Path of Exile 2 has been steadily evolving since its early access release, and Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has consistently worked to refine the game’s endgame systems. Recently, the studio released a midseason endgame patch intended to introduce new mechanics, gather player feedback, and prepare for the next season, expected to launch in December with a full suite of endgame updates and content. As one of the most dedicated players, with over a thousand hours invested in early access, I’ve spent considerable time exploring these changes, running multiple characters—including a level 97 solo self-found Witch, a 92 Ranger, a Lich, and a Warrior—and analyzing their impact on the current state of the game.
In this article, I’ll summarize my experience with the new endgame patch, outline several key mechanics and systems, and provide constructive feedback for Grinding Gear Games based on both personal observations and community input. The goal is not to demand nerfs or buffs but to offer insights that could improve clarity, POE 2 Currency, and quality of life for players navigating the endgame.
Optimization and Performance Concerns
One of the first issues that became apparent while testing the new patch was related to optimization, especially in high-density areas like the Abyss. Despite recent patch notes claiming fixes, I still experience significant frame rate drops, which are likely tied to monster density and shader processing. This has been a consistent problem, particularly when playing hardcore solo self-found (SSF), where timing and precision are critical.
Other games, like Borderlands 4, solve similar issues by allowing players to pre-download shader packages. While implementing a similar system in POE2 might be challenging due to varying internet speeds and hardware configurations, it could help mitigate mid-combat performance spikes that can result in frustrating deaths. Providing options to pre-load shaders or manage graphic-intensive features might alleviate these issues without compromising visual fidelity.
Additionally, certain visual clarity problems persist, particularly with complex skill effects, ground effects, and minion abilities. For example, while playing ant minions, the visual clutter is manageable, but with other skills and in maps like the Abyss, it becomes overwhelming. A potential solution could involve a skill effect opacity slider or visual clarity options, which would retain artistic integrity while improving gameplay readability.
User Interface and Accessibility
Several UI issues impact the player experience and deserve attention. One recurring problem is the appearance of map tablets and interface elements off-screen. Players often need to drag elements manually to access buttons, which interrupts the flow of gameplay and breaks immersion. Adjustments to interface placement, combined with options for customization, would significantly enhance usability.
Another highly requested feature is a death recap system. While not yet implemented, this would help players analyze their failures, understand what caused a death, and adjust strategies accordingly, particularly in challenging encounters like Simulacrim.
Map interactions also highlight issues with clarity and convenience. When using strongboxes, the quick-use currency icon often overlaps with the interaction button, leading to accidental activations. Allowing players to reposition the icon or pull currency directly from the stash could streamline these interactions, reducing frustration and improving the efficiency of endgame runs.
Endgame Mechanics: Difficulty and Balance
The midseason patch emphasized challenging endgame content, with mechanics like Simulacrim, Ritual, Abyss, Delirium, and Expedition playing central roles. Feedback indicates that Simulacrim, in particular, remains significantly more difficult than other pinnacle encounters, even when balanced across build types.
For example, Simulacrim I and II proved substantially harder than comparable content like Zash or King of the Mist in hardcore SSF, with Simulacrim II almost resulting in a character death. While this difficulty is appreciated by players seeking high-stakes challenges, developers should consider whether the intention is for these encounters to align more closely with other pinnacle content.
Rituals remain a highly rewarding mechanic, providing valuable omens, level 20 skill gems, and high-tier currency. However, minor UI bugs, such as icons displaying incorrectly (gold versus red), can create confusion during runs. Refining these visual indicators would enhance usability without impacting the core gameplay loop.
Expedition mechanics, on the other hand, feel underwhelming. While valuable for accessing recombinator mats, the overall payoff remains low compared to Ritual or Abyss runs. Improving rewards, drop rates, or integrating Expedition into broader endgame goals could make this content more compelling and strategically relevant.
Delirium, another high-end map modifier, has generated feedback about visual interference. The permanent gray haze and carnival music obscure map artwork and hinder clarity. While this is thematically consistent with the delirium concept, providing options to adjust or toggle visual and audio effects could improve the quality of life for streamers and other players without diminishing the intended challenge.
Map Mechanics and Customization
Map creation remains one of the most involved endgame processes. Players often engage in multi-step procedures: alchemizing maps, checking for undesirable mods, applying exalts, desecrating maps, revealing them at the well, instilling, and optionally corrupting. While this process is satisfying for some players seeking deep engagement, it can become tedious, particularly as the endgame expands with new mechanics in future seasons.
Community feedback suggests several potential quality-of-life improvements:
Atlas Search and Highlighting – Implementing a search bar or filter for unique maps, specific bosses, or rare support gem drops would save time and reduce frustration when planning endgame runs. Highlighting relevant maps on the atlas could maintain strategic depth while improving usability.
Decluttering Visuals – While recent updates removed excessive clutter and elite icons, some features, like permanent yellow dotted lines, detract from the aesthetic appeal. Providing toggle options, hover highlights, or legend overlays could balance functionality with visual beauty.
Zoom Functionality – Expanding atlas zoom capabilities would help players track citadels and navigate larger regions without excessive scrolling, improving the overall endgame planning experience.
Elite Icons – Removing elite icons entirely may reduce clarity during map runs. Many players rely on these indicators to optimize efficiency and strategy. Reintroducing elite markers as an optional toggle could satisfy both new and experienced players.
Loot and Drop Mechanics
Certain mechanics remain inconsistent or frustrating in terms of loot acquisition. Whisps, for instance, provide unique talismans but exhibit inconsistent behavior. They do not always target the nearest elite, and their slow movement can make efficient gameplay challenging. Additionally, drop rates for talismans like Rach seem disproportionately low, particularly in hardcore SSF. Addressing these issues could increase player satisfaction without fundamentally altering the challenge.
Similarly, strongboxes could benefit from minor tweaks. Moving the quick-use currency icon to reduce accidental activations and allowing currency to be pulled directly from the stash would streamline endgame farming and enhance player agency.
Abyssal Depths also present some design questions. While they are a visually stunning and potentially challenging area, losing shrine and headhunter stacks during Abyssal runs creates unnecessary penalties. Developers may want to consider whether this loss aligns with intended gameplay or requires adjustment.
Community and Streamer Considerations
An interesting aspect of player feedback comes from the streaming community. Streamers face unique challenges, such as needing music active for YouTube monetization while maintaining gameplay clarity. Mechanics like Delirium, which overlay both gray visuals and thematic audio, can interfere with streaming, creating a first-world problem for content creators. Offering customization options for visuals and audio would address these concerns without impacting the core player experience.
Endgame Progression and Reward Balance
A recurring theme in feedback is the imbalance of endgame rewards. Rituals and Abyss runs dominate in value, while Expedition and other mechanics feel comparatively unrewarding. Pinnacle boss uniques, while thematically exciting, often do not provide meaningful benefits to the builds most players pursue. Addressing these disparities through loot balancing, reward tuning, or alternative acquisition methods could enhance engagement across all endgame systems.
Additionally, the one-portal-per-map rule in Tier 15 maps adds tension but can feel punishing when combined with lag or high-risk encounters. While this mechanic reinforces challenge, developers may want to evaluate whether flexibility in portal usage could improve accessibility without reducing strategic depth.
Conclusion
The midseason endgame patch for Path of Exile 2 offers a wealth of new content, challenges, and opportunities for players, but also highlights areas for refinement. Optimization, visual clarity, UI usability, map mechanics, loot consistency, and reward balance remain critical areas where thoughtful adjustments could significantly improve the endgame experience.
Grinding Gear Games has shown a strong willingness to engage with the community, listen to feedback, and iterate on mechanics. Implementing even a subset of the recommendations outlined above—pre-loading shaders, visual clarity sliders, improved map search, elite icons as an optional toggle, and refined Whisp behavior—could enhance the quality of life for players, particularly those engaging in hardcore SSF or streamer-oriented gameplay.
Ultimately, POE2’s endgame is one of the most intricate and rewarding systems in modern ARPGs. By addressing these nuances thoughtfully, Grinding Gear Games can ensure that both new and veteran players experience a challenging, cheap POE 2 Currency, and visually stunning endgame as the game approaches its full release.
With hundreds of hours of playtesting, I can confidently say that POE2 is already an impressive achievement. These suggestions aim not to critique the game harshly, but to provide constructive insights that could elevate the endgame experience for the entire community. The future of Path of Exile 2 is bright, and I, alongside countless other dedicated players, am eager to see how these systems evolve in the upcoming season and beyond.
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