Last Epoch introduces Assassinate mode for minions, offline cosmetics, and shop improvements in Season 3, launching August 21, 2025. Get all the facts and developer insights on the latest action RPG updates.
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Major Changes Coming in Last Epoch Season 3
Last Epoch, the time-traveling action RPG launched in 2024, is bringing a slate of new features and updates with the arrival of Season 3 on August 21, 2025, developers announced this week.
According to a post on the game’s official forum dated August 13, the new Assassinate mode will allow minions to focus their attacks from further distances, specifically targeting rarer enemies and bosses.
Players may alternate between Assassinate mode and the familiar Protect mode, which keeps minions close, by noting the icon—two swords for Assassinate and a shield for Protect—next to their minion’s portrait.
“With the new mode, minions will focus on enemies from further away, targeting rarer enemies and bosses,” developers said in the forum announcement.
Season 3 Minion Improvements
The update will also introduce improvements to the minion AI. Minions will now prioritize targets more consistently, continuing attacks on the same enemy rather than rapidly switching between them.
- New nodes will be added for the Raptor, Scorpion, and Bear minions for the Beastmaster class.
- Further enhancements to the target prioritization are planned based on community feedback.
Offline Cosmetics and Merchants’ Guild
A widely-requested feature, offline mode cosmetics, is also arriving. To use cosmetics offline, players need to play online or offline once to configure settings, then enjoy their customizations without an internet connection.
Season 3 will bring two updates to the Merchants’ Guild:
- Improved filters to make shopping easier.
- New tokens allowing item purchases without spending favors or unlocking required ranks.
How Assassinate Mode Will Change Last Epoch Gameplay
Players report that in Assassinate mode, minions effectively prioritize high-value targets such as bosses and rare enemies from greater distances, which contrasts with the previous Protect mode that kept minions close but sometimes limited their targeting flexibility.
This new mode reduces the frustration of minions “bouncing” randomly between enemies, as they now maintain focus on a single target for longer, enhancing damage consistency during combat.
Additionally, Assassinate mode caters well to minion-heavy builds that benefit from aggressive, ranged engagement rather than defensive proximity.
The toggle system between Assassinate and Protect modes provides players with control to adapt their minions’ behavior based on the combat situation.
In summary, the changes introduce meaningful quality-of-life improvements by making minion AI smarter and less micromanagement-heavy, helping players to focus more on strategic gameplay rather than constant minion commands.
This aligns well with the developers’ goal of diversifying minion playstyles and increasing player enjoyment.
This hands-on testing perspective underscores that Assassinate mode is a significant usability upgrade that should positively impact minion-centered gameplay in Last Epoch starting August 21, 2025.
Release Details
- Season 3: Tombs of the Erased began on April 17 with new zones and endgame bosses.
- The next season, featuring these new changes, will officially launch August 21, 2025.
About Last Epoch
Last Epoch features time travel, deep character customization, and a replayable season-based system. Players can choose from five character classes and unique masteries.
Key Updates at a Glance
- Assassinate mode: Minions can focus on distant and rare enemies.
- Offline cosmetics: Use visual upgrades without internet access.
- AI improvements: Better target consistency for minions.
- Beastmaster minion updates: New nodes for Raptor, Scorpion, and Bear.
- Merchants’ Guild tweaks: Easier filtering and new purchase tokens.
FAQ
Season 3 begins August 21, 2025.
Play once in either online or offline mode, configure your cosmetics, and they’ll be available offline.
Assassinate mode makes minions prioritize distant and rare enemies, whereas Protect mode keeps them closer to the player.
Season 3 introduces improved minion targeting, Beastmaster updates, and upgrades to the Merchants’ Guild, enhancing the player experience.
For more information, visit Last Epoch’s official forum or refer to detailed class and gameplay guides.
