In Path of Exile 2, the developers are changing how you use your flasks. The new feature will help beginners, but even PoE veteran and MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier is excited.
What have the developers come up with? In Path of Exile 2, there will only be two flasks: one for healing and one for mana. The developers have thought of something new for the utility potions.
The new feature is called “Charms.” They charge up by eliminating enemies and help you in critical situations. For example, a charm can automatically free you from the “Frozen” status. However, before it can do this a second time, you have to eliminate enough enemies again.
Many different charms will be found in the game. Each one has different effects, allowing you to choose the ones that fit your build. To carry more than one charm, you need a better belt. You can have a maximum of three of these helpers equipped.
Path of Exile 2 will also be released on PS5 and Xbox and will offer a couch co-op mode:
What is behind the decision? In a press presentation of the livestream followed by a Q&A, MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier was able to ask the game director and founder of Grinding Gear Games, Jonathan Rogers, about the reasoning behind this design decision.
As Rogers explains, it is physically difficult for “beginners” to press the many different flasks. He states that this has also led to flasks in Path of Exile 1 being able to be triggered automatically through debuffs.
In Path of Exile 2, this decision continues and is being implemented for all players. Therefore, the charms will likely be somewhat weaker than manually drunk potions from the first part, but you will no longer need to worry about them after equipping.
Rogers clearly stated in the press conference that he wants to “reduce the flask piano.” This term was coined by the community because even veterans and professionals in the game often struggle with this mechanic.
Good decision, or?
What does PoE veteran and MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier think of the new system? I think the new change is brilliant! I want to focus on the hordes of enemies, the challenging bosses, and now on dodging enemy abilities through the new role in Path of Exile.
The flask management has always annoyed me! With the charms, a good system has been found to simplify the utilities once and for all.
There is still enough complexity in the game, where you explore the best charm combinations for each build. But with the new feature, I will never again find myself in the situation of pressing keys 1–5 simultaneously just because I don’t have any brain cells left to hit the right potion.
Some professionals might be annoyed by the noob-friendlier version, but I think Path of Exile is difficult and especially complex enough. I can only welcome the fact that now in the second part, they are addressing beginners at this point.
Path of Exile 2 will start Early Access on December 6 on Steam, PS5, and Xbox. The game should have been available long ago, but the developers wanted you to keep all purchases from the predecessor: Path of Exile 2 is delayed so that you won’t lose anything from the predecessor that you have purchased
