Path of Exile 1 Guide: Curse of the Allflame – League Announcement, Timeline, and Lore Recap

Summary

The teaser season for Path of Exile 1's 3.29 expansion is officially underway. On July 5, 2026, Grinding Gear Games released a short trailer revealing the league's name: Curse of the Allflame. With the launch just over two weeks away, this guide covers everything we know so far—from the release timeline and teaser details to the lore surrounding the Allflame itself. As with every new league, understanding the mechanic early can give you a significant edge in farming POE currency from day one.

Key Dates and Timeline

The 3.29 expansion follows a clear schedule. The GGG Live reveal stream takes place on July 16 at 1 PM PDT, where we will learn all about the new challenge league, mechanics, and other content. After the presentation, Game Director Mark and Game Designer Octavian will host a Q&A session with ZiggyD. A new Twitch Drops reward will also be available during the stream.

The current Mirage League concludes on July 20 at 3 PM PDT.

The Curse of the Allflame expansion goes live on July 24 at 1 PM PDT on both PC and consoles.

For those in Australia, the reveal stream falls on July 17, and the launch occurs on July 25 at 4 AM (Taiwan time).

What We Know from the Teaser

The teaser trailer is brief and atmospheric. It shows a lone figure on a wooden boat drifting through dark waters, searching for "a bounty beyond the pale". A voice mentions "a curse in the deep", followed by a brief glimpse of something massive beneath the surface—resembling a giant angler fish or deep-sea horror.

Given the nautical and underwater horror themes, the league may involve water-based mechanics, new underwater environments, or Lovecraftian-inspired threats. However, it is important to note that teaser trailers are often highly thematic and not direct gameplay footage. For example, the Mirage League teaser featured only an hourglass—a minor element that was not the league's central theme. So, the boat and sea monster could be literal or symbolic.

The Lore of the Allflame

The Allflame has appeared in Path of Exile's lore before, primarily through the NPC Fairgraves.

Act 1: The Betrayal

In Act 1, Fairgraves sends you on a quest to retrieve the Allflame. You fetch it, expecting to help him return to life—but he betrays you. You defeat him and earn a skill point. Most players have run this quest dozens of times.

Act 3: The Docks

Fairgraves reappears in Act 3's Docks with a quest that sends you on a lengthy diversion. The reward is a rare piece of jewelry—one of the game's most skippable quests.

Necropolis League Lore

During patch 3.24 (Necropolis League), there was an obscure interaction: if you carried the Allflame in your inventory by starting Fairgraves' quest but not completing it and visited Undertaker Aram's cemetery, Aramore would react negatively, calling the Allflame a cursed object. This dialogue was only accessible during that specific window and is no longer in the game.

The Kalguuran Connection

The Allflame also appears in the Kalguuran storyline from the Expedition expansion. According to the lore, the Allflame was taken by Orosh, leader of the Sun Knights. In one version of events, the Allflame was lost or destroyed during a confrontation with Orosh, who rose again as an undead threat. The Kalguurans believed Uthred betrayed them by stealing the flame, but the truth appears more complicated.

What to Expect Next

From now until launch, we can expect daily teasers from GGG. The biggest information dump will come on July 16 during the GGG Live event. Expect a full league mechanic reveal, new skills, items, and balance changes, patch notes, and a Q&A session.

I will be co-streaming the event on Twitch with live commentary and later uploading a summarized version to YouTube.

Summary of Key Dates

The GGG Live reveal stream is on July 16 at 1 PM PDT. The Mirage League ends on July 20 at 3 PM PDT. The Curse of the Allflame launch is on July 24 at 1 PM PDT. If you want to prepare for the new league and give yourself a head start, many players choose to buy POE currency from trusted platforms to secure essential items and crafting materials before the economy stabilizes. MMOEXP is a reliable source for competitive rates and fast delivery, helping you focus on enjoying the new content without the early grind.