This week marked a significant turning point for Path of Exile 2 as it unveiled its initial major economy reset with patch 0.2.0. Beyond introducing new league mechanics and content, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) took this opportunity to make sweeping adjustments to the overall game balance. Rather than the precise tuning players may have anticipated, the patch resulted in broad nerfs across the board, alongside a few minor buffs.
The Campaign in Path of Exile 2: A Shift from Challenge to Tedium
The patch significantly impacted the Breach League mechanic, resulting in a notable reduction in monster spawns. In a Q&A session, the developers clarified their approach, emphasizing that the aim was to create a more challenging environment against the relentless flow of monsters, rather than treating it like a loot-generating machine. They identified that the issue lay more with players’ power levels than the league mechanics themselves.
Having undergone a painstaking 40-hour experience through the latest campaign acts, I can confidently say that GGG may have overstepped their adjustments.
The intention behind nerfing established meta builds in an ARPG like this is to foster diversity in player-created builds. However, the recent changes in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt diminished the effectiveness of numerous skills, leading to a scenario where deviating from top-tier skills often feels like a disadvantage.
It’s not an exaggeration to assert that the initial segments of the campaign have become a grind. Of course, several factors can influence this impression. For example, if you are fortunate enough to receive beneficial drops early on, the campaign may retain the enjoyment it held in previous patches.
After my initial character failed, I experienced a stroke of luck with a 60% physical damage crossbow on my subsequent attempt, allowing me to breezily navigate through Acts 1 and 2 using grenade spam.
Nevertheless, my initial run was fraught with challenges. The core issue lies not just with the reduced skill effectiveness but also with the imbalance against standard white monsters.
While it’s acceptable that bosses may serve as formidable damage sponges, it is frustrating to drain my entire mana pool against groups of ordinary monsters that rush at me with daunting resolve.
Throughout my time with Path of Exile 2 post-patch 0.2.0, I encountered various instances of questionable balance, such as the minion-spawning Rares being far less resilient than the bodyguards accompanying them.
Act 1 of Path of Exile 2 is potentially the best crafted segment in the ARPG genre, combining exceptional monster design with memorable bosses and captivating atmospheres. Thus, the flaws in monster balance feel particularly disheartening.
This oversight not only detracts from an otherwise stellar experience but also contributes to a growing discontent within the gaming community, as reflected by the game’s recent “Mixed“reviews on Steam.
Despite the challenges, I’d like to avoid an overly pessimistic conclusion. GGG has indeed implemented some enhancements that improve the player experience in Path of Exile 2.
One exciting addition is the Azmerian Wisp mechanic, which adds an element of fun to gameplay, and the drop rate for crafting currencies is at an all-time high. If balance adjustments had been more judicious, it could have allowed players to experiment with a wider range of skills.
A recent hotfix (0.2.0b) attempted to address these concerns by reducing the health of all monsters between levels 15 and 46 by 25%, with health reverting to pre-patch levels outside of this range. While it remains to be seen whether this will resolve the issues, it indicates that the developers are listening to player feedback regarding the current state of balance.