Path of Exile 2 Accuracy and Its New Dynamics

As Path of Exile 2 (PoE2) gears up for its Early Access release on December 6th, players are eager to understand the core changes that this sequel brings to key game mechanics. Among the most notable adjustments is the revamped accuracy mechanic, which plays a vital role in determining an attack's success. This article breaks down the fundamentals of accuracy, how it interacts with evasion, and the new dynamic PoE2 introduces to the concept of accuracy over distance.

In Path of Exile, accuracy is crucial in determining whether an attack will hit or miss. Accuracy operates on the attacker's side of the equation, while evasion works as the defender's means of avoiding hits. In PoE1, the calculation of hit chance is determined by the accuracy of the attacker compared to the evasion rating of the defender. While this fundamental mechanic remains largely intact in PoE2, a significant new feature affects how accuracy behaves based on the distance between the attacker and the defender.

One element that remains unchanged is the cap on hit and evade chances. In PoE1, the minimum chance to hit any attack is set at 5%, meaning the evasion chance has a cap of 95%. However, the hit chance for an attacker can reach 100% if they have enough accuracy to overcome the target's evasion. PoE also includes modifiers that can entirely bypass accuracy and evasion calculations, ensuring a guaranteed hit.

Modifiers that bypass the accuracy calculation provide significant advantages for characters relying on attacks. For example, the Keystone Resolute Technique guarantees that hits will always land but come at the cost of preventing critical strikes. This trade-off suits characters who prioritize consistent damage over critical hits. PoE2 retains Resolute Technique, so characters relying on guaranteed hits still have a reliable way of bypassing accuracy calculations.

Another returning modifier in PoE1 on items like the Jade Club is “always hits.” This modifier works similarly to Resolute Technique by bypassing accuracy and evasion altogether, ensuring that any attack with this modifier will land, regardless of the character's accuracy or the enemy's evasion rating. Such modifiers can be essential for builds that want to maximize hit consistency, particularly when dealing with high-evasion enemies.

One of the biggest changes to accuracy in PoE2 is the introduction of a new mechanic that makes hit chance dependent on the distance between the attacker and the target. The further an attacker is from their target, the higher the accuracy needed to ensure a hit. This change adds a tactical layer, making accuracy an important consideration not only for ranged attacks but also for certain melee skills with extended range.

Though the specific calculation and scaling factors for this mechanic are not fully detailed, a new support gem called Far Reach provides a clue about how distance will affect accuracy. This strength-based support gem reduces the accuracy penalty when using supported melee skills at range. For example, it's expected to benefit skills with extended reach, such as slam attacks, by lowering the distance-based penalty and thereby increasing hit consistency when attacking from afar.

The term “at range” in Far Reach suggests that the penalty will apply when the attacker is a certain distance away from their target, which could impact melee skills that aren't traditionally used at close range. This distance-based scaling mechanic could mean that characters will need to adjust their strategies based on positioning, and builds that rely on ranged attacks or extended melee reach will need to balance their accuracy investment carefully.

The introduction of distance-based accuracy scaling aligns well with realistic combat principles. For example, a character wielding an axe or sword in close-quarters combat would logically have a higher hit probability than an archer firing arrows from a distance. This mechanic means that players must carefully consider positioning in fights, especially with enemies requiring high accuracy to bypass evasion.

Ranged characters, especially those using bows, will likely need to invest more heavily in accuracy to maintain a high hit chance from a distance. On the other hand, melee might benefit from proximity to their targets, reducing the need for high-accuracy stats. This adds a new layer of decision-making for players, who may now need to adapt their gear, skill tree allocations, and skill setups based on the preferred engagement distance for their builds.

Support gems like Far Reach are likely just the beginning of tools that will help players mitigate the new distance-based accuracy penalty. In PoE2, players can expect more support gems, gear modifiers, and possibly passive skills that interact with this mechanic, giving them options to enhance hit probability from afar. For example, skills that traditionally target from a distance may have dedicated support gems that boost accuracy, allowing characters to achieve high hit consistency even when attacking from a distance.

With the new distance-based scaling mechanic, Path of Exile 2 is taking accuracy beyond a simple hit-or-miss calculation. This new approach brings additional strategic depth to combat, especially for characters who rely on positioning and distance to optimize damage output. By differentiating accuracy requirements based on range, PoE2 encourages players to carefully consider both accuracy and positioning, adding a fresh layer of challenge and engagement to the gameplay experience. This change underscores the importance of accuracy for both new and veteran players and opens up exciting new possibilities for skill customization and tactical combat.

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