Best Path Of Exile 2 Improvements

Key Takeaways

• Path of Exile 2 improves graphics, making levels and mobs visually striking.
• The addition of a dodge roll mechanic enhances gameplay for all players.
• Decreased loot drops in Path of Exile 2 make loot more valuable and manageable.

Path of Exile has often proved itself as a unique title in the ARPG genre. Iterated upon for years, Path of Exile offered a far more mechanically deep and complex ARPG experience, massively setting itself apart from the more casual Diablo titles. This is a divisive factor, with Path of Exile often being either adored or disdained for these design concepts.

Path of Exile 2 aims to further solidify its unique position, both from the ARPG genre as a whole and from its predecessor. Some elements in Path of Exile 2 are wholly different from the first game, setting them apart incredibly distinctly. These changes may be loved by some and hated by others, so defining what is an improvement is a very subjective factor. However, Path of Exile 2 iterates upon and reworks some elements that even the biggest Path of Exile fans wanted to change. It is very important that veterans and newcomers to Path of Exile alike are aware of how Path of Exile 2 improves upon its predecessor.

1 Graphical Improvements

PoE Has Never Looked So Good

While ARPGs are played for their gameplay rather than graphical fidelity, players cannot deny the joy of a graphically impressive ARPG. Diablo 4 is one recent example of high graphical fidelity in an ARPG, and Path of Exile 2 has opted to follow in its footsteps.

Not only is the general graphical fidelity and lighting far better than Path of Exile, level-design and art direction seem to have improved too. Each level is incredibly compelling to travel through, be they eerie forests or burning villages. These levels, coupled with the quality of the mobs, effects, and viscera ensure that Path of Exile 2 players are constantly in awe as they play through the game.

2 Dodge Roll

Path of Exile builds always had movement skills suggested, often synergizing with the rest of the build to provide active mechanical damage reduction. However, for new players or players early on in their builds, these movement skills were underwhelming or entirely absent. Path of Exile 2 has remedied this issue.

Path of Exile 2 includes a dodge roll mechanic by default. This, coupled with more telegraphed mechanics on mobs and bosses, ensures that players can feasibly dodge a lot of incoming damage. There are skills to enhance this dodge roll. However, by default, all players will have access to this useful and intuitive mechanic.

3 Fewer Loot Drops

Loot Is More Valuable

Path of Exile is famous for its immense number of loot drops that make loot filters almost mandatory. This can be overwhelming for newer players, and the requirement of a loot filter is seen as an unnecessary step for many players. Most players will not pick up 95% of the loot in Path of Exile, making the incredibly common loot drops feel unnecessary.

Path of Exile 2 has stripped back the amount of loot that drops, meaning that for the early acts, a loot filter is not needed. This tends to mean that loot is more valuable and means more to the player given its rarity. While loot may be slightly too scarce right now, many players agree that the reduction in drops is an improvement over Path of Exile.

4 Smaller Pack Density

Each Mob Means More

In a case similar to the number of loot drops, Path of Exile is known for levels and maps containing massive hordes of enemies that tend to be defeated very quickly. Only rare mobs and bosses tend to pose even the slightest threat, making the sheer number of mobs in each encounter seem superfluous.

Path of Exile 2 has stripped back the overall density of mobs. While large crowds can still form, fewer, smaller, and more unnecessary mobs fill out these numbers. Instead, Path of Exile 2 focuses on including fewer enemies overall, but more enemies with mechanics.

5 WASD Movement

A New Way To Move

Path of Exile is controlled using mouse clicks, wherein the character goes wherever the mouse has clicked on the ground or has been dragged while holding left-click. This, despite being easy to learn, is often unintuitive for many players who are used to traditional control schemes.

Path of Exile 2 has acknowledged the unintuitive nature and offers players a choice between controlling movement with the mouse or WASD. The use of WASD combined with the dodge roll mechanic modernizes Path of Exile 2 and makes it feel very user-friendly when compared to the first game.

6 Better Controller Support

Kick Back And Relax

As APRGs begin to appeal to larger audiences, with titles such as Diablo 4 releasing on console and offering full controller support, the exclusivity of mouse and keyboard control schemes feels outdated. While Path of Exile does support the controller, it is by no means a flawless plug-and-play option.

Path of Exile 2 has opted to remedy this, with each aspect of the game being made with both controller and keyboard and mouse in mind. This means that players can use their controller seamlessly and experience a far more laid-back experience in Path of Exile 2. In some instances, the use of a controller even feels like a preferred control method.

7 No Gear Sockets

One of the larger confusing and unintuitive elements of Path of Exile was how skills and sockets worked. To utilize skills, players would have to socket color corresponding skill gems into gear sockets. For support gems, players would have to ensure their gear had the correct color sockets that were linked to the initial skill. This is a massive barrier to entry for newer players and is often considered cumbersome even by veterans of the game.

Path of Exile 2 improves on this system tenfold, removing the requirement of gear socketing and allowing skills to be equipped through a skill gem menu. Each skill then has six associated sockets for support gems by default, meaning players do not have to hunt for the correct slots and links on their gear.