If you’ve been exploring the new Dawn of the Hunt league in Path of Exile 2, you probably know that it hasn’t been the smoothest launch for developer Grinding Gear Games. Between the new Huntress class feeling underpowered, Minions losing their bite, and a pervasive sense that the entire campaign has slowed down, many players have been voicing concerns. But the devs are already rolling out fixes—and more are on the way.
Where It All Went Wrong
When update 0.2.0 dropped, Path of Exile 2 soared back up the Steam charts, thanks in part to the novelty of the Dawn of the Hunt league. But that spike in player numbers quickly turned sour when people encountered a raft of nerfs. Everything from skill damage to monster health was impacted in ways that felt, well… a bit much. As the negative feedback mounted, GGG took note.
Slo-o-o-w Campaign Progress
One of the biggest gripes is that leveling feels noticeably slower than before—be it from the new monstrous HP sponges, insufficient damage numbers, or unwieldy area sizes. GGG says that’s front-of-mind for them, so they’re making some targeted adjustments to speed things back up and keep us in that fun, swift flow we know and love from PoE.
Minion Mayhem: From Overpowered to Underwhelming
During the previous endgame patch (0.1.1), Minions were a force to be reckoned with—so strong that GGG decided to reel them in for 0.2.0. Unfortunately, that rebalancing inadvertently left them feeling too weak while you’re leveling. So the team plans to restore some Minion life and damage for the early to mid-game, while letting the existing high-level nerfs remain in place.
Huntress Gets a Tune-Up
This league’s new class, the Huntress, was supposed to bring fresh mechanics like parrying and spear combos to the table. But not everyone’s thrilled about focusing so heavily on parries. Enter the new skill, Cull the Weak, meant to serve as a “Killing Palm” equivalent for the spear-wielding Huntress, letting you dash in and execute enemies—minus the elaborate parry dance. GGG also promises to buff spear throws by around 25%, perfect for those who’d rather fight from a safe distance.
Area Size and Checkpoints
Players have also complained that the new zones feel huge and lacking in excitement, or that they need more frequent checkpoints to cut down on backtracking. GGG agrees that if you’re spending ages roaming a massive area with spongy mobs, you’re in for a slog—and that’s not fun. They’re looking into whether certain areas need a size reduction or more conveniently placed checkpoints to keep players engaged.
New QoL Goodies
Despite the community upset, there’s good news for those who love a bit of convenience. You’ll soon get:
- Atlas Bookmarks: Name and save your favorite map spots for easy return trips.
- Additional Stash Tab Affinities: Items like Socketables and Tables can be auto-sorted into designated Stash Tabs for that sweet, sweet organizational bliss.
Still Some Missing Pieces
One notable oversight: Many players claim they’re “playing PoE 2 on slow mode while monsters are still on PoE 1 speed.” Grinding Gear hasn’t addressed that specifically, but with them taking on so many 0.2.0 concerns already, it seems likely more changes are on deck soon.
A Bump in the Road, But Plenty of Hope
As a fan, I’m all too familiar with the agony of new expansions that don’t quite hit the mark at first. But Path of Exile 2 is shaping up to be an ambitious evolution for the series—even if it’s stumbled a bit at the starting line. With GGG actively listening to community feedback and responding this quickly, I’m feeling pretty optimistic about where Path of Exile 2 will land as the game continues to progress toward its eventual full release.
If you’ve been on the fence about Dawn of the Hunt, keep an eye on the patch notes. Changes are coming, and they might just deliver the balanced, fast-paced, and flexible experience we’ve all been hoping for.
