The long-awaited Dawn of The Hunt update for Path of Exile 2, designated as patch 0.2.0, is set to launch tomorrow, on April 4th. This first major economy-reset patch brings forth an exciting array of changes, including the introduction of a new class, the Huntress, along with three Ascendancies for existing classes, a substantial number of new Skill Gems, and over a hundred new Support Gems. Additionally, players can look forward to novel League mechanics tailored for the endgame, marking this update as a significant overhaul worthy of an economy reset.
What’s New in Path of Exile 2: Patch 0.2.0
This update is packed with transformative balance changes poised to reshape the gameplay meta. As we dive deeper into the details, let’s review the key highlights from the patch notes:
New Character and Class Features
- Introduction of the new playable class: The Huntress.
- New Ascendancies: Amazon and Ritualist for the Huntress, Smith of Kitava for the Warrior, Tactician for the Mercenary, and Lich for the Witch.
- Launch of over 25 new Skills, primarily focusing on spear-related abilities.
- Introducing over 100 new Support Gems for enhanced gameplay versatility.
- New item classes including Spear and Buckler.
- Over 100 new Unique Items to discover.
- Launch of 8 new Endgame Maps, each featuring unique encounters and rewards.
- New gameplay object: Unique Strongboxes for specially curated challenges.
- Emergence of 12 Rogue Exiles, intelligent NPC adversaries with their unique skills and loot.
- Introduction of Azmerian Wisps, ethereal entities that lead players through challenges.
- New Socketable items with custom modifiers for further crafting opportunities.
- Introduced the Twilight Reliquary Key, granting access to special loot.
- Essences can now be corrupted using
Vaal Orbsto introduce unpredictable effects. - Enhancements across sound, art, visuals, and environments continue to improve immersion.
Endgame Mechanisms and Balancing Adjustments
- New Corrupted Nexus mechanic added, acting as a central source of corruption in specific Atlas areas.
- Players must cleanse these Nexus points, earning Crystalline Shards as rewards for Atlas Passive Skill points.
- Each faction Boss now joins the fight within the Corrupted Nexus.
- Redesigned mechanics for clearing maps, including a new respawning feature for parties.
- Competitive modes for adventurers now encourage teamwork and strategy to defeat endgame bosses effectively.
General Enhancements and Quality-of-Life Improvements
- Introduction of new passives to accommodate new gameplay mechanics.
- Improvements to the user interface for better communication and understanding of skills and effects.
- Revamped item interactions and notifications for a more seamless experience.
This overview highlights the transformative nature of the Dawn of The Hunt patch in Path of Exile 2. Note that some features, including the anticipated weapon-locking feature between set swaps, will be introduced in upcoming hotfixes scheduled for later this week.
For detailed information regarding the full patch notes, you can refer to the original post by GGG, or stay tuned for more in-depth guides on skill optimization and gameplay strategies to navigate these changes effectively.
For more updates, resources, and guides related to Path of Exile 2, explore the links below: