Path of Exile 2's early access has already seen a flurry of updates, hotfixes, and client patches since its December launch. However, the holiday season inevitably slowed the pace as the developers took a well-deserved break. Now that Grinding Gear Games (GGG) staff have returned to the office, they’re back to fine-tuning the game and addressing player feedback. Here's a comprehensive look at what’s been happening and what’s on the horizon for Path of Exile 2.
Chaos Inoculation and Bug Fixes
The first major fix addressed the Chaos Inoculation Keystone passive, which previously allowed players to exploit unintended synergies by counting one life as being "low life." This technical oversight enabled builds to permanently activate passives and skills designed to function in a low-life state, creating overpowered setups. The fix ensures that Chaos Inoculation no longer qualifies as low life, restoring balance to these interactions.
Other recent fixes include:
• Delirium Farming: An awkward interaction impacting Delirium rewards has been resolved.
• Rolling Slam Skill: A critical bug rendered aftershocks from Rolling Slam ineffective, leaving many mace-based builds in limbo. This fix now makes Rolling Slam a viable, potentially powerful skill.
• Ritual Activity: A frustrating bug that sometimes prevents players from initiating rituals after clearing the area has been fixed, restoring this endgame activity to its full functionality.
Devs Focus on Stability
GGG has clarified its immediate focus: fixing bugs rather than rushing into balance changes. A restart patch, which requires a server reset to implement, is in development and will likely address the remaining critical issues. However, the term "restart patch" confused players, with some interpreting it as a potential league reset. GGG has since clarified that this is not the case.
Known Issues Under Review
Several issues have already acknowledged by the devs:
• Map Device Radius: The radius of "Lost Towers" and similar mechanics fails to display correctly in hideouts, complicating map planning.
• Dodge Roll Glitch: Occasionally, dodging leaves players unable to attack or cast for several seconds. This issue appears tied to the Dodge Roll animation and does not affect players using alternative movement skills.
These issues, alongside others outlined in a recent known-issues post, are likely to be addressed in the next wave of updates.
Expected Balance Changes
While GGG's current focus is on stability, balance changes are inevitable. Here are some of the game's most pressing balance concerns that could see adjustments shortly:
1. Temporalis and Choir of the Storm Interaction
The synergy between the Temporalis unique and Choir of the Storm amulet is creating infinite feedback loops of lightning bolts, bypassing cooldown mechanics. GGG may rework the interaction to ensure that lightning bolts cannot trigger additional bolts on critical hits, maintaining balance while preserving the build's thematic appeal.
2. Archmage Scaling
Archmage, which scales damage based on maximum mana, sits at the core of some of the strongest builds in early access. Potential changes could target either the skill's direct scaling or maximum mana scaling in general, though the latter could have far-reaching effects on non-Archmage builds as well.
3. Energy Shield and Grim Feast
Energy Shield is increasingly becoming the defensive stat of choice for endgame content. The Grim Feast skill, which allows players to collect energy shields from defeated enemies and exceed their maximum cap, might be reworked to require more Path Of Exile 2 Currency investment for similar results, curbing its effectiveness in mass-clear scenarios.
A Look Ahead
GGG’s approach to early access demonstrates its commitment to a polished player experience, even if some changes take longer to implement. With a focus on bug fixes, server stability, and transparency, Path of Exile 2’s development is moving steadily forward.
Players should expect:
• Continued hotfixes for pressing issues.
• A restart patch addressing lingering bugs.
• More comprehensive balance changes later in early access, potentially redefining current meta strategies.
Final Thoughts
Path of Exile 2’s early days have already proven exciting, with powerful builds emerging and bugs being swiftly addressed. As the game evolves, players can look forward to a dynamic and well-balanced experience, fueled by GGG’s commitment to its community.
Keep an eye out for updates, and remember: adapt your builds, stay informed, and prepare for the challenges ahead. With more fixes and balance changes on the horizon, Path of Exile 2 promises to remain a thrilling journey for Exiles of all ages.