Path of Exile:Keepers of the Flame-Biggest Buffed Builds and Harshest Nerfs

Keepers of the Flame introduces some of the most impactful balance updates the game has seen in recent leagues. Underused Ascendancies receive long-awaited power boosts, several skills gain meaningful improvements, and a few dominant playstyles finally get pulled back in line. Overall, this patch leans heavily toward buffs, giving players more viable build options heading into the new season.

Major Ascendancy & Skill Buffs

1.Pathfinder-Flask Mastery Reinforced

Pathfinder players are celebrating yet another round of powerful flask tweaks.

Master Distiller now grants beefier bonuses across multiple flask types:

Bismuth Flask:25% Elemental Resistance Penetration (previously 20%)

Diamond Flask:250% increased Critical Strike Chance (previously 150%)

Amethyst Flask:37% of Physical Damage gained as Extra Chaos Damage (previously 25%)

These improvements make Pathfinder one of the strongest league starters for flask-centric elemental or chaos builds, especially for players optimizing with high-end gear.

2. Necromancer-Corpse Pact Supercharged

The reworked Corpse Pact now provides 4% increased attack and cast speed per corpse consumed, doubling the stack potential and significantly improving build fluidity.

Skills like Reap, Volatile Dead, and Detonate Dead benefit enormously from this ramping mechanic, giving Necromancer one of its smoothest power curves yet.

3. Assassin-Full Overhaul and Massive Gains

Assassin emerges as one of patch 3.27 biggest winners thanks to a redesigned Ascendancy centered on critical reliability and poison scaling.

Unstable Infusion now automatically applies Level 30 Assassin Mark on every crit.

Power charge generation is more consistent.

Poison-focused abilities such as Blade Vortex and Venom Gyre scale more efficiently.

With stronger mark uptime and smoother charge cycling, Assassin is poised to dominate both crit and poison archetypes.

4. Cyclone-Finally Back in the Fight

Cyclone receives 20% more base damage across all gem levels, directly addressing the skill lackluster performance in recent leagues. This universal damage bump helps Cyclone builds feel better both while leveling and in endgame mapping or bossing, putting Slayer and Champion Cyclone variants back into competitive territory.Unleash your potential in Path of Exile. Get your POE currency on MMOexp today!

5. Exsanguinate & Reap-DoT Staples Strengthened

Two cornerstone Physical DoT skills get a 15% increase to their base Physical Damage over Time.

This buff gives Occultist and Trickster DoT builds stronger early progression and more reliable scaling into late-game encounters without heavy investment.

6. Hexblast-Massive Burst Upgrade

Hexblast receives one of its largest power spikes yet:

200% more hit damage vs. hexed enemies (up from 150%)

90% more ailment damage (up from 60%)

Its cooldown remains a bottleneck, but its burst potential—especially in self-curse or Doom-oriented setups—is now significantly more explosive.

Patch 3.27 Biggest Nerfs

While the update is heavily buff-weighted, a few nerfs will shake up existing meta favorites.

1.Trickster-Multiple Core Nodes Hit

Trickster suffers the most notable nerfs this patch:

Spellbreaker no longer grants spell suppression.

Soul Drinker loses its attack/cast speed bonus while ES leeching.

One Step Ahead provides less action speed.

Even though Heartstopper was numerically improved, the series of defensive and utility losses will likely push Trickster down from its top-tier league starter status.

2. Elementalist-Golemancer Era Ends

The nerf to Liege of the Primordial cuts Golem buffs from 100% effectiveness to 50%.

This directly weakens Golemancer builds and noticeably reduces both their damage and survivability. While Elementalist remains strong overall, minion-based players will feel this change immediately.

3. Blink Arrow of Prismatic Clones-Heavy Hit to Clone Builds

Popular among BAMA enjoyers, this skill variant sees major reductions:

Clone duration reduced from 20 seconds to 5

Clone damage reduced by 20%

Still usable for casual mapping, but far from the budget powerhouse it used to be.

4. Poisonous Concoction-Lower Top-End Scaling

Despite Assassin buffs, Poisonous Concoction receives a significant blow to its added Chaos damage.

The build remains smooth and fast, but its maximum damage output is noticeably dampened, especially in high-tier content.

5. Volcanic Fissure of Snaking-Meta Favorite Dialed Back

No longer chains fissure explosions onto previously hit enemies

Loses the 50% more Area of Effect modifier

This dramatically slows its clear speed and reduces its top-end bossing potential.

Whether you're preparing to refine your gear, farm currency, or plan your next league starter, Keepers of the Flame introduces a healthy balance shift that should promote build diversity and fresh strategies throughout the season.Enhance your journey in Path of Exile with instant MMOexp cheap POE currency!