Path of Exile players are getting a massive blast from the past with a fresh modern twist. The upcoming Return of the Ancestors limited-time event is officially set to launch, bringing back the fan-favorite Trial of the Ancestors (ToTA) tournament format. Instead of just dropping it back into the game as it used to be, the developers are combining it directly with the mechanics of the current Mirage League. This mashup promises a unique spin on the endgame meta, making it a perfect excuse to roll a new character and dive into some high-stakes arena combat.
Event Schedule
This is a limited-time engagement, so you will want to plan your leveling schedule accordingly. The event runs globally for exactly three weeks across both PC and console platforms, giving everyone plenty of time to push their builds to the limit and lock in their rewards.
Start Date: June 25, 2026, at 3:00 PM PDT
End Date: July 16, 2026, at 3:00 PM PDT
Available Game Modes: Standard, Hardcore, Solo Self-Found (SSF), Hardcore SSF, and all corresponding Ruthless variants.
Mechanics & Gameplay Reworks
If you played the original Trial of the Ancestors, the core loop will feel familiar, but a few massive reworks completely change how you approach building your character from day one.
Phrecian Ascendancy Classes: Forget the standard 20 ascendancies you know by heart. For this event, they are completely replaced by 19 entirely new Phrecian Ascendancy classes. These shake up gameplay in some wild ways, featuring options like the minion-focused Puppeteer or the uniquely fishing-themed Surfcaster class. It forces everyone onto a level playing field to figure out entirely new synergies.
The Tournament Loop: As you map and clear content, you will collect Silver Coins. These coins act as your ticket to enter the Karui Afterlife. Once inside, you will draft and manage a team of warrior troops, using tactical planning to battle legendary chieftains in an automated, objective-based arena format.
Forbidden Tattoos: Customization goes deeper than ever in this event. A brand-new layer of character building allows you to use Forbidden Tattoos to completely replace a notable node on your passive skill tree with a node belonging to a totally different class, opening up insane theory-crafting possibilities.
Rewards & Economy
Running the tournament is not just for bragging rights; the reward structure is incredibly lucrative and directly feeds into your progression.
In-Match Loot: Every round you win in the tournament yields valuable assets. You will earn NPC Favor, which is essential during the tournament to buy stronger troops and field supplies for subsequent rounds. Alongside favor, you get "real" world loot dropped directly into your inventory, ranging from foundational currency like Chaos and Divine Orbs to rare unique items and event-only Tattoos.
Exclusive Tattoos: Fan-favorite, high-power items are returning exclusively as tournament rewards. You can hunt down the Loyalty Tattoo of Kaom, the Tattoo of the Hinekora Makanga, and the Journey Tattoo of Makanui to min-max your character's passive tree to absolute perfection.
Migration Details: One of the best parts about this event is that it is not voided. Every piece of currency, item, and character you accumulate will automatically migrate back to the parent Mirage or Standard leagues when the three weeks are up. However, there are a couple of important rules to keep in mind: your Phrecian Ascendancy points will be completely wiped upon migration, forcing you to re-select a regular core class, and Ascendancy Tattoos will cease to function once the character arrives in Standard.
