The Mirage league for Path of Exile has arrived, and the reception so far is shaping up to be one of the most positive ever for a new league. While we'll have to wait and see how the league mechanic plays out in practice,with cheap POE currency,the patch notes themselves bring a lot of excitement. Here's a quick TL;DR of the biggest winners and losers from patch 3.28.

Winners of Mirage Patch 3.28

1. Essences

Essences can now stack to 10, a significant improvement from the previous cap of 9. This seemingly small change has a meaningful impact on crafting and gameplay, giving players more flexibility and efficiency.

2. Specters and Minion Builds

Specters gain substantial buffs, especially when reaching the level 30 gem threshold. The new minion support gems, including the coin supports, will help free up gem slots and allow for more versatile setups. This makes summoner builds stronger and more appealing for league starters.

3. Guardians and Totems

Sentinel of Radiance is now permanent, removing the frustration of having to re-summon it repeatedly for slower map clears.

Totem placement speed has been adjusted so that the totems appear slightly slower by default, but the appearance is smoother, improving the feel for explosive arrow or other totem-based builds.

Flame Totem received a significant buff, making it a great option for leveling.

4. Skills and Gems

Several skills received notable improvements:

Penance Brand (Non-Transfer) – No longer suffers from the ailment penalty, increasing its usability.

Shock Nova (Transfigured Gem) – While numbers aren't fully confirmed yet, its visuals and potential seem promising.

Absolution and Kinetic Fuselade – Expected to be among the strongest skills for league starters.

5. Miscellaneous Buffs

Bloodline ascendancies got various buffs.

Chaos damage and bow adjustments for Taxing Rift and Lion Eyes Remorse look promising for certain builds.

Losers of Mirage Patch 3.28

1. Slam Builds

Slam builds took a big hit:

Earth Shatter lost effectiveness, overexertion damage is nerfed, and Genesis Tree no longer provides early-game high-PDPS weapons.

While still playable and strong for later content, slam builds are no longer the instant league starter powerhouse they once were.

2. Viper Strike of Mamba

Viper Strike of Mamba suffered an estimated 75% nerf, making it far less competitive compared to other skills and builds.

3. Elemental Golems and Energy Shield Builds

Elementless golems saw nerfs, reducing their overall effectiveness.

Energy shield builds relying on the Int bonus got hit hard, including the Energy Blade.

4. Foul Uniques

Some previously overpowered unique items, such as Howa's Quiver with double explosion effects, were nerfed, impacting certain chain-based builds.

5. Generic Changes Affecting Farming

Six-link drop rates from Genesis Tree have been reduced.

Rare item rewards from ships, gambling, and atlas runners were downgraded.

On the positive side,with POE currency,currency drops have been doubled, making divine orb farming less of a grind.

The Overall Verdict

Patch 3.28 brings a healthy mix of buffs, nerfs, and quality-of-life improvements. Minion builds, Guardian players, and certain gem setups are looking stronger than ever, while some league staples like slam builds and Viper Strike are facing new challenges.

Sisin sums it up: the Mirage league is shaping up to be extremely fun and well-received. With the new mechanics, buffs to popular skills, and a positive reception from the community, the upcoming league promises a fresh, exciting start for both veterans and new players alike.