Path of Exile 2 After 120 Hours: Honest Early Access Feedback on Classes, Mechanics & Challenge PoE2
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After investing over 120 hours into Path of Exile 2’s Early Access, this guy reached a point where first impressions have solidified into genuine, experience-driven feedback. Having tested both a Sorceress at level 80 and a Titan at level 77, He's seen the game’s potential—and its pitfalls—up close. This isn’t a first-look hot take; it’s a dive into what feels great, what doesn’t quite hit the mark, and where the balance might need some serious tweaking.
Key Areas of Concern & Suggestions:
Hasted Mobs & Combat Flow:
Enemies blessed with haste stand out as particularly problematic. PoE2’s dodge-roll-based combat hinges on rhythm and timing, but hasted foes lunge and strike at a pace that outstrips the intended reactive framework. Instead of rewarding skillful dodging, these encounters often feel like desperate facetanks—chugging flasks and hoping your DPS outpaces their relentless assault.
Map Layout & Corridor Design:
Many maps funnel players into narrow choke points, leading to corridor-crawling and doorframe duels. These cramped layouts intensify body-blocking issues and reduce the game’s tactical depth. Instead of using the environment for clever positioning, players find themselves forced into straight-line slugfests that limit strategic options.
Warrior/Titan Class Gameplay:
The Titan’s identity—deliberate, powerful attacks—ends up feeling painfully slow rather than satisfyingly weighty. Attack animations can feel like they run on “3-5 business days” delivery times, and the passive tree often penalizes you further with reduced attack speed. If the class is going to be this slow, it should hit like a runaway freight train and come with sturdier defenses. Without that payoff, the Titan’s gameplay can feel like a chore next to a Sorc’s more fluid, responsive playstyle.
Earthquake Skill Duration:
Waiting a full four seconds before Earthquake delivers meaningful damage isn’t just clunky—it’s an “unmitigated disaster.” For a skill-based ARPG with reactive combat, this kind of delay disrupts the flow and discourages players from engaging with what should be a cornerstone ability for certain builds.
Defensive Layers & Keystones (Mind Over Matter + Eldritch Battery):
Survivability feels skewed. My Sorc struggled until embracing Mind Over Matter and Eldritch Battery, which seem mandatory rather than strategic choices. Attempting to scale life and energy shield alone felt futile, hinting that defensive variety and balance need revisiting to ensure all approaches are viable, not just a couple of must-pick keystones.
League Mechanics (Ritual, Breach, Delirium) & Burst Damage:
Interactive content like Ritual and Breach currently feel punishing unless you can one-shot waves of enemies on sight. The swarming and body-blocking become nightmare fuel in tight spaces, giving little room for counterplay beyond “kill fast or die.” This leans too heavily into a style of build that PoE2 supposedly wants to move away from.
One-Life Maps & Harsh Punishments:
Losing 15% XP on death is already a gut punch, but losing your entire map instance crosses the line into frustration rather than challenge. Punishment without meaningful counterbalance risks driving players away, turning setbacks into quit moments instead of growth opportunities.
Accuracy & Combat Integrity:
Missing attacks despite visually connecting with enemies feels outdated and immersion-breaking. PoE2’s more grounded, tactile combat suggests skill-based evasion and positioning should matter more than a random roll. Accuracy as a stat might need rethinking, given how out-of-place it feels in a system otherwise built around timing and spatial awareness.
Final Thoughts:
While PoE2’s Early Access stage naturally includes rough edges and balance issues, many of these problems aren’t just early stumbles—they highlight deeper systemic concerns. The foundation is strong: combat is more interactive, classes have distinct identities, and the game world feels vibrant. But mechanics like hasted mobs, mandatory keystones, cramped layouts, and the reliance on burst damage threaten to overshadow these strengths.
I’m hopeful that as PoE2 develops, GGG will adjust these pain points. The potential is huge, and with thoughtful refinement, Path of Exile 2 could emerge as the next great ARPG experience. Let’s keep the conversation going—share your own impressions, alternative strategies, and ideas in the comments below!
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