Path of Exile Update 3.9 Watchstones Can’t Be Traded, Modifiers Teased

Grinding Gear Games has a new League coming up for Path of Exile in December with Metamorph. However, it’s also rolling out a massive expansion and revamp of the end-game with Conquerors of the Atlas. Instead of working through a series of maps to reach the centre, players now only have a few dozen available at a time and must work their way outwards.

Several other changes, like the lack of Shaper and Elder influenced areas, are also being implemented. In a recent forum post, the developer has sought to answer some of the more burning questions about update 3.9 and what this means for the end-game. For instance, you can rejoice in knowing that Shaper Guardian Maps will still work in Standard League post-3.9.

Will there still be a challenge to kill Shaper, Elder or Uber Elder in Metamorph League? “We’ll be cognizant of the fact that those encounters are becoming less accessible than they once were and will make sure that any challenge that requires killing any of those bosses is reasonable to complete.”

Grinding Gear Games also confirmed that map stash tabs are being reworked for the upcoming Atlas changes. More information will be provided in a later post. As for Watchstones, they’ll be used to increase the tiers of maps in a region. However, you can also unsocket them to reduce their tiers. Since they’re quest items, you won’t be able to trade Watchstones (though the developer has hinted at a “special set” of Watchstones that can be traded).

Along with increasing map tiers in a region, Watchstones “also reveal previously hidden maps within that region. For example, socketing a Watchstone may reveal a hidden Shore Map that you previously couldn’t see. Those maps will remain revealed for as long as the Watchstone is socketed. As for whether there are Watchstones that add modifiers, you’ll just have to wait and see!” There are also special Watchstones that will receive more information later.

Path of Exile: Conquerors of the Atlas arrives on December 13th for PC along with Metamorph League. It will go live a week later for Xbox One and PS4.