Path of Exile 2’s Dawn of the Hunt update is now live, introducing the agile Huntress class alongside many new support gems, endgame changes, and much more. In addition, the action-RPG’s latest Twitch drops campaign lets us grab a set of free cosmetic rewards over the next two weeks.
Wielding a spear and buckler, the Huntress is PoE2’s Dawn of the Hunt update’s leading lady. She favors speed while tapping into a hybrid playstyle that sees her engaging foes both in melee and at range. If exploring Wraeclast gets a bit too lonely, the new Tame Beast gem allows us to hunt down powerful rare beasts and use them as companions.
Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt Update and Twitch Drops
The Huntress arrives with two ascendancies – the more straightforward Amazon alongside the considerably edgier Ritualist – while for the Witch, Mercenary, and Warrior classes have also received their third and final ascendancies.
We can use 25 new skill gems, including the long-awaited Raise Spectre and a rideable Rhoa mount that lets bow users move at full speed while firing. Over 100 support gems and a plethora of new unique items then open up new avenues for building our characters.
After a certain point in the campaign, we’ll also begin encountering rogue exiles who give us a taste of PvP-style duels. Able to use the same abilities as we would, defeating them gives us a chance at earning powerful unique items.
Path of Exile 2’s Dawn of the Hunt update also brings with it a Twitch Drops campaign that stretches across two weeks.
During each week, we can add the three cosmetic rewards below to our collection by watching streams with the DropsEnabled tag for three hours.
| PoE2 Dawn of the Hunt Twitch Drops | Start and End Dates | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | April 4 at 12 PM PDT/8 PM GMT - April 12 at 5 AM PDT/1 PM BST | Azmeri Noble Deer Pet |
| Week 2 | April 13 at 5 AM PDT/1 PM BST - April 19 at 5 AM PDT/1 PM BST | Hunter’s Trophy Back Attachment and Honour Guard Rhoa Mount |
Aside from the Huntress class and other additions, Path of Exile 2’s Dawn of the Hunt update also brings notable nerfs to the overall skill gem balance, which caused a bit of an uproar.
The pacing of the campaign now feels slower due to a decrease in damage dealt by player characters, bringing up complaints about enemies taking too long to kill.
This has shone the spotlight on an issue the sequel needs to address prior to its full launch. Currently, it seems unsure about whether or not it wants to tap more into soulslike mechanics, favoring a methodical approach to combat, or satisfy speedy area clearing.
Publisher and developer Grinding Gear Games has already addressed some player complaints, decreasing the health of enemies during the campaign while also posting its near future plans over on the game’s forums.
Nevertheless, PoE2’s Dawn of the Hunt update marks a significant step forward for the popular action-RPG. Whether you’re hopping in now or after the developer patches out some issues, the Huntress feels like a breath of fresh air in the current class roster.
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