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About Path of Exile 2
Path of Exile 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the popular action RPG Path of Exile, developed by Grinding Gear Games. First announced in 2019, PoE 2 aims to build on the core mechanics of the original game, introducing new features, improved graphics, and an entirely new campaign. Initially, it was planned as a major expansion of the first game, but in 2023, the developers announced that it would be released as a separate title. While the exact release date is still unknown, early access is set to begin on November 15, 2024. Some gameplay changes will also affect the PoE 2 currency system. Below, we'll explore all the changes known so far.
New Gameplay Mechanics
Dodge Roll
Dodge roll is a new skill designed to help players more easily navigate challenging content. During the roll animation, the character becomes invulnerable to all attacks and projectiles. It can also be used to cancel most other animations. The speed of the roll is determined by the character’s movement speed.
Spirit
Path of Exile 2 introduces a new resource called "Spirit." This resource will play a key role in spell and skill mechanics. Spirit is used to activate permanent skills like auras, buffs, and the summoning of persistent minions. Players can increase their spirit capacity by investing in passive skills and equipping gear with spirit-enhancing properties.
Gameplay Mechanics Changes
Crowd Control
Crowd control effects like freezing and stunning can now stack, even if they don't immediately take effect. This means that with enough buildup, these effects can influence bosses, once a certain threshold is reached. After the effect wears off, bosses gain temporary resistance to further crowd control, preventing constant immobilization.
Campaign
Several mechanics in the campaign have also been changed. Now, when players die during the campaign, they will no longer lose experience. However, boss fights will become more challenging since boss health will regenerate after your death, and you’ll be sent back to the nearest checkpoint. Additionally, monsters will respawn upon your death, and you will be teleported back to the start of the map. The campaign consists of six acts, and players will have to face over 100 bosses. For new characters, skipping the campaign won’t be possible, though this might change in the future.
Skills
In Path of Exile 2, most offensive skills are now tied to weapon types, with distinct variations for one-handed, two-handed weapons, and dual-wielding. Notably, dual-wielding is now restricted to using the same weapon type. Skills can be assigned to specific weapon sets, and switching between weapons comes with a slight delay, depending on the weapon's size.
The new "Bind Spectre" spell (formerly "Raise Spectre") allows players to store monsters within the skill, eliminating the need for "spectre-banking." Some minions can now be mounted for faster movement and attacks, though taking damage while mounted will stun the player.
Bow skills can now be used while moving, and wand skills have a built-in barrage for additional projectiles. Transfigured skill gems will return in PoE 2, and Vaal skill gems are planned to only provide the Vaal version of the skill, making them more focused and specialized.
Gems and Sockets
Path of Exile 2 introduces major changes to the socketing system. In the first game, items had a set number of sockets, socket colors, and links, but this has been removed in PoE 2. Instead, players will now have access to a gem menu with 9 slots for skill gems or meta gems, each of which can hold between 2 to 5 sockets. The number of sockets in each slot can be increased by using three tiers of Jeweller's Orbs.
All sockets will have the same color and come with pre-configured links, making currency items like Chromatic Orbs and Orbs of Fusing obsolete, so they’ve been removed from the game.
Item and Currency Changes
Gold
A new currency, Gold, has been added to the game. However, it won’t have a significant impact on the in-game economy, as its primary use is for purchasing gear during the campaign. Gold drops consistently from various mobs and bosses, ensuring players always have enough of it. Due to its abundance, using gold for player-to-player trading is not advantageous.
Gold will also replace the popular Orbs of Regret. Players will be able to respec passive skill points at any time without relying on the luck of finding these orbs, making it easier and more convenient to adjust skill builds.
Items and Gear
Finding good start gear will become easier for players in Path of Exile 2, as vendors will sell a larger selection of magic and rare items, providing a quick power boost. However, the drop rate of items from mobs will be reduced, increasing their value. With the removal of Orb of Alteration and Orb of Scouring, players will need to pay more attention to normal rarity items and carefully examine the modifiers on magic and rare gear.
The rarity of items will also affect the chance of obtaining rare currencies, although the quantity of these drops will remain unchanged.
Modified Currency
Some of Path of Exile 2 currency has been removed, while others have undergone significant changes, particularly affecting the crafting system, which may also impact the game's economy. Here are the key currency changes:
- Chaos Orbs: Previously one of the most important currencies, alongside Divine Orbs, often used for trading. In PoE 1, it was used to reroll the modifiers on rare items. In PoE 2, its functionality has changed: now, Chaos Orbs allows players to change only one modifier while randomly removing another. It remains unclear how this will affect its rarity or market value, but players can still buy Path of Exile 2 currency through marketplaces.
- Orb of Alchemy: This currency still transforms normal items into rare items by adding a set of modifiers. In PoE 1, it gave a random number of modifiers ranging from 3 to 6. In PoE 2, this orb will always apply exactly 4 modifiers, making the crafting process more predictable.
- Orb of Transmutation: This orb still turns a normal item into a magic item with modifiers. Unlike its older version, which applied multiple modifiers, the new version will now grant only 1 modifier, either a prefix or a suffix.
Other Minor Mechanics
Alongside the major changes, Path of Exile 2 has made numerous smaller adjustments. These changes can be categorized into three main areas: Combat changes, Stats changes, and League mechanics. The full list of these updates is extensive, and you can explore them further on this PoE wiki site.
Final Word
Path of Exile 2 promises to be a significant evolution for the franchise, introducing deep changes to the core mechanics and economy, which aim to make the gameplay more engaging and rewarding. Despite the removal or alteration of some familiar systems, PoE 2 retains the depth and flexibility of the original game, offering players plenty of opportunities for exploration and strategy. We eagerly await the early access release to experience these innovations and dive into the new world.
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