Summary
Although the highlight ofPath of Exile’s upcoming Settlers of Kalguur expansion is almost certainly its city management league mechanic, patch 3.25 is also introducing some substantial changes to melee builds, removing an entire mechanic in line with GGG’s new philosophy toward melee combat.
Ahead ofPath of Exile’s Settlers of Kalguur announcement, Game Rant asked game directors Mark Roberts and Jonathan Rogers about their approach to the sweeping changes in this update. They weighed in on why they felt that melee builds needed an overhaul, and they also spoke about how GGG hopes that players won’t have to rely so much on guides and wikis to create strong builds inPath of Exile.
GGG Wants Less Reliance on Unique Items and Set-and-Forget Skills
One huge change thatPath of Exileis making in the 3.25 update is the complete removal of Melee Totem Skill Gems. Moving forward, Roberts told us that GGG’s philosophy toward melee builds inPath of Exileis for damage to be dealt specifically by player actions rather than set-and-forget totems like Ancestral Protector or Ancestral Warchief. It’s not a complete loss, as this change does come with some massive buffs to melee skills, in some cases more than doubling their damage. It’s probably safe to say thatmelee builds inPath of Exile 2will similarly adhere to this philosophy.
There’s a lot to figure out since balance can be a pretty touchy subject when it comes to these things, but honestly, the amount of awesome stuff that we’ve done goes a long way toward making it feel like rare items matter and that a lot of the mechanics behind what makes melee great isn’t just hidden behind some niche combination of unique items. It’s all in your face and quite understandable, and I think that is very, very huge because you certainly see a lot of the “meta builds” so to speak that people play are very much gated behind mechanic A or mechanic B and we’re getting away from that.
It’s certainly a tough call to make, as such mechanics are a valid playstyle. Some players may thoroughly enjoy plopping down a damaging totem and luring enemies into it, and an increase in melee damage might not be enough to make up for having one less avenue for build crafting.Path of Exile’s developershave their work cut out for them as they continue to work on the game’s balance, and more changes will surely follow once player feedback comes along.
Path of Exile Builds Shouldn’t Have to Be Based on Guides
AlthoughPath of Exileis lauded for havingunparalleled build variety, the dizzying number of choices at players' disposal also mean it’s a bit of a “wiki game.” Part of this comes from the fact that the things that make a player’s build function aren’t necessarily right in front of them, and build-defining effects might come from unique items that players don’t even know exist. Roberts says that patch 3.25’s changes to melee place more emphasis on the passive tree, where players can formulate a more complete build on the spot without needing to consult a guide.
We’re trying to make it so that you’re able to be melee, you can take a pretty regular passive tree, invest in a number of things that are your choice, use rare items, and you’ll have a great time as opposed to “I need to follow this exact build guide.” So hopefully melee and more of the game moves towards less build guide-driven gameplay in order to really succeed, and you can get there with just playing and not really having to go to the wiki so often, which is kind of where Path of Exile has ended up especially if you want to play at the high end. Obviously, it’s not necessary, but that is kind of how it ends up being.
Guides and wikis will always have their place in a game as complex asPath of Exile, but they should be reserved for more high-end decision-making. After all, making one’s way through the game’s legendarilylabyrinthine skill treeis part of the fun. Hopefully, with these changes, inexperiencedPath of Exileplayers will be able to come up with a build that suits their playstyle in a less roundabout fashion.
Path of Exile
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Path of Exile is an online Action RPG designed around a strong online item economy and deep character customisation. It is set in the dark fantasy world of Wraeclast. Scarred by mysterious catastrophes of the past and inhabited by creatures of nightmare, the very environment challenges exiles who dare explore it. You play as the Duelist, Witch, Ranger, Templar, Marauder, Shadow or the Scion class. From forsaken shores through to the city of Oriath, explore Wraeclast and uncover the ancient secrets waiting for you.You are an Exile, struggling to survive on the dark continent of Wraeclast, as you fight to earn power that will allow you to exact your revenge against those who wronged you. Created by hardcore gamers, Path of Exile is an online Action RPG set in a dark fantasy world. With a focus on visceral action combat, powerful items and deep character customization, Path of Exile is completely free and will never be pay-to-win.
