Top 10 Changes in PoE2 0.2.0: Dawn of the Hunt
Time: 2025-03-31 by mmojugg Game: Path of Exile 2 Guide Tags: PoE2 0.2.0 Patch Note
Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt update is almost here, and patch 0.2.0 is shaking things up in Wraeclast like a boss with a new loot table. Due out on 4 April 2025, this patch brings a host of changes that will tweak your builds, spice up your maps, and make you rethink your hiding priorities. Let's break down the top 10 updates - packed with practical information and a dash of flair - so you're ready to dive in and dominate.
1. Runes That Actually Grow With You
Runes used to be static—12% cold resist or a sprinkle of fire damage that felt epic in Act 1 but laughable by endgame. Now they're tiered! Start with a Lesser Desert Rune (10% fire resist, 4-6 fire damage), upgrade to a normal one, and hunt Greater Desert Runes for beefier stats. It's a small change, but it keeps your equipment relevant as resistances increase with each act. Soul Cores may also get the "bigger" treatment - crafters, rejoice!
2. Maps: More Tries, Less Tears
Maps are getting a portal overhaul. Before, a single death could kick you out for good. Now? A level 6 Waystone might give you 5 tries - or 5 portals - to mess up before you're done. Rarer ones drop fewer portals (down to 1), but increase the chance of a Waystone dropping (up to 300%!). Boss fights are even sweeter: no matter how many portals your map has, you'll get 5 tries once the big bad shows up. Casual players, this one's for you - persistence just got easier.
3. Expedition Crafting Goes Wild
Expeditions were the yawn of the endgame - trade artefacts, grab a decent item, repeat. Now there's a crafting bank with recombination. Combine two items, pray to RNGesus and get the best mods from both. It costs artefacts (finally, a use!), and rarer mods mean more expensive crafting. Hoarders, dust off those stashes - this is your moment to shine.
4. Corruption Cleansing = New Loot
The Atlas is getting corrupted hotspots with a Nexus at the centre. Clear it, fight a fearsome new boss, and Doriani will swoop in to clean it. Your reward? Crystallised Shards of Knowledge for Atlas Skill Points - far better than grinding 10 level 15s. Higher level corruptions drop better shards, so chase those juicy cards!
5. Cleansed Maps and Fracturing Orbs
Post-cleanse, corrupted maps turn into Cleansed Maps with new foes, bosses, and loot—including Fracturing Orbs. These lock a mod to a rare item (4+ mods required), so you can spam Chaos Orbs without losing those sweet +3 Minion Gems. It's RNG with a safety net - strategise wisely!
6. Towers on Steroids
Towers now take three tablets instead of one, boosting their buffs by 100%. A Grand Precursor Tablet radiates 13 cards, unlocking access to all cards in range and speeding up your atlas grind. Stack unique tablets for an Uber Tower - double the chaos, double the fun. The Atlas Tree also expands, with 40 points up for grabs. Choices, choices!
7. Uniques Worth Picking Up
Uniques were a snooze - everyone was chasing Ghost Reaver or Pillar of the Caged God. Patch 0.2.0 drops over 100 new ones, aimed at the middle to end of the game. Think a level 78 club with a great lightning spell on a melee hit, or a hunter's buckler that boosts spell damage after parries. Each white item type gets a unique twist time to get you excited about drops again!
8. Rogue Exiles: Loot or Scoot
Rogue Exiles now roam all map tiers, flashing their gear like a loot piñata. Spot Shara the Curse Weaver with Demon Stitcher? Take her down - or run if your resists aren't ready. It's a risk-reward dance that keeps every map spicy.
9. Support Gems Galore
Say hello to 100 new Support Gems! Skills like Grim Feast or Warcries that used to take up three slots can now stack four or five meaningful supports. No more "eh, might as well" picks - your build is about to feel a lot more personal and powerful.
10. Atlas Strategy Overhaul
With corruption fields, tidied up maps and beefed up towers, your Atlas progression is now a puzzle. Chasing shattering orbs or pushing for citadels? Stack tablets or chase skill points? It's less linear, more strategic - and frankly, a blast to figure out.
Thanks for Reading
Patch 0.2.0 for Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt is a game-changer that blends fresh mechanics with player-friendly tweaks. Whether you're crafting, mapping or chasing loot, there's something here to up your game. Stay tuned to MMOJUGG for more as launch day approaches!
Special Pack for Your Endgame:
Also, we made some packs for your endgame! Easy Trading (Divine x50, Exalted x400), All-in-One Quality Pack (Etcher, Whetstones, Scraps, Baubles), and Ultimate Skill Pack (Gemcutters and Jewellers). Awesome, right? Check them Out!
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