PoE2 Every Confirmed Feature and Changes
Time: 2024-10-25 by mmojugg Game: Path of Exile 2 Guide Tags: poe2 preview
Path of Exile 2 is one of the most anticipated ARPGs, promising many changes that will significantly reshape gameplay for new and experienced players. Since its announcement, Grinding Gear Games has gradually revealed extensive information about PoE 2, from new classes and combat mechanics to overhauled systems for skills, gems, and items. This article will dive deep into these features and provide a comprehensive overview of what players can expect when PoE 2 launches in 2024.
1. Comprehensive Skill System Overhaul
The skill system in Path of Exile 2 represents one of the most significant changes from the original game. Everything from socketing to linking and gem leveling has been rethought to simplify customization and maximize build flexibility.
Universal 5-Links for All Skills:
Every skill in PoE 2 can now be linked with up to 5 support gems, allowing players to access full-power builds without needing to hunt for perfectly linked 5-socket gear. This change streamlines gameplay and ensures that players can focus on skill choices rather than socket RNG.
No More Sockets on Gear:
The need to socket skills into weapons and armor is gone. Instead, skills and their linked support gems are now managed in a dedicated skill menu, freeing up item slots to focus purely on stats and unique item bonuses.
Socket Colors and Management Simplified:
Colors are no longer a part of the socketing system, eliminating the need to match socket colors to specific gem requirements. This simplification gives players more freedom when choosing gear.
Uncut Gems and Skill Upgrades:
PoE 2 introduces “uncut gems,” items that can either level up a skill you already have or grant you a new one. This creates an ongoing choice in the player's journey, as each gem level-up brings unique modifiers that allow players to shape the skill's power, range, or effect.
Single Use of Each Support Gem:
Each support gem is unique to a skill, meaning you can't duplicate it across multiple skills. This design choice encourages players to allocate support gems thoughtfully and diversifies skill setups.
Diablo II-Inspired Skill Tree Layout:
The gem upgrade menu in PoE 2 has a clear and visually organized layout reminiscent of Diablo II's classic skill tree. Each gem level-up screen provides players with clear choices and paths for skill upgrades, making planning a build with full visibility easier.
2. Movement and Combat Innovations: Dodge Rolls, WASD, and More
Path of Exile 2 introduces a complete overhaul of movement and combat mechanics, designed to make combat more fluid, responsive, and strategic.
WASD Movement Option:
For the first time in Path of Exile, players can move using WASD controls, providing an alternative to traditional mouse-based movement. This addition is intended to enhance movement control, particularly for those who prefer the precision of keyboard movement in combat.
Dark Souls-Like Dodge Roll:
A dodge roll mechanic, reminiscent of Dark Souls, grants players a crucial new way to evade enemy attacks. This roll provides 100% evasion during its animation, though it comes with strategic considerations:
Directional Evasion Only:
Dodge rolls offer evasion only against attacks coming from the side or front and are ineffective against AoE attacks from above or below.
Limited Collision and Optional Phasing:
Dodge rolls have a smaller collision area, allowing players to navigate through tight spaces. Phasing can be unlocked with certain unique items or special abilities, giving players the option to phase through enemies during a dodge.
Movement Speed Scaling and Animation Timing:
Dodge rolls are influenced by the player's movement speed stat. They have a quick start but a slower end animation, making timing crucial to avoid vulnerability at the roll's end.
Active Block Abilities with Shields:
Shields now come with active blocking abilities, adding another layer to defensive play. This feature encourages players to time their blocks and dodge rolls effectively to handle high-stakes fights with greater precision.
3. New Classes and Ascendancy Options
With six new base classes, PoE 2 expands on the original class roster, adding even more playstyle and specialization options.
New Classes: The new base classes – Monk, Druid, Sorceress, Mercenary, Warrior, and Huntress – each bring a unique set of skills and Ascendancy options. This new class lineup introduces diverse combat roles, from magic-focused Sorceresses to versatile Monks.
Redesigned Ascendancies: All classes will retain access to Ascendancy options, which provide powerful abilities and perks tailored to various playstyles. The Ascendancy revamp offers fresh choices for players specializing in their chosen class.
4. Expanding the Arsenal: New Weapons and Auto-Weapon Switching
PoE 2 offers new weapon types that introduce unique skills and attack styles alongside a system for auto-weapon switching.
New Weapon Types: Spear, Crossbow, Flail, and Mine weapons add new dimensions to combat. Each weapon type comes with specialized skills and attacks, broadening the game's arsenal and accommodating new builds.
Automatic Weapon Switching Based on Skills: The game will automatically switch to the most suitable weapon when using specific skills, streamlining combat and creating a fluid experience. Players also get a dedicated skill tree for each weapon, which activates whenever that weapon is equipped, creating dynamic combat opportunities.
5. Boss Mechanics and Combat Density Adjustments
Boss fights in PoE 2 are a major focus, with each encounter designed to push players' skills to the limit.
One-Life Boss Fights: Bosses are now designed to be defeated within a single life, eliminating the possibility of repeatedly respawning to whittle down their health. This design choice emphasizes skillful play and encourages players to master each encounter fully.
Less Mob Density, More Tactical Encounters: While PoE 1 often featured high mob density, PoE 2 balances this with more enemies with unique mechanics. This approach makes each combat encounter more tactical, with greater rewards for players who can master each mob's unique strengths and weaknesses.
Over 100 New Bosses: New bosses, including harder versions of campaign bosses in the endgame, promise to test players with unique abilities, mechanics, and complex combat phases.
6. Itemization, Currency, and Economic Changes
The economy and item crafting systems in PoE 2 have received a significant rework, introducing new resources and mechanics to simplify and diversify progression.
Gold Currency and Gambling: Gold has been introduced as a standard currency, making it easier to engage in simple transactions. A gambling system using gold allows players to take chances on gear, reminiscent of the classic ARPG experience.
Revised Chaos and Crafting Orbs: Chaos orbs have been adjusted to remove one affix and then add another, offering more precision in crafting. Chromatic, Fusing, and Alteration Orbs have been removed, with crafting simplified to focus on other methods.
Well-Based Flask Refills: Flask charges are refilled by interacting with wells in towns and killing white mobs, simplifying resource management and preventing players from hoarding flask charges.
These economic changes are designed to give players more control over crafting and spending without unnecessary complexity.
7. Revamped Gem Leveling System and Attribute Management
The gem and leveling system has been reimagined to allow for more strategic choices and flexibility.
Uncut Gems and Unique Level-Up Choices: Uncut gems can level up existing skills or unlock new ones, allowing players to shape their progression to suit their playstyle. Each gem level-up offers unique modifier options that affect the skill's effectiveness, range, or power.
Attributes Determine Support Capacity: The number of support gems players can equip depends on their attributes, though each support gem itself has relatively low stat requirements, making it easier to meet the minimums.
Interactive Tooltip for DPS and Stat Changes: Hovering over any passive node, skill, or item provides DPS and percentage changes, similar to third-party tools like Path of Building. This change brings valuable real-time insight into builds without needing external programs.
8. Semi-Procedural Campaign and Map Layouts
PoE 2 incorporates semi-procedural maps that vary with each playthrough to keep gameplay fresh and engaging.
Dynamic Map and Quest Layouts: Each campaign and league introduces unique map layouts and quest progressions, ensuring players experience a different environment each time they play.
Area Reset System and Death Penalties: Areas reset upon death, but more checkpoints allow players to keep progress. Logout macros no longer work, meaning logging out won't save a character from difficult situations, adding weight to each encounter.
9. Resource Rework: Spirit for Minions and Auras
A new resource system changes the way minions and auras function, providing dedicated resources for summoners.
Spirit for Minions and Auras: The “Spirit” resource replaces mana for summoners, enabling minions and auras to be sustained without impacting mana. Spirit-based minions are automatically resummoned if no enemies have died recently, making summoner builds more accessible.
Pokémon-Like Spectre System: Players now “catch” spectres within a gem, simplifying minion management and adding a collectible aspect to building an army.
10. Reworked Defense and Stat Scaling
PoE 2 also brings refinements to defense and attribute systems to balance gameplay and add nuance to player progression.
Enhanced Evasion Mechanic: Evasion now works directionally, offering immunity to attacks from certain angles and only against specific attack types. Larger AoE attacks are unaffected by evasion.
Modified Attributes and Passive Scaling: Passive travel nodes now grant only five attribute points instead of ten, but with customization options. Strength exclusively grants life now, further incentivizing players to prioritize their attribute scaling for each build.
Thanks for Reading
Path of Exile 2 is more than just a follow-up to the original; it's a full-fledged reimagining that enhances every aspect of the Path of Exile experience. By building on classic mechanics and adding new, engaging systems, PoE 2 is poised to become a landmark ARPG when it launches in 2024, delivering an experience that rewards creativity, strategy, and skill. Whether you're a veteran or new to Path of Exile, this sequel promises a fresh yet familiar journey into the world of Wraeclast.
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