Path of Exile 2’s Emphasis on Mobility Is a Big Trade-Off

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 22, 2024 4 Views 7 Min Read
Path of Exile 2’s Emphasis on Mobility Is a Big Trade-Off



Key Takeaways

  • Path of Exile 2 prioritizes mobility in combat, requiring players to dodge roll frequently to evade damage.
  • The increased mobility in Path of Exile 2 makes the game more challenging but also more rewarding.
  • The game’s emphasis on dodge rolling in combat sets it apart from its predecessor, increasing engagement and difficulty.



One of the more significant changes Path of Exile 2 has made when it comes to the series’ combat is its emphasis on mobility. It’s not that the first game wasn’t ever mobile, by any means, but the design of Path of Exile 2‘s combat centers around movement more than ever before. However, while this might make the game more engaging to a certain degree, it naturally comes with a massive trade-off that is ultimately unavoidable.

Game Rant recently had the opportunity to play nearly 8 hours of Path of Exile 2 at a live hands-on preview event for the game ahead of its December 6 early access release, so we also had the chance to experience this emphasis on mobility firsthand, as well as the trade-off that results from it. At the end of the day, we found the exchange to be highly rewarding and worth the effort, effectively putting Path of Exile 2 another step ahead of its predecessor.


Diablo 4 with Path of Exile 2 screenshots

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Path of Exile 2 Emphasis on Mobility Simultaneously Increases Its Challenge

Path of Exile 2’s Combat Emphasizes Mobility More Than Its Predecessor

Unlike the first game, Path of Exile 2 allows players to dodge roll in order to evade incoming damage. It’s a very simple maneuver and might not seem like much at first, but it’s all but necessary in Path of Exile 2‘s combat. Firstly, it helps players to remain more engaged in combat, as opposed to simply holding one or two buttons to mow down waves of enemies as they could in the original Path of Exile. Secondly, the trade-off that happens due to the inclusion of a dodge roll in Path of Exile 2 arguably makes it all the more important.

More Mobility in Path of Exile 2 Means a Greater Challenge With Greater Rewards

Path of Exile 2 isn’t the first ARPG to feature a dodge roll, but it is the first game in its series to include the ability. That doesn’t mean Path of Exile 2 treats its own dodge roll like the other ARPGs that incorporate one into their combat, as the ability to dodge roll in these games often takes a backseat to simply overpowering enemies. In ARPGs like Diablo 4, so long as players obtain powerful gear, maximize the efficiency of their build, and learn the ins and outs of their chosen character class, they really only need to use the dodge roll ability a minimal number of times to emerge victorious from even the toughest boss battles.


In Path of Exile 2, however, players are expected to use the dodge roll ability frequently to avoid damage, as the challenge in the sequel has been ramped up to match the increased mobility in the game. Herein lies the trade-off, as one useful ability is offered in exchange for players’ hardship. In fact, Path of Exile 2‘s game director, Jonathan Rogers, said at the preview event, “We want you to die on the first boss fight.” So, Path of Exile 2 has been intentionally designed to be more challenging, but at least it also provides players with a way to actively avoid that damage now.

The same could be said of
Path of Exile 2
‘s more mobile classes, like the Ranger, which is designed to remain mobile at all times, even to the point of leaping to avoid danger.


While the difficulty has increased in Path of Exile 2, that means the reward has as well. Sure, as players down a major boss in Path of Exile 2 and retrieve the loot it drops, that, in and of itself, is a reward. But there is nothing quite like the feeling that comes from overcoming a great challenge, and that is a feeling that should be ever present in those patient enough to perform regular rotations of attack and dodge as they journey through Wraeclast in Path of Exile 2.

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