Path of Exile 2’s Third Edict update will include its very first League, with the Rise of the Abyssal bringing in new mechanics and rewards. The Abyssal are a new race of monsters that appear in Fissures, consuming the souls of enemies that die near it. Here's how the Rise of the Abyssal league will work.
Fissure League Mechanic
Fissures will begin appearing as early as Clearfell. These fissures will spawn Abyssal enemies, starting up the League mechanic. Before these new monsters can spawn, you must first kill monsters near the fissure.
Any Magical and Rare monsters you kill near the location will cause all their modifiers to be transferred to a powerful Rare Abyssal, making them very difficult to defeat. There's also a chance for the overworld Magical or Rare monster to be transfigured by the Abyssal energy, turning them into an Abyssal monster and upgrading one of their modifiers. Pits and fissures can also interact with other game mechanics, such as Rogue Exiles and bosses. Slaying one near a fissure will cause the Rogue Exile to revive as a Lich-Born.
Upon sealing a pit by killing all Abyssal monsters, you will be rewarded with an Abyssal Trove containing enhanced gear and high-quality loot.
League Currency: Gnawed Jawbone and Preserved Vertebrae
One of the currency items you can get for this League is the Gnawed Jawbone, which can be used to Desecrate a Rare item and add another new modifier. This adds a new, hidden modifier to your item that will not be in effect yet.
To reveal the modifier, you must venture to Act 2 and find the Lightless Passage. This is a new dungeon filled with Abyssal enemies and Lost Men. At the end of the dungeon, you can throw your Desecrated item into the Well of Souls, which allows you to choose one of 3 randomly selected modifiers.
This can also apply to your Waystones, using the Preserved Vertebrae item. Much like the Gnawed Jawbone, a Desecrated Waystone can be thrown into the Well of Souls to add a new modifier. These can include adding Abyssal Fissures to a map or guaranteeing an Abyssal boss spawn.
Abyssal City Dungeon
Rarely, the Abyssal pit that you close has a chance to lead to an exclusive Abyssal city dungeon. All enemies within this dungeon will be Abyssal and have unique modifiers within the dungeon. At the end, you can fight a special Rare enemy with a Lich-Born modifier. Not only will slaying this enemy grant you multiple Abyssal Troves to open, but it can also drop special Support Gems that are monster-specific.
