Against a plethora of full-priced AAA titles and passionate and innovative indie projects like Last Epoch, Path of Exile stands out with its unique free-to-play model and has become a standout in ARPG space.
In 2019, Grinding Gear Games announced the sequel, Path of Exile 2. Initially, the expansion was designed as a continuation of the original storyline, but over time, the development team realized that the project had expanded beyond the scope of the original concept. As a result, PoE 2 has grown into a completely independent new game, introducing a range of exciting new features.
These include a full six-act campaign and a richer and more challenging post-campaign endgame system. In addition, the much-loved league mechanics will also appear in Path of Exile 2 in an improved form, and Grinding Gear Games has confirmed that the league mechanics will continue to be at the core of PoE 2’s endgame mapping in the upcoming sequel.
As part of the seasonal content updates, these mechanics not only provide players with more POE 2 Currency rewards, but also greatly change the combat scene, making each game experience fresh and challenging. As of now, PoE has more than 20 different league mechanics.
Next, we will explore which league mechanics should continue to be added to Path Of Exile 2 based on multiple dimensions such as the challenging combat experience they bring and overall playability.
1. Essence
In PoE, Essence has always been one of the core elements of the game, regardless of the current challenge league and its trade economy. This precious resource is obtained by defeating monsters imprisoned in crystalline prisons, and these enemies are often given a variety of powerful effects.
Essence can be used to strengthen existing rare equipment. Players can apply it to a piece of equipment to retain a specific affix while randomizing other parts, creating a more powerful weapon or armor that better suits their needs.
Since Essence is relatively easy to obtain throughout the season, it has become an indispensable part of players pursuing a high-end gaming experience. Especially in solo self-found mode, many players rely on accumulating a large amount of Essence to quickly build a complete and efficient equipment system.
Considering that the upcoming Path Of Exile 2 may adopt a slower combat rhythm, if essence monsters are introduced as small bosses in ancient maps, it will add a lot of challenges and fun to the game.
2. Blight
Blight has always been one of the most stable mid-to-high-end loot generators in PoE, and its entry cost is extremely low or even zero, which makes it easy for numerous players to participate. The tactical nature of PoE 2 will allow Blight to be updated and improved accordingly to keep it engaging and challenging.
When players encounter Blight tower and its companion Sister Cassia in Path Of Exile 2, you will be instructed to build modifiable defense towers along mycelial lanes. Clearing the incoming enemies will reward players with rich loot, including common equipment, Path Of Exile 2 Currency, and a variety of precious resources.
Each defeated portal will spawn additional chests, and each chest contains specific types of loot, such as Oils used to enchant jewelry pieces, Blight-specific unique gear and Blighted maps. Because Enchantments play a vital role in the build and the effect is so powerful, Oils are always in short supply.
3. Expedition
Expedition is a key pillar of currency making in the early and even mid-game. Players will encounter one of four Kalguuran NPCs, numerous explosives, and tombstones. By blowing up these locations, players can reveal hidden underground treasures and undead. Killing enemies and opening chests will reward specific types of currency, which can be converted into equipment, poe currency and more.
Although players like the reward structure of Expedition, many are dissatisfied with it as an off-map system that takes them out of the main storyline of the game. In addition, Expedition allows players to delve into instanced Expedition encounters. Therefore, Expedition is a perfect fit for Path Of Exile 2.
4. Harvest
When it was originally released, Harvest was widely regarded as the most powerful crafting system in the game, and even after multiple nerfs and adjustments, it is still a powerful crafting tool.
Sacred Grove has undergone many changes. Today, players can obtain three unique resources by simply destroying some enemies. These resources can not only be traded between players but also used through Horticrafting stations. Since its heyday in 2020, Harvest has been one of the preferred mechanisms for PoE players.
Unlike grave crafting in Necropolis League, Harvest covers almost all crafting needs and is very simple to operate, making it an ideal entry mechanism for new players to understand the complexity of the game. However, this mechanism also brings some challenges. If the wrong Archnemesis mods are installed on the wrong enemy type, it can quickly lead to disastrous consequences and even burn your portal.
5. Sanctum
Although Sanctum may seem monotonous, the roguelike mode is very suitable for PoE 2. Sanctum has a complex maze-like structure and unique enemies. Since the player character’s ability is often far beyond the difficulty of the challenges encountered, Sanctum has become an ideal place for players to obtain a large amount of currency and other rewards through exploration.
GGG plans to upgrade Forbidden Sanctum and its challenges in Path Of Exile 2 with a slower combat rhythm. This means that players will face a richer and more strategic enemy combination, and it will take longer to adapt to the new environmental changes.
In addition, with the introduction of the skill gem system, the developers also hope to integrate it into the existing reward system to encourage players to bravely go to dangerous areas to find those valuable PoE 2 Items.
In fact, there is no so-called perfect top five league mechanism in Path Of Exile. It is precisely because of the unique nature and diverse game loops of this game that every gameplay is full of freshness and challenges. Players hope that Path Of Exile 2 can not only retain the essence of the original but also provide players with more opportunities to explore unknown areas.
