Grinding Gear Games is preparing to launch Path of Exile: Mirage (Patch 3.28) on March 6, 2026, with the full reveal scheduled for February 26 at 11 AM PST. Rather than reinventing core systems, Mirage focuses on meaningful quality-of-life improvements and POE orbs campaign revitalization. The result is an expansion that respects veteran efficiency while making progression smoother for new players.

Below is a breakdown of the most impactful updates and how to leverage them for maximum advantage.

Currency Exchange Overhaul - Faster, Cleaner Trading

The Currency Exchange system continues to evolve, and Mirage addresses its biggest friction points.

1. Favoriting Exchanges

You can now favorite frequently used currency trades, eliminating repetitive searches. For players who regularly flip Chaos ↔ Divine or bulk-convert crafting materials, this dramatically reduces downtime.

Gameplay Tip:

Create favorites for:

Chaos ↔ Divine Orb

Chromatic ↔ Jeweller's

Fusing ↔ Chaos

This keeps high-volume crafting and mapping prep streamlined.

2. Concurrent Inventory & Exchange UI

For the first time, you can open your Inventory alongside the Currency Exchange window. This removes the constant window toggling that previously slowed down trade execution.

Why it matters:

Faster pricing decisions

Easier bulk exchanges

Reduced misclicks

Efficiency compounds over time-especially during league start when every second matters.

3. Ctrl + Right-Click Currency Selection

Holding Ctrl + Right-Click on a currency item instantly sets it as your "I Want" type.

This small adjustment significantly improves flow when converting large amounts of loot after mapping sessions.

4. "Owned" Tab & Currency Count Visibility

The new Owned tab shows currency totals directly from inventory and loaded stash tabs. You no longer need to manually verify stock before listing trades.

Practical Advantage:

Cleaner economic management

Faster liquidation cycles

Better crafting planning

For traders and crafters, this update alone is transformative.

Campaign Secrets - Mirage Reinvents Leveling

Path of Exile's campaign has remained structurally consistent for years. Mirage injects over 20 new landmark rooms and hidden encounters throughout the acts.

Hidden Encounters with Real Rewards

These aren't cosmetic additions. Some rooms contain:

Unique monster packs

Special loot drops (e.g., tattoos in Karui Fortress)

Varied enemy compositions

Leveling Strategy:

During league start, prioritize exploration in early acts. These rooms may provide:

Early power spikes

Supplemental currency

Build-enabling modifiers

For experienced players who usually rush acts, Mirage introduces incentives to slow down-at least slightly.

Dynamic Combat Variety

The new rooms introduce varied encounter structures, preventing campaign fatigue.

This makes:

Re-leveling for alternate characters more engaging

Hardcore progression more strategic

Solo Self-Found runs more rewarding

Exploration now has tangible value.

Quality-of-Life Improvements That Matter

Mirage includes several long-requested usability upgrades that streamline core gameplay systems.

Divination Card Automation

Stacks of Divination Cards now auto-turn in when clicked into the trade window.

Benefit:

Less repetitive clicking

Faster loot processing

Cleaner stash management

This is particularly impactful in SSF or farming-heavy strategies.

Divine Orb Clarity

When using Divine Orbs, the UI now clearly shows which modifiers are rollable.

Why this is huge:

Reduced crafting guesswork

Better risk assessment

More informed currency investment

For high-end crafters, clarity equals efficiency-and efficiency equals profit.

Ritual Improvements

Ritual icon glows when complete or tribute remains

Ritual Vessels can be quick-used

These changes improve mapping flow and reduce missed opportunities.

Mapping Tip:

If the icon glows, double-check tribute before leaving the map-valuable rewards may still be available.

Shrine Click Priority

Shrines now take click priority over monsters when overlapping.

This prevents accidental combat when activating buffs in dense packs-especially important in high-tier maps where positioning is critical.

Divine Font Gem Selection

When converting non-transfigured gems to transfigured versions, you can now select the exact outcome if multiple options exist.

This eliminates RNG frustration and makes Labyrinth investment more deterministic.

Why Mirage Matters

Mirage doesn't rely on spectacle-it refines friction points that players interact with daily:

Faster economy management

More engaging campaign progression

Cleaner crafting decisions

Smarter UI prioritization

For veterans, it sharpens efficiency.

For new players, it lowers systemic barriers.

The expansion represents a philosophy shift: less friction, more clarity, better pacing.

Don't Miss the Full Reveal

The official reveal and cheap POE orbs developer Q&A stream will air on February 26 at 11 AM PST on Twitch. If you care about economy optimization, league-start strategies, or campaign improvements, this is essential viewing.

Mirage is shaping up to be one of the most player-focused updates Path of Exile has delivered-refining systems without compromising complexity.

Prepare your build planners. Update your trade filters. And get ready for March 6.