The chase to reach gameplay balance is truly something that makes one understand how it feels to be Sisyphus. After the release of Path of Exile 2 to early access, it doesn’t take long for many players to find overpowered builds that can handle many enemies and challenges. While some people were happy with melting their opponents to ashes, Grinding Gear Games disapproved and quickly rolled out a round of nerfs in Path of Exile 2.
Although some fans are fine with this move, many express their displeasure. I am one of those people. I’m not the most skilled gamer out there, and frankly, I prefer to play relaxing games like Stardew Valley during my downtime. When I booted up Path of Exile 2, I was drawn to the Mercenary and the Witch. In the end, I decided to stick with the Witch since I loved commanding an army of undead skeletons.
Playing as the Witch is not that easy. She is a canon glass, and dying due to one shot is common. Instead of figuring things out myself, I got some guidance online from veteran players, who recommended combining Fire Wall with Raging Spirits. My minions still die quickly, but I can summon the flaming skulls while I keep my distance. Yet not long after I got this ability, GGG decided to nerf Raging Spirits.
The nerf isn’t that bad, and despite the downgrade, my build still works. I can handle various enemies and bosses, yet the sour taste still lingers on my tongue. I’m not the only one angry or disappointed by this round of nerfs in Path of Exile 2. While I understand what GGG is still trying to do, I feel like they need to slow down on nerfing skills.
Can We Start Buffing Some Path of Exile 2 Skills?
Game developers have this tendency to nerf everything to hell as they chase after that impossible and legendary gameplay balance. It’s impossible, I tell you, but I know that GGG won’t stop nerfing skills that they find unacceptable. And, you know what? That’s fair, but how about we start buffing some skills?
The main reason why players use overpowered builds is because the other builds suck. They won’t deal damage, and you will keep getting killed during combat. While I love my minions, I admit they were next to useless before I added Raging Spirits to my arsenal. How about GGG buffs these other skills so there will be more variety in builds?
Nerfing skills also make many Path of Exile 2 players feel like their hard work is a waste. The game is rather grindy, especially when you reach the end of the game. It doesn’t feel good to see your damage getting halved and suddenly have to spend more time slogging through the endless waves of mob enemies.
Another way to mitigate the issue is by allowing players to get free respec when they want to change their builds. Currently, trying to try another build can literally bankrupt you, which is ridiculous. I already have to deal with a tight budget in real life, and I don’t want to encounter it while playing games, especially when it’s not my fault.
If making respecting free is impossible, GGG can also reduce the cost of changing passive skills. I’m not the only player who suggests this idea. If you go to the official Path of Exile 2 X account, you can see other fans commenting similarly on the posts. I enjoy the game and don’t want to stop playing. Yet at the same time, I don’t want to deny that this round of nerfs is not bumming out a lot of players. I hope that GGG will address this issue as they refine their game.
