Some Path of Exile 2 Item Base Types Preview

Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) is rapidly approaching its Early Access launch on December 6th, with new information trickling in from various events, including the recent Tokyo Game Show. Fans and players have eagerly anticipated updates to PoE 2's game mechanics, itemization, and base types. Here, we'll delve into the unique new base types recently unveiled, their mechanics, and how they might influence gameplay in PoE 2.

The Solar Amulet introduces a fascinating mechanic by granting the new stat called “Spirit.” In PoE 2, Spirit is a resource that powers skills with reservation costs, like auras and Herald abilities, and extends to meta-trigger gems. Characters with builds focused on triggers will need to manage Spirit carefully, especially since trigger-heavy setups will consume more Spirit. This change shifts the balance in favor of self-casting builds, which will need less Spirit to function, allowing them to invest in additional auras or defenses instead. This adjustment to Spirit will bring more strategic depth to resource management and build customization, particularly in the early game.

The Pearl Ring is a new ring base type that offers cast speed as an implicit modifier. This change is particularly useful for self-cast spell builds, enabling faster casting without extensive investment in cast speed through other gear or skill points. As PoE 2 shifts toward builds that need less Spirit for self-casting, players can use their excess Spirit for additional auras or other reserved skills, like Herald of Lightning or Arctic Armor. This ring is an ideal addition for those running self-casting builds, especially in the early game, where finding high-cast-speed gear can be challenging.

PoE 2 introduces new weapon mechanics, including weapons like the Icicle Flail that deal pure elemental damage. This one-handed weapon specializes in cold damage as its base, which marks a significant shift from the standard physical-damage base types seen in PoE 1. Previously, players could only increase physical damage via local modifiers, while elemental or chaos damage required global modifiers. However, a recent League in PoE 1 introduced enchantments that boost elemental damage locally, hinting that PoE 2 may follow suit by allowing local modifiers on elemental weapons. The Icicle Flail opens up intriguing possibilities for players to explore elemental weapon builds, scaling cold damage directly on their weapon.

The Cultist Great Hammer, a two-handed mace, combines physical and fire damage in its base stats. Additionally, this weapon provides a melee splash effect, allowing it to hit multiple enemies near the target. The mixed-damage base introduces new scaling challenges—specifically, how to balance modifiers that affect both physical and fire damage. This hammer is ideal for players seeking to mix tankiness with AOE capabilities, especially if they focus on melee builds with area-of-effect skills. As with the Icicle Flail, PoE 2 might provide new ways to locally scale elemental modifiers, expanding build diversity.

The Bloodletting Dagger is designed for spellcasters, featuring an implicit that shifts 25% of mana costs to life. This dagger encourages spellcasters to adopt a playstyle that prioritizes resource management, where life can serve as an additional resource, offsetting mana costs. However, the dagger does not follow the Rune Dagger design from PoE 1, possibly indicating that PoE 2 will not include Rune Daggers. By adjusting mana cost mechanics, PoE 2 emphasizes strategic choices in resource management for casters, and the Bloodletting Dagger will likely be a key item for those who want to reserve mana for other skills or abilities.

The Jingling Crest Shield introduces active blocking mechanics, allowing players to actively raise their shield to block projectiles and strikes. This dynamic brings a new defensive layer to the game, likely with supportable skill modifications to adjust block effectiveness or duration. In PoE 1, block was a passive mechanic; PoE 2's active block system is a significant departure, allowing players to influence their defenses' timing and usage directly. With the potential for support gems to modify this ability, defensive strategies in PoE 2 are about to become far more interactive and customizable.

The Jade Club is a unique one-handed mace base type that requires a high level of intelligence (149 INT) rather than strength, which is typical for maces. Its implicit “Always Hits” bypasses accuracy requirements, making it a reliable option for builds that struggle with accuracy issues. However, this base type's high intelligence requirement raises questions, as maces traditionally cater to strength-based characters. The Jade Club suggests that PoE 2 may introduce unique weapon types and equipment that cross conventional class boundaries, opening up new pathways for builds that blend high intelligence with melee or physical damage.

The Hand of Chayula is an intriguing new skill, allowing players to execute unarmed strikes even while wielding a weapon. The skill applies linked curses on hit, offering utility without needing high damage output. Its animation recalls the breach hands from PoE 1's Breach mechanic, with a hand sprouting from the character's fist. This ability hints at PoE 2's approach to skill versatility, where characters can execute different types of attacks or effects regardless of their weapon type. It's an appealing utility skill, perfect for supporting builds that rely on curses and debuffs to control enemies.

The new base types and mechanics in PoE 2 emphasize resource management, build diversity, and strategic choices. With items like the Solar Amulet, Icicle Flail, and Jingling Crest Shield, PoE 2 players can look forward to a broader range of builds and playstyles that were not feasible in PoE 1. The inclusion of items like the Bloodletting Dagger and Hand of Chayula also points to GGG's commitment to adding unique interactions and hybrid mechanics, enriching the game's meta for both new and veteran players alike.

As PoE 2's Early Access launch approaches, these new base types provide an exciting glimpse into the game's future of itemization and mechanics. With the promise of additional updates and item types in development, fans have a lot to look forward to in this new chapter of Path of Exile.

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