Garena’s Path of Exile Forsaken Masters update hits August 22, brings with it server-exclusive pet

Excited for the newly-announced Forsaken Masters patch for Path of Exile? All players know by now that the content update will hit the international server on August 21, but that’s not what you’re here for, right?

Garena has shared that its servers will receive the Forsaken Masters content update for ARPG Path of Exile on August 22, 2014, at 7:00 A.M. (GMT +8). The Taiwan server, which hosts the Chinese edition of the game, will receive the update at the same time.

The Forsaken Masters patch for Path of Exile is centred around seven masters who were banished to Wraeclast. But unlike the many who washed up on its gritty shores, they managed to not just survive, but to thrive. Completing an initial questline unlocks master levels, which awards players with special abilities.

For instance, you can customize your own town, which will host masters who will provide you with daily quests and advanced crafting options. Each master has a different speciality, with one even able to make your end-game content more difficult. Masters also act as shops, and sell unique items.

While only four masters will be unlocked in the initial patch, the other three will follow suit soon enough, on August 12, August 15, and August 19 respectively.

Along with the seven masters and the new levels of mastery they bring to the game, the Garena server will also have an exclusive pet: the Formosan Bear Cub.

[fve]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgAHPStmBww[/fve]

It’s a nice little accessory more in line with Path of Exile’s look and feel than the Garemon pet that was offered to players during the closed beta test. Back then, the red little humanoid’s cartoon visage was too incongruent with dark and stormy Wraeclast, and elicited complaints from Asian gamers who had already been playing on the international Grinding Gear Games servers. It’s great to see Garena trying to preserve the game’s atmospheric integrity instead of trying to manhandle its branding in.

More ARPG goodness?