PoE2 Campaign Story Overview

20 years after Kitava's defeat, things were just beginning to return to normal. Then on one fateful night, Count Geonor of Ogham took his most trusted men out into the Grelwood, before unleashing the Beast's horror onto Wraeclast. Path of Exile 2 tells its story through a 6 act campaign. However, only Acts 1-3 are available during the early access period. You start with humble beginnings, exploring the area around Ogham and solving local problems. But soon enough you're going to be meeting gods, traveling through time, and doing battle against corrupted monstrosities.

As the game opens, Geonor, the Iron Count sentences you to death. After narrowly escaping execution, you begin Act 1 on a beach before defeating a monster to enter the Clearfell Encampment, the Act's town. If this sounds familiar, that's because these are the same storybeats you experienced at the beginning of the original Path of Exile campaign. From here, you continue by exploring dark forests, dank sepulchers, and blighted landscapes in an attempt to track down the Seed of Corruption , which Geonor stole off of the Hooded One on that fateful night. This is the essence of an entity known as the Beast, which like a malignant tumor constantly corrupts anything it comes in contact with.

Team up with the mysterious Hooded One to begin solving the problems facing the citizens of Ogham. As you progress through the Act you defeat many monsters terrifying the citizens of Clearfell. The narrative here is very much focused on solving local problems. You begin by solving problems around the encampment. Then explore battlefields through Phaaryl still populated by the undead victims of an ancient war. With each step, you come closer to the ruined town of Ogham and the Count's Manor. What horrors will you find there on your quest for revenge?

There's evidence that Geonor was once a decent ruler. But after meeting Countess Oriana, his reign began to take a descent into madness. You can find his brutal edicts all throughout the zones in Act 1, and hear the tales of his monstrosity from the victims, or at least those who survived. The story leaves a lot unsaid about Geonor. He has the ability to transform into a wolf. This suggests he has a connection to Rigwald, the Wolven King, an ancient Ezomyte Hero. Stranger still, a mysterious cult began erecting totems to the King in the Mists in the Freythorn.

Within the Manor, evidence of the Beast's corruption is everywhere, you fight your way through countless horrors before reaching Geonor himself, located in the Manor's lowest level. When confronted, the Iron Count fights first with confidence, and then with wild desperation. Eventually transforming himself into a twisted wolf, infused by the Beast's power. Yes, Geonor inflicted countless horrors on Ogham and needed to be stopped, but the revenge is somewhat soured by the fact that Oriana herself slips away with the Seed of Corruption, heading to the Vastiri Plains.

After completing Act 1, you travel with a Maraketh caravan exploring the wastes of the Vastiri Desert. The Faridun are using the power of corruption, so you ally yourself with their rivals the Ardura. The Ardura Caravan is your base of operations throughout Act 2. Work with Sekhema Asala to explore the land of Seven Waters as you learn the story behind the land of the Maraketh.

The Vastiri Desert is barren at first glance, yet many of the caves beneath are teeming with life. While your main focus is on the conflict between the Ardura and the Faradun, you encounter several other bits of lore hidden among the shifting sands. For example in the Traitor's Passage, you find the Djinn Balbala, once a traitor, she now offers you entrance to the Trial of the Sekhemas in hopes of one day earning her redemption.

In the Valley of Titans, you learn about a race of giants who once inhabited Wraeclast. The city of Keth contains many secrets, including the enshrined goddess of water and her abandoned son. Then explore the soaring Spires of Deshar, before finally heading to the Dreadnaught to confront Jamanra and reclaim the Seed of Corruption. After the battle, you speak to the Hooded One, to learn more about who he is, and why he's here.

During Act 3, the game explores the story of the Vaal, the civilization known for harnessing Corruption. You team up with Alva Valai, an explorer of Vaal descent as she explores the ancient ruins in the Utzaal Jungle. This was once home to the great city of Aggorat, one of the crown jewels in Atziri's empire and home to Doryani, her Thaumaturge.

As you continue to explore the ruins, you encounter several Vaal constructs. Then after ascending the temple, you activate a portal back in time. From here you can explore Aggorat, not as a crumbling ruin filled with deteriorating constructs and undead Vaal. But as a vibrant, living city at the height of its power! This is where the story wraps up for now, you explore the city before confronting Doryani in his Machinarium at the pyramid's Apex.

We know a lot less about the story for Act 4 than the previous acts in the Path of Exile 2 campaign. This is because most of the gameplay demos and reveals have focused on the first 3 Acts thus far. Players got a bit of hands on time during ExileCon 2023 but we haven't seen much since as it's not currently part of Early Access.

Act 4 is also where you encounter the Kalguurans. with the port city of Kingsmarch acting as a central hub. Kingsmarch was recently featured in Path of Exile 1's Settlers of Kalguur league and it seems the port has expanded significantly in the last 20 years. Who better to ferry you between each island than an experienced Kalguur captain!

While the theme is ostensibly related to the Karui this is only partially true because Each island has its own biome including terrain, monsters to defeat, and bosses to challenge. You can travel to each of these islands in an order of your choosing. Much like Act 2, these stories look to be largely self contained while still following the overarching narrative of tracking down the Seed of Corruption.

For example, you might encounter an area inhabited by goblins. They've taken to taming the wildlife and worshipping a local giant. These goblins are unlikely to appreciate an Exile showing up on their shores so you can expect a bloody welcome.

Author's Note: currently, GGG has not revealed information on the story for Acts 5 or 6 in the Path of Exile 2 campaign. With that said, I do have a bit of a fun theory. Act 1 is inspired by the lore of the Ezomytes. Then Act 2 has a Maraketh theme, Act 3 a Vaal Theme, and Act 4 a Karui theme. In Path of Exile 1, the Legion conflict takes place between 5 factions, the Maraketh, Vaal, Karui, Templar, and Eternal Empire. So maybe Acts 5 and 6 in the PoE2 campaign's story are themed around the remaining factions, the Templars and Eternal Empire?

One Act could be a return to the city of Oriath, destroyed by Sirus the Awakener. Then maybe, it was rebuilt under Commander Kirac with some help from a group of Exiles. The other could explore what the eternal empire looked like under the reign of Emperor Chitus. Maybe we'll finally learn more about the origins of Virtue Gems?

Dive in and explore the story that unfolds over Path of Exile 2's immersive 6 Act campaign. Begin by exploring the Ogham region as you get revenge on Count Geonor. Then head to the Vastiri Plains and assist the Ardura Caravan in their fight against the Faridun. After that dive into the Utzaal Jungle where you explore the ruins of Aggorat before experiencing the city in all its glory!

Written by: Tenkiei

Reviewed by: Crouching_Tuna, Havoc616, Palsteron