Path of Exile 2

If you’ve been playing Path of Exile 2 lately, you might have noticed that the Dawn of the Hunt update brought some changes that feel a bit different, especially for Hardcore players. While the update introduced a lot of new content, some parts are still being figured out by the community.

According to GGG’s new infographic, players have cleared 3.4 million PoE 2 maps since the patch landed. That’s a lot of content. But then there’s the number that really stands out: nearly 300,000 Hardcore deaths in just three weeks. That’s an incredible amount of carnage, even by PoE standards. And it makes sense, because between the slower leveling pace, sweeping nerfs to popular builds, and clunky combat updates, the margin for error in Hardcore has gotten even thinner.
Hardcore players already live on the edge, but the Dawn of the Hunt seems to have moved the edge a bit closer to the cliff.

But it’s not just about difficulty. The devs also dropped some usage data, and it’s clear that some Ascendancy classes are being completely ignored. One standout example? Acolyte of Chayula, part of the Monk’s tree, is seeing less than 1% player adoption. For a new class path, that number is surprisingly low and might suggest that the mechanics or the theme aren’t quite clicking with players yet.

It’s the kind of imbalance that usually gets addressed in later patches. And honestly, that’s likely what’s coming next. When new content drops, people naturally gravitate toward the flashy or the familiar, and less popular specs tend to fade into the background until buffs bring them back into the spotlight.

Still, context matters. Path of Exile 2 is technically in early access, but that label means less when players are shelling out full price. But many players aren’t treating it like a beta; they’re treating it like a full launch, with expectations to match. That’s part of why the community response has been so sharp. Grinding Gear is walking a fine line between iteration and expectation, and Dawn of the Hunt has made that tension harder to ignore.

So where does that leave us? The game is exceptionally good, sure. The world-building is impressive, the skill system is deep, and there are clearly millions of players putting in time. Right now, Path of Exile 2 is in a phase where concerns are a bit more noticeable, but it's still one of the top MMORPGs out there.

Hardcore players are facing real challenges, some classes could use a boost, and the leveling curve has sparked debate. Still, if GGG has shown anything over the years, it's that they tend to listen. The next few updates will be important.
Let’s hope they come with buffs, balance, and maybe fewer tombstones in Hardcore.