Last Epoch Season 3: Primal Hunt & Primordial Uniques

Get ready to venture into the wilds of ancient Eterra with Last Epoch Season 3: Beneath Ancient Skies, set to launch on August 21, 2025. This season introduces the thrilling Primal Hunt system, game-changing Primordial Items, and a prehistoric adventure that'll have you crafting builds like never before.

If you're as hyped as we are, consider bookmarking our site for more guides and tips and checking out our Last Epoch Shop for some cool gaming merch to fuel your journey!

The Primal Hunt: A New Way to Play

The Primal Hunt is the star of Season 3, a random encounter system akin to the Nemesis mechanic, popping up in both the Campaign and Monolith of Fate. You'll step through Mysterious Rifts into ancient caves, where you'll meet Skarven Bloodhorn, the Wengari Hunt Master. Your mission? Track down and slay Rift Beasts—ferocious predators that tear through reality itself. These aren't your average foes; they're dynamic, evolving creatures that grow stronger with each encounter.

Here's how it works: after defeating a Rift Beast, you choose one of three hatchlings to spare, shaping its lineage and future rewards. Each choice influences the beast's evolution, from sprouting lightning horns to gaining magma heads, impacting both its abilities and the loot it drops. You'll collect Ancient Bones instead of gold, which serve as currency for trading with Skarven. As you progress through Torn Rifts and Mysterious Rifts, you can further evolve your beast, with up to four evolutions (and possibly more) that make fights tougher but rewards juicier.

This system feels like a mix of strategic depth and raw action, letting you guide the beast's growth while chasing those sweet, sweet Primordial Items. It's a fresh twist that keeps every hunt exciting and rewarding.

Primordial Items: Power with a Catch

Season 3 introduces two types of Primordial Items: Uniques and Exalted. These are some of the most powerful items ever added to Last Epoch, but there's a catch—you can only equip one at a time. Think of it like choosing your ultimate weapon; you've got to pick wisely to match your build.

Primordial Uniques

Primordial Uniques are souped-up versions of standard Uniques, offering massive power tailored to specific item slots. For example, Tyrant's Skill summons a beefy Tyrannosaur minion, Wildfire Embers spreads ignite and spawns skill-copying wisps, and Legends Entwined boosts set bonuses like no other. You can buy these from Skarven, and they come with a chance to roll Legendary Potential, meaning you can upgrade them further into Legendary Items. Some Uniques are drop-only from powerful Rift Beasts, so keep your eyes peeled during hunts.

Primordial Exalted and the Rune of Evolution

Primordial Exalted items take things to another level with the new Rune of Evolution. This crafting material lets you upgrade a Tier 7 affix on an Exalted item to Tier 8, adding a Primordial Sealed Affix that doesn't use the normal sealed slot. This means your Exalted gear can have up to six affixes, with T8 affixes offering 50–100% more potency than their T7 counterparts. Imagine +6 to a skill or massive hybrid health boosts—these are build-defining stats. However, T8 affixes can't be used as Legendary affixes in the Eternity Cache, so plan your crafting carefully.

Skarven trades Primordial Materials (like bones, feathers, and fangs) for these items, the Rune of Evolution, or even grab-bags of random loot like gold, shards, or Memory Amber. The system encourages you to keep hunting, as every Rift Beast drop fuels your next big upgrade.

Meet the Hunt Master: Skarven Bloodhorn

Skarven Bloodhorn, the goat-headed Wengari Hunt Master, is your go-to NPC for all things Primal Hunt. Found in Mysterious Rifts and Chapter 10's The Garden, he's the key to turning your hard-earned Primordial Materials into game-changing gear. His inventory is packed with Primordial Uniques, crafting materials, and mystery bags that could contain anything from rare Uniques to stacks of resources. The UI neatly tracks your materials, making trading smooth and intuitive. Whether you're chasing a specific Unique or just want to gamble on a loot bag, Skarven's got you covered.

Rift Beasts: Evolving Challenges

Rift Beasts are the heart of the Primal Hunt, and they're no pushovers. These predators can rip through time and space, making them a threat to all of Eterra. As Skarven warns, they're relentless hunters that could turn the world into a wasteland if left unchecked. Each beast evolves based on your choices, gaining new abilities like poison vines or lightning attacks, which makes every fight visually spectacular and mechanically unique. You can reset a beast's lineage if it gets too tough or doesn't drop the rewards you need, giving you control over the challenge-reward balance.

Beyond the Hunt: What Else is Coming?

Season 3 isn't just about the Primal Hunt. Hype Week, running through August 15, 2025, will reveal more about the new Ancient Era chapter (Chapter 10), Lich and Necromancer reworks, the new Flay skill, minion AI improvements, and quality-of-life updates like offline cosmetic support and Merchant's Guild enhancements. A Twitch Drops campaign will also offer class-specific portraits, a new title, a green-tinted swipe, and a dragon-scale cloak for creator support after six hours of viewing. Full patch notes drop on August 15, so theorycrafters can start planning builds right away.

FAQs About Last Epoch Season 3: Beneath Ancient Skies

What is the Primal Hunt in Last Epoch Season 3?

The Primal Hunt is a new random encounter system where players enter Mysterious Rifts to fight Rift Beasts, collect Ancient Bones, and trade with Skarven Bloodhorn for Primordial Items.

Can I equip multiple Primordial Items at once?

No, you can only equip one Primordial Item (Unique or Exalted) at a time, but you can swap them out and collect as many as you want.

How do I get Primordial Uniques?

You can purchase them from Skarven Bloodhorn using Primordial Materials or find rare drop-only Uniques from powerful Rift Beasts.

What does the Rune of Evolution do?

The Rune of Evolution upgrades a Tier 7 affix on an Exalted item to Tier 8, adding a Primordial Sealed Affix that allows up to six affixes total.

When do the Season 3 patch notes release?

The full patch notes for Beneath Ancient Skies will be released on August 15, 2025, during Hype Week.

Thanks for Reading

Season 3: Beneath Ancient Skies is shaping up to be a massive leap for Last Epoch, blending deep mechanics with a prehistoric vibe that's got us pumped. Stay tuned to MMOJUGG for more guides, build ideas, and updates as we dive into this epic season.