Illustration of an exile reading a board of forum notices

Path of Exile Forums: A Complete, Easy Guide to the Official Boards

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The Path of Exile forums are the official discussion boards run by Grinding Gear Games (GGG), the studio behind the game, and you can open them at pathofexile.com/forum. One index covers both Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2, with sections for announcements, patch notes, bug reports, technical support, builds, trading and general gameplay talk. If you want developer news, a place to report a problem, or a long-running thread about a skill or mechanic, the Path of Exile forums are the right place to start. This guide shows where each section lives, how to search it, and how to decide whether a post can be trusted.

Everything below was checked against the live forum index on October 11, 2026. Sections, thread counts and game versions change over time, so use this article as a map and the forum itself as the final word.

Where to Find the Official Path of Exile Forums

The official address is https://www.pathofexile.com/forum. You can also reach it from the main menu on pathofexile.com by choosing Forum and then Index. The same menu has two other links worth bookmarking: Search and Code of Conduct.

These are the only Path of Exile forums run by the developer. Reddit, Steam community pages, Discord servers and fan wikis are useful, but they are not official, and nobody there speaks for GGG. The forum also has translated versions, including German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Thai and Japanese, which are linked at the top of every page.

You do not need to log in to read the boards. When I loaded the index and several section pages without an account, the content displayed normally. Posting is a different matter, which I cover in a later section.

Official Path of Exile forums index showing Early Access and announcement section

Path of Exile Forums vs. Path of Exile 2 Forums

Players often ask whether Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2 have separate forum sites. They do not. Both games share one index, but the index is divided into labelled groups, and that is how you tell the two apart.

The Path of Exile 2 sections sit at the top of the index under an “Early Access” heading. At the time of writing they are Early Access Announcements, Early Access Patch Notes, Early Access Feedback, Path of Exile 2 Builds, Early Access Bug Reports, Early Access Discussion and Early Access Trading. A smaller console group covers Early Access feedback and bug reports for Xbox and PlayStation 5.

The Path of Exile 1 sections are labelled more directly. Examples include Technical Support (Path of Exile 1), Bug Reports (Path of Exile 1), Feedback and Suggestions (Path of Exile 1) and Path of Exile 1 Gameplay Help and Discussion. Some older sections, such as the general Announcements and Patch Notes boards, are not labelled by game, so check the thread title and date before assuming which version a post describes.

One naming caution: this guide uses “Path of Exile 2 forums” as shorthand for the Early Access sections. That is a reader-friendly label, not the name of a separate website. If you would like a quick refresher on the newer game’s roster before you dive in, the PoE2 classes guide on GamesPuma covers the playable classes.

What Can You Find on Path of Exile Forums?

The index of the Path of Exile forums is large, and the sections below are the ones most readers need. Each name comes from the live index, and the short descriptions paraphrase the descriptions printed there.

  • Announcements and Development Manifesto. News and game status updates, plus the studio’s notes on future plans and development philosophy.
  • Patch Notes. Separate boards exist for Path of Exile 1, Path of Exile 2 Early Access, Xbox and PlayStation.
  • Help and Information. General account and game questions. The Code of Conduct thread lives here.
  • Technical Support (Path of Exile 1). Troubleshooting for crashes, launch problems and similar issues.
  • Bug Reports. Separate sections for Path of Exile 1, Path of Exile 2 Early Access, Xbox, PlayStation 5 and console.
  • Feedback and Suggestions. Includes dedicated boards for skill gems, support gems, art and audio, PvP, and races and seasons.
  • Gameplay discussion. General talk for Path of Exile 1, plus an Item Display Cabinet for showing off finds.
  • Classes and builds. Path of Exile 2 Builds, and one board per class for Path of Exile 1: Duelist, Marauder, Ranger, Scion, Shadow, Templar and Witch.
  • Trading. Standard and Hardcore boards for shops, buying, selling and price checks, plus platform and league-specific boards.
  • Community. Guilds, streaming, regional communities, hideout showcases and fan creations.
  • Racing and PvP. Race events, ladders, private leagues and PvP discussion.

Not every board is equally busy. Some show recent activity from the last day, while others, such as the EU and US PvP rating boards, have not seen a new post in years. A quick glance at the “Last Post” column tells you whether a section is alive before you invest time in it.

How to Search Path of Exile Forums

Browsing the index of the Path of Exile forums is fine for orientation, but the built-in search is faster for answers. It is available at pathofexile.com/search, or through Forum and then Search in the menu.

The search page offers several controls, all of which I confirmed on the live page:

  • A Query box for your keywords.
  • A choice to search within forum thread titles or forum posts.
  • An In Forums selector, so you can limit results to specific boards.
  • An In Thread field for searching inside one discussion.
  • A Time filter with Any time, Past hour, Past 24 hours, Past week, Past month and Past year.

Here is a practical routine that works on the Path of Exile forums for most problems.

  1. Start with thread titles, since a title search returns cleaner results than a full-text search.
  2. Choose the right board in the In Forums list. A crash question belongs in a support or bug section, not in general discussion.
  3. Use the time filter early. Setting it to the past month or past year removes a lot of outdated answers.
  4. If results are thin, switch to searching posts, which finds answers buried inside longer threads.
  5. Open the most relevant thread and read the dates on the replies, not only the first post.

Keep keywords short and specific. A skill name, an error message or a mechanic works better than a long sentence. When a search turns up nothing useful, browse the relevant board sorted by recent activity, because the sort options on each board let you order threads by post time, bump time, creation time or title.

Forum search page with query, board selector and time filter

How to Use Path of Exile Forums for Builds and Character Advice

Anyone researching Path of Exile builds will eventually land on a forum thread, since build discussion is one of the most popular reasons to visit the Path of Exile forums, and also one of the easiest places to pick up outdated advice. Path of Exile 2 has a dedicated Path of Exile 2 Builds board, which the index describes as the place for character build discussion. For Path of Exile 1, builds are split across one board per class, so a Witch question belongs in the Witch section.

Use the builds boards on the Path of Exile forums to compare approaches rather than to find a single answer. Read the original post, then read the replies, where other players often point out weaknesses, suggest changes or report how the build performed in practice.

Before you commit to a build you found in a thread, run through a short checklist:

  • Check the date. A guide written several patches ago may reference skills, gems or passives that have changed.
  • Check the game. Confirm the post is about the game you are actually playing, since a Path of Exile 1 thread and a Path of Exile 2 thread can look similar.
  • Check the patch. Look for a version number or league name in the title or first post, then compare it with the current patch notes.
  • Read the replies. Corrections and updates often appear further down the thread.
  • Treat one post as one opinion. No forum post is a guaranteed best build.

If you want builds based on what real characters are doing right now, cross-check forum advice against ladder data. GamesPuma’s guide to PoE Ninja builds explains how to read that data, and the broader PoE 2 builds guide covers how to choose a starting point. These resources complement the Path of Exile forums rather than replace them. For a deeper look at items, gems and modifiers while you evaluate a build, the PoE 2 DB guide points to a community database.

Trading, Items and Game Economy on Path of Exile Forums

The Path of Exile forums have a large trading section, and it is worth understanding what it is and is not.

For Path of Exile 1, the index lists Standard and Hardcore trading boards for shops, selling, buying and price checks. It also lists boards for Xbox and PlayStation trading, a board for arranging trades between Standard and Hardcore (clearly labelled as unsafe), and a trading board for the current league. Path of Exile 2 has a single Early Access Trading board.

These boards are discussion and listing spaces. They are not the official trade website. The official item search lives separately at pathofexile.com/trade, and a community-maintained wiki guide explains that this site gathers its listings partly from forum trading threads and partly from stash tab data. In other words, the forum trading boards and the trade site are connected, but they are different tools.

For price checks, the Price Checks boards are where you can ask other players for an opinion on an item. Treat any figure you receive as one player’s estimate. Prices move with each league, and I have deliberately not quoted any numbers here.

The activity levels also differ. The Path of Exile 2 trading board shows far fewer threads than the Path of Exile 1 boards, which is consistent with players using the trade website for most Path of Exile 2 transactions. If you are new to the economy, these GamesPuma guides explain the mechanics: PoE 1 trade, Path of Exile 2 trade and PoE currency.

A safety note belongs here. Never share your account password or any authentication code with another player, whatever reason they give. A trade conversation does not require either.

Technical Support and Bug Reports on Path of Exile Forums

For PoE technical support, whether the game will not launch, crashes or behaves strangely, the Path of Exile forums give you two places to look: technical support and bug reports. They serve different purposes.

The index describes Technical Support (Path of Exile 1) as the place for technical support and troubleshooting. The Bug Reports boards are for reporting game problems, and the Path of Exile 1 board asks players to post one thread per issue and to check the forum for similar posts first. That is sound advice: duplicates make threads harder to follow for everyone.

Notice that the index labels Technical Support specifically for Path of Exile 1. For Path of Exile 2, the Early Access Bug Reports boards are the confirmed home for problem reports, with separate boards for Xbox and PlayStation 5. If you need help with account matters rather than gameplay, the Help and Information board and the official support page at pathofexile.com/support are the appropriate routes.

When you search for a similar issue, evaluate any suggested fix before trying it:

  • Does the thread mention your platform, such as PC, Xbox or PlayStation?
  • Is the reply recent enough to match the current version of the game?
  • Did the original poster confirm that the fix worked?
  • Does the fix ask you to download unfamiliar software or change system files? If so, be cautious and look for a staff reply first.

No fix found in a thread is guaranteed to work for your setup. Staff replies, which you can filter to see, carry more weight than anonymous suggestions, but even those are specific to the situation described.

Official Announcements and Patch Discussions on Path of Exile Forums

For news, the Path of Exile forums are as close to a primary source as it gets, because the developer posts there directly. The Announcements board covers Path of Exile 1, and Early Access Announcements covers Path of Exile 2. Patch notes have their own boards, so you do not have to dig through general news.

As an example of what appears there, the Early Access Announcements board currently lists the official thread “Path of Exile 2 Fully Releases on December 11!” and a patch notes thread for the Forbidden Rites update. Those threads are posted by GGG staff accounts, which is what makes them official.

Two features help you separate official statements from everything else:

  1. Staff post filters. Thread pages include a View Staff Posts link, which strips a long thread down to replies from staff accounts.
  2. Staff account names. Official posts come from accounts such as Community_Team or names ending in _GGG, and the Code of Conduct explicitly forbids impersonating GGG staff.

Replies from regular players underneath an announcement are reactions, not official statements. A player saying “this change means X” is interpreting the patch notes. Only the staff post, or a staff reply, tells you what the developer actually said.

If you want a plain-language walkthrough of what recent patches changed, the PoE2 patch notes guide on GamesPuma summarises the latest update, and the official patch notes boards remain the original source.

How to Create a Useful Post on Path of Exile Forums

Reading the Path of Exile forums is open, but starting a thread or replying generally means logging in with your Path of Exile account. The board pages show New Thread and Post Reply controls, and a community wiki guide to forum trading begins with logging in. I did not test posting with an account, so confirm the exact steps when you try it.

Before you post, read the Code of Conduct. It describes the forums as a place for civil, constructive discussion and lists what not to do, including hateful or needlessly negative comments, inflammatory topics such as politics or religion, personal attacks and impersonating staff. It also says posts that breach the guidelines may be edited or removed and that forum access may be restricted.

Then follow this approach to write a post people can answer:

  • Pick the right board. A post in the wrong section may be ignored.
  • Search first. Your question has probably been asked, and the existing thread may already solve it.
  • Write a specific title. “Crash on loading screen after patch, PC” beats “Help me”.
  • State the game and version. Say whether it is Path of Exile 1 or 2, your platform, and the league or patch if relevant.
  • Describe what happened. Include what you expected, what occurred, and the steps that lead to the problem.
  • Post one issue per thread. The bug boards specifically ask for this.
  • Share only safe details. Operating system, hardware and error text are fine. Never post passwords, authentication codes, email addresses or account credentials.
  • Update the thread. If you find the answer, say so, because it helps the next reader.

If you see a post that breaks the rules, the thread pages include a Report Forum Post option with categories such as hate speech, harassment, spam and against forum guidelines.

Checklist for writing a clear forum post and verifying advice

Are Path of Exile Forums Reliable?

The Path of Exile forums are reliable as a source of official announcements and as a record of what players experienced, but they are not a guarantee that any individual reply is correct.

The strengths are real. Developer posts appear directly on the boards. Threads stay available for a long time, so you can see how a problem or a mechanic was discussed over several patches. The boards are divided by topic, which keeps most conversations organised.

The limitations are just as real:

  • Age. A thread from a previous league may describe systems that have changed.
  • Opinion versus fact. Most replies are from regular players. They are user-generated opinions, not developer statements.
  • Conflicting answers. Two replies may disagree. Look for the one with a staff confirmation, a patch note reference or a clear explanation of why it works.
  • Version mix-ups. Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2 share one index, so it is possible to read advice for the wrong game.

A short habit protects you: check the date, check the game, check whether a staff account confirmed the claim, and compare against the latest official patch notes. I would also avoid describing any one set of boards as the “best” or “biggest” place for answers, since I could not verify that kind of claim and it depends on what you need.

Official Forums vs. Reddit and Other Community Resources

The Path of Exile forums are not the only place players talk, and different sources suit different needs. Here is how they compare in practice.

Official forums. Best for developer announcements, patch notes, bug reports and technical support, because staff post there. Also the place to give feedback that the studio can read.

Reddit. Subreddits exist for Path of Exile 1 builds and for Path of Exile 2, and they are community-run. They tend to be good for quick opinions and fast reactions, but they are not official, and a highly voted comment is still a player’s view. The same applies to Steam community discussions.

Community wiki. The official navigation menu links to a community-maintained wiki, but the wiki itself is run by volunteers. It is useful for mechanics and item data. GamesPuma’s PoE wiki guide explains how to use it.

Databases and ladder sites. These show game data and what other players are running, which is useful for checking a build claim you read on the forum.

A simple rule works well. Use the official boards to find out what the developer has said and to report problems, and use community sources to compare opinions. Whenever a community post and an official post disagree about a rule or a change, believe the official post and then check the date.

If you are a newer player who feels lost, the Path of Exile help guide is a gentler starting point before you browse the Path of Exile forums for detailed discussion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Path of Exile Forums

Where are the official Path of Exile forums?

The official Path of Exile forums are at https://www.pathofexile.com/forum, run by Grinding Gear Games. You can also reach them from the Forum menu on the main pathofexile.com site.

Are Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2 discussions separate on the forums?

They share one index but are separated into different sections. Path of Exile 2 boards are labelled “Early Access”, and many Path of Exile 1 boards include “(Path of Exile 1)” in the name. Some general boards are not labelled, so check the thread title and date.

Can beginners ask questions on the Path of Exile forums?

Yes, though you should search first and choose the right board. For Path of Exile 1, the gameplay help and discussion board is intended for general, non-feedback gameplay questions. The Help and Information board handles general account and game queries.

Can I find character builds on Path of Exile forums?

Yes. There is a Path of Exile 2 Builds board, and Path of Exile 1 has a board for each class. Read replies, check dates and compare against current patch notes before you commit to a build.

Where can I find official patch announcements on the Path of Exile forums?

Use the Patch Notes boards for Path of Exile 1, the Early Access Patch Notes board for Path of Exile 2, and the Announcements boards for news. Official posts come from staff accounts, and the View Staff Posts link on a thread filters to them.

Can the Path of Exile forums help with technical problems?

They can. Search the Technical Support (Path of Exile 1) board or the relevant Bug Reports board for similar issues, and post one thread per issue if you need to report something new. Treat suggested fixes with care and prefer staff replies.

Are posts on the Path of Exile forums always reliable?

No. Announcements from staff are official, but most posts are player opinions. Check the date, the game version and whether a staff member confirmed the claim.

Do I need an account to post on the Path of Exile forums?

Reading appears open without an account, but posting generally requires logging in with a Path of Exile account. I could not test posting directly, so confirm when you try it.

Conclusion

The Path of Exile forums remain the clearest place to find official developer news, patch notes and bug reports, and a useful place to learn from other players. Start at the official index, pick the section that matches your game and your question, and use the search page with the time filter to avoid stale answers. When you read advice, check the date, check the game version, and look for a staff confirmation before relying on it.

Treat the Path of Exile forums as one resource among several. Pair them with the official patch notes, a database, ladder data and a trusted guide, and you will get faster, more accurate answers than from any single source. Whenever you are unsure, go back to the official boards and the latest announcement first.

Sources and Verification Notes

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