Swords of Legends vs Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Chinese Underworld Mythology
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, and other unspecified consoles
• Release Window: TBA (Estimated 2026 or 2027)
• Unique Feature: A story-driven, single-player action RPG based on the acclaimed Chinese 'Gujian' franchise, featuring a unique Soul Summoning combat mechanic.

• Perspective: Isometric (Top-Down)
• Multiplayer: 6-Player Online Co-op, 2-Player Couch Co-op
• Setting: Wraeclast (20 years after PoE1)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Early Access Release: 2024-12-06
• Unique Feature: A complete overhaul of the original's core systems, featuring a new Skill Gem system, a dedicated dodge roll, and a dual-specialization passive tree.

• Summoned Souls: A core combat mechanic where Si Pan can capture the souls of certain defeated enemies and summon them to fight alongside him, enabling powerful combo attacks.
  Varies (Monster, Spectral)
• Mythological Guardians: Iconic figures from Chinese mythology, such as the Ox-Head and Horse-Face guardians, will join Si Pan on his quest, providing assistance and narrative context.
  Divine

• Lost Souls: Encountered throughout the world. Each lost soul has a unique backstory and personal regret that the player must help resolve.
• Mythical Creature Parts: Harvested from defeated supernatural horrors. These are likely used in a crafting system to upgrade weapons and armor.

• Unique Items: Dropped by monsters throughout the game. Each of the 700 new equipment base types has its own unique item variant, leading to thousands of powerful and build-enabling items to find.
• Gold: A new currency type that drops from monsters. Gold is used for various NPC vendor interactions and for respeccing passive skill points, providing an alternative to Orbs of Regret.

• Chinese Mythology
• Fantasy
• Action RPG
• Underworld
• Story Rich
• Exploration
• Soulslike-adjacent

• Dark Fantasy
• Eldritch Horror
• Deep Character Customization
• Loot Hunting
• Complex Economy
• Action RPG
• Survival
• Post-Apocalyptic

• Mystical Techniques: Varies (Swords, etc.)
  Si Pan wields a variety of powerful weapons, enhanced by mystical abilities, to combat otherworldly horrors.
• Explosive Umbrella: Area-of-Effect
  A unique divine artifact used to unleash powerful area-of-effect attacks.
• Binding Wrappings: Crowd Control
  A mythical tool used to ensnare and immobilize enemies.
• Spiritual Seals: Crowd Control
  Magical seals that can be used to bind enemies in place, offering tactical control over the battlefield.

• New Weapon Types: Spears, Crossbows, Flails
  Path of Exile 2 introduces several new weapon archetypes alongside returning favorites, each with their own dedicated skills and passive tree nodes.
• Returning Weapon Types: Swords, Axes, Maces, Bows, Wands, etc.
  All weapon types from the original game return, but with updated animations, sounds, and interactions within the new combat system.

• Enforcer's Attire: Players will be able to equip different sets of armor inspired by Chinese mythology. These sets will likely provide defensive stats and passive bonuses that complement different combat styles.

• Equipment Base Types: The game features 700 new equipment base types. Armor continues to provide a foundation of defenses (Armour, Evasion, Energy Shield) and serves as the housing for sockets, though the linking mechanic has been moved to the gems themselves.

• Cosmetic Microtransactions: Path of Exile 2 shares its cosmetic microtransaction system with the first game. Any armor sets, weapon effects, pets, and other cosmetics purchased in either game will be available to use in both.

Progression is focused on growing stronger through a flexible weapon-skill loadout system. Players can combine a wide variety of weapons, equipment, and spells to create unique combat styles. The core combat mechanic of 'Soul Summoning' allows players to capture defeated monsters and use them as allies in future battles, enabling powerful cooperative combos.

Path of Exile 2 introduces a completely new skill system. Support Gems are now socketed directly into Skill Gems, allowing any skill to be a fully supported 'six-link'. Players can also specialize their passive tree for two different weapon sets and swap between them instantly. A dedicated dodge roll with no cooldown has been added for all characters.

The game features a 'wide linear' structure. It is not a fully open-world game, but consists of large, explorable zones that balance focused storytelling with the freedom to explore at the player's own pace. The world is an undead realm filled with enchanting and unsettling locations.

The game features a brand-new six-act campaign that will take players across new and familiar regions of Wraeclast. Act 4 is expected to be set in the Karui archipelago, with community speculation pointing to Act 5 in Oriath and Act 6 in 'the Beyond'. The endgame features a revamped version of the Atlas of Worlds.

• Si Pan: Playable Protagonist
  An Underworld Enforcer who is 'dead yet reborn'. His duty is to guide departed souls, often through combat, and help them resolve their regrets.
• Ox-Head Guardian: Companion
  A famous guardian of the Chinese underworld (Diyu) who will accompany Si Pan on his journey.
• Horse-Face Guardian: Companion
  Another iconic guardian from Chinese mythology who will travel with and assist the protagonist.

• Monk (Str/Dex): Playable Class
  A martial artist who uses a quarterstaff and his fists to deliver swift, mobile attacks.
• Huntress (Dex): Playable Class
  A spear-wielding warrior who excels at hit-and-run tactics, throwing her spear and recalling it.
• Mercenary (Dex/Int): Playable Class
  A crossbow specialist who brings shooter-style mechanics to the game, using different types of bolts for various effects.
• Sorceress (Int): Playable Class
  A new spellcaster who can seamlessly blend different elements like fire, cold, and lightning.
• Warrior (Str): Playable Class
  A new melee specialist who excels with maces and clubs.
• Returning Archetypes: Playable Classes
  The six original classes (Marauder, Ranger, Witch, Duelist, Templar, Shadow) return with new models and animations, alongside six entirely new classes for a total of 12.

• Main Story Quests
  A cinematic, story-driven campaign that follows Si Pan's journey through the undead realm as he guides lost souls and confronts supernatural horrors.
• Side Quests (Resolving Regrets)
  Optional quests focused on delving into the personal backstories of individual lost souls, helping them find peace before they can move on.

• The Main Campaign
  A brand new, six-act storyline that takes players across Wraeclast to stop a new wave of Corruption. The 'The Third Edict' update will add at least one new act to the existing three.
• The Atlas of Worlds
  The shared endgame between both Path of Exile games. After completing the campaign, players unlock the Atlas and can run thousands of procedurally generated map areas to challenge pinnacle bosses.

The game is in active development during its Early Access phase, with major content updates like 'The Third Edict' adding new campaign acts, features, and balance changes. After its full launch, it will follow the original game's model of releasing a new challenge league and content expansion every three to four months.

• Q: What is Swords of Legends?
  A: It is a new, premium single-player action RPG from Aurogon Shanghai. It is the fourth main game in the acclaimed Chinese 'Gujian' series but features a standalone story that is accessible to newcomers.
• Q: Is this the same as Swords of Legends Online?
  A: No. While part of the same franchise, this is a completely separate, single-player action RPG, not an MMO.
• Q: What makes the gameplay unique?
  A: The gameplay features a fast-paced, accessible combat system with a unique 'Soul Summoning' mechanic, allowing players to capture and use defeated monsters as allies in battle.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: No specific release date has been announced, but the game has entered mass production. Industry observers estimate a potential release in 2026 or 2027.

• Q: Is Path of Exile 2 an expansion?
  A: No. Originally announced as an expansion, it is now a completely separate, standalone game with its own campaign, classes, and game mechanics. It will exist alongside the original Path of Exile.
• Q: Is Path of Exile 2 free to play?
  A: The game launched into a paid Early Access on December 6, 2024. The full 1.0 release of the game will be completely free-to-play, just like the original.
• Q: Do my purchases from Path of Exile 1 carry over?
  A: Yes. All cosmetic microtransactions and convenience items (like stash tabs) purchased in either game are shared and can be used in both Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2.
• Q: Can I play with my friends from Path of Exile 1?
  A: No. Because Path of Exile 2 is a separate game with different characters and balance, you cannot party up with players who are playing Path of Exile 1. However, PoE2 has full cross-play between its own PC and console versions.

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs were not provided, these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation title built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop. Actual performance would vary significantly based on the final game's optimization and the laptop's specific hardware configuration.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and effects-heavy combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI and physics of a detailed world.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the fast-paced combat.
• Game Name: Swords of Legends

• OFFICIAL EARLY ACCESS PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. These specifications may change as development continues towards the full 1.0 release.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the specific model's cooling and TGP. Path of Exile 2's new engine and complex combat encounters can be demanding.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain high framerates.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's intense, effects-heavy combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex physics and numerous calculations in endgame scenarios.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance and responsiveness.
• Game Name: Path of Exile 2: The Third Edict

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features of Unreal Engine 5.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and effects-heavy combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI and physics of a detailed world.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus would be a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the fast-paced combat.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain high framerates.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's intense, effects-heavy combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex physics and numerous calculations in endgame scenarios.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance and responsiveness.