Path of Exile 2 has only been in early access for a couple of days, but already developer Grinding Gear Games has identified multiple skills that they've deemed to be overpowered. And they've already taken action in some instances.
"Well we've finally hit that point where a skill with unacceptable balance has been discovered!" the developer announced on social media over the weekend.
This unacceptable skill was Supercharged Slam, an AoE melee attack. The skill, which requires a two-handed mace, involves channeling up to charge a heavy swing and releasing to slam the ground. In addition to dealing damage in the area around the impact are aftershocks that deal further damage in a large area. The skill is most often used with the Warrior class. In a post on social media, the developer explained:
Supercharged Slam is unfortunately dealing far too much damage than was intended given the short channel window required to hit maximum stages. We are imminently going to be reducing its damage. As much as we are trying to avoid nerfing skills and builds, it is better to do this early before it feels obligatory to use the skill. It is important that a wide variety of skills feel viable and fun to play and it simply diminishes all other abilities when one is clearly outshining the others like this.
Grinding Gear Games has already issued a hotfix containing a "heavy damage reduction on the ability." They'll be making further adjustments "to how long it takes to build up charges, as it is far too quick at the moment."
Supercharged Slam isn't the only skill found to be in an "unacceptable balance state." Earlier today, Grinding Gear Games said they'll be reducing the damage of Magnetic Salvo, an AoE projectile that fires energy missiles created by other Lightning Attacks in front of your character.
"Note that this isn't the only skill on our radar right now but we're really just trying to address egregious cases at the moment," the developer said. "We're currently playing alongside you all and are also collating a lot of your feedback that we'll be addressing as much as possible in the upcoming week once the team is back in the office before the holidays."
It didn't take them long to identify another skill: Gas Cloud.
"Currently, it's a bit too easy to detonate Gas Cloud explosions when combined with persistent Ignite skills like Flame Wall," the developer said. "We'll be adjusting the explosion damage of both Gas Grenade and Gas Arrow for now in an upcoming hotfix."
"In the future, we want to update it such that the potency of the Ignite or Detonator contributes to determining the damage of the Gas Cloud explosions, that way we would be able to avoid balancing around the simplest and most efficient way to apply Ignites," they added.
Path of Exile 2 launched in early access last week, which means it's still not technically the "full" release. It's still in kind of a development state. As an action RPG with so many intricate systems involving character builds, items, and economy, achieving balance means getting the game into the hands of the community. As we're seeing, doing so means Grinding Gear Games is now able to easily identify overpowered skills.
Despite being labeled as early access, the amount of content available right now is comparable to a full game launch as it features a three-act campaign and rich endgame. There are still plans to add three more Acts, six more Classes, and even more endgame content — roughly doubling the size of the current game during Early Access and into Release.