The Affliction League in Path of Exile introduced a fresh set of challenges, including the mysterious and intense Class Gauntlet events hosted by Zizaran, a well-known figure in the PoE community. One of the most talked-about competitions from this league was the Ziz Affliction Class Gauntlet. It pushed players to their limits, both mechanically and strategically, as they competed within extreme modifiers that turned even the simplest encounters into life-threatening tests. For many players, this gauntlet was not just a race for top placement, but a test of resilience, adaptation, and mastery over their chosen class. The competition encouraged unique builds and extreme min-maxing, drawing attention from both the hardcore and casual player base alike.
Understanding the Ziz Affliction Class Gauntlet
What Is the Gauntlet?
The Gauntlet is a community-driven event hosted by Zizaran, where players enter a private league with significantly increased difficulty modifiers. For the Affliction Gauntlet, these modifiers included:
- 40% increased monster life
- 20% increased monster damage
- 40% increased monster attack, cast, and movement speed
- 30% increased monster elemental resistances
- Additional projectiles from enemies
- Reduced player resistances
These modifiers made standard gameplay far more punishing. Players not only had to level through a more dangerous world, but also engage with late-game content such as mapping, boss fights, and trials while under severe pressure. The goal was to score points based on specific achievements while staying alive in a hardcore setting. Death meant being removed from the competition, adding weight to every decision and encounter.
Class-Based Competition
Unlike typical races where overall placement dominates, the Class Gauntlet focuses on the top performers within each character class. Whether you played a Marauder, Shadow, Ranger, or any of the seven core classes, your objective was to outlast and outperform others within the same class. This opened the door for off-meta builds to shine and allowed players to choose a playstyle they were most comfortable with without needing to race the fastest class overall.
Strategy and Meta Around Class Selection
Choosing the Right Class
Class selection in the Ziz Affliction Gauntlet became a calculated decision. Players had to weigh survivability, bossing potential, leveling speed, and gear accessibility. For instance:
- Marauder (Juggernaut): Excellent defenses, ideal for enduring dangerous content.
- Witch (Necromancer): Summoner builds offered screen-wide clear while keeping the player safe.
- Ranger (Deadeye): High speed and DPS, but risky in a hardcore environment.
- Duelist (Champion): Balanced tankiness and offense, strong for boss progression.
Many players opted for classes with strong early-game survivability and easy access to defensive layers like block, regen, and permanent fortify uptime. However, some still pushed high DPS builds to climb the rankings quickly, accepting the high risk for high reward playstyle.
Popular Builds and Playstyles
Due to the punishing modifiers, meta builds in the Gauntlet leaned heavily into survivability. Players often favored builds that scaled well with limited gear and had reliable crowd control or minion support. Some of the most popular builds included:
- Righteous Fire Juggernaut
- Poisonous Concoction Pathfinder
- SRS (Summon Raging Spirits) Necromancer
- Detonate Dead Elementalist
- Boneshatter Juggernaut
Each of these builds offered a mix of durability and power scaling that suited the harsh conditions of the Affliction League modifiers. Players also had to focus on gearing efficiently, as rare items with high life and resistances were more valuable than ever before.
Point System and Leaderboard Mechanics
Scoring in the Gauntlet
The point system was designed to reward progress and risk-taking. Points were awarded for completing specific milestones, such as:
- Reaching level thresholds (e.g., level 80, 90, 95)
- Killing major bosses like Sirus, Maven, Uber Elder, and Shaper
- Defeating pinnacle bosses in their Uber versions
- Completing content such as Simulacrum or Delirium 30
This encouraged players to push as far as possible while managing risk. Some players chose to farm points steadily through mapping and low-risk bosses, while others went straight for high-point bosses early on in hopes of gaining an edge. The diverse strategies kept the competition dynamic and unpredictable.
Leaderboard Recognition
Each class had its own leaderboard, allowing players to compete against others using the same base character type. This design gave recognition to skill across all classes, not just the fastest or most broken builds. Winning within your class was just as prestigious as overall placement.
Challenges Unique to the Affliction League
The Affliction Mechanic
The Affliction League introduced Wildwood Ascendancies and unique affliction monsters, which dramatically changed how players approached the game. While these mechanics added extra rewards, they also introduced new dangers. Navigating Affliction content in the Gauntlet required caution and precise gameplay. It was not uncommon for experienced players to skip certain mechanics if the risk was too high.
Gear Scarcity and Economy
Because Gauntlet events take place in a private league, the economy is small and tight-knit. This scarcity meant that trading was limited, and many players had to rely on self-found gear or coordinated trading groups. Crafting and resource management became vital skills, and even a well-rolled rare item could make the difference between life and death.
Community and Participation
Streamers and Community Involvement
The Ziz Affliction Class Gauntlet wasn’t just about the race itself it was a community celebration. Top streamers participated and shared their progress, offering builds, tips, and live coverage of exciting boss kills. The community rallied behind underdog stories, surprising deaths, and heroic recoveries. This connection between players, viewers, and content creators made the event feel personal and energetic.
Prizes and Rewards
Prizes were offered not just to the top players but across a wide range of accomplishments. There were raffles, random draws, and bounties on specific achievements. This ensured that even casual players had something to aim for and could participate meaningfully without reaching the top of the leaderboard.
Why the Gauntlet Matters
Events like the Ziz Affliction Class Gauntlet show the depth and adaptability of Path of Exile’s endgame. By creating a highly challenging environment with class-specific rankings, Zizaran encourages creativity and mastery. The Class Gauntlet elevates less popular builds, fosters deeper engagement, and brings the community together in a celebration of skill, planning, and perseverance.
For anyone serious about pushing their limits in PoE, the Gauntlet offers an unmatched opportunity to test everything they’ve learned. It forces players to think critically, adapt to setbacks, and make difficult decisions under pressure. The legacy of the Ziz Affliction Class Gauntlet will no doubt influence future leagues, both in community events and personal challenge design.