Introduction
Warbands was introduced as a softcore challenge league alongside Tempest in hardcore with patch 2.0.0 on 7/10/15 the July 10th, 2015. They are a simple mechanic that adds Warbands to the Maps. Warbands are tight-knit groups of enemies who cooperate and use synergistic skills to take you down. They can include Elites and Leaders. Warbands are not a core game mechanic, but Warband Leaders (alongside their Unique Items) can be found as Map Bosses or in Unique Strongboxes. Warbands also drop Magic Blue Items with special uncraftable modifiers onto them, but these are completely irrelevant this day in age.
Warband Factions & Leaders
There is 4 different Warband Factions, each manipulating one specific element.
Redblade Warband
This Warband masters the Fire element and can be found as Lighthouse Map Bosses.
This Warband has 4 leaders with their own special abilities:
- Uruk Baleh
- El'Abin, Bloodeater
- Leli Goya, Daughter of Ash
- Bin'aia, Crimson Rain
Mutewind Warband
This Warband masters the Cold element and can be found as Iceberg Map Bosses.
This Warband has 3 leaders with their own special abilities:
- Yorishi, Aurora-sage
- Jeinei Yuushu
- Otesha, the Giantslayer
Brinerot Warband
This Warband masters the Lightning element and can be found as Shipyard Map Bosses.
This Warband has 3 leaders with their own special abilities:
- Musky "Two-Eyes" Grenn
- Susara, Siren of Pondium
- Lussi "Rotmother" Roth
Renegade Warband
This Warband masters the Chaos element and can be found as Acid Caverns Map Bosses.
This Warband has 8 leaders with their own special abilities:
- Rama, The Kinslayer
- Kalria, The Risen
- Invari, The Bloodshaper
- Lokan, The Deceiver
- Marchak, The Betrayer
- Berrots, The Breaker
- Vessider, The Unrivaled
- Morgrants, The Deafening
Warband Modifiers
Each Warband can drop identified Magic Blue Items with a special Warband modifier:
- Redblade Warband : 10% of Physical Damage taken as Fire Damage on Helmets.
- Mutewind Warband : Cannot be Frozen on Boots.
- Brinerot Warband : (20-25)% increased Damage during any Flask Effect on Gloves.
- Renegade Warband : Damage Penetrates (6-10)% Fire/Cold/Lightning Resistance on Weapons.
Warband Unique Items
Each Warband has a set of exclusive Unique Items:
- Redblade Warband :
- Redblade Banner
- Redblade Tramplers
- Redblade Band
- Brinerot Warband :
- Brinerot Flag
- Brinerot Whalers
- Brinerot Mark
- Mutewind Warband :
- Mutewind Pennant
- Mutewind Whispersteps
- Mutewind Seal
- Renegade Warband :
- Broken Faith
- Steppan Eard
- The Pariah
Sources
Even though the roaming Warbands mechanic is not core, the Warbands league mechanic can be considered core game since Warbands Leaders are easily accessible within normal gameplay:
Maps
As seen above, each Warband can be found as Map Bosses (by a random set of two) in specific maps:
- Redblade Warband in Lighthouse Map
- Mutewind Warband in Iceberg Map
- Brinerot Warband in Shipyard Map
- Renegade Warband in Acid Caverns Map
Strongboxes
Each Warband Faction has a Unique Strongbox spawning two leaders and normal Warband monsters:
While the Warband clans were largely wiped out, whispers still speak of remnants of these groups. The tales tell of lingering factions and leaders who ambush travellers. Those who have returned to tell the story have brought unique souvenirs as testimony to their experience. If you should stumble across a suspicious case, have your shield at the ready.
- Redblade Cache
- Brinerot Cache
- Mutewind Cache
- Renegade Cache
Delve
Each Warband Faction has a Delve Room related to their element where you can find items with special Delve modifiers related to that element:
- Redblade Retreat/Base in Magma Fissure Zone.
- Mutewind Retreat/Base in Frozen Hollow Zone.
- Brinerot Retreat/Base in Sulphur Vents Zone.
- Renegade Camp in Fungal Caverns Zone.
Summary
Warbands are a simple Path of Exile mechanic that blend into the core game. They add some flavur to the Mapping experience and other League mechanics like Delve.
Credits
Written by Chewingnom.
Reviewed by Raxxanterax.