The latest Path of Exile 2 build has brought a whirlwind of changes, marking a significant leap forward from its predecessor. Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has truly outdone themselves with this colossal update, Patch Notes 0.1.1, which boasts an extensive list of bug fixes and improvements. In this article, we'll delve into the key highlights of this update for PoE2.
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Table of Content
- General Changes
- Skill Changes
- Monster Changes
- Endgame Changes
- Other Changes
General Changes
Let's kick things off with the core updates to gameplay and interface:
- A new "League Migrations" button has been introduced, enabling seamless character transfers to parent leagues.
- Strongbox mechanics have seen significant improvements. The time between enemy waves has been shortened, and the appearance of spawned mobs has been tweaked for better visibility. A bug that previously hindered monster spawning has been squashed. Now, once all enemies are defeated, the fog lifts, revealing more of the map. You'll also encounter Research Strongboxes more frequently.
- The ability to replace runes socketed in equipment has been added, offering more flexibility in build crafting.
- Armor effectiveness has been boosted, enhancing player survivability.
- Character level no longer dictates access to Expedition Vendors; instead, the rarity of items available depends solely on the shop's level, ensuring a more consistent experience across the board.
- Minions that perish too far from the player now respawn instantly nearby, improving combat flow.
- Uncut Gems now display their level in the item name, aiding in quick identification.
- Equipped Charms now show the remaining number of charges, helping players keep track of their resources.
- Entering maps is now safer, with monsters no longer spawning directly at the entrance.
- Item pickup has been streamlined, making it easier to gather loot while your character is engaged in other actions.
Moreover, GGG has fine-tuned overall game performance, particularly in areas with heavy shadows, accelerated loading times, optimized boss encounters and visual effects, and smoothed out gameplay in The Ziggurat Encampment.
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Skill Changes
Skill adjustments in this patch are substantial:
- The Supercharged Slam skill now has a radius limit of 3 meters, refining its area of effect.
- Scavenged Plating now grants more stacks against stronger enemies, enhancing its utility in tougher battles.
- The Vine Arrow skill's description has been updated to clarify that the projectile only impacts enemies upon landing.
- Pain Offering has lost its Aura tag, altering its functionality within builds.
- Skills socketed in a Meta Gem can no longer accumulate energy, shifting strategic considerations.
- Lightning Bolt has been rechristened as Greater Lightning Bolt, signifying its association with the unique amulet Choir of the Storm, and its damage mechanics have been fine-tuned.
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Monster Changes
Monster adjustments aim to enhance the overall gameplay experience:
- Essence Monolith mobs can no longer use their skills instantly, but their toughness has been significantly increased.
- Boss hitboxes have been recalibrated to better align with their visual attack animations, improving fairness and player feedback.
- The spawn rate of certain monsters has been dialed back, balancing out encounter frequency.
- Monster energy shields have been reassessed and adjusted, making map clearing more enjoyable.
- Visual effects and attack patterns of numerous mobs have been upgraded, with over 40 changes in total that collectively refine the gameplay experience.
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Endgame Changes
Endgame content has received a significant overhaul:
- Four new Tower Map areas have been added to the mix, with the Lost Towers Map receiving an update.
- The Arbiter of Ash boss fight now offers six attempts instead of one, acknowledging its difficulty. The Falling Flame Seed skill can no longer be interrupted, and the Flaming Gale skill is now unblockable. The boss now targets players more than minions, increasing the challenge.
- Maps now feature checkpoints, and players are guaranteed to encounter, defeat, and loot at least three Rare Monsters per map.
- Monster balance in several maps has been adjusted, with Untainted Paradise now boasting twice as many monsters.
- Certain areas now contain more chests, offering richer rewards.
- Bosses appear more frequently (about once every four maps), but the chance of a Map Boss dropping a Waystone has been reduced.
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Other Changes
A plethora of other changes have been implemented:
- Over 70 bugs related to client crashes, quest mechanics, and various in-game interactions have been fixed.
- Visual effects have been polished, and more than 20 controller-related issues have been resolved.
- Over 100 equipment items have had their stats and characteristics tweaked for a more balanced and fair gameplay experience. It's advisable to review your inventory to understand these changes.
- A surprising update to the item Original Sin now grants +17-23% Chaos Resistance instead of setting Chaos Resistance to zero.
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This monumental update to PoE2 introduces over 300 changes. For a comprehensive breakdown, check out the full Patch Notes 0.1.1 on the official Path of Exile 2 website. We've highlighted the most significant updates here and are eagerly looking forward to the next update and, ultimately, the release of version 1.0!