Path of Exile 2 continues to evolve with each patch, and the latest 0.2.0 update is no exception. With the recent nerf to monster HP aimed at easing some of the game’s pacing issues, many players hoped for a significant boost to various builds. However, summoner builds seem to be one area that remains problematic despite these changes. In this review, we’ll dive into the details of Patch 0.2.0, analyze how the nerf affects overall gameplay, and specifically explore why summoner builds continue to struggle in the current meta.
The Monster HP Nerf: What’s Changed?
Patch 0.2.0 introduced a noticeable adjustment in monster HP, reducing it across many zones. This change was widely anticipated as a means to improve the flow of combat, particularly for builds that rely on sustained DPS over prolonged encounters. By lowering the overall health of monsters, players should, in theory, experience shorter fights and less grinding in densely populated maps.
The nerf has certainly made some encounters feel more manageable, especially in mid-game areas where players often found themselves bogged down by high-HP enemies. However, while melee and ranged builds have reaped the benefits of these changes, summoner builds have not seen a proportional improvement in their performance. This is largely due to the inherent nature of summoner builds, which often struggle with scaling and require significant investment in both minion quality and quantity.
Summoner Builds: The Ongoing Struggle
Summoner builds in PoE 2 have always been a bit of a niche, requiring a delicate balance between minion strength and the character’s own defenses. The goal for many summoner players is to create a reliable army that can clear packs of monsters and assist in boss fights. Unfortunately, even with the reduced monster HP, many summoner builds are still falling short.
One of the core issues is that many summoner builds depend heavily on their minions to carry the damage load. When the base damage of monsters is lowered, it does little to enhance the scaling or overall survivability of your summoned allies. Instead, the nerf often exposes underlying weaknesses in summoner mechanics, such as insufficient scaling, poor synergy with support gems, or lackluster passive tree choices that fail to adequately boost minion damage.
Moreover, several players have pointed out that the adjustments have not addressed the core problem of summoner builds: their reliance on indirect damage and the inherent difficulty in transitioning from clearing packs to handling boss-level encounters. This disconnect means that while players may breeze through standard maps, the jump in difficulty at boss encounters remains steep.
Gear and Economic Considerations
With the patch in effect, many summoner players are now re-evaluating their gear choices. Optimizing for both survivability and minion effectiveness is more critical than ever. Many of the best-in-slot items for summoner builds still command high prices on the in-game market. This makes managing your economy a vital part of playing as a summoner. For example, savvy players might choose to buy PoE 2 currency during market dips to secure essential upgrades for their build.
There are periods when a PoE 2 currency sale occurs, and these opportunities can be a lifeline for summoners looking to optimize their setups without overspending. Investing in gear that boosts both your minions’ stats and your own defensive capabilities is crucial, and sometimes a well-timed purchase using cheap PoE 2 currency can make a significant difference in your build’s performance.
Community Feedback and Developer Response
The community has been vocal about the continued struggles of summoner builds despite the monster HP nerf. Forums and discussion boards are filled with posts from players expressing frustration that their minion-based strategies are not yielding the expected improvements. While some argue that the nerf was intended to streamline overall combat and that summoner builds may naturally require more refinement over time, others are calling for more targeted adjustments specifically aimed at improving minion damage scaling and synergy with player stats.
Developers have acknowledged some of these concerns, stating that further balance changes are on the horizon. However, for now, summoner builds remain in a state of relative underperformance compared to other more straightforward damage-dealing builds. This feedback loop is essential for future patches, as the developers continue to iterate on build balance and ensure that every playstyle has a viable path forward.
Patch 0.2.0 has delivered some welcome changes to PoE 2, most notably through the monster HP nerf which has improved overall combat pacing for many players. However, for summoner builds, the update falls short. The inherent scaling issues and reliance on minion synergy mean that even with lower HP on monsters, summoners are still struggling to keep up in both standard and high-end content.
For players invested in the summoner playstyle, this patch serves as a reminder that patience and continuous tweaking are part of the journey. Keeping an eye on the in-game economy—whether that means waiting for a PoE 2 currency sale or finding opportunities to buy PoE 2 currency at favorable rates—will be essential in bridging the gap until further balance changes arrive.
In the end, while the nerf helps to streamline gameplay for many, the future of summoner builds in PoE 2 remains uncertain. Continued community feedback and subsequent patches will hopefully address these issues, making summoners a more robust and competitive choice in the ever-evolving meta of Path of Exile 2.
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