Path of Exile 2 comes with a big splash at Early Access. Grinding Gear Games has officially released Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients (Patch 0.5.0). The update, which drops on May 29, is the biggest Path of Exile 2 update yet.

The update is the last big milestone in terms of content before the game goes officially on sale, so there’s no better time to get the update on your PC than now. This massively sized patch is for every player, whether you are returning to the game for challenges or a newcomer to the dark side of Wraeclast.

The Runes of Aldur Challenge League

A golden-armored, winged celestial guardian stands watch on the official title banner for the Return of the Ancients update.

Official Update Launch Banner. Image Credit: Path of Exile

The heart of this update is the new Runes of Aldur challenge league. This mechanic introduces a fresh, reset economy and completely overhauls the item crafting system. As you explore, you will discover ancient stone structures called Remnants. 

Remnants feature anywhere from 2 to 10 empty slots called Runeshapes. You can insert newly introduced Runic Recipes into these slots to craft custom, highly specific weapons and gear. There is a catch that embodies the classic Path of Exile risk-versus-reward mentality. 

Every single rune you add to a Remnant makes the encounter harder. Waves of deadly monsters will spawn after you have made your selections. Once you make it through the onslaught, the high-level crafted loot is yours. You will be left with nothing if you pass away. A new league with more than 100 different runes for near-endless gear customization.

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Two New Ascendancy Classes

Return of the Ancients brings two new, very strong Ascendancy classes to add entirely new experiences. 

  • Martial Artist (Monk Ascendancy): This class emphasizes fluid and quick combat with melee weapons. The Martial Artist is able to generate moving visuals of himself, using this to foil an enemy and to avoid being hit. It’s an ideal game for those that enjoy combo-oriented mobile brawling. 
A Monk channels a glowing blue spirit mirage using the new Martial Artist Ascendancy path.

Monk Martial Artist Ascendancy. Image Credit: Path of Exile

  • The Spirit Walker (Huntress Ascendancy). If you want to engage in deadly combat and summoning, this class is for you. The Spirit Walker is a conduit for the primordial spirits of the Stag, the Owl and the Bear. Each animal spirit shifts your character’s focus between pure offense, heavy defense, and calling down spiritual minions.  

A Total Rebuild of the Endgame Atlas

A towering, dark entity with massive curved horns commands a shattered arena in the Return of the Ancients expansion.

Pinnacle Boss Reveal. Image Credit: Path of Exile

If you’ve been playing Path of Exile 2, you’ll find that the endgame loop will feel entirely fresh. The Atlas passive tree has been completely redesigned to give players a clearer sense of direction without sacrificing any of its famous mechanical depth. 

You can now unlock every single node on the tree by exploring a massive ancient fortress map. Many of these nodes now offer multi-choice decisions. This lets you customize your endgame maps on the fly without needing to repeatedly spend rare currency to respec your points. 

Additionally, the update introduces the Masters of the Atlas system. You can align your maps with specific characters like Jado or Hilda the monster hunter. Each master grants huge, asymmetric loot bonuses. The patch also throws 30 new endgame map areas, 15 deadly bosses, and four towering Pinnacle Bosses into the mix.

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How to Get Started in Patch 0.5.0

Here is your quick guide to dive right into the update:

  • Boot Up the Pre-load: The patch files are incredibly large. Use Steam or the console client to download the update ahead of time if you have slow internet connection. 
  • Use the Native Build Guide Tracker: Path of Exile 2 can be overwhelming for beginners. Grinding Gear Games has added an official, in-game Build Guide system. You can now load popular community builds directly into your user interface. The game will track which skills and passive stats you need to pick next as you level up. 
  • Follow the New Campaign Trails: If you are rolling a fresh character for the Runes of Aldur league, you will notice the campaign is much smoother. The developers streamlined the mission layouts and added clearer environmental landmarks to prevent you from getting lost in the dark zones.

After you’re done, link your Epic or console account to Twitch. Watching participating streamers during launch week will unlock free account cosmetics, including the Arbiter of Ash Waypoint skin.

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