Jumping into Path of Exile 2 after this patch feels different in a way you notice fast. The grind is still there, sure, but it no longer feels like you're paying a "new build tax" for daring to try something fresh. Even simple stuff like keeping an eye on PoE 2 Currency matters less as a crutch and more like an option, because your character actually comes online earlier instead of limping through the acts.

Skills Feel Better Before Your Build "Clicks"

The biggest win is how early skills behave. You know that awkward stretch where your damage is fine on trash mobs, then a rare shows up and the fight turns into a slow, clumsy dance? That gap is smaller now. Damage, mana costs, and cooldowns got nudged so the curve makes sense, not just for meta setups. Damage-over-time builds especially feel less punishing. Poison and Ignite sticking around longer means you can tag, move, dodge, and still see progress on bosses instead of watching your effect drop off the second you need to reposition. It's a small change that plays huge in real fights.

Weapon Transform Skills Finally Let You Play the Game

If you're the type who loves the big "flip the switch and go" weapon transformation skills, the patch is basically a love letter. Hammer and staff users got the mana cost removed, and it changes the whole tempo. No more staring at an empty blue globe and thinking, "Guess I'm done doing the fun part." You can actually lean into the kit—slam, sweep, clear—without feeling like you're being scolded for pressing your buttons. It also makes gearing choices less narrow, since you're not forced into mana fixes just to keep the build functional.

Ascendancy and the Tree Waste Less of Your Time

The mid-game slump takes a hit too. Ascendancy paths opening with fewer points means you hit your build's identity sooner, which is where PoE characters start feeling like "your" character. Some key lines got reworked in ways that are easy to appreciate moment-to-moment, like the "Fated Pain" route ignoring curse limits so your output doesn't swing wildly depending on the situation. And the passive tree? It's cleaner. Fewer dead ends, fewer filler nodes that exist just to eat points. Planning still matters, but you're not spending half an evening hunting for the least-worst path.

More Room to Experiment Without Getting Burned

What sticks with me is the vibe: it's less "play perfectly or suffer" and more "try stuff and see what works." Classes read clearer, progression flows better, and the game feels friendlier to rerolls instead of fighting you for wanting a second character. If you do decide to speed things up, it's worth knowing sites like U4GM exist for buying game currency or items, because having that option can take the edge off when RNG decides to be stubborn, and you'd rather spend your time actually mapping and testing ideas.