It seems like GGG has gone all-in on integrating Ultimatum into the core game, replacing Metamorph entirely. Here are some key takeaways:
Major Changes:
Ultimatum encounters are now more common (8% chance from Trialmaster) and longer (10 rounds by default).
Monsters in Ultimatum encounters no longer drop loot (except Trialmaster), but provide experience.
Catalysts are the main reward for Ultimatum, replacing Metamorph drops.
Ultimatum modifiers have been rebalanced and some new ones were added.
New Ultimatum Atlas Passive clusters offer various ways to modify Ultimatum encounters and rewards.
Existing Metamorph items and mechanics have been replaced with Ultimatum versions (scarabs, orbs, incubators, etc.).
Ethical Considerations:
The "Ethics Review" Notable is gone, meaning players can now opt out of Ultimatum entirely.
New Atlas Passives introduce optional increased difficulty and potential unfairness.
Balancing risk and reward with Ultimatum modifiers and challenges is crucial.
Community Impact:
Ultimatum becoming core content will likely affect market prices and build strategies.
New Atlas Passives offer opportunities for collaboration and sharing strategies.
Maintaining fair play and respecting other players’ experiences is paramount.
Overall:
Ultimatum’s integration into the core game presents a significant shift in Path of Exile. While exciting for fans of the mechanic, it raises concerns about ethical gameplay and community balance. Players will need to adapt their strategies, navigate the new Atlas Passives, and ensure their Ultimatum encounters are fun and fair for everyone involved.
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Ultimatum has been added to the core game, replacing Metamorph. You will have approximately an 8% chance to find the Trialmaster and his Trials of Chaos in Maps.
Ultimatum Encounters are now 10 rounds by default, though I sincerely hope you intend to last longer than 2 rounds.
You now have a chance to be teleported to The Trialmaster’s Arena for the 10th round in areas with a level of 81 or higher, rather than this being guaranteed.
Ultimatum modifiers have been rebalanced, some new modifiers have been added and some previous modifiers have been removed.
Ultimatum modifiers that previously had 3 tiers of difficulty, such as Stormcaller Runes, now have 4 tiers of difficulty.
Monsters in Ultimatum Encounters no longer drop loot, other than The Trialmaster, though they still grant experience.
Added a new Tainted Catalyst that can be obtained from the Trialmaster. It applies a random quality type and amount of quality to a Corrupted Ring, Amulet or Belt, and replaces other quality types.
Catalysts are now rewards from Ultimatum, and are affected by Map Item Quantity.
Vaal Aspects, previously known as Ultimatum Aspects, combine into a new Unique Jewel instead of the The Tower of Ordeals Map.
The Tower of Ordeals Unique Engraved Ultimatum Map can no longer be opened in a Map Device.
You can once again vendor 5 Inscribed Ultimatums for a new Inscribed Ultimatum.
Added a round count display between rounds in Ultimatum Encounters.
Kirac can now offer Map Missions to complete an Ultimatum, replacing Missions for constructing and slaying a Metamorph.
Kirac can now offer Maps for purchase with the "Area contains an Ultimatum Encounter" implicit modifier, instead of ones with the "Area contains Metamorph Monsters" implicit Map modifier.
Catalysts are no longer offered as Ritual Rewards, or a reward type for Delirium Rewards.
Mysterious Incubators can no longer drop Catalysts.
Metamorph rewards from Heist, Expedition, Betrayal, Delirium, Legion and Eldritch Altars have been replaced with Ultimatum rewards.
Existing Amorphous Delirium Orbs will be replaced with Challenging Delirium Orbs, which add layers of Delirium with the Ultimatum Item rewards type to Maps. This is the only source of Challenging Delirium Orbs, these are unobtainable as item drops or from any other source.
Existing Morphing Incubators will be replaced with Challenging Incubators, which can be added to an equippable item, dropping an Ultimatum Item after killing a certain amount of Monsters. This is the only source of Challenging Incubators, these are unobtainable as item drops or from any other source.
Expedition Remnant modifiers in Expedition sites that grant Runic Monsters and Chests a chance to drop Catalysts have been replaced with modifiers that drop Heist Contracts instead.
Reduced the amount of Catalysts obtained from Heist Chests, Expedition Chests, Betrayal Chests, and Vaal Unique Strongboxes, as well as the amount of Catalysts offered by Tujen.
Metamorph Scarabs have been replaced with Ultimatum Scarabs. Each Scarab guarantees an Ultimatum encounter in an Area, with higher-tier Scarabs granting increased Experience from Ultimatum Monsters, or causing Ultimatum Encounters to grant additional rewards as though you completed additional rounds. Existing Metamorph Scarabs will be converted to Ultimatum Scarabs.
The Metamorph Map Crafting Option and Metamorph Sextant modifiers have been replaced with Ultimatum versions.
The 5 Metamorph clusters on the Atlas Passive Tree have been replaced with Ultimatum Clusters.
Added a new Ultimatum Cluster which contains the Face The Ultimatum Notable Passive. This Notable provides your maps with a +15% chance to contain an Ultimatum Encounter, while the 3 small Passives in this cluster each provide your maps with a +5% chance to contain an Ultimatum Encounter.
Added a new Ultimatum Cluster which contains the Prove Yourself Worthy and Stand Your Ground Notable Passives. The 7 small Passives in this cluster either cause Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps to spawn 8% increased number of Monsters, your Maps to have +5% chance to contain an Ultimatum Encounter, or Ultimatum Monsters in your Maps to grant 10% increased Experience.
The Prove Yourself Worthy Notable Passive causes Ultimatum Modifiers in your Maps to start a Tier higher if possible, and causes Ultimatum Rewards in your Maps to have a 25% chance to be duplicated. The Stand Your Ground Notable Passive causes Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps to get 3% reduced Radius each Round, and also causes them to grant rewards as though you completed an additional Round.
Added a new Ultimatum Cluster which contains the Ruinous Wager Keystone as well as the Conquer The Stones, Survive The Assault, Slaughter Them All, and Protect The Altar Notable Passives. The entry small Passive provides your maps with a +5% chance to contain an Ultimatum Encounter.
The new Ruinous Wager Keystone Passive causes Ultimatum Monsters in your Maps to apply Ruin with their special abilities, Ultimatum Monsters and Modifiers in your Maps to deal 50% less Damage, and causes Ultimatum Encounters to Fail on reaching 7 Ruin.
The Conquer The Stones Notable Passive causes Ultimatum Encounters in your Map to have 100% increased chance to require you to Stand in the Stone Circles, with these types of encounters having 25% increased radius. The small Passive prior causes Ultimatum Stone Circles in your Maps to have 15% increased radius.
The Survive The Assault Notable Passive causes Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps to have 100% increased chance to only require you to Survive, with these types of encounters having 20% reduced duration. The small Passive prior causes Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps only requiring you to Survive to have 10% reduced duration.
The Slaughter Them All Notable Passive causes Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps to have 100% increased chance to require you to defeat waves of Enemies, with these types of encounters requiring killing 20% reduced number of Enemies. The small Passive prior causes Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps requiring you to defeat waves of Enemies to require killing 10% reduced number of Enemies.
The Protect The Altar Notable Passive causes Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps to have 100% increased chance to require you to protect the Altar, and Ultimatum Altars in your Maps to have 50% increased Life. The small Passive prior causes Ultimatum Altars in your Maps to have 25% increased Life.
Added a new Ultimatum Cluster that contains the Gruelling Gauntlet Keystone, as well as the Worthy of the Past, Worthy of the Present, and Worthy of the Future Notable Passives. The 6 small Passives in this cluster each cause Ultimatum Rewards in your Maps to have a 10% increased chance to be Inscribed Ultimatums.
The new Gruelling Gauntlet Keystone Passive causes Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps to last 3 additional Rounds, but makes it so you cannot choose which Ultimatum Modifier is applied each Round, and cannot have a Boss in the final Round.
The Worthy of the Past Notable Passive causes Inscribed Ultimatums found in your Maps to have 50% increased chance to reward Unique Items, and Ultimatum Rewards in your Maps to have 50% increased chance to be Unique Items.
The Worthy of the Present Notable Passive causes Inscribed Ultimatums found in your Maps to have 50% increased chance to reward Currency Items, and Ultimatum Rewards in your Maps to have 50% increased chance to be Currency Items.
The Worthy of the Future Notable Passive causes Inscribed Ultimatums found in your Maps to have 50% increased chance to reward Divination Cards, and Ultimatum Rewards in your Maps to have 50% increased chance to be Divination Cards.
Added a new Ultimatum Cluster which contains the Brave The Tower Notable Passive. This Notable causes the Ultimatum Boss to drop a full stack of random Catalysts, and Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps to have 30% increased chance for the final Round to include a Boss. The 4 small Passives in this cluster each cause Ultimatum Encounters in your Maps to have 10% increased chance for the final Round to include a Boss.
The Ethics Review Notable Atlas Passive has been replaced with a new Notable, Servant of Order. It causes your Maps to have no chance to contain Ultimatum Encounters, and a +2% chance to contain other Extra Content.
Shepherd of Souls, granted by the Yaomac’s Accord Unique Sceptre, no longer causes other Vaal Skills to gain 50% of the consumed Souls when you use a Vaal Skill, and no longer causes Non-Vaal Skills to deal 30% less Damage. Instead, it now causes Vaal Non-Aura Skills to have 80% less Soul Cost, and Vaal Non-Aura Skills to have 100% increased Soul Cost per Vaal Skill used in the past 8 seconds.
Accelerating and Unstable Catalysts can now be obtained from Catalyst sources outside of Ultimatum encounters.
The Metamorph Stash Tab has been converted to an Ultimatum Stash Tab, which can hold 5000 of each type of Catalyst and 60 Inscribed Ultimatums.
The Metamorph Stash Tab Affinity has been replaced with Ultimatum.