Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0: Return of the Ancients is coming soon, on the 29th of next month. Are you looking forward to this league?
Perhaps you're as excited as I am. However, we don't yet know exactly what new content patch 0.5.0 will include. Perhaps the livestream on May 7th will reveal more.
As a long - time fan of PoE series, I sincerely hope this game continues to improve, rather than simply mechanically porting PoE 1 gameplay to PoE 2, or using PoE 2 as an experiment for new gameplay.
Out of anticipation for the game, I'd like to share from a fan's and player's perspective what improvements or new features I'd like to see.
Enhancing Ascendancy Classes
I don't like to say it, but it's true: Ascendancy Classes in Path of Exile 2 are inferior to those in PoE 1 in terms of both playability and balance. Currently, a significant portion of Ascendancy Classes in PoE 2 are being abandoned by players due to poor numerical balance.
Specifically, classes like Chronomancer, Acolyte of Chayula, and Gemling Legionnaire, while boasting impressive backstories and mechanics, need improvement in terms of stats and gameplay.
For example, Chronomancer, despite its effect of "slowing the movement speed of surrounding enemies by 20%," is practically meaningless in actual combat; this isn't a turn - based game. The change to "life compensation effects occurring over 4 seconds" is also largely ineffective.
After players painstakingly complete Trial of the Sekhemas, choose Chronomancer class because of its cool mechanics, and diligently accumulate Path of Exile 2 Currency to build a specific build, do they really want to receive such useless effects?
As mentioned earlier, I don't want PoE 2 to be exactly the same as PoE 1, but I can't help but make a comparison. Due to an imbalance in the numerical design of Ascendancy Classes, Gemling Legionnaire has a player usage rate of only 0.3%, Chronomancer only 0.7%, and Acolyte of Chayula only 0.8%. In PoE 1, no class's usage rate fell below 1%.
Ascendancy Classes should possess significant power, not only because of the game's design, but also because players must undergo rigorous trials to obtain them. If the classes are too weak, the trials are meaningless. I hope patch 0.5.0 will strengthen these classes.
Reshaping Atlas Passive Tree
It's been clearly indicated that Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.0 will involve major changes centered around endgame content. While the specific changes are still unknown, I hope Atlas Passive Tree will be included.
We all agree that the key to retaining players in games like Path of Exile 2 lies in the engaging and entertaining endgame.
The framework of PoE 2's endgames are Atlas Passive Tree, so the quality of endgames largely depends on the design of Atlas Passive Tree mechanics.
However, the current Atlas Passive Tree structure is very loose, breaking down different League Mechanics into unconnected small sections, each separate from the main storyline.
This significantly raises the barrier to entry for new players and can also cause discomfort during gameplay for experienced players.
Again, I'm not advocating a direct copy of PoE 1. However, in this regard, GGG believes they should consider adopting the PoE 1 approach - a system where players earn passive skill points by progressing through the endgame, and then invest those points in tree to freely modify the overall map mechanics.
This would not only establish connections between League Mechanics but also provide players with a continuous and tangible sense of growth as they complete Infinite Atlases.
Most importantly, players can now freely block unwanted over - generation of Biomes, or block map layouts they are not comfortable with, just like in PoE 1, thus gaining control of the game.
Define the direction of combat rhythm
After all, Path of Exile 2 is not a game with strong real - time feedback. Many players crave a slower, more strategic combat pace.
GGG clearly aimed to create a more strategic approach to class skill combinations, hoping to slow down the game's pace and encourage more strategic combat.
But what did they do? They continuously ported gameplay elements from PoE 1, such as Breach, Abyss, and Ritual, which involve overwhelming players with hordes of monsters instantly, while the skills players received were geared towards slower - paced combat.
At this point, players are forced to find ways to accumulate Path of Exile 2 Currency to create burst or fast - paced builds. After all, if your playstyle can't instantly blow up the whole screen, you're just waiting to be crushed by hordes of monsters, or you might as well give up on these rewarding gameplay options altogether.
GGG recognized this issue in the last league and made some adjustments, but judging from the results, it didn't solve the problem well.
In my opinion, they either need to significantly reduce the size of the monster hordes or simply modify the combos. In short, they can't continue trying to create a combo - heavy gameplay experience while constantly cramming in these massive monster hordes.
That's what I wanted to share. Currently, GGG has revealed some content for Patch 0.5.0, including a complete overhaul of Atlas Passive Tree, which I hope they'll make even better.
In short, I will continue to monitor related information and share it as soon as possible.