I’m awake at night.
Path of Exile 2 is on its way and it is shaping up to be a big game. While most of you have probably tuned into today’s livestream, I got sent out to scenic my house last night to get a preview of today’s reveals, and I’m here to relay what I learned.
The story for Path of Exile 2 kicks off with the player avoiding execution at the hands of a tyrannical overlord on their search for evil items.
Early access includes six classes including the monk. GGG showed off some cool monk skills including summoning a big bell that can be banged on for various effects. The warrior is your usual melee class with heavy attacks and war cries to boost.
The ranger is your expected mobility-based ranged user whose bows carry elemental attacks. The mercenary gets a bolt gun can carries its own damage types thanks to the rounds available for your gun. The merc can also summon artillery as backup. The witch controls a small army of undead minions. And of course the sorcerer has their elemental magic spells.
Six more classes will be added on top of the original six, and classes are not weapon-locked.
Interestingly you’ll find “uncut” skill gems that when used will unlock skills on your character menu to select or upgrade. You can equip a shield and pull it up to block attacks with limited stamina.
Flasks are changing to one dedicated health and mana flask. Charms are being added to provide extra protections, and those instead can be equipped in bigger numbers depending on the capacity of your belt.
Skills now offer suggested support gems that the game thinks will compliment them. GGG mentions that they want to make useful gear much more prevalent in Path of Exile 2, either from finding them on the field or salvaging loot in order to get material to upgrade your existing stuff.
They also seem to be doing the impossible and attempting to make vendor items useful to the average player. You’ll be able to exchange currency items with other players on a big exchange, or trade with other players. Unique items are handcrafted and made to be useful to endgame.
Ascension trials will unlock the ascension class. Classes will have access to multiple ascendancy classes, giving access to more specialized gameplay and new powers. Trials put players through a gauntlet with various buffs and debuffs and challenges.
But what about the endgame? GGG is putting so much work into endgame that they promise hundreds of hours of gameplay. Act 1-3 will be available during early access with Act 4 and 5 coming later on. Players will replay the first three acts to get them leveled up to 65 which is where the end game systems kick in.
The endgame map will see players cleansing zones and reaping rewards while doing so. You’ll find items that affect the layout of the endgame map and modify your encounters, add challenges, boost rewards, and more.
Overall Path of Exile 2 appears to be going in a streamlined direction that will onboard new players while still maintaining that hardcore feel that keeps the sweats coming back for bigger challenges.
Check out this sexy infographic.
MMO Fallout 