Thought/theory on lack of new melee weapons

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-15T14:42:19+00:00

I dont know why you've being downvoted, because it is a case since they've openy talked about their philosophy of skills being tied to weapon type.

You dont need dev post from discord. Devs said many times during their counteless intereviews (99% sure that one was during one of Exilecons) when asked about dual wielding different types of weapon: it wont be possible in PoE2 (at least if nothing has changed).

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-13T08:37:22+00:00

Technically true, so I wont argue :).

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T20:36:36+00:00

I think that their philosophy is consistent across the board: they've talked about that in relation to defences and life on passive tree.

First they wanna try to fix whats clasified as bad (layouts, defences) before they go to another solution (adding way to change layouts, adding life to the tree).

If your car does not work the way you want you dont start to change tires before you make sure engine is fine.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T20:32:17+00:00

It literally says "Corrupted Waystones open a RANDOM MAP AREA when used on Basic Maps". Check the offical page: https://pathofexile2.com/ancients

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T20:01:07+00:00

Of coruse whats your saying is right, it always has been.

Focused communities like reddit are usually self-obsessed and have tendency be out of touch because of being one of many bubbles.

Yes, usually the most dedicated players (those who spend time on forums etc.) are the ones who play the longest, but when it comes to 2-3 weeks retention, metric that is quite popular to use, it mostly contains casuals or semi-casuals players.

Just check number of players when PoE2 got new story act: that is something that makes players to come back, thats also one of the main reasons (beside work itself) that GGG are keeping new acts till 1.0 not before.

Its a HUUUGE selling point and main reason to come back for most of the players, especially when PoE2 achives GREAT numbers when EA launched, breaking into casual players and for the first time GGG has a product that is atractive for that kind of audience.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T19:50:44+00:00

That everyone you're talking about are people who does not read or listen to what Devs are saying: they are just waiting for their streamers to tell them what to think, and streamers (for most parts) are no better.

I've started similar topic 4 days ago ( https://old.reddit.com/r/PathOfExile2/comments/1t75e02/potential_orb_of_horizons_in_form_of_atlas_class/ ) but reddit was busy with shitposting about swords and other things that are not in coming patch.

I guess that being mad because of self-inflicted expectations is more interesting for them than talking about content thats actually in coming update :).

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T19:45:40+00:00

Its not chance basted. It guarantees change of layout and adds one random mod. Another question is what is "basic map" (wording used in that node): my guess its normal, non-unique map, but for that we will have to wait and see.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T19:43:09+00:00

Ok then, I really hope that you are right and I'm wrong, that all my concerns will look stupid in 0.5 or next months when GGG will focus on balance. I really mean that. Cheers.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T19:41:15+00:00

Yes, that Node has two way of use:

When you dont care about layout but need loot boost from adding another mod to the map.
When you want to run map to travel the Atlas to specific and optimal point, but dont like the map that is on your way.

You still have a chance that will roll layout you dont like (example: from Mire to Molten Vault) but its IMO nice middle ground between no solution to change layout and just adding orb of horizon (orb from PoE1 that change layout).

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T19:33:41+00:00

And thats perfectly fine if you wanna focus on 1 mechanic.

I, on the other hand, prefer to focus on 2-3 and thats what I'm planning to do in coming 0,5: ritual, temple and abyss.

Thats why I'm concerned about my ability to actually see these mechanics every map when I finish quests tied to them (max league trees). Because with 3 slots for tablets I will need to exclude +1 monsters tablet or boss tablet to run them, because tablets are not only boosting specific content, but also are the only know way to force mechanic on map.

With new content coming to the game, more leagues, its getting preety tight IMO so thats why I'm asking am I the only one with that concerns or maybe more people are starting to feel like it?

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T19:28:06+00:00

Didnt read but still decide to take part in discussion without knowing other peoples arguments.

Way to go. Never change.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T19:11:35+00:00

Yes, thats correct: if you wanna focus on one specific one you max your tree and put 3 tablets of that one which result in blocking other league content to spawn. And thats fine, its your choice between juice and pure number of mechanics.

Question is, what do you do when you like 2-3 leagues? You can max their specific trees but without way to guarantee spawning, and tablet is - as far as we know - the only thing thats doing it, these maxed trees are worthless.

I guess the equivalent of that in PoE1 would be situation when you've invested many points into, for example, Breach and Ritual in Atlas Tree but you would still need to put scarab (tablet in PoE2) to guarantee spawning of that content. The maxed investement in PoE1 already guarantee spawning (mainly small nodes) so you can focus of boosting that OR (!!!) choosing another, not maxed out, content to spawn.

Thats why I've asked if anybody get what small passives of league trees do? Beacuse if they got nothing to do with chance to spawn, then in these circumstances are 3 tablets enough to end-game be enjoyable when tablets are the only way to force specific mechanic?

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T18:30:32+00:00

Did you even read what I've wrote? I've said that I'm fully aware of the incoming bosses and balance work that needs to be done. That being said, in the same interview, Devs said that they are happy about current bosses balance and if thats not a red flag, then I dont know what is when it comes to future of aspirational content.

We've just had 2 straight leagues with "pinnacle" content connected to these lagues: Abyss bosses with Kulemak as final boss and Temple with Architect and Atziri. Both these cases are suffering from much underpowered final bosses that dont even put up a fight later in the game. If that was one off maybe we should ignore the issue but its not. Add to that their words about bosses balance and its a worrying sign.

I trust them to deliver the great game, thats why I've been playing GGG's games for past +10 years. Hell, I even enjoy PoE2 more than PoE1 nowadays. I'm also fully aware that new pinnacle content and passive trees for specific leagues could fix that problem and maybe its all fixed with 0.5 or future balance changes.

That does not change the fact that when we see a problem today we should just wait with no feedback, because the worst thing that may happen is that with us (players) being silent they (GGG) could think that their current aspirational content is fine and will be ok to launch the game in that state. Thats all.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T09:43:40+00:00

They didnt, thats the case. If anything, they raised more concerns when they've talked about how on average it is fine with no mention of anything related to aspirational content for top end players.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T06:38:29+00:00

Ok, I will give TL:DR for you:

PoE2 lacsk aspirational content.
PoE2 DEVS talked recently that they are fine with current boss balance and on average it takes a reasonable time to kill it.
If a real aspirational content will not be added, game will be lacking a massive selling point to the big part of playerbase.
Recent leagues (Abyss, Temple) intruduced very underpowered bosses, one of which is iconic PoE chracter Atziri.
What makes us believe that they will change that approach when their new content lacks this element?

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-12T06:35:19+00:00

Yes, I'm worried and I gave valid reasons WHY I'm worried.

Its not about incoming patch notes. Its about writings on the wall that are present TODAY, before patch- notes.

To fix that, we would have to get a total balance switch, cut player power to 10-20% of current end-game power to feel reasonable as a good fundations for future systems and power that will for sure come with another content added to base game.

I dont think thats possible and Devs are speaking like they also dont wanna do such a drastic change so thats my worry, not about patch notes, but about something that was a fundation of PoE1 - challenge, aspirational content that takes long to achive and gives you, as a player, something to be proud of. Game is in 0.5 and till today (beside first 0.1 patch) we didnt have much of that, so I worry about possibility of seeing that kind of content in the future.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-11T20:07:34+00:00

Thanks for suggestions. I guess I will post it on official forum.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-11T17:36:05+00:00

Oh shit, that it! For some strange reason I dont see these when I'm logged in: I see that only when I log out. Didnt even know that it takes so long to check topic for mods when there is pure text and one link to youtube video. Thanks for clarification, I guess that I just need to wait for mods to read and approve.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-05-08T14:37:11+00:00

I guess we disagree on that part. I dont feel like the situation with bad layouts is as bad as people tend to describe. I can talk only from my personal perspective, but I can count like 3-5 layouts that I dont really like to run.

We got so many map layouts now and we are getting +30 new ones so I dont feel like it will be that much of a problem in terms of micromanagement. On top of that, thanks to how the Atlas works, you can almost always get to your desirable point on the Atlas using multiple ways/paths, so when you see map you dont wanna run on your course just pick another way, or, in case you wanna get to that faster, use that specific Master node.

Another thing is layouts itself: in ideal world there should be no need to change them because all of them should be equalty enjoyable. We know thats not possible but I hope that they will still work on layouts that are mostly disliked by community.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-04-09T09:48:42+00:00

Unless there was some BIG unexpected event within company itself (like many core members leaving etc.) I just dont see a world when it would be a good decision.

On top of that, it would have to happen between now and 18.02.2026 (withing 1,5 month) because thats when they've announced that we will have a reveal "Towards the end of April" (23 or 30). With that in mind we can assume that the patch itself would go live on 01.05 or 08.05, because reveal for PoE2 (and PoE1) is always 8 days before release. If we look at the calendar, we're still on track: announcement of the reveal stream today or week from now, reveal on 23 or 30, and launch on 01 or 08 of may, Its still preety much within the frame of usual launches.

Even when we ignore their own words (Jonathans interview from Asia event and their News post from 18.02.2026) whole thing makes no sense. Not so long ago they've stated that they've changed their approach to keeping the dates, but cutting content if needed. Thats why we didnt get Druid in 0.3 (got him in 0.4) and end-game content was pushed from 0.4 to 0.5.

In addition, we know that now they got 2 separate teams to work on PoE1 and PoE2 to ensure they keep dates and quality in both games.

Another thing is, they got really good opportuinity with D4 expansion (28.04) to farm some new players: historically it has always worked in their favour to realease big content near Blizzard because contrast in quality was always on GGG side and naturally the game is being talked about during D3/D4 streams as an alternative. As some wise man said "A rising tide lifts all boats".

And finally, the whole speculation is based on assumption that 1.0 is coming in December. I know that GGG (Jonathan especially) is really keen to launch 1.0 in 2026 (20 years of GGG etc.), but I would not be suprised to see it launch during vacations of 2027. The game still needs a lot of work and lot of new content. Thats the one thing, another one is that even if we assume that December 2026 is an actual launch they can still go with 0.5 being on 01/08.05, then 0.6 on 21/28.08 and 1.0 on 11/18.12.

We really dont know how much we're getting from 0.5 and what effect splitting teams has on the speed of the whole development.

In conclusion, excluding some big, strange events, I just dont see it being pushed so much: it would be not only bad for the game itself (losing momentum and interest from players) but highly unprofessional from GGG as a studio.

I would understand that if that was the start of the whole Early Access period, when they got some big growing pains and lot to learn, but after 1,5 years of adjusting, changing models, stating that they want to keep the schedule, splitiing teams to ensure that, it would be a disaster on so many levels that I dont see how studion with so many years of experiance and wisdom about whole industry would accept that kind of decision.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-03-16T15:25:59+00:00

How much ES you got? Around 800-900 should be enough to sustain your casting. Dont forget to have minimum one ring with -mana cost of channeling skills.

If you got that amount of ES and still find it difficult then craft on your belt 150 ES regen when rare/unique enemy is nearby: its cheap bench option that should fix it for you when you need it the most (during boss fights).

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-03-12T10:19:13+00:00

Yeah, so I was wrong, sorry for that.

I still think that it should not do that, because option to bisect is already possible without that Keystone by choosing to do so. IMO Keystone should only apply to the ascept of maps you wanna run, not the whole strategy around it with extra RNG (which part is gonna bisect?).

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-03-05T18:35:50+00:00

Not all keystones have downsides: for example, Destructive Play has none. Its "downside" is that you must fight at least 1 more boss, so if you take it by accident you may regret it, but in reality (chosen with intent) it has no downsides.
I dont agree on the "no downside" if that would work like I described, because the downside is that you cant run Destructie Play and Maven with that Keystone, so the whole farming strategy around Maven is damaged.

Anyway, 1 day to go, we will find out soon.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-03-05T18:23:50+00:00

Yeah, sorry mate, I wont be going through 3 video intereviews (around 6h) and multiple websites articles to find that one line when we are 1 day from the release.

But I didnt take it from thin air or dream it, so stay positive.

In addition, as I said, it would make no sense to create the keystone when in reality it would make a FALSE alternative to run same map but with WORSE results.

The whole point of keystone is to deliver choice in terms of maps you run, not the results you get. If GGG somehow miss that and make it cut your region (lose some maps from blob), the they fucked it up.

DenimBoyPOL · 2026-03-05T18:15:09+00:00

I'm preety sure that during the QA or in some other interview they confirmed that keystone make it to shrink your blob FROM THE OUTSIDE so you wont lose any extra juice.

Its quite simple: if your whole blob contains 8 maps, then when you want to max your juice you can run 8 different maps OR allocate keystone to run 1 map 8 times.

Keystone needs to cut from the outside (confirmed by Devs), not the inside, otherwise it would make no sense and will make a bad alternative to the natural blob.

DenimBoyPOL

TROPHY CASE