0.5.3 Patch Notes
Major endgame overhaul for Path of Exile 2 featuring a massive reward buff for Runes of Aldur, a 100-200% scaling rework for Simulacrums, and a new 50% experience penalty for re-attempting maps.
Key Changes
- 1Simulacrums now scale from 100% to 200% Deliriousness
- 2Grand Expedition rewards doubled and low-value chests replaced with currency/uniques
- 3Previously attempted Maps now suffer a 50% Experience penalty
- 4Abyss Bosses and final Troves now guaranteed to drop Desecrated Currency
- 5Delirium Fog scaling halved for early endgame, requiring Tablets for high scaling
- 6Runeforging defense loss reduced by 20% for high-level non-Unique Armour
- 7New Ailith skill modifiers added to Breach Strongholds
- 8Staunch Deflection now scales Deflection Rating from 8% of Evasion Rating
- 9Fixed a critical bug where Runeforging would destroy socketed Jewels
- 10Styrn, Fallen Knight of Aldur now has a 100% drop rate for Expedition Logbooks
All Changes
⛏️Runes of Aldur(8)
- buffGrand Expedition: Maximum number of Remnants in a Grand Expedition now increases per Waystone Tier, peaking at Tier 15+.
- changeGrand Expedition chests: Basic Weapon and Armour chests removed; replaced with abundance of Currency, Unique Items, Waystones, Mysterious, and Trinket chests.
- changeGrand Expedition: Maximum Explosives reduced from 20 to 15 to shorten encounter length.
- buffStyrn, Fallen Knight of Aldur: Styrn, Fallen Knight of Aldur now always drops an Expedition Logbook.
- buffRunic Inscriptions: Runic Modifiers on Monsters from Runic Inscriptions now improve rewards significantly (doubled in most cases).
- buffTranscendent Alloy: Transcendent Alloy can now be applied to Foci and Wands.
- buffRuneforging: Defences lost when Runeforging high-level non-Unique Armour reduced by approximately 20%.
- fixFragments of the Past: Improved performance and reduced blur for Fragments of the Past's mortar explosion.
🌫️Delirium(8)
- changeSimulacrum: Simulacrums now start at 100% Delirious and scale up to 200%.
- changeSimulacrum: Simulacrum Maps now spawn when reaching 100% Deliriousness in the fog bank rather than immediately.
- changeDelirium Fog: Delirium Fog scaling halved for early endgame; Delirium Tablets now scale fog effect when multiple are used.
- changeYou can't just wake up from this one: The 'You can't just wake up from this one' passive now allows selecting between Escalating Threats, Apex Predators, or Pure Emotions between waves.
- changeAre you sure you want to do that?: The 'Are you sure you want to do that?' passive now grants a Delirium Mirror in areas with Grand Mirrors and a 20% chance for multiple shard selections.
- buffPure Escalation shards: Pure Escalation shards now enhance all normal shards to release Pure Emotion monster packs.
- buffSummoning Circle: Summoning Circle encounters now pause Delirium Fog progression.
- buffDelirium Monsters: Reduced toughness scaling on Normal and Magic Monsters in Delirium to match Rare monster scaling.
🕳️Abyss(6)
- buffAbyss: Tasgul, Vandroth, and the final Large Abyssal Trove now always drop Desecrated Currency.
- newGrip of Kulemak: Added 13 new Abyssal Wasting Modifiers for the Grip of Kulemak Unique Ring.
- buffStaff: 'of Amanamu' Staff Suffix Block Chance increased from +12-16% to +20-25%.
- newStaff: Added new 'of Kurgal' Staff Suffix granting +3-4 Maximum Stacks of Puppetmaster.
- newStaff: Added new 'Amanamu's' Staff Prefix granting 40-50% of Damage as Extra Chaos Damage.
- buffThe Unborn Lich: His Grave Command skill no longer has a Spirit cost; Quality now grants 0-20% more Minion Life.
🌀Breach(3)
- buffBreach Stronghold: Increased the number of Maps that spawn in Breach Strongholds.
- buffBreach Fruit: Added Ctrl+Click functionality to rapidly consume Breach Fruits/Wombgifts.
- newAilith: Added new Ailith skills: Dreamer's Sight (rarity upgrade zone), Otherworldly Nemesis (extra Rare pack), and Xesht's Fervour (increased effectiveness).
⚔️Gameplay(5)
- nerfMaps: Previously attempted Maps now have a 50% Experience penalty.
- newCrux of Nothingness: Followers of the King in the Mists added to the maze in the Crux of Nothingness.
- buffStaunch Deflection: Staunch Deflection now grants Deflection Rating equal to 8% of Evasion Rating.
- changeRogue Exiles: Rogue Exiles no longer drop Corrupted items.
- nerfGeonor, The Putrid Wolf: Reduced damage, AoE, and freeze build-up for Geonor, The Putrid Wolf's Moonbeam and Reverse Cleave skills.
🐛Bug Fixes(4)
- fixDelirium: Fixed a bug preventing normal Shards spawning above 150% Delirious depth.
- fixRuneforging: Fixed a bug where socketed Jewels were lost when Runeforging an item.
- fixSorcery Ward: Fixed Sorcery Ward bug where high defense values could amplify hit damage; value now capped at 32,000.
- fixClient: Fixed four client crashes, including one related to Rogue Exiles on the Map.
Summary
Endgame & Reward Scaling
This update focuses on making endgame investment more rewarding. Expedition (Runes of Aldur) sees a significant buff with the removal of low-value chests in favor of currency and unique drops, alongside doubled monster rewards. However, players re-attempting maps will now face a 50% experience penalty on top of existing reward penalties.
Delirium & Simulacrum Rework
Delirium mechanics have been fundamentally adjusted. Simulacrums now scale from 100% to 200% Deliriousness, and fog scaling has been halved for early endgame to reduce difficulty, though this can be compensated for using Delirium Tablets. Several Atlas Passives have been reworked to provide new choices between waves and additional boss encounters.
Breach, Abyss, and Temple
Abyss encounters now guarantee Desecrated Currency from bosses and final troves, while Breach Strongholds have increased map drops and new Ailith skill modifiers. The Temple of Atzoatl's "Offerings to the Queen" passive now focuses on corrupting monsters in the area rather than direct currency drops.