Hello, Path of Exile enthusiasts and fellow traders. I’m Somaliasky, the founder of mmogold4usa, and today I want to delve deep into a topic that’s often misunderstood but critically important—account statuses in Path of Exile. If you’re a seasoned player or a trader in the virtual items market, you’ve likely heard the terms “banned” and “locked.” While these terms may seem straightforward, there’s a lot more complexity to them than you might think.
Path of Exile Account Banned:
- Severity: A ban is the endgame for your account. It’s irreversible and permanent, making it the most severe form of account restriction.
- Reason: Bans are usually the result of severe violations of GGG’s terms of service. This could range from using third-party software to cheat, exploiting game mechanics, or engaging in harassment.
- Access: Once banned, you lose access to everything—your characters, your hard-earned items, and even any microtransactions you’ve purchased. It’s a total wipeout.
- Appeal: While the appeal process exists, it’s a long shot. The process is cumbersome, and the chances of success are slim to none.
Path of Exile Account Locked (Standard):
- Severity: A standard lock is less severe than a ban but can be incredibly frustrating.
- Duration: This is usually a temporary measure, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to several days, depending on the reason for the lock.
- Reason: These locks often occur due to suspicious activity, like multiple failed login attempts or irregular in-game behavior that could indicate account compromise.
- Access: While locked, you can’t play, but your items, characters, and progress are safe and sound.
- Appeal: Unlocking a standard locked account is usually straightforward. You’ll often need to verify your identity or reset your password to regain access.
POE Account Locked (De Facto Ban):
- Severity: This is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It appears as a lock but acts as a ban.
- Reason: If Grinding Gear Games suspects you of being a bot, a mule account, or involved in real-money trading, you could find yourself in this unfortunate state.
- Access: You lose access to everything, just like a ban. I’ve personally had accounts where I’ve spent thousands on microtransactions end up in this eternal lock state.
- Appeal: Your chances of successfully appealing this type of lock are almost zero. GGG takes these suspicions very seriously, and once they’ve made a decision, it’s usually final.
- Duration: This is an indefinite lock, meaning you should not expect to reclaim your account, ever.
Final Thoughts:
Navigating the world of Path of Exile’s account statuses can be a minefield, especially if you’re involved in any form of trading or have multiple accounts. The key takeaway here is to always be cautious and aware of the activities you’re engaging in. Violating GGG’s terms of service, even unknowingly, can result in severe consequences that could cost you not just your time and effort but also real money invested in the game.
As a seasoned trader in virtual items, I can’t stress enough the importance of understanding these account states. Always read GGG’s terms of service carefully, and if you’re involved in trading, be extra cautious to avoid finding yourself locked out—or worse, banned.
Stay safe, trade wisely, and may RNG be ever in your favor.