PoE2 Next Patch Preview: Ascendancy Respec & More

At the end of the week, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) dropped a juicy update on the 11th of April 2025, teasing a patch for Path of Exile 2's Dawn of the Hunt (0.2.0) mid next week. They're calling it a "lightning-fast pivot" to player feedback - think Ascendancy respecs with a twist, beefier totems, and endgame polish. For exiles grinding or theorycrafting in Wraeclast, this is a heads-up worth catching. If these patch rundowns keep you in the loop, our website is a cool place to check out for more, and our store has some neat extras to browse through. Let's unpack what's in store for next week!

GGG's latest post, hot off the press today, outlines a patch set for mid-next-week that's all about giving players more wiggle room and smoothing out Dawn of the Hunt's rough edges. It's not the full wishlist - more is still in the works - but it's a hefty package. Here's the breakdown.

Players have been clamoring to swap Ascendancy classes, and GGG's delivering—sort of. They're keeping it effort-based, not a free-for-all: here's how it works: Redo an Ascendancy trial that matches your current point total (e.g. 4 points for 4 points spent). Zero out your points first, then use Balbala or the Trial Master on the Ascension device to select a new class.  

Level drops: 7-chamber Ultimatums (4 points) now unlock at level 55 (down from 60); 10-chamber Ultimatums (6 points) at level 65 (down from 75). Earlier swapping, less gatekeeping.  

Why it's cool: Stuck as a Ritualist but eyeing Hunter? Now you can pivot without rerolling - just bring some hustle.

Endgame Maps: Towers and Hideouts Fixed Tower and Hideout maps were dropping the ball - no rares, no extra map drops. GGG is fixing this:  

Extra Rares: Both map types now spawn rares for clear conditions, plus that sweet bonus map drop on the final kill.  

No pressure: Clearing rares isn't mandatory - just a loot perk. Sustain is back on track.

Crafting's getting a cleanup and a boost:  

Rune Cleanup: As you unlock higher rune tiers, lower tiers will stop dropping - goodbye, lesser rune spam at tier 15. Drop rates will adjust to keep totals reasonable.  

Scepter Love: Sockets now work on scepters, and some talismans will get minion-boosting mods for mid-to-late game upgrades. Minion mains, rejoice!

Totems have been crumbling in endgame, and GGG's throwing them a lifeline:  

Resistances: Starting at gem level 15, totems gain elemental resist, capped at 75% at level 20.  

Ironwood Bonus: This support now adds max elemental resistance, making totems tankier against late game blasts.

Shard Scavenger's reservation felt underwhelming—GGG's spicing it up:  

New perks: Restores one grenade cooldown and gives a 2-second buff that prevents crossbow attacks from eating bolts. More boom, less ammo woes.

Leveling off-class skill gems was a headache—finding them in the Gemcutting window was a chore. Now it is:  

My Skills tab: A new tab displays all equipped gems, making swapping and upgrading a breeze. No more digging through piles.

This mid-week patch is GGG at their best—quick, player-driven tweaks that don't mess around. Ascendancy respecs add build flexibility without ditching the grind, totems get some much-needed teeth, and endgame maps finally deliver on sustain. Crafting and QoL nods show that they're not just putting on a band-aid - they're refining the whole vibe. It drops in the middle of next week, so you've got time to prepare for the change.

GGG's latest Dawn of the Hunt patch is shaping up to give Path of Exile 2 more flex and polish, from respec freedom to tougher totems. Wraeclast's always got surprises brewing - keep an eye on MMOJUGG for what's next!