Starting December 12, Grinding Gear Games will deploy Path of Exile 2 update 0.4.0, titled Last of the Druids. Considered one of the most important in the history of the game, it introduces a new playable class, a new league rich in narrative, as well as profound technical and balancing overhauls. This overhaul marks a decisive step in the transition to the full version of the game.
“The presentation began with Game Director Jonathan Rogers’ introduction to the Druid,” who detailed the complexity of this Force/Intelligence hybrid class, designed to offer unprecedented flexibility. Three forms of metamorphosis are available: the Bear, the Wolf and the Wyvern, each with its distinct play style, instantly accessible in the middle of combat depending on the team.
The Druid, a unique class focused on metamorphosis
Druid gameplay is based on dynamic transformation mechanics. “Rogers insisted that shapeshifting is designed to be “instantaneous and seamless,” allowing players to switch between forms mid-combat without difficulty.” The Bear favors rage and melee attacks, the Wolf favors agility and cold, while the Wyvern deals elemental damage from a distance.
The Druid uses a new category of objects: animal talismans, essential to determine the active form and its skills. Added to this is a range of spells specific to the human form such as Volcano or Entangling Vine, designed to interact with transformations.
Two ancestry classes are available at launch: the Shaman and the Oracle. “The Shaman channels rage into spell damage and amplifies the elemental chaos around the player,” while “the Oracle uses Foresight to anticipate upcoming skill opportunities and unlocks over 130 additional passives.” A third ascendancy is planned later.
Fate of the Vaal, an innovative build-your-own league
Another major new feature: the league Fate of the Vaalcentered on the ancient civilization of Atziri. “Roberts explains that this takes players ‘just before Atziri triggers the cataclysm'”, opening access to underground temples to be built piece by piece. Each race offers six rooms, to be strategically positioned to optimize the rewards.
The time portal system, introduced as a prototype, allows access to rooms of the past containing extreme mechanics, such as multi-stage corruption chambers, new Soul Cores or even body surgeries performed by a Vaal flesh surgeon. The league’s final boss, the Architect, unlocks unique rewards, including “Atziri’s Rule, a staff that increases corrupted gem levels and creates projectile novas.”
Increased performance and massive balancing on the program
Update 0.4.0 isn’t just about content. The development team has undertaken extensive optimization work. Rogers notes that gamers “should see at least 25% higher frame rates” thanks to better multithreading and reduced frame peaks on consoles.
In terms of balancing, no fewer than 90 active skills have been revised, 11 unique items added, and more than 250 passives integrated. 21 bloodline supports have been rebalanced, with 9 new ones included. A complete overhaul of the Atlas talent tree is in the works for version 0.5.0, while end-game content Rise of the Abyssal is now integrated into the heart of the experience, with new interactions, bosses and monster density changes.