Path of Exile 2's Dawn of the Hunt Mechanic Needs One Big Change

Dawn of the Hunt was a massive update for Path of Exile 2, but it arguably failed to Path of exile currency live up to players' expectations in several key areas. While the patch brought numerous meaningful features and some solid foundational changes to the game, it also left significant issues unresolved or addressed too late. For instance, the game's slower combat in Path of Exile 2's new patch received some hotfixes, but certain key culprits, like the Temporal Chains affix on Waystones, remain problematic. Even the new League mechanic itself needs a rework, and though some small fixes have been applied, they don't tackle the core issues at hand.

Dawn of the Hunt is not a full-fledged League, as its mechanic was integrated directly into the base game. It can be used immediately, even in non-fresh-economy leagues where characters from previous seasons exist. This should have been a great addition, but it hasn’t quite lived up to its potential due to the mechanics surrounding Azmeri Spirits. Path of Exile 2's upcoming patch, 0.2.0g, will partially address some of these concerns, but the main issue that players have with the mechanic persists.

Path of Exile 2's New League Mechanic is Dead in the Water Without One Major Rework
The biggest issues with Azmeri Spirits stem from two key factors: the need to follow them to a destination and the minimal rewards they provide. While patch 0.2.0g will address the rewards slightly, the core issue with the mechanic — the way Azmeri Spirits function — has yet to POE currency for sale receive adequate attention. The mechanic’s current design is frustrating for players, especially in the endgame, where following the spirit across potentially dangerous zones becomes a tedious, perilous task with little payoff.

Azmeri Spirits spawn randomly within a zone and, when activated by a player, begin fleeing slowly towards a Rare monster they intend to possess. If the player fails to follow the spirit to its destination, the spirit vanishes, and the opportunity is lost. This forces players to devote significant time and attention to following the spirit across potentially dangerous areas filled with enemies. If the spirit is not reached in time, players have to backtrack to get the loot from fallen enemies or other important items, often a tedious and inefficient process.

This mechanic, as it currently stands, is neither engaging nor rewarding. Even during the campaign, it can be frustrating, and the lack of meaningful loot further diminishes the appeal. For players already grinding for PoE 2 Currency or rare items, the minimal loot drops from Azmeri Spirits only add to the sense of wasted effort. This makes the mechanic feel disconnected from the game's core loop, where rewarding combat encounters and loot drops are central to progression.