Path of Exile 2’s Recent Strategy Overlooks the Bigger Picture

The Dawn of the Hunt update for Path of Exile 2 has stirred up a fair bit of controversy, with players not holding back in their criticism, particularly concerning the overwhelming nerfs that have affected gameplay. Recognizing the outcry from the community, developer Grinding Gear Games (GGG) is taking steps to iron out technical glitches and make adjustments based on the feedback they’ve received. However, their efforts to downshift the pace of combat present a challenge; they’ve got quick and menacing monsters paired with some underwhelming spear skills that aren’t helping the situation.

When Path of Exile 2 released its much-anticipated early access last December, it was met with excitement and high hopes from the gaming community. However, the recent Dawn of the Hunt update has sparked a wave of criticism over how it reshapes the player experience and design philosophy of the action RPG. Fans voiced concerns right from the patch notes, alarmed at the extensive nerfs delivered to nearly every build, item, and skill—not just the more prominent ones like Spark Archmage or stat-focused characters. Even after GGG applied some changes, the update feels less enjoyable, leading to doubts that the current strategy might be missing the mark.

Since unveiling the 0.2.0 update, GGG has been actively releasing quick fixes and patches to tackle various technical problems, from crashes and glitches to gameplay issues, including player damage and minion vitality. Players have not been shy about sharing their grievances since Path of Exile 2’s update hit the scene. GGG recently addressed these concerns in a forum post outlining what they’re working to improve, yet it seems their focus isn’t quite aligned with what players are expressing.

Take, for example, the situation with the Huntress class, highlighted in the forum discussions. The spear skills tied to this character are designed to be used in conjunction, favoring combo execution, but this approach doesn’t mesh well with the speedy, chaotic nature of action RPG battles. GGG aims for deliberate, slower combat, a goal that’s difficult to realize when monsters remain nimble and deadly. They plan to roll out a new spear skill that generates a Frenzy Charge, offering an alternative to parry, but the core issue stands—spear skills shouldn’t hinge on a Frenzy Charge to be viable.

Moreover, many spear skills gain additional effects by consuming a Frenzy Charge, requiring players to consistently generate these charges for the build to feel satisfying. The dilemma is that too many abilities use up these charges, while not enough avenues exist to acquire them. Add to this the fact that these skills rely on combos, which not every fan appreciates. Compounding the issue is that the Huntress’s spear skills inflict disappointingly low damage, resulting from minimal base values.

GGG’s post also acknowledges the complaints about the slow pace of Path of Exile 2’s campaign and gameplay, attributing them to factors like large areas, high monster health, and inadequate player damage. Each of these concerns is valid—with monster health now reduced since Dawn of the Hunt’s release, player damage remains insufficient, and expansive, maze-like areas like Azak Bog or The Matlan Waterways continue to frustrate players by necessitating backtracking with limited movement speed.

This divergence between GGG’s design direction and what Path of Exile 2 offers is obvious as they endeavor to slow the action. Despite their intentions, monsters remain unchanged in aggression and speed, and mobility features are significantly restricted, dragging out the campaign into something more akin to a grind. While GGG is committed to addressing player feedback, the development team’s priorities seem to drift from those that players want resolved. This gap between player expectations and the game’s realities could lead to more significant issues down the line.