Path of Exile 2 Forbidden Rites event will officially launch on September 4, 2026.

However, if you think this is just a regular limited-time event, the actual experience may be completely different from your expectations.

Although called an event, Forbidden Rites has its own independent character and economic system. The ongoing Runes of Aldur will not end with the launch of Forbidden Rites; the two will coexist. Players wishing to enter Forbidden Rites need to create a new character and accumulate gear, Currency, Atlas Progression, and trade resources from scratch.

With Path of Exile 2 1.0 already confirmed for release on December 11th, is it worthwhile to reinvest in a brand new event league?

Forbidden Rites and Runes of Aldur are two separate league environments.

If you've already invested a significant amount of time in Runes of Aldur, accumulating gear, currency, and endgame progress, these resources cannot be directly transferred to Forbidden Rites.

This is actually closer to the experience of a traditional Path of Exile League. The only difference is that it's not a full-fledged long-term league, but rather an event arranged by GGG before the arrival of Path of Exile 2 1.0.

In terms of timing, this event isn't short. Forbidden Rites starts on September 4th, while Path of Exile 2 1.0 is expected to launch on December 11th, giving you approximately three months in between. Therefore, for players who enjoy League Starts, Forbidden Rites is definitely not an event that ends after a few days.

One of the most appealing aspects of PoE 2 is League Start. Recreating a character, running campaigns again, accumulating currency again, buying gear again, and then slowly progressing to endgame, this cycle itself is one of the reasons many players love PoE 2.

However, the real problem with the Forbidden Rites event for players is that they've already invested a significant amount of time in the Runes of Aldur league to build a character. Now, with Forbidden Rites requiring a substantial time investment, and then having to start all over again in a few months for Path of Exile 2 1.0, it doesn't seem worthwhile.

However, for casual players, there might be no pressure at all. If you just want to experience new content, test builds, or raid with friends again, then three months is long enough.

But for players who like to invest in characters long-term, the situation is different. If you already have a fully-developed character in Runes of Aldur, investing a lot of time to build a Forbidden Rites character now obviously has a higher opportunity cost.

But I believe Forbidden Rites are still worth playing. I don't think that only three months until 1.0 means Forbidden Rites are worthless. Quite the opposite. This could be a very noteworthy economic experiment before Path of Exile 2 1.0.

Because everyone is starting from scratch. There's no mature economic system, no large stockpile of gear, and no stable PoE 2 currency.

For players familiar with PoE 2, the early-game economy of a new league is always highly attractive. However, the initial stages of a new league's economy are typically more volatile in terms of price fluctuations than the mid-to-late game.

Therefore, if you want to experience League Start, test builds, or participate in a new economy, Forbidden Rites remain appealing.

Upon entering Forbidden Rites, players need to rebuild their character progression from scratch. This means you need to prepare afresh. Especially in the early game, gear disparities directly impact map clearing efficiency.

A character just entering Endgame, even with the correct build, may waste a significant amount of time due to insufficient damage, survivability, and movement speed if their gear is inadequate.

If you are already very familiar with Path of Exile 2, you can quickly establish your economic foundation through farming and trading.

For players who don't have much time to farm again but plan to fully experience the new content in Forbidden Rites, they can directly buy PoE 2 Divine Orbs or other currencies on IGGM. This reduces the time spent repeatedly farming basic resources, allowing them to quickly replenish a large amount of resources.

IGGM, a professional platform with decades of experience in game service trading, offers a plentiful supply of PoE 2 currency, enabling players to easily acquire the currency they need without the hassle of starting over.

Furthermore, becoming a registered IGGM user allows you to earn points through daily check-ins. These points can be used to offset cash costs, redeem IGGM Coupon, or even exchange for special in-game items, and use discount code "FR8" to get 8% off, allowing you to acquire more PoE 2 currency at a lower price.

The Forbidden Rites event can also be seen as a large-scale pre-release event before Path of Exile 2 1.0. It allows players to familiarize themselves with some of the systems in advance, while also providing GGG with more data on player behavior and the economic environment.

Therefore, you don't need to invest all your resources in Forbidden Rites. The most sensible approach is to invest moderately, quickly experience different builds, and find one you truly enjoy.

If you find a build that suits you perfectly, by POE2 1.0 you'll have a complete understanding of its mechanics. If you find it doesn't suit you, you won't lose much.

If you're looking for long-term character value, there's no need to force yourself to join. Runes of Aldur is still playable; there's absolutely no need to abandon your existing characters because of Forbidden Rites.

However, if you enjoy League Start, the new economy, and experimenting with different builds, Forbidden Rites is actually a pretty good opportunity.

In any case, having sufficient PoE 2 currency, gear, and basic resources will allow you to navigate either scenario with ease.

Also Read: Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 Forbidden Rites Event League Starter Builds: 4 Tested Picks for Mapping and Single-Target DPS