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Over the weekend, Path of Exile 2, which had garnered much excitement with its early access launch last December, found itself back in the spotlight with the introduction of the Dawn of the Hunt update, version 0.2.0. While this update wasn’t a traditional expansion featuring unique mechanics, it did aim to spice things up a bit. The update promised to enhance the game by revamping endgame systems, introducing new gameplay dynamics, and adding a fresh class along with several Ascendancies. However, things didn’t go as planned, leaving the game in a somewhat problematic state.
Just recently, the patch notes for Path of Exile 2’s Dawn of the Hunt revealed a slew of nerfs targeting the most dominant builds, skills, and items within the game, affecting even key functionalities. This isn’t the first time Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has taken such an approach, with many updates for Path of Exile leaning heavily on the side of nerfs. Among player grievances, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game feels slower than before—a feeling reinforced even after GGG released patch 0.2.0b.
The initial vision for Path of Exile 2’s combat centered around creating a slow and deliberate style, emphasizing strategic play over mindless aggression and power accumulation. This concept held strong throughout much of the campaign until players noticed that as enemies became tougher, they had to prioritize damage over defense, making skill combinations harder to execute. This led to builds relying heavily on just a couple of skills.
The unexpected power levels achieved through builds like Spark Archmage and various stat-stacking setups prompted significant nerfs in the Dawn of the Hunt update. GGG clamped down on these overpowered elements while leaving monsters relatively unchanged, resulting in a frustratingly sluggish gameplay experience. Players are now finding it difficult to execute combos and defensive maneuvers, especially when overwhelmed by foes. Consequently, more intricate playstyles, such as those involving spear skills, often fall short.
Many players are voicing their discontent, noting that completing the campaign now demands even more time, with certain sections feeling like tests of one’s build quality. Take, for instance, the Act 2 boss Jamanra, notorious for its fierce attacks and challenging mechanics; these challenges are heightened with players’ diminished damage and resilience. Although the endgame scenario offers a slight improvement, the overall experience remains cumbersome.
Looking ahead, it’s clear that Path of Exile 2 requires significant revisions to either player abilities or monster power. While GGG has taken measures like reducing overall monster health with patch 0.2.0b, the game demands a far more aggressive overhaul to improve its current state. Reverting some nerfs or significantly weakening enemies might strike the necessary balance. Presently, the game encourages players to adopt a slower pace while featuring monsters that remain as fast and lethal as ever. To balance this out, either monsters need to be toned down or player capabilities need to be ramped back up. Until such changes happen, players can only hope for future updates to tackle these issues.
Path of Exile 2 continues to stand out as a next-gen, free-to-play Action RPG crafted by Grinding Gear Games, inviting players into the perilous world of Wraeclast. Here, they encounter a diverse array of cultures and confront sinister forces head-on. With twelve character classes, 240 Skill Gems, a vast assortment of base equipment types, a six-act campaign, over a hundred unique boss encounters, alongside a rich endgame experience, Path of Exile 2 offers a multiplayer experience with cross-play and cross-progression, ensuring you and your friends can tackle challenges together with ease.
