The Dawn of the Hunt patch notes for Path of Exile 2 (Patch 0.2.0) are live, and with the update dropping tomorrow, 4 April 2025, Ascendancy fans have a lot to chew on. After endless speculation and hype, Grinding Gear Games is delivering a massive overhaul to these class-defining trees - including buffs, nerfs, redesigns and shiny new toys. Whether you're smashing Titans or weaving storms, here's what's changing across the board. Don't forget to bookmark us and check out our PoE2 store—whatever you can dream up, we've got you covered!
Small boosts, big impact - Titans remain the kings of raw, earth-shattering power.
Encase in Jade reworks Jade stacks into a Guard buff based on max life per stack consumed—stack 'em high, soak the hits.
Paua Shell Aura boosts allies with 80% increased Defence (up from 50%) and 40% increased Block chance (up from 25%).
This is a Warbringer that leans heavily on Warcry synergy and Minion Mayhem - the ghosts hit harder and you're harder to crack.
Gemling Legionnaire: Socket Savvy
Gemling's swapping efficiency for flexibility:
Enhanced Efficiency now has 20% less Attributes - a trade-off for its buffs.
Integrated Efficiency swaps spots with Gem-Studded, drops +3 Skill Slots, and now gives 20% more damage per red Support Gem, 6% more Skill Speed per green, and 20% more Crit Chance per blue. Socket colours are more important than ever.
Implanted Gems give +1 to all Skills for a choice: +2 to Strength, Dexterity or Intelligence skills. Pick your poison.
It's a pivot that rewards gem synergy over raw slot spam - crafty Legionnaires rejoice.
Witchhunter: Precision Punishment
Witchhunter's sharpening its edge:
No Mercy increases damage by 40% (from 30%) based on enemies' lack of concentration - low-focus foes beware.
Obsessive Rituals reduces its downside to 35% less armour and evasion (from 50%), and Sorcery Ward's recharge delay is reduced by 2 seconds across all gem levels.
Less penalty, more uptime - Witchhunters can keep the pressure on without breaking.
Deadeye: Frenzy Fiesta
Deadeye's lone change is a thrill:
Thrilling Chase now doubles Frenzy Charge consumption effects ("count as twice as many"), up from a 50% chance. It's cleaner, meaner, and all about the speed rush.
Short but sweet—Deadeye's staying nimble and deadly.
Pathfinder: Mobility and Remedies
Pathfinder's mixing it up:
Running Assault reduces skill movement speed penalties to 50% less (from 30%) and swaps places with Relentless Pursuit. Run-and-gun, redefined.
Connected Chemistry is axed—Enduring Elixirs stands alone.
New Practical Remedies offer a choice: Grounding Stick (Shock immunity), Dousing Vial (Ignite immunity), or Thawing Campfire (Freeze immunity). Choose your cure.
New Sustainable Practices (requires Practical Remedies) converts 30% of your evasion into elemental damage reduction. Tanky and green.
Pathfinder doubles down on adaptability - move fast, shrug off ailments and endure.
Acolyte of Chayula: Dark Depths
Acolyte embraces the void:
Embrace the Darkness increases Max Darkness to +8 per level (from +5) - dive deeper into the abyss.
Ravenous Doubts swaps instant Mana Leech for Mana Leech from all damage types, not just Physical.
Honour loss in the Trial of the Sekhemas now hits before Darkness—timing matters.
Small changes, big flavour - Acolyte's darkness is becoming more alluring.
Invoker: Spirit and Elements
Invoker's tweaking its balance:
…and Protect me from Harm nerfs to 50% less Evasion (from 40%).
Lead me through Grace... adjusted to 1 Spirit per 8 Energy Shield (from 6) and 1 Spirit per 20 Evasion (from 15) on armour.
Elemental Expression (from ...and Scatter Them) deals 40% more damage at all gem levels.
Invoker trades some dodge for more powerful Spirits and Elemental Strike Grace under pressure.
Blood Mage: Bleed and Crits
Blood Mage's getting surgical:
Blood Barbs drops 10% extra Physical Damage for Aggravated Bleeding on Cursed targets. Bleed 'em dry.
New Between the Cracks (requires Sanguimancy) lets critical hits ignore monster armour. Pierce and Punish.
A lean, mean bleeding machine with crits that cut deep.
Infernalist: Fiery Overhaul
Infernalist's burning brighter:
Demon Form (from Demonic Possession) reduces cooldown to 15 seconds (from 20), caps Demon Flame at 10 (was uncapped), changes health loss to a flat rate per Demon Flame, and reduces dodge roll distance. Blink animation also fixed.
Seething Body increases ally Fire damage gain from High Infernal Flame to 50% (from 20%).
Grinning Sacrifice increases critical damage bonus to 50% (up from 30%).
Pyromantic Pact increases Infernal Flame loss to 50% per second (from 10%) if none is gained in 2 seconds, ensures 1 max Infernal Flame even with 100% reduced mana.
Bringer of Flame always makes all damage contribute to Ignite Chance and Magnitude - no Low Flame req, no Pyromantic Pact needed.
Loyal Hellhound adds 20% damage redirection to its health.
Mastered Darkness unlocks Demonflame again - go wild.
Small Mana passives will drop to 3% increased max mana (from 4%).
Infernalist is a fiery rollercoaster - more control, more chaos, all flame.
Chronomancer: Time Tinkering
Chronomancer's speeding up:
Circular Heartbeat is gone - Rapid River is free.
Quicksand Hourglass tweaked to 50% more casting speed for 5 seconds every 10 seconds (up from 4 seconds every 12 seconds).
New Flood of Echoes adds Unleash ability. Cast, repeat, win.
Time is on your side with faster casts and unleashed potential.
Stormweaver: Mana and Shock
Stormweaver's fine-tuning:
Willpower increases the effect of Arcane Surge by 1% per 25 Max Mana (up from 15).
Scouring Winds nerfs Exposure resistance reduction to 12% (from 20%).
Strike Twice swaps 50% reduced shock duration for 25% reduced shock amount.
Small Mana passives changed to 12% increased mana regeneration (from 4% max mana).
Stormweaver leans into mana flow and controlled shocks - subtle but sharp.
Why It's Worth the Hype
This Ascendancy overhaul is a buffet of build-defining tweaks. Titans smash harder, Warbringers rally stronger, Infernalists burn brighter - every class gets something to chew on. New skills like Unleash and Between the Cracks invite experimentation, while tweaked passives keep veterans on their toes. Tomorrow's drop can't come soon enough—time to plot your next exile.
Thanks for Reading
Patch 0.2.0's Ascendancy changes are a goldmine for theorycrafters. Get ready for the 4th of April and stay tuned to MMOJUGG as Dawn of the Hunt ignites!
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