features:

• 5 Biggest things to look forward to in Path of Exile 3.27 (Keepers of the Flame)
• Path of Exile 3.27: Keepers of the Flame release date and known features

Edited by Mayank Singh Rathour