Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has added a new Renown system to the Mercenaries of Trarthus league in Path of Exile, enhancing the endgame experience and adding strategic depth to mercenary encounters PoE 1 Currency.

How the Renown System Works
The Renown system tracks your reputation among the Trarthan mercenaries you face in Wraeclast. Each time you defeat a Mercenary, your Renown rank increases by one, up to a maximum of three. Conversely, if you lose a fight or back out—which means inspecting a Mercenary’s gear and skills but then leaving without engaging—the Renown rank decreases by one.Backing out without returning to fight the Mercenary causes your Renown to drop because the mercenaries spread rumors of your cowardice. However, if you return later to fight the same Mercenary, you can do so without penalty.

Impact of Renown on Gameplay
Your Renown rank directly influences the difficulty and quality of Mercenaries you encounter. Higher Renown increases the chance of facing Infamous Mercenaries, elite foes who come from distant lands to challenge you. These Infamous Mercenaries are tougher, equipped with better rare items, always carry at least one unique item, and are the only source of Infamous modifier items—a new type of powerful affix introduced in this league.Additionally, Infamous Mercenaries appear more frequently in maps with a higher number of modifiers, rewarding players who take on more challenging content.

Community Reception and Strategic Implications
The Renown system encourages players to consistently engage with Mercenary fights rather than farming or avoiding them. Some community members note that with only three ranks, the system might be shallow, as players can quickly reach maximum Renown. However, it effectively discourages loot fishing where players inspect Mercenaries’ gear without fighting.By tying better loot and tougher enemies to Renown, GGG adds a risk-reward element that makes Mercenary encounters more meaningful and dynamic.

Visual Indicators
Infamous Mercenaries are visually distinct, featuring a golden border around their portrait and the Infamous prefix before their archetype name, making it easy for players to identify these elite foes at a glance PoE Currency buy.

Conclusion
The introduction of the Renown system in the Mercenaries of Trarthus league adds a fresh layer of engagement and challenge to Path of Exile’s endgame. By rewarding players who consistently defeat Mercenaries and penalizing those who avoid combat, GGG ensures that Mercenary encounters remain a compelling and rewarding aspect of the Secrets of the Atlas expansion. This system enriches the league’s gameplay loop and offers new incentives for players to test their mettle against increasingly formidable foes.