How To Make A Summon Raging Spirits Guardian Build In POE 3.23 Affliction League?
The SRS Guardian emerged as a popular choice for a league starter in the current league, prompting me to opt for it as my initial build in Path of Exile 3.23 Affliction League. Here’s a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in constructing this build. If you plan to embark on creating this build, make sure you have an ample supply of Path of Exile Currency.
Why Play SRS Guardian?
The biggest improvement to minion builds recently has been reworked to the Guardian Ascendancy, which gives players access to the Sentinel of Radiance. Additionally, a Triple Aura effect is sustained by Elemental Relics.
On top of that, the Affliction League saw the addition of some powerful specters which cast various auras and provide utility effects that greatly buff the damage output of any minion build.
Summon Raging Spirits
For Summon Raging Spirits, the main skill setup links SRS to Minion Damage, Elemental Damage with Attacks, Unleash, Elemental Focus, and Ruthless Support.
Alternative support gems for this setup include Multistrike for faster attacks or Melee Splash for better multi-target damage. This will be socketed in the body armor of the build.
Trigger Wand
In the weapon slot, this build sockets Desecrate, Flesh Offering, and Punishment in a Trigger Wand. This is done to sustain Flesh Offering when summoning Raging Spirits.
Punishment will also be triggered onto enemy mobs, increasing their damage taken when on low life.
Auras
The auras that this build reserves in its Mana pool are Tempest Shield, Determination and Skitterbots linked to Unbound Ailments.
These can be socketed in the gloves with a +2 to socketed AOE gem to improve the effectiveness of these auras.
Tempest Shield and Determination greatly improve the build’s survivability by providing armor, spell block, and shock immunity.
Skitterbots, linked to Unbound Ailments, increases the shock effect of the aura.
Mobility + Divine Blessing
For mobility, this build sockets a Shield Charge in an unset ring and Frost Blink in one of the sockets of the shield.
Shield Charge is the primary travel skill, while Frost Blink allows the character to traverse across small gaps and obstacles.
In the remaining sockets of the shield, the build uses a Haste aura linked to a Divine Blessing Support, sustained through Eldritch Battery.
Buffs + CWDT
In the helmet, the build has a Summon Carrion Golem linked to Feeding Frenzy and a level 14 Molten Shell linked to level 9 Cast When Damage Taken support.
The Carrion Golem provides flat physical damage to the Raging Spirits and sustains the Feeding Frenzy buff, providing more damage, increased movement speed, and increased attack speed.
Spectre Setup
Finally, in the boots, there will be a Raise Spectre and Animate Guardian linked to an Elemental Army support.
An Elemental Weakness curse gem will also be socketed in the remaining socket for the double curse setup.
Elemental Army support increases the survivability of these support minions and allows them to apply elemental exposure to enemies.
Note that to obtain a maximum of 4 specters in the build, the gem level of Raise Spectre will need to reach level 25, and Death Attunement must be allocated.
The first spectre needed is a Perfect Hulking Miscreation, providing 100% increased damage and 30% attack speed to the Raging Spirits, along with an additional 20% physical damage gained as lightning damage.
The second spectre is a Perfect Spirit of Fortune, providing the equivalent of a level 47 Wrath aura effect as well as the ability for lightning damage dealt by allies to be rolled twice.
The third spectre is a Perfect Judgemental Spirit, granting the equivalent of a level 3 Envy, level 29 Discipline, and level 32 Anger.
Finally, for the fourth Spectre, a Perfect Blasphemer is used, providing a level 40 Smite buff and creating moving curse ground that applies inable Temporal Chains and Vulnerability to enemies, ignoring the player’s maximum curse limit.
Animate Guardian Setup
For the Animate Guardian, Leer Cast grants 50% increased damage to nearby allies. Dying Breath grants another 18% increased damage to nearby allies and 18% increased curse effect on nearby enemies.
Legacy of Fury applies Scorch to nearby enemies, lowering their elemental resistances. Southbound and Belly of the Beast are defensive POE Items that significantly increase the life pool of the Animate Guardian and are used to prevent it from dying.
Weapon + Gloves + Boots
For the gear on the character, this build uses a +1 Trigger Wand with fractured Minion Attack Speed and some Minion Damage.
On the gloves, the build has a +2 to socketed AOE gems to improve the effectiveness of the socketed auras. Otherwise, it just has some life, resistances, a bit of suppression, and Minion Damage.
For the boots, a total of 35% movement speed and 23% life regeneration rate can be achieved by stacking both Explicit and Implicit Eldritch Modifiers.
The rest of the modifiers cover more life and resistances.
Body Armor
The body armor used in the build is the Doppelgänger Guise, which mitigates a significant amount of physical and chaos damage taken.
It also allows the player to regenerate a large amount of health when hit because minions do not benefit from the character going insane. In this case, the build can remain sane 100% of the time to take advantage of these defensive modifiers.
Doppelgänger Guise + Divine Flesh Combo
To further improve the build’s survivability, a Glorious Vanity jewel (Sacrificed in the Name of Xibaqua) will be socketed next to Pain Attunement to allocate Divine Flesh. This increases the maximum chaos resistance to 80% and converts 50% of elemental damage taken into chaos damage instead.
By equipping the Doppelgänger Guise while running Divine Flesh, this build can effectively apply the less chaos damage taken modifier to 50% of the elemental damage taken as well.
Shield
In the shield, the build has a fractured 2% to all maximum resistances to further increase the elemental and chaos max hits. This will also be another source of global minion gem level, helping the build achieve the level 25 Raise Spectre skill gem.
Helmet
The helmet for this build is a fractured Energy Shield item base that also grants another +1to all minion skills. It provides a bit of physical damage taken as lightning, minion life, and resistances.
More importantly, this helmet provides a significant amount of flat Energy Shield that can be used to scale both evasion rating and flat minion damage.
Charms
Using these 2 charms, the build can get an additional 2,192 flat evasion rating and 41 flat physical damage for minions. This is the equivalent of a level 16 Grace without the gem or Mana reservation and a level 20 Carrion Golem buff.
With the third charm, this build can gain permanent Onslaught for all minions as well as another 14% elemental resistance.
Rings & Amulet
For the rings and amulet, it is important to fulfill the high Dexterity and Intelligence requirements within these item slots.
If the dexterity requirements are too high, a lower-level Haste skill gem could be used. If the Intelligence requirements are too high, the Convoking Wand can be downgraded to a Convening Wand instead.
On the amulet, this build will also need a +1 to all skill gems to reach the level 25 Raise Spectre and Death Attunement, anointed for access to the fourth Spectre.
Jewels & Clusters
Aside from 1 singular medium jewel, this build has 4 Ghastly Eye Jewels, each with life and Minion Attack Speed.
Some alternative modifiers this build could benefit greatly from are increased minion damage if the character has used a minion skill recently, minion blind on hit, minion accuracy, or elemental resistances.
For the cluster jewel, this build uses Renewal and Bless Rebirth to increase damage output and prevent Raging Spirits from dying too quickly when tanking enemy attacks.
Finally, a Quickening Covenant is socketed in the cluster jewel, which grants a significant boost to Minion Attack Speed without any of the downsides, as the unique jewel is socketed within a cluster jewel.
Ascendancy Passives
For the Ascendancy passives, this build first runs Radiant Crusade, allowing the player to summon the Sentinel of Radiance.
The Sentinel of Radiance has high based attack damage, fairly strong damage over time aura, and the ability to redirect 20% of damage taken from the player.
The second passive that this build runs is Unwavering Crusade, allowing the build to summon and sustain 3 different Elemental Relics that each cast an Anger, Wrath, or Hatred aura. Even with only a 25% chance to summon these relics when hitting a boss or killing enemies, Summon Raging Spirits can usually sustain these relics pretty well due to the frequency of their attacks.
The third passive players will usually want to grab for this build will be Time of Need. This will help with sustainability during Uber lab, as well as throughout the campaign.
Players can also choose to allocate Radiant Faith as their third passive instead if they desire a higher health pool from the flat energy shield and armor provided early on.
Finally, the fourth passive will be Bastion of Hope, which gives a consistent 25% chance to block both attack and spell damage as long as the player has either casted a spell or attacked recently.
Passive Skill Tree
The passive skill tree for SRS Guardians follows a pretty typical outline for most minion builds, aside from the pathing it takes towards Whispers of Doom and Eldritch Battery.
For offensive masteries, it is important to allocate these passives to improve the build's damage output. For defensive masteries, this is the list of passives that you'll want to allocate.
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In Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, there are some exceptionally rare items that represent the ultimate goal for many builds and can be worth hundreds of Divine Orbs.
Let's take a look at the endgame Unique items in PoE 2 Patch 0.5.0 that require no complicated crafting and can drop directly, with values ranging from dozens to several thousand Divine Orbs. They are still a long way from a Mirror of Kalandra, but they remain highly desirable targets.
Here are 10 items most worth chasing in the endgame:
- Bursting Decay Unset Ring
- Choir of the Storm (Level 20 Lightning Bolt)
- Right of Passage Series
- Headhunter
- Palm of the Dreamer
- Prism of Belief Diamond
- Mageblood
- Runeseeker's Call
- The Last Flame and Temporalis
- The Gnashing Sash
10. Bursting Decay Unset Ring
Bursting Decay is an entry-level endgame Unique item that can randomly drop during Atlas content when exploring Corrupted Nexus areas. However, it cannot be obtained by gambling with an Orb of Chance.
An Uncorrupted Bursting Decay, regardless of whether it is identified, is currently worth around 40 Divine Orbs.
It is useful for life-stacking physical damage builds, but this playstyle is not particularly mainstream in the current League, so overall demand remains relatively low.
9. Choir of the Storm (Level 20 Lightning Bolt)
Choir of the Storm can randomly drop by defeating Breach Bosses and the additional monsters around them. It also cannot be obtained by using an Orb of Chance on a normal Jade Amulet.
The most important special effect of Choir of the Storm is that Critical Damage can ignore enemy Lightning Resistance, while also allowing Lightning Bolt to trigger.
A standard Choir of the Storm has little value. The real target is a version with Level 20 Lightning Bolt. An Uncorrupted version that naturally has the level 20 Lightning Bolt modifier is worth around 50–60 Divine Orbs.
If the boss drops a corrupted version, or if Lightning Bolt is below Level 20, its value drops significantly.
8. Right of Passage Series
Right of Passage has a chance to drop when Rare Monsters or Unique Bosses possessed by the corresponding Animal Spirit are defeated.
It always provides 15% increased Rarity of Items found and automatically triggers when you kill a Rare or Unique enemy. Once triggered, you become possessed by an Azmeri Spirit for 10–20 seconds and gain the special effect associated with that Spirit.
Right of Passage drops with a fixed Spirit variant, and the actual combat effects vary significantly between versions. Spirit of the Stag is worth around 80 Divine Orbs, while Spirit of the Cat is worth around 255 Divine Orbs.
An Uncorrupted version can have its duration modified to 18–20 seconds with a Divine Orb, and versions with this duration are worth more.
7. Headhunter
Headhunter has a chance to drop directly from monsters in any map content, provided the monsters meet the required level.
The value of an Uncorrupted version has been gradually declining and is currently around 70–80 Divine Orbs.
It can also have a chance to appear when using Remnants during Expedition to craft Rare Belts or Unique items.
Another option is using an Orb of Chance on a Heavy Belt. However, the success rate is extremely low, at roughly 1/2,000 to 1/3,000, so this method is not recommended.
A more efficient approach is combining Ritual with Head of the King. Since Headhunter can appear directly in Ritual Favours shop, this provides a more targeted way to farm it than simply running maps.
6. Palm of the Dreamer
Palm of the Dreamer is an extremely powerful Scepter that causes slain enemies to explode, dealing Chaos Damage equal to 25% of their maximum Life. This can significantly improve clear efficiency while farming maps.
Palm of the Dreamer drops directly in an Uncorrupted state. You need to corrupt one of the following three base Scepters to obtain it:
- Guiding Palm of the Heart
- Guiding Palm of the Eye
- Guiding Palm of the Mind
Corrupting any one of these has approximately a 3% chance of transforming it into Palm of the Dreamer. These three base Scepters are worth around 1.5 Divine Orbs, while Palm of the Dreamer is currently valued at 80–220 Divine Orbs.
5. Prism of Belief Diamond
Prism of Belief can only drop from The Arbiter of Ash. It randomly selects a skill and increases its skill level.
An Unidentified version is worth around 50 Divine Orbs. Once identified, however, its value can vary enormously depending on the resulting modifier.
A +1 modifier for an unpopular skill may bring its value down to less than 1 Divine Orb, while a +3 modifier for a meta skill can potentially push its value above 1,000 Divine Orbs.
4. Mageblood
Mageblood provides effects through Charms equipped on Utility Belt, allowing it to simultaneously provide substantial defensive mechanics, ailment protection, and resistances. Its value is around 280 Divine Orbs.
Like Headhunter, Mageblood can drop from monsters throughout the game, but Expedition and Ritual are the best ways to target it. It is also not recommended to use an Orb of Chance on a Utility Belt, since the odds are far too low.
3. Runeseeker's Call
Runeseeker's Call can enhance socketed Runes, and its value has risen from around 400–600 Divine Orbs early on to approximately 1,300 Divine Orbs.
You first need to obtain a Depleted Mana Rune, then charge it into an Infused Mana Rune. After reaching 10,000 Mana to complete the required objective and finishing the remaining Farrow objective, you can obtain Runeseeker's Call.
Completing the required objectives requires a substantial investment, and each character can only obtain it once. Farming it therefore requires creating multiple alt characters, which makes the item particularly valuable.
Instead of creating the alt and wasting a lot of time, you can directly buy PoE 2 Currency at PoEcurrency.com and trade with other players. Farming the boss and completing the quest yourself could take dozens of hours.
2. The Last Flame and Temporalis
The Last Flame is a Unique Incense Relic. Completing the challenge with it causes Zarokh, the Temporal to drop Temporalis.
Temporalis is dropped by Zarokh, the Temporal in Trial of the Sekhemas, and the chance is extremely low. Its direct value is around 3,500 Divine Orbs.
Obtaining Temporalis is also extremely difficult. In addition to using The Last Flame, you must defeat Zarokh, the Temporal without losing Honor, meaning you need to finish the fight with 1 Honor remaining. Otherwise, The Last Flame will be consumed.
Unless you have a highly specialized build and extensive practice, using The Last Flame yourself is not recommended.
1. The Gnashing Sash
When equipped, The Gnashing Sash allows Flask recovery to exceed your maximum Life, temporarily giving you more recovery than your Max Life and creating an additional Life buffer.
It also increases Flask Charges gained and Flask Life Recovery, making the mechanic easier to sustain.
The Gnashing Sash can only drop from Corrupted Boss in Corrupted Nexus. It is extremely rare, and very few players list it. Its value is around 3,500–4,500 Divine Orbs.
Obtaining these items either requires a substantial amount of currency, an extremely powerful build, or both. However, most of them do not drop consistently, so they are best viewed as additional rewards that can appear while farming.
The currency system in Path of Exile features a vast array of orbs, each with distinct types and functions; if you are a relatively new player, you will frequently encounter orbs you haven't seen before.
While you don't need to master the details of every single currency item, Chromatic Orb is particularly important during PoE 3.29 update. This is due not only to its inherent function but also to the significant changes introduced in this version.
In this guide, we will outline these changes and provide the best strategies for obtaining and using Chromatic Orbs during Curse of the Allflame league.
Functionality and recent changes
As a consumable currency, the primary function of PoE Chromatic Orb is to randomly reroll the colors of an item's gem sockets. The higher the item's quality, the greater the chance of rolling a non-white socket.
Historically, this effect was valuable because socket colors strictly dictated which gems could be slotted, for instance, a red socket could only accept a red gem.
However, in version 3.29, Path of Exile completely overhauled the interaction between sockets and gems: gems can now be slotted into any socket regardless of color, though matching the gem color to the socket color grants a +10% quality bonus to the gem.
This change means that rolling a matching color is no longer a hard requirement for using specific skills; instead, it has become an advanced strategy for maximizing damage or other bonus effects.
Consequently, the effect of Chromatic Orb has been adjusted: it now forces one socket on the item to be non-white, while the remaining sockets are randomized as usual. The influence of item quality on socket colors remains unchanged.
These changes have also made the currency rarer than before. As a result, the option to exchange Jeweller's Orbs for Chromatic Orbs has been removed, and the gold tax required to acquire them via Currency Exchange Market has been increased.
Therefore, if you want to acquire more Chromatic Orbs to enhance your build or expand your crafting options, the best choice is to buy PoE Chromatic Orbs at POECURRENCY.com. Place your order now and use code COA for an 8% discount!
How to maximize the value of Chromatic Orbs in 3.29?
The socket colors resulting from the use of a Chromatic Orb are not purely random; they are strongly correlated with the item's base attribute requirements. For instance, a dexterity-based item is more likely to roll green sockets.
However, if you roll a socket color that differs from the item's primary attribute (e.g., rolling red or blue on a dexterity gear), this is known as an off-color socket.
While off-color sockets have a lower probability of appearing, they are often crucial depending on the specific requirements of your build.
Therefore, for standard socket colors that match the item's attributes, simply using a Chromatic Orb is sufficient. If you wish to increase your chances of obtaining one or two off-color sockets, you can utilize the special mechanics available at Crafting Bench.
If you need to modify the socket colors of a corrupted item, standard Chromatic Orbs will not work; you must use Tainted Chromatic Orbs instead.
The unique feature of this currency is that it ignores the item's attribute requirements, making it easier to roll off-color sockets.
Whether you are rerolling socket colors on standard or corrupted gear, we advise against doing so haphazardly, as Chromatic Orbs are quite valuable.
If you are in the early stages of the league and cannot immediately roll the desired colors, there is no need to worry. Simply socket your gems to keep your skills functional for now, and aim for matching socket colors, which offer quality bonuses, once your overall setup has stabilized.
Before attempting high-level socket recoloring in the mid-to-late game, evaluate whether the skill gems you intend to use will provide satisfactory benefits. If they do, apply the process to the core gear of your chosen build in Path of Exile 3.29.
How to obtain Chromatic Orbs?
Relying on random drops during combat is not the most efficient farming method, as this currency has no specific source and can drop anywhere.
Generally, we recommend using specific recipes to acquire them. Available recipes involve three specific divination cards: The Heroic Shot, Emperor's Luck, and The Void.
The Heroic Shot
Divination cards in Path of Exile are items that can be exchanged for other rewards; for example, The Heroic Shot can be directly exchanged for 17 Chromatic Orbs.
As for obtaining The Heroic Shot itself, you can acquire it by trading in the divination cards The Gambler, Stacked Deck, or The Void, or by finding it in Arcanist's Strongboxes.
Arcanist's Strongboxes are a variant of standard Strongboxes that have a low chance of appearing during mapping or other monster encounters. In addition to The Heroic Shot, they may also contain standard currency items.
Emperor's Luck
Collecting a full set of five of these divination cards allows you to exchange them for five random PoE currency items.
Emperor's Luck can be obtained through trades involving other cards or by farming directly; however, it only drops in four specific maps: Plaza, Residence, The High Gardens, and The Imperial Gardens.
The Void
This is a unique PoE divination card that acts as a special medium, allowing you to exchange it for other cards. In other words, if your primary goal is to farm Chromatic Orbs, it is best to prioritize exchanging The Void for The Heroic Shot.
The Void drops only in Tier 13 or higher maps: Abomination, Citadel, Fortress, Sanctuary, and Ziggurat.
Beyond these three specific divination card methods, you can also obtain Chromatic Orbs through player-to-player trading. However, be sure to research market rates beforehand to minimize your costs.
If you are currently in need of Chromatic Orbs, this guide should prove helpful. Best of luck with your PoE 3.29 journey!
Nearly a month after Path of Exile Curse of the Allflame League began, the in-game economy has undergone significant changes, with the value of some items and currencies that were highly sought after at the start of League declining over time.
The value of Gemcutter's Prism has fallen to almost half of what it was during the early days of the league. However, if you compare this with the situation in Mirage League, you will find that its value is now only around one-fifth of what it was then. Why has this change occurred? Is Gemcutter's Prism still worth farming in the current League?
Gemcutter's Prism in PoE Patch 3.23
Gemcutter's Prism can add 1% Quality to a Skill Gem until the gem reaches the maximum Quality of 20%.
This translates into higher damage, faster casting speed, or stronger utility, making it an essential part of character builds.
Its effect varies depending on the type of gem. For Attack or Spell Skill Gems, Quality typically increases damage, the chance to inflict ailments, or other important stats. For Aura Gems, Quality often increases the radius of the aura's effect.
In Patch 3.23, a major change was made to Gemcutter's Prism. Players could no longer use the vendor recipe of 1 Level 20 Skill Gem + 1 Gemcutter's Prism to obtain a Level 1 Skill Gem with 20% Quality. However, this recipe remained available for non-Awakened Support Gems.
Although this change appeared minor, it directly removed the traditional low-cost method of consistently obtaining 20% Quality on Skill Gems. As a result, the barrier to obtaining Gemcutter's Prisms and high-Quality Skill Gems increased significantly.
After this change, the value of Gemcutter's Prism in the league rose to around 5 to 6 Chaos Orbs.
Gemcutter's Prism in PoE Patch 3.29
However, why has the value of Gemcutter's Prism fallen so sharply in Path of Exile 3.29? GCP itself has not undergone any major changes, but it has been heavily affected by changes to Path of Exile socket system.
In PoE 3.29 Curse of the Allflame league, equipment sockets default to White Sockets. Furthermore, skill gems can be inserted into sockets of any color, and if a skill gem or support gem's color matches the socket color, it gains a +10% Quality.
This effectively reduced players' reliance on traditional Gem Quality optimization. Before PoE 3.29, GCP was one of the primary ways to raise a Gem to 20% Quality.
Now, however, part of the demand for Quality is being handled by the new Socket system, which has reduced demand for Gemcutter's Prism.
Does Gemcutter's Prism Still Have Value?
Although demand for Gemcutter's Prism has declined, it still retains considerable value, as reaching 20% Quality remains extremely important for top-tier builds.
Chasing stronger Level 21 Gems, 20% Quality Gems, or Gems with Vaal versions is a core endgame goal for many players.
Creating these Gems requires large quantities of 20% Quality Gems as materials, which means you may need a substantial number of Gemcutter's Prisms.
Therefore, as many players begin to upgrade their builds, the value of Gemcutter's Prism may rise again, presenting a good investment opportunity. You can buy PoE Gemcutter's Prism at PoE currency.com to position yourself in advance.
How to Farm Gemcutter's Prism?
Once the value of GCP is understood, finding efficient ways to obtain it becomes the key. There are several main methods.
Monster Drops
This is the most basic method, as Gemcutter's Prisms can drop randomly from slain monsters. Increasing monster pack size and modifiers that improve Currency drops can effectively increase the number of GCPs you obtain.
You can combine this with Strongbox farming strategies, particularly Artisan's Strongboxes, which have a chance to drop GCPs. Remember to check your loot filter so that Gemcutter's Prisms are not hidden.
Another method is farming The Union Divination Card in Cemetery Maps. Collecting 7 cards allows you to exchange them for 10 GCPs.
When farming T16 Cemetery Maps, it is recommended to remove all Essence-related passive points. Essence monster modifiers are stronger and deal more damage, so the additional risk does not justify the efficiency. However, you can keep and strengthen passives related to Strongboxes.
Vendor Recipes
Selling 1 Gem with 20% Quality grants 1 GCP. This recipe remains worthwhile for Support Gems, but caution is advised with Skill Gems because a 20% Quality Skill Gem itself can be highly valuable.
Alternatively, you can sell multiple Gems with a combined Quality of 40% to receive 1 GCP. For example, you can sell four Gems with 10% Quality each.
For players looking to conserve Gemcutter's Prisms, you can use a Support Gem together with 1 Gemcutter's Prism in the vendor recipe. The gem's level will be reset to Level 1, while its Quality will be raised to 20%.
You can then level the gem again. Since Support Gems can level relatively quickly, especially in endgame content, this method can save a substantial number of Gemcutter's Prisms. Normally, raising a Gem to 20% Quality directly with GCP requires 20 Prisms, whereas this recipe requires only 1.
Gemcutter's Prism is still worth farming in the current League. You can combine a Stacked Deck farming strategy with Cemetery Maps to focus on this currency, which can provide solid returns. Any excess GCPs or finished Gems can be converted into worthwhile profits while still meeting your own needs.
Discussions about Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 have been heating up recently, with the most pressing question for players being: Will GGG add a new class to this patch?
Let's start with the conclusion: the probability of Patch 0.5.5 directly adding a class isn't as high as some might think. Rather than releasing a test class early, the official team is more likely to use Gamescom on August 25th at 11 AM as a major promotional event to showcase the direction of the official PoE 2 Patch 1.0 release.
However, don't despair! GGG has a history of skillfully building suspense at major events, and new classes, new gameplay, and demo content are all possible glimpses at Gamescom.
But considering the overall pacing, 0.5.5 seems more like a tweaking update paving the way for the official release; the real big content will likely be saved for 1.0.
New Content Predictions
For many PoE 2 players, Gamescom has become a crucial window into the future direction of PoE 2.
Looking back at previous events, the official team does have a habit of releasing playable demos of classes at exhibitions. The most typical example is Druid class; before its official release, a playable build was offered at this exhibition, allowing players to experience the class early.
However, the showcase build underwent numerous adjustments between the demo and the final release. Early showcases were more about demonstrating the direction of development than the final product.
Therefore, the appearance of playable content at Gamescom is expected. However, what GGG will ultimately choose to show remains to be seen.
Currently, new chapter content is unlikely to be a focus. This is because the story experience of PoE 2 is a major selling point of the full release, especially later chapters. Revealing too much too early could easily diminish the sense of exploration for players on their first playthrough.
New Class?
Necromancer
Speaking of new classes, one of the most discussed topics in the community is Necromancer.
After all, in the eyes of ARPG players, summoner builds always hold a special place. Many players also hope that PoE 2 will add this classic class. However, judging from the current official design of PoE 2 class system, the possibility of Necromancer being added is not very high.
This is because PoE 2 and PoE 1 have different understandings of class roles. In PoE 1, a character's final style largely depended on their Ascendancy class. For example, a Witch could go through different Ascendancy paths to Summoning, Elemental, or other routes, with the class itself bearing a significant role in theme creation.
But PoE 2 aims to reduce this limitation. The developers hope that players will create their own playstyles through skill selection, gear combinations, and talent paths, rather than being fixed in a certain gameplay framework simply by choosing a class.
This direction seems to offer more freedom, but it has also sparked considerable discussion among players.
Passive Tree Limitations
Many veteran players loved PoE 1, largely because of its extremely high degree of freedom. You could see many strange builds, such as a character who seemed destined to charge with a shield, but ended up being played as a Summoner or Spellcaster.
PoE 1's Passive Tree allowed players to traverse vast areas to find the attributes and nodes they needed, which was one of the game's greatest charms.
However, things changed in PoE 2. Because of the adjusted Passive Tree structure, a character's starting point has a more significant impact on gameplay direction. If a character wants to switch to a completely unique system, they need to invest more resources.
For example, a melee class wanting to play a summoner build isn't theoretically impossible, but it might require a significant investment of resources, including substantial PoE 2 Currency, and even special equipment. This results in some playstyles existing but not as natural as in PoE 1.
This is why Necromancer class is controversial. If the developers insist on letting skills determine gameplay, they might not design a separate summoner specialization class, but continue to adjust the system, allowing players to create summoner builds through combinations.
Templar and Duelist
While the possibility of Necromancer is low, player speculation about the new class hasn't stopped. Currently, the two most discussed directions are Templar and Duelist.
Templar has always been a class many veteran players have been hoping for. This class itself possesses very distinct elements of strength, faith, and holiness; if added to PoE 2, it could greatly expand melee and support gameplay.
Especially with the addition of more new weapon systems in the second generation, many players are eager to see how the developers will design paladin-style characters.
However, based on recent demonstrations, a Duelist-oriented approach is also highly probable. Previous footage showed two-handed swords and daggers, leading many to speculate that the developers might prioritize a new, more agile, melee-focused class.
Compared to a traditional summoner class, sword and dagger classes are more likely to showcase combat differences in gameplay demonstrations and are better suited to a large-scale event like Gamescom.
Transitional Update
The answer to whether a new class will be added in 0.5.5 is likely to be no.
Of course, GGG could still choose this approach, as a new class would help boost testing activity and attract more players to get beta access. However, from a development and marketing perspective, a single class is unlikely to sustain a major update on its own.
To make it impactful enough, it needs to be bundled with more content, which could disrupt the developers' current schedule for Patch 1.0.
In contrast, releasing a class, new gameplay, and a large amount of new content in Patch 1.0 would have a stronger impact. The official launch of PoE 2 is a significant milestone. A larger initial launch attracts more streaming platforms, content creators, and new players.
For a long-running ARPG, the initial buzz is crucial. Once a community and content ecosystem are established, the game's influence will continue to grow.
Therefore, it seems likely that Patch 0.5.5 will focus more on balance adjustments and system optimizations, while Gamescom will showcase the future direction of Patch 1.0.
If GGG really wants to create a surprise, they might announce a new class at Gamescom.
However, more than a new class, players are probably more concerned with whether Patch 0.5.5 can demonstrate the overall plan for the official PoE 2 release and what direction the game will take in the future.
