Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.3.0: The Third Edict Review

Path of Exile 2's Patch 0.3.0, dubbed The Third Edict, has landed, bringing the Abyss League, revamped crafting, a new act, and more. After diving deep into the game, here's a breakdown of what shines, what stumbles, and what it all means for players.

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Abyss League: A Mob-Filled Frenzy with Rewards

The Abyss League is the heart of Patch 0.3.0, delivering a chaotic yet rewarding mechanic. Rifts spawn hordes of enemies, culminating in a rewarding circle-closing finale that drops crafting materials like preserved jawbones and new abyss essences. These essences act like controlled chaos orbs, letting you remove and augment specific modifiers for more deterministic crafting. Occasionally, rifts open into Abyssal Depths, offering extra loot or a shot at a boss fight that can lead to the new pinnacle boss, Kulamax.

Kulamax's domain is a standout. This boss fight isn't just a slugfest; it integrates a crafting mechanic where you build a ring by choosing affixes during the fight. Each choice makes Kulamax tougher, but the reward—a custom-crafted item—is worth it. There's even a hidden Easter egg: players can transform into an Abyssal Lich, a pseudo-ascendancy that adds a fresh twist to builds. However, the league isn't flawless. Performance issues, like lag spikes, plague high-density encounters, even on top-tier PCs. Annoying modifiers, like soul siphoners and recycled PoE 1 tier 17 map mods, can also frustrate, especially early on when builds are weaker.

Crafting: A Game-Changer for Gear

Crafting in PoE 2 has taken a massive leap forward. New abyss essences and unveiled modifiers allow for targeted gear upgrades, moving away from the old recombinator-heavy system. For example, you can use essences to swap a flat physical mod for a percentage-based mana increase, perfect for mana-stacking builds. Higher-tier essences can remove unwanted modifiers and guarantee specific slams, while the Well of Souls unveils powerful new mods, like extra lightning damage. Fracturing and higher-tier exalts add even more control, letting players craft near-perfect gear with enough effort.

This system feels rewarding and accessible, with materials dropping consistently from Abyss League encounters and maps. It's a stark contrast to the “identify with extra steps" of earlier patches, making crafting a highlight for both casual and hardcore players.

Act 4 and Interludes: A Fresh Campaign Experience

Patch 0.3.0 introduces Act 4 and new interludes, replacing the repetitive Cruel difficulty. Act 4 is lengthy but packed with unique boss fights and stunning visuals. Boss mechanics, like one where you bait a rock-throwing enemy to hit his allies, add depth and challenge. The final Act 4 boss is a spectacle, rewarding players who engage with its mechanics rather than steamrolling it with overpowered builds. Interludes, while temporary, feel substantial, though some mechanics (like maze-like walls) lack visual clarity.

For players who dislike long campaigns, Act 4 might feel like a slog, especially on league start with basic gear. Still, the new content is a refreshing change, offering rewards like weapon set passive points that make exploration worthwhile.

Endgame and Atlas: Towers and Trade-offs

The endgame Atlas remains an infinite exploration of towers and maps, but it's a mixed bag. Unique maps, like Moments of Zen, drop more frequently, and deadly map boss mechanics add variety with new lineage support gems as rewards. However, the tower system feels clunky. Overlapping towers are almost mandatory for efficient farming, which limits player choice and makes non-overlapping maps feel like a waste. The Atlas tree, meant to enhance progression, lacks impact. Points spent on rarity or mechanics like strongboxes barely register, making it the patch's weakest link. Developers have hinted at a tower system rework in the next league, which could address these issues.

On the bright side, the trade system is a triumph. In-game searching is intuitive, letting you filter items by stats without relying on third-party sites. A suggested improvement? A control-click feature to auto-import an item's stats for quick price checks. The system's efficiency and lack of bugs make trading a breeze, though limited stash space and gold costs for purchases can be minor annoyances.

Sprint and Support Gems: Mixed Blessings

Sprint, a new movement mechanic, speeds up map traversal but has quirks. Holding the sprint button too long after a dodge roll can trigger an unwanted sprint, leaving you vulnerable to a three-second stun if hit. This feels punishing, especially when dodging telegraphed attacks. A toggle to disable Sprint or separate keybinds could fix this. Still, Sprint's speed is a net positive, making maps feel less sluggish.

Lineage support gems, meant to be build-defining, often disappoint. While some, like Rodika's Flow, enable creative builds (e.g., inverting resistances for massive damage boosts), many feel niche or bugged, with limited skill compatibility or no trade value. The ability to slot multiple support gems of different tiers (e.g., Clarity 1 and 2) adds flexibility, but the gems themselves need more impactful designs to live up to their potential.

Passive Tree: Incremental Improvements

The Passive Tree sees new nodes and jewels, like the Black Flame Covenant, which are fun and meta-relevant. Time-lost and Conquering Jewels add variance, preventing builds from feeling too cookie-cutter. However, the changes are evolutionary, not revolutionary. Most players will stick to familiar nodes with minor tweaks, and while the density and new options are welcome, the tree still needs work to feel transformative.

Balance and Loot: A Work in Progress

Balance remains a sore spot. The gap between top-tier builds (like Lightning Arrow Deadeye) and weaker ones (like Unarmed Chalupa) is stark, with some skills feeling underpowered early on. This isn't new for ARPGs, but the disparity can frustrate players experimenting with off-meta builds.

Loot drops, however, are a win. The Abyss League's generosity, combined with increased currency drops (like Regals and Exalts), makes gearing up easier, especially in the campaign.

FAQs About Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.3.0

What's the best way to farm Abyss League rewards?

Run tier 15 maps to maximize rift spawns and material drops. Focus on closing circles for jawbones and essences, and explore Abyssal Depths for bonus loot.

How does the new crafting system work?

Use abyss essences to remove and augment modifiers, unveiled mods for powerful affixes, and higher-tier exalts or fractures for precise control over gear stats.

Is Act 4 worth playing for casual players?

Yes, Act 4's unique bosses and rewards like passive points make it engaging, but its length may feel daunting without strong gear.

Why does the Atlas tree feel underwhelming?

Points spent on the Atlas tree often lack noticeable impact, with bonuses like rarity or strongboxes feeling negligible compared to map mods.

Are lineage support gems worth chasing?

Some, like Rodika's Flow, are build-defining, but many are niche or bugged, making them less exciting or valuable for trading.

Thanks for Reading

Patch 0.3.0 is a step forward for Path of Exile 2, with stellar crafting, a solid Abyss League, and a refreshed campaign. While balance issues, a lackluster Atlas tree, and performance hiccups hold it back, the foundation is strong. Stay tuned to MMOJUGG for more guides, tips, and gear to conquer Wraeclast!