Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5, Return of the Ancients, includes brand-new League mechanics, two new Ascendancies, and a complete overhaul of the game's endgame content, making it the game's largest update to date.
Simultaneously, patch 0.5.0 will once again host a free weekend event, starting at 1 PM PST on May 29th and ending at 1 PM PST on June 1st, during which players can enjoy the full game content.
If you are a returning player, all your progress will be retained in Standard League section. If you are a new player, this article will answer some frequently asked questions about PoE 2 free weekend event and offer some game tips. Let's take a look.
How much content can be completed?
Path of Exile 2 features a lengthy campaign, currently including four Acts and three interlude stories, which takes approximately 3-4 days to complete.
Of course, your progress will also depend on other factors, such as your chosen build and gear. League starter builds are easy to pick up and play, allowing for quick campaign completion, while better gear will reduce your deaths.
After completing the campaign, you'll enter Atlas, which offers a wealth of content, including various late-game related missions. If this is your first time playing Path of Exile 2, you might not be able to complete these missions during free weekend.
Additionally, Return of the Ancients is a challenging League with substantial rewards for completing missions, but completing all 40 missions requires a significant time commitment, making it virtually impossible to finish in just 3 days.
Will your progress be fully retained?
The answer is yes, everything you complete during free weekend, including challenge rewards, will be retained in the game. However, there are a few things to note:
Since PoE 2 launches a new League every few months, your current League character will automatically be transferred to Standard League. You can continue playing when the game goes free.
If you acquired the game during the same League, you can continue using all the items you collected during free weekend.
After League ends, your character and items will be transferred to Standard League. After PoE 2 becomes free-to-play, the current Standard League will enter Early Access, but your characters will still be playable.
Important notes
Here are some things to keep in mind when playing Path of Exile 2 during free weekend:
Avoid creating characters in Standard, Solo-Self Found, and Hardcore League modes. This can limit gameplay, especially in Solo-Self Found mode, restricting teaming and trading with other players.
Maximize your Fire, Lightning, and Cold resistances, as this will significantly reduce campaign difficulty. Also, maximize your Chaos resistances.
Upgrade your gear in each chapter. Merchants are a great source of items, and each upgrade refreshes your inventory. You can also pick up rare gold items dropped by enemies while exploring the campaign.
Upgrade your primary skill as soon as possible before the game starts. This will greatly increase damage and help you defeat bosses faster.
Remember to consult guides. Exploring Path of Exile 2 solo can be exciting, but it can be very complex for beginners. You can choose a simple build and follow it as closely as possible. Of course, you might not be able to quickly obtain the exact same gear as the build. You can buy Path of Exile 2 Currency from EZG.com to craft unique gear; this provides the fastest and easiest way to acquire it.
Alternatively, if you're on a tight budget, you can choose to have some similar affixes to handle the campaign, but be sure to maximize their resistances.
If you get stuck on a boss, you can always ask other players in the community for help. Many players are ready to team up and challenge the campaign; the power of the group is always strong.
Which class should you try first?
During the free weekend, there are no restrictions; you can choose any of the game's eight classes.
However, not all classes are suitable for beginners, especially if you have limited time to complete the campaign. Here are my recommendations:
- Mercenary: If you prefer long-range combat, Mercenary is a good choice. Their Grenades Skills allow you to easily defeat all the bosses in the campaign.
- Druid: This class is more flexible, and the tree layout allows you to easily master spellcasting, melee, or summoner builds. It's an ideal choice for beginners.
- Warrior: If you're looking for a tankier class, Warrior is the best choice. However, I don't recommend it, as the campaign can be quite tedious, and its melee skills have a very slow casting speed unless you stack attack speed and execute combos.
- Sorcress: This class was originally the best choice, but the nerf to Energy Shield in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5 will make their situation slightly more difficult.
That being said, the choice is yours; feel free to try out the class you like.
That concludes this article about the free weekend in Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.0 Return of the Ancients. If you're also interested in this game, take this opportunity to give it a try - opportunities don't wait!
