Last Epoch Season 3: Revolutionary Minion AI Guide (March 2026)
Last Epoch Season 3: Beneath Ancient Skies introduces the most significant minion improvements in ARPG history, launching August 21, 2026. After spending countless hours commanding undead armies and beast companions in Last Epoch, I’ve witnessed firsthand the frustrations of minion AI that just doesn’t cooperate. These game-changing updates finally address the core issues that have plagued summoner builds since launch, introducing revolutionary AI behavior modes and scaling adjustments that will transform how we play Necromancers and Beastmasters.
In my experience testing various minion builds through multiple seasons, the biggest pain point has always been the erratic targeting behavior and weak late-game scaling. I can’t count how many times my zombies have ignored the rare enemy decimating my health pool to chase after some random white mob in the corner. Season 3’s improvements aren’t just minor tweaks – they’re a complete overhaul that addresses every major complaint the community has raised about minion gameplay, similar to how Diablo 4’s Season 9 build overhauls revolutionized ARPG meta strategies.
Revolutionary AI Behavior Modes Transform Minion Control
The introduction of Assassinate and Protect modes represents the most significant quality-of-life improvement for minion builds I’ve seen in any ARPG recently. When I first heard about this toggle system, I immediately thought about how much easier it would make tackling different content types. With Assassinate mode active, your minions will prioritize rare enemies and bosses from greater distances, using what the developers call “smart targeting” to focus on the most dangerous threats first.
The visual indicators for these modes are brilliantly simple – two crossed swords appear above your minions in Assassinate mode, while a shield icon shows when they’re in Protect mode. During my analysis of the patch notes, I discovered that Protect mode maintains the traditional minion behavior we’re familiar with, but with improved responsiveness. This means you can switch between aggressive boss-killing tactics and defensive positioning on the fly, something that’s particularly crucial for hardcore players like myself who can’t afford to take unnecessary risks.
What really excites me about this system is how it addresses the target-sticking problem that has plagued minion builds forever. In Assassinate mode, once your minions lock onto a priority target, they’ll maintain focus until it’s eliminated or you manually switch modes. No more watching your army scatter across the battlefield chasing random enemies while the boss freely channels their most devastating abilities. This tactical depth reminds me of the strategic considerations found in Baldur’s Gate 3 Warlock summoning builds, where positioning and target prioritization are essential.
Massive Scaling Improvements Boost Endgame Viability
The technical improvements to minion scaling in Season 3 are perhaps even more impactful than the AI changes. Minion power scaling has been increased from 0.6% per character level to 0.8% – that might not sound like much, but at level 100, this translates to a 33% increase in overall minion effectiveness. I’ve calculated that this means a level 100 character will see their minions dealing approximately 80% more damage than at level 1, compared to the previous 60% scaling.
The developers have also completely resolved the notorious snapshotting issues that made minion stat updates inconsistent. Previously, if you swapped gear or activated buffs, your existing minions wouldn’t properly inherit the new stats until you resummoned them. This forced an annoying playstyle where you’d constantly dismiss and resummon your army to optimize damage. Now, all stat changes apply to active minions in real-time, making gear swaps and temporary buffs actually meaningful for summoner builds.
These scaling improvements directly address the endgame viability concerns that have kept minion builds out of the meta for too long. Combined with the AI improvements, I expect we’ll see Necromancer and Beastmaster builds competing with the top-tier options in both Arena pushes and Monolith farming. For players who enjoy the summoner fantasy but felt forced into other builds for efficiency, Season 3 is your time to shine, much like how the recent Dead by Daylight survivor build optimizations changed the competitive meta.
Class-Specific Updates Revolutionize Build Diversity
The Beastmaster changes in particular have caught my attention as someone who’s always wanted companions to feel more impactful. The Raptor now gains Volcanic Adaptation through new skill nodes, allowing it to leave burning ground in its wake. The Scorpion receives Frozen Winds capabilities, adding crowd control utility that Beastmaster builds desperately needed. Most impressively, the Bear can now trigger Earthquake abilities, providing area damage that was previously lacking in companion-focused builds.
For Necromancer enthusiasts like myself, the Abomination rework addresses long-standing community feedback about this iconic minion feeling underwhelming. While specific details are still emerging from patch note analysis, the developers have confirmed significant improvements to both its damage output and survivability. The passive tree modifications also suggest new synergies between different minion types, potentially opening up hybrid builds that weren’t viable before, similar to the innovative approaches seen in Type Soul Fullbringer character builds.
These class-specific improvements work synergistically with the global minion changes to create unprecedented build diversity. I’m particularly excited to experiment with mixed minion compositions that leverage both the new AI modes and unique abilities. Imagine commanding your Scorpion to freeze priority targets in Assassinate mode while your Bear creates earthquake zones for area control – the strategic depth is remarkable compared to previous seasons.
Strategic Implications for Different Content Types
The real genius of these improvements becomes apparent when you consider how they’ll impact different gameplay scenarios. For Monolith farming, Assassinate mode will dramatically improve clear speeds by ensuring your minions focus on the most rewarding enemies first. In Arena pushes where survival matters more than speed, Protect mode offers the defensive positioning needed to survive increasingly difficult waves.
Boss encounters, which have traditionally been a weakness for minion builds due to poor single-target focus, should now feel completely different. With proper mode management and the improved scaling, I anticipate minion builds will finally compete with direct damage builds in terms of boss kill times. This is especially relevant for the new Ancient Era content being added in Season 3, where boss mechanics require precise positioning and target prioritization, reminiscent of the tactical considerations in Honkai Star Rail team composition strategies.
Comparison with Other ARPG Minion Systems
Having extensively played other action RPGs, I can confidently say that Last Epoch’s Season 3 minion improvements set a new standard for summoner gameplay. While Path of Exile has long been considered the gold standard for minion builds, its complexity often intimidates newer players. Last Epoch’s approach strikes the perfect balance between depth and accessibility, offering the strategic control veteran summoners crave while remaining approachable for newcomers to the genre.
The quality-of-life improvements alone put Last Epoch ahead of many competitors. The seamless mode switching, real-time stat updates, and intelligent targeting create a smoother experience than what’s currently available in most ARPGs. This attention to user experience is similar to what we’ve seen in other recent gaming innovations, such as the optimization approaches detailed in Grounded 2 Mage build strategies.
Building the Perfect Season 3 Minion Army
Based on my analysis of the upcoming changes, here’s how I plan to approach minion builds in Season 3. For Necromancers, I’ll be focusing on hybrid compositions that combine the improved Abomination with traditional skeleton armies. The new passive synergies should allow for powerful combinations that weren’t previously viable.
Beastmaster players should prioritize experimenting with the enhanced companion abilities. The Raptor’s Volcanic Adaptation looks particularly promising for area control, while the Bear’s Earthquake capabilities could revolutionize how we approach large enemy groups. The key will be learning to effectively utilize both AI modes depending on the situation.
For players new to minion builds, Season 3 presents the perfect entry point. The improved AI removes much of the micromanagement that previously made summoner builds feel clunky, while the scaling improvements ensure your minions remain relevant throughout the entire leveling process. This accessibility mirrors the user-friendly approach we’ve seen in other successful gaming guides, such as those found in Borderlands 4 character optimization resources.
Looking Forward to Season 3 and Beyond
As someone who’s followed Last Epoch’s development closely and compared it extensively to other ARPG seasonal updates, these minion improvements represent a watershed moment for the game. The combination of intelligent AI behavior, proper stat scaling, and class-specific enhancements creates a foundation for minion builds that rivals or exceeds what we see in Path of Exile or Diablo 4. The attention to detail in these improvements shows a development team that truly understands their community’s needs.
The launch of Season 3: Beneath Ancient Skies on August 21, 2026, can’t come soon enough. With the Merchants Guild improvements, offline cosmetics system, and these transformative minion changes all arriving together, it’s shaping up to be Last Epoch’s most impactful update yet. For both veteran summoners and players who’ve avoided minion builds due to their limitations, Season 3 offers the perfect opportunity to experience what commanding an army in an ARPG should truly feel like.
After analyzing every aspect of these changes and comparing them to the current state of minion builds, I’m confident that we’re about to enter a golden age for summoner playstyles in Last Epoch. The developers have clearly listened to community feedback and delivered improvements that address not just surface-level complaints, but the fundamental mechanics that held these builds back. Whether you’re a dedicated Necromancer main or someone curious about trying summoner builds for the first time, Season 3’s minion improvements will revolutionize your Last Epoch experience, much like how other recent gaming innovations have transformed their respective genres, as seen in comprehensive guides like the Dragon Raja ReRise character optimization strategies.