Path of Exile 3.30: What’s New in Covens of Umbra

Covens of Umbra brings more than a new Challenge League to the original Path of Exile. Update 3.30 also reworks the Atlas Passive Tree, replaces Scarabs with Threads of Creation, and changes several endgame mechanics.

During the campaign, you can add Fates to area bosses to increase their difficulty and potential rewards. Once you reach maps, Threads let you choose and enhance the league mechanics you want to play.

When Does 3.30 Launch, and What’s Changing?

Covens of Umbra is scheduled to launch on November 13, 2026, Pacific Standard Time (PST), on PC and consoles. Check the official announcement for the exact launch time.

The main changes include:

• New league mechanic: Defeat covenites and select Fates that add difficulty and rewards to area bosses.
• Wickerman and Viscera: Obtain Viscera from empowered bosses and equip them to gain bonuses.
• Scarabs replaced: Threads of Creation become the new way to enhance map mechanics.
• Atlas overhaul: Endgame regions and the Atlas Passive Tree have been redesigned.
• Returning and revised content: Harvest, Incursion, and Beyond are changing, while Mirage returns to the core game.

How Do Fates Work?

In Covens of Umbra, you will encounter covenites performing rituals. Defeat them to select a Fate for the boss of the current area.

Each Fate changes the boss encounter, increasing both its difficulty and potential rewards. You can add up to three Fates to a boss. Combining the same Fate can also create opportunities for rarer rewards.

While leveling, you don’t need to add as much difficulty as possible. Read each effect first, then try one Fate on a boss you know. Once your character has enough damage and survivability, experiment with additional Fates.

Life, resistances, and recovery still matter for a new character. Consistently completing encounters can be more useful than repeatedly challenging an empowered boss before your build is ready.

Viscera and the Wickerman: Turn Boss Rewards into Character Bonuses

Defeating a boss empowered by Fates can reward Viscera. Equip these on your character’s Wickerman to gain their bonuses.

The Wickerman has four slots: head, arms, body, and legs. Different Viscera provide different effects. Examples shown by the developers include life, life regeneration, and poison-related bonuses.

Choose effects that fit your build rather than focusing only on the largest number. A character struggling to recover between fights may benefit more from recovery, while a poison build may prefer an offensive bonus.

A few rules are worth remembering:

• Viscera are not guaranteed from bosses empowered by ordinary Fates. Adding more Fates or using matching Fates can improve your chances.
• Viscera can be traded.
• The Wickerman is character-specific, so your characters do not share one equipped setup.

Save Grim Fates for Pinnacle Bosses

Later in the Atlas, you can obtain Grim Fates to empower specific Pinnacle Bosses. These add dangerous effects to familiar encounters.

Unlike ordinary Fate encounters, a Pinnacle Boss empowered by a Grim Fate drops its corresponding Pinnacle Viscera. If you are unfamiliar with a boss, consider learning the standard fight before adding a Grim Fate.

Threads of Creation Replace Scarabs

In 3.30, Threads of Creation replace Scarabs as the way to select and enhance major league mechanics in your maps.

Choose the mechanics you want in the Map Device, then add Threads. Investing more Threads can increase the difficulty and rewards of that mechanic, as well as the chance of special modifiers.

Key rules include:

• You can invest up to eight Threads in a single mechanic.
• Atlas progression can unlock up to three major mechanic slots in the Map Device.
• Your configuration persists between maps and automatically takes the required Threads from your stash.

That last point matters when changing strategies. If you finish an expensive farming session and want to run a simple map or test a new build, check the Map Device first. Otherwise, your previous setup may continue consuming Threads.

The Atlas Passive Tree has also been redesigned, and some effects previously provided by Scarabs are now available on the tree. Older Atlas plans should not be followed without checking the 3.30 nodes and their effects.

What Else Is Changing in the Endgame?

Harvest

The revised Harvest encounter begins with tangled roots. Players can adjust the roots before releasing the monsters and taking on the fight.

Incursion

Incursion is receiving major changes, including Atziri taking over the Temple of Atzoatl and new choices affecting temple difficulty and rewards. Regular Incursion players will need to revisit their routes and reward plans.

Beyond and Mirage

Beyond will feature portals leading to demonic realms and stronger boss encounters. Mirage is also returning to the core game and can appear in maps again.

You don’t need to relearn every mechanic on day one. Start with an activity you already enjoy, see how its difficulty and rewards have changed, and adjust your Atlas setup from there.

Prepare for the New Season with a Stable Connection

A stable connection lets you focus on progressing through the new season. League launches can bring connection issues or high latency, and some players may already be experiencing these problems. If that sounds familiar, try GearUP.

GearUP offers both a Windows client and a router plugin, with a straightforward setup. Check whether a limited-time trial is currently available, so you can test the results before deciding to pay.

Download for PC:

Download the router plugin, recommended for console players:

• ASUS Router Plugin Introduction
• ZTE Router Plugin Introduction
• Tenda Router Plugin Introduction
• OpenWrt Router Plugin Introduction
• Keenetic/Netcraze Router Plugin Introduction

GearUP’s intelligent multi-route and dynamic node-switching technology, AIR, identifies game traffic and adjusts its connection path. It can help improve latency and connection stability in some network environments. Dynamic node switching can also help maintain the connection when network conditions fluctuate during a game.

Results depend on your location, internet provider, and network conditions. GearUP cannot guarantee the elimination of all latency or disconnects. Console players should check that their router and game are supported before getting started.