What Is Return of the Ancients in Path of Exile 2?

Grinding Gear Games is preparing the next big chapter for Path of Exile 2: an update called Return of the Ancients, shipping as patch 0.5.0. According to VPEsports, the studio has been steadily teasing content for the patch, and the newest reveal came directly from game director Mark Roberts, who personally showcased two new unique items 1.

VPEsports describes both items as unusual even by the standards of the Path of Exile franchise. One is a Breach-themed shield with a teleport mechanic, and the other is a grenade-focused weapon built on an entirely new base item type that did not exist in the game before this patch 1.

How Does the Nightfall Shield Work?

The first teased unique is Nightfall, a Breach shield tied to Breachlord Tul. As reported by VPEsports, Nightfall plays less like a conventional defensive tool and more like a gap-closing weapon. Its skill chain works in distinct steps 1:

• You throw the shield forward, and it strikes enemies in its path.
• If you do nothing, it returns to your character automatically.
• If you reactivate the skill while the shield is airborne, your character teleports to it and delivers a downward strike.
• Catching the shield or shattering ice crystals resets the cooldown entirely.

According to the developers, players with good timing can chain these actions back to back. VPEsports characterizes the resulting playstyle as aggressive and momentum-driven, aimed at players who would rather charge into a pack of enemies than fight from the back line 1.

What Is Redemption, the New Grenade Launcher Weapon?

The second item, Redemption, is described by VPEsports as a Terat weapon of absolute destruction. At its base it is a crossbow, but the report emphasizes that it refuses to behave like any crossbow currently in Path of Exile 2. Standard ammunition skills do not work with it at all 1.

Instead, Redemption is built entirely around grenades. Once enough chaos has been caused on the battlefield, its full potential unlocks: grenade skill cooldowns are bypassed entirely, fire rate increases dramatically, and mixing different grenade types pushes damage even further 1.

VPEsports notes that this makes Redemption effectively a grenade launcher — a weapon type rarely seen in ARPGs — and that Grinding Gear Games created a completely new base item type specifically for it 1.

When Does Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0 Release?

Return of the Ancients is scheduled for May 29, 2026, according to the content table published by VPEsports. The report frames it as the biggest Path of Exile 2 update since The Last of the Druids, which the source dates to December 2025 1.

Both Nightfall and Redemption will drop as high-level uniques, meaning players will need to earn them through play rather than receiving them early. VPEsports adds that the two teased uniques represent only a small slice of the total content arriving with the patch 1.

What Content Arrives With the Update?

VPEsports published a content breakdown for Return of the Ancients, reproduced in condensed form below 1:

The update therefore spans far more than the two showcased uniques: an entirely new league, multiple Ascendancy options across two base classes, a large boss roster, and an endgame offering the source measures at more than 50 hours 1.

Why Is Patch 0.5.0 the Last Major Early Access Update?

Return of the Ancients is not positioned as just another league. According to VPEsports, Grinding Gear Games has confirmed that this update is the final full-scale update before Path of Exile 2 officially exits Early Access and launches as version 1.0 1.

At version 1.0, the report states, the game goes free-to-play and the missing campaign acts finally arrive. Until then, VPEsports points to May 29 as the date players should mark, leaving time to plan builds around the new grenade weapon 1.

What Trailers Has Grinding Gear Games Released?

Alongside the item reveals, IGN India hosts a catalog of official Path of Exile 2 video content connected to this period of the game. The listing includes the official trailer for Return of the Ancients, multiple teaser trailers — titled "Now.. It Is Our Time" and "Please... Save Me" — and an official announcement teaser trailer 2.

The IGN page also carries the official The Stonefist: Legends of Wraeclast Pack trailer, plus gamescom 2026 coverage that includes the official version 1.0 trailer and a feature titled "The Duelist is the Perfect Class for Path of Exile 2 1.0" 2. The catalog further references gameplay videos for the Druid class added in The Last of the Druids, consistent with the update history reported by VPEsports 1.

FAQ

When does Return of the Ancients release?

The update is scheduled for May 29, 2026, as patch 0.5.0, according to VPEsports 1.

What are the two new unique items?

Game director Mark Roberts showcased Nightfall, a Breach shield tied to Breachlord Tul with a teleport and cooldown-reset mechanic, and Redemption, a grenade-based weapon on a brand-new base item type 1.

Is this the last Early Access update?

Yes, per VPEsports: Grinding Gear Games has confirmed Return of the Ancients is the final full-scale update before Path of Exile 2 launches as version 1.0, goes free-to-play, and receives the remaining campaign acts 1.

Which new Ascendancy classes were announced?

The update adds Spirit Walker for the Huntress and Martial Artist for the Monk, alongside the Runes of Aldur league, 15 new bosses including 4 Pinnacle fights, 50+ hours of endgame content, and 40+ new unique items 1.