PoE 3.28 Mirage League: New Holy Hammers Skill, QoL Upgrades & Early League Strategy

Path of Exile players know the feeling: another league approaches, and the desert sands of Wraeclast shift once more. The 3.28 expansion, titled Mirage, builds on familiar themes of illusion, desire, and time itself while introducing fresh gameplay layers.

With the full reveal livestream set for February 26 at 11 AM PST, early teasers already hint at meaningful improvements that could reshape how we trade, progress through the campaign, and wield new abilities. Here's what stands out so far and how it may play out in practice.

Mirage League Reveal: Name, Themes, and Livestream Details

Grinding Gear Games confirmed the expansion as Mirage, leaning into an American Southwest-inspired aesthetic with motifs of wishes and fleeting illusions. The cryptic tagline “Defeat time itself" suggests possible time-bending mechanics or encounters reminiscent of PoE 2's Zeroke the Temporal—though fights often differ significantly between games.

The big event lands February 26 (11 AM PST) on Twitch (twitch.tv/pathofexile). Game Director Mark and designer Octavian (stepping in for Jonathan Rogers) will present the challenge league, new content, and full patch notes, followed by a Q&A with ZiggyD. Watch for at least 45 minutes within 24 hours of the start (in the Path of Exile category) to earn the free Mirage Weapon Effect MTX—perfect for shields thanks to its echoing visual.

Set a reminder and stream on a secondary device if needed. Early league hype often spikes trade activity right after the reveal.

Holy Hammers: New Phys-to-Lightning Slam Teaser Breakdown

One of the shortest yet most packed teasers shows a new skill: Holy Hammers. A character leap slams, winds up deliberately, then unleashes descending spectral hammers that propagate damage outward in visible waves rather than instantly.

Key observed mechanics:

• Slow animation suggests mid-progression pacing (not fully optimized endgame speed).

• Three power charges + mysterious blue orbs appear post-windup.

• Damage starts in front, then echoes outward—propagation takes ~300–800 ms across ranges.

• Visual style points to 50% physical-to-lightning conversion (standard holy damage treatment).

• Likely a slam (melee attack) with area-of-effect echoes.

The propagation delay creates a hidden vulnerability against fast-moving or teleporting bosses that can sidestep later waves—pairing with reliable stun or slow effects becomes an optimal early path to maximize hits, turning a potential weakness into consistent DPS uptime that current instant slams lack.

We've noticed players often overlook charge generation in slam archetypes; this skill could revive power-charge-focused melee in ways the community hasn't fully explored yet.

Currency Exchange & Trade QoL: Favorites and Stash Access

The currency exchange receives thoughtful upgrades:

Favorite trades

Pin any two currencies (e.g., Divine → Chaos) for one-click swaps with auto-suggested ratios from recent data.

Direct Stash Access

Open and interact with your stash while the exchange window stays active—no more walking to Faustus.

Interface Cleanup

Scouting reports, Horizon Orbs, and Harbinger Orbs removed from the interface (Fracturing Orbs remain).

Stash access while trading introduces a subtle risk of accidental bulk listings during lag spikes—keep high-value tabs hidden or use a dedicated “trade buffer" tab until the economy stabilizes. These changes benefit casual players most while still rewarding flippers, keeping trade feeling fairer overall.

Campaign Landmarks and New Encounters

Over 20 new landmark rooms, side passages, and chests appear across all 10 acts. One standout: a small central island in a fortified campaign zone where every slain inhabitant drops a basic tattoo. High-value suppression and movement-speed tattoos (drop level 35+) become available early.

Divination card full sets now auto-complete on turn-in, with subsequent sets delivering rewards directly to inventory (if space exists). Labyrinth fonts let you choose the exact transfigured gem instead of random.

Rush the tattoo island on league start—early supply floods trade, making key tattoos cheaper in the first 6–8 hours than they will be later.

Additional QoL Highlights: Ritual, Shrines, Divine Orbs & More

• Ritual icon glows with unspent tribute; quick-use vessels on completed rituals; post-final-ritual popup.

• Shrines now take click priority over overlapping monsters (huge for Divine Shrines).

• Divine Orb UI clearly marks which modifiers can randomize.

• Asynchronous trade history now hoverable with full item tooltips in-game.

• Hidden hints: Possible Intensify mechanic rework and at least one unseen support gem.

The new shrine priority reduces frustration but shines brightest when combined with phasing or movement skills—building in reliable mobility to reach contested shrines before enemies, especially in dense ritual or harvest areas.

Path of Exile 3.28 Mirage League FAQs

What is the launch date for Path of Exile 3.28 Mirage?

The expansion launches March 6 at 11 AM PST on PC and consoles. Patch notes and full details drop during the February 26 livestream.

How do I obtain the free Mirage Weapon Effect MTX?

Watch any Path of Exile category stream (official or rebroadcast) for a combined 45 minutes within the first 24 hours after the February 26 reveal starts. Link your Twitch account in advance if it's your first time.

What does the Holy Hammers teaser reveal about the new skill?

It appears to be a physical-to-lightning slam with delayed propagation waves, power-charge synergy, and echoing hammer strikes. Exact numbers and gem details arrive with patch notes, but early footage suggests strong positioning play and potential multi-hit scenarios.

Which currency exchange changes matter most for casual players?

Favorite trades (set Divine ↔ Chaos once) and the ability to keep your stash open while trading. These cut down on repetitive actions without requiring heavy flipping knowledge.

Are there new campaign rewards in Mirage?

Yes—over 20 landmark encounters across Acts 1–10. The tattoo-dropping central island stands out for early access to suppression and movement tattoos via trade.

Will Jonathan Rogers appear in the 3.28 reveal?

No—Octavian joins Mark for the presentation and Q&A. Community speculation points to Jonathan focusing more on Path of Exile 2, but this remains unconfirmed.

Thanks for Reading

In short, Path of Exile 3.28 Mirage delivers name confirmation, a flashy new slam skill, and a suite of quality-of-life upgrades that should make trading smoother, campaign progression more rewarding, and early mapping more enjoyable. The desert mirage beckons—stay tuned to MMOJUGG for the latest on PoE 3.28 Mirage mechanics, build guides, and patch analysis as more details emerge.

If you're gearing up for launch, feel free to browse our Path of Exile item shop at MMOJUGG.com for steady supplies of Chaos Orbs, Divine Orbs, Exalted Orbs and more whenever the time feels right. See you in Wraeclast.