PoE 3.28 Teasers: Maraketh Theme, No PoE 2 Sekhema Trials

New Path of Exile Expansion: Maraketh Themed Insights

Patch 3.28 for Path of Exile kicked off its teaser season with an intriguing early reveal. An image and quote combination shared by Grinding Gear Games on social media — "The sands of time conspire against you" — sparked immediate community debate. The desert imagery and time-themed phrasing drew comparisons to Path of Exile 2's Sekhema Trial, a mechanic with strong community opinions. This quickly led to speculation about whether that trial mechanic would cross over into Path of Exile 1.

Clarifications and Reveals

Grinding Gear Games quickly confirmed that the Sekhema Trial from Path of Exile 2 will not be making its way into Path of Exile 1. The mechanic divides the community sharply: roughly 20% of players favour it, about 70% dislike it, and a small fraction remain indifferent. The firm stance against introducing this mechanic signals a focus on player satisfaction and keeping Path of Exile 1's identity intact.

Maraketh Theming and Lore

The 3.28 expansion carries a Maraketh theme, as hinted by lore references in the game and an earlier voice-actor casting call tied to this culture. The Maraketh are a desert-dwelling people in the Path of Exile universe, and their inclusion signals new storyline territory for Path of Exile 1 that remains separate from the sequel's lore direction.

• The theme will influence lore and narrative elements throughout the expansion.
• Players anticipate new storylines and content inspired by Maraketh culture.
• Gameplay mechanics will remain distinct from those of Path of Exile 2.

Players following the Explore PoE Mirage league carry options can find carry and boost options as the meta develops after launch.

Brief Recap of Expectations

1. The expansion explores the Maraketh theme from a lore and narrative perspective.
2. It introduces fresh content without importing mechanics from Path of Exile 2.
3. Players can expect content that preserves the core identity of Path of Exile 1.

While the thematic overlap between Maraketh desert culture and the time-and-sand teaser imagery is clear, the development team is opting for thematic exploration over direct mechanic imports from the sequel, a direction most of the community welcomes given the mixed reception of the Sekhema Trial in PoE 2.

Last reviewed 2026-06-17 against PoE 3.28 Mirage — Maintained by WowCarry's PoE team.