Summary
Announced earlier this year,Path of Exile 2is set to follow the legacy of the original ARPG by Grinding Gear Games when its closed beta launches next year. Subverting the expectation that it would merely be an update, the sequel will be a full standalone title after nearly a decade since the initial release of the first game. Featuring an even bigger array of diverse classes, the handling ofPath of Exile 2’s spellcaster could be one of the upcoming title’s strongest aspects.
It may be the official follow-up, butPath of Exile 2is not actually set to be a replacement for the live service experience provided by the originalPath of Exile. The games will exist concurrently and both see continued support, but that doesn’t mean the sequel isn’t innovating the gameplay formula in major ways. The addition of the Spirit resource offsets the Mana usage of casters, but another new feature updates the magic side ofPath of Exile’s gameplay in a way that is remarkably similar to one ofDiablo 4’s mechanics.
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The Simplicity of Diablo 4’s Basic Skills
TheDiabloseries focuses on a variety of playable classes, and its spellcasters have always represented a core option within gameplay. Mana acts as their primary resource, with every spell costing some amount of it in the first twoDiablotitles. Starting inDiablo 3, however, the concept of a Signature Spell allowed casters like the Wizard to use abilities like Magic Missile free of cost. A way to balance the availability of a caster’s ability in combat with melee-based classes and their access to basic attacks, free-to-cast Skills have become a core part ofDiablo’s caster gameplayto this day.
Carrying over intoDiablo 4, Skills like the Sorceress class’ Spark and Fire Bolt are able to be freely spammed without expending mana. Changes to the series’ classic formula have made the most recentDiablothe most controversial of the franchise among fans, but the balance of concepts like Basic Skills still shows the potential of the game to improve with future updates. As hype has erupted aroundPath of Exile 2following its announcement during a period ofcriticism forDiablo 4, adopting a similar feature has poised it to be a front-runner in the ARPG genre.
Path of Exile 2’s Caster Weapon Attacks
In the firstPath of Exile, every caster weapon had a default melee attack that was rarely used, but the sequel was revealed to be subverting this mechanic during its first gameplay showcase. Each caster weapon used byPath of Exile 2’s classeswill come with a built-in spell that is available independent of mana cost, allowing magic-based classes a more comparable presence on the battlefield to their melee counterparts. As shown through the Sorceress’ gameplay showcase, staves are capable of coming ready with spells varying from the basic damaging Fireball to the powerful Unleash for utility, meaning the best caster weapons will likely be vital to the game’s top builds.
A subtle but critical feature of theDiabloseries’ addictive gameplay,Path of Exile 2’s adoption of a form of free spells for its caster classes will surely serve to increase its overall quality of life while making magic stronger than ever. There’s no telling whereARPGswill be by the timePath of Exile 2becomes available in 2024, but the streamlined functionality of the game’s casters is just one part of its potential to make the franchise bigger than ever.
Path of Exile 2is in development.
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