the single biggest question on the community's mind is what will the endgame of Path of Exile 2 look like. After all, that is the one single most important part of the action RPG genre for a lot of us: getting a Build Together, finding fun and unique ways to slaughter monsters. And after watching the gamescon, the Ziggy interviews, and a talkative try video covering an interview that the Koreans had with Jonathan, I'm triy one by the way. I'm the first one. I'm try try one try one by the way. And we've got a pretty clear picture of what Jonathan expects the endgame to look like. We already know it's planned to be a similar mapping style system with an atlas of maps to complete, with campaign bosses showing back up again in maps, and with some Pinnacle bosses towards the end. But the question remains is what will it feel like. Well, during the interviews, I've taken some notes and quotes I think will illuminate that from what Jonathan said. We'll have the

options of playing a one or zero button build, especially with how many uniques and interactions they're adding, and ways to automate abilities. But he wants to incentivize you to press one more button for some damage, and then maybe, maybe, you know, like another one there. So once you've geared up and grinded some levels, sounds like you'll have the opportunity to play a simpler build, or even just remove some buttons from your play style. But if you want that simple play style on your first character, sounds like you'll have to just give some damage up and have a slightly slower time, which seems pretty fair. They want to incentivize interesting combat early on against monster packs and later on during boss fights. So just having all of these builds right-click pumping out similar damage to the combo you've got to set up and invest into just doesn't really make much sense. We can figure that the early monster pack abuse that you'll be experiencing will be alleviated later on when it's mentioned that you could counter the monsters.

actually trying to kill you in this game with a slower play style or with more overpowered items, which sounds about right for RPGs where you get stronger with your gear and your levels, and the Wolves stop being such a big issue, and the rares with mods or bosses start to become your only worry. Another quote that corroborates this is when he mentions the Mindless grind of mapping, where it sounds like you're just chilling, killing some monsters, grinding out your maps, and I can't imagine it'll be very mindless if you're worrying about every pack of monsters like you were in act one. He mentioned during the Korean interview that he wants you to feel like a god in the endgame of pe2, but without the 20 projectiles, three chains, 15 attacks per second spam of Path of Exile 1. He wants pe2 to have Clarity and some less clutter, but still an incredibly strong character. So where does this strength come from? Well, the strength of godhood sounds like it's

going to come from damage defense, maybe some coverage, and the absolute raffle stomp of all the beings beneath you with the occasional random worthy Challenger. Now, that's the end game, but how about early mapping or Atlas progression? Well, I'm pretty sure you're going to get real shafted sometimes. He wants some white monsters to still Pack-a-Punch early on, with some examples being like a big Rhino that has a big Rhino ability that you probably got to get out of the way of or kill before he reaches you. Some monster packs might have a combo of their own they'd like to try it on you with the monsters in PE2 having a real identity that you have to fight against. They'll be trying their hardest to kill you in every convoluted way they can, just as you are to them, with maps introducing a variety of monster types. You won't be saved by having only one zone archetype against you like in the campaign. There's going to be some pretty spicy combos that happen, and you're

probably going to get a little bit pissed early on. Now, unfortunately, it's looking like we're going to have another 5-month league with the wait for Pee2 Early Access seeming so far away. So many Exiles lost and wondering what to do in the meantime. Thankfully, I won't have to get a real job just yet, thanks to today's sponsor, Boot Dodev. Boot Dodev is made to get you writing code and starting your journey into learning the practical skills of backend web development. They use the same tactics game companies use to motivate you to continue learning, with hands-on lessons, leaderboards, and progress bars filling up to give that little spike of dopamine and to help stave off the boredom that comes with studying. The creators never want a student feeling like they spent money on something that isn't really helping them, so they offer a 30-day, no-question-asked refund policy and a free demo for every course and its interactive features. Just like in Poe, if you're feeling stuck, you can always head to the Boot Dodev Discord and get some

help and ask for a code check. Not everyone can afford a membership, so all the boot.dev content is free to read and watch in guest mode. While you can watch and learn in guest mode, the paid membership unlocks the hands-on coding within the site, the AI assistance if you are stuck, progress tracking, and the gamification that makes the content immersive and to incentivize just one more lesson. Click the link in the description and use my code tripolar bear to get 25% off your first month or even your first entire year if you choose the annual plan. All this deadliness is balanced around melee feeling good and combat being meaningful, which means if you don't know how to play, you're going to have to learn pretty damn quick, or you're getting eaten by the Wolves who hand melee weapons, having an emphasis on stunning hits and DPS, allowing a skillful player to pump out more damage and easily kill the monsters, while a one-and sword-and-board allows you to kind of study your enemy, plan your attack, or retreat. They

want you to interact with the game, not just run towards the door, right-click everything on your screen, proliferating or exploding with projectiles that effect when you put your Shield up. They want you to feel like your character actually blocked a hit, not that some ethereal block chance roll was one, and you succeeded in avoiding some damage. Nay, they want your character to get moved and pushed backwards, and a Beat of sweat to roll down your back, knowing you've only got one more hit like that left in you before your stance is broken, and you've got to restart the boss fight. Melee was the entire reason they built PE 2 from the ground up as a new game. Even with Early Access coming out in a few months, they're still changing core mechanics, which can be a little bit scary but is still kind of exciting. Cool, they recently talked about now being able to link abilities to your default attack, creating a sort of build-your-own skill, which has no Mana cost. Kind of makes sense, you got a big ass Hammer, why

not hit some stuff with it. It can be utility. It could be used to weave extra damage and during DPS windows with a quick attack. It could be used to freeze or apply some ailment to weaken the boss. This doesn't mean they want you to default attack for your best DPS option or to have that be your main ability, and they've actively worked against that with redesigning how bosses are balanced, how your default attack is balanced, and how much damage it can give. And one part of that was another rebalance of a game mechanic, which is the removal of being able to portal out of the boss fights. Holy Mega baste! No longer can you portal out to safety, look back through the other side of your portal at the Elder monster waiting to get his tentacles around you, but since you made it through the portal just in time, you can grab a drink from the pub with your Bros, mess around with your supports and gear, and at your leisure walk through to the patient horror that awaits. Once you start that fight, you have two options.

kill or be killed, with bosses being where most of the meaningful combat is taking place. They've put a huge emphasis on campaign bosses, with Mark, who made some of the endgame bosses in POE 1, also making them in POE 2, but now as campaign bosses. In a way, you'll be fighting endgame bosses in POE 2 pretty early on, with mechanics more interesting and deadly than shoots ice out of her hands and makes water spouts, or hits you with a claw and has a water circle. This is where your first time through some of the end-of-act bosses may be pretty brutal till you familiarize yourself with the moveset, learn when you can extend your combo or deal more damage, and I would imagine just like in POE 1, knowledge of the fight will make it much easier the next time, especially when your build is properly geared and you're a much more skilled player. So with all of this, here's my takeaway, my TLDR for POE 2's endgame in red maps or the

equivalent. It may start a bit brutal as soon as you get there. While you progress your Atlas, you might not be too familiar with what the map bosses do yet, and the Monsters having certain combos between the new pack variety and map modifiers may just boom your low-geared ass. Sometimes you'll get shafted, but as you grind out better gear, level up your character, and get more comfortable with your builds, play style, and boss abilities, you'll start shating the monsters back. Eventually, you'll hit a point sometime after completing your Atlas and grinding some gear. The monsters won't hit as hard, the packs won't combo you as often. You'll have a rare monster that may give you some trouble, but the map bosses will fall faster and easier. And all that'll be left is to take on the challenge of Pue 2's Pinnacle bosses or of finding the next fun build with less buttons to grind and farm it out in the endgame, basking in the glory of conquering Poe 2's fresh endgame while sipping on the

tears of everyone who couldn't find out how to make it there with you. At least that's what I hope. That's what I hope it'll look like. We'll see though. Come soon enough in November 15th. Like and subscribe. I'll see you guys in the next one. Peace.

How Endgame Path of Exile 2 (probably) Feels...

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