Path of Exile 2's 0.5 update, Return of the Ancients, lands on May 29, and it doesn't feel like a small early-access tidy-up. It feels like GGG is opening a few locked doors at once. Old endgame ideas that were sitting in the workshop are now being folded into fresh league systems, which means players won't just be chasing bigger numbers. They'll be rethinking routes, builds, boss access, and even how they value POE 2 Items during the first rush of the patch. If you usually map out your league start before the servers go live, this is the kind of update that'll make you rewrite your notes twice.

Endgame plans won't stay simple

The biggest change is the way progression seems to be getting more layered. You're not just pushing forward until the next wall appears. You'll probably have to decide what kind of content your character can handle, what rewards are worth the time, and when it's better to step away from a mechanic that's eating too many resources. That's good news for players who like choice. It's also a bit scary if you've been relying on one safe farming loop. Return of the Ancients looks like it wants you to adapt, not sleepwalk through the same route every night.

Builds may get messy before they get better

Expect the first week to be loud. Very loud. Someone will find a busted interaction, someone else will claim melee is saved, and five hours later a boss will prove them wrong. That's just how these patches go. The more interesting part is how delayed systems might change the value of defensive layers, recovery, crowd control, and damage uptime. A build that looks average on paper could feel great if it handles the new league encounters cleanly. On the other hand, a glass-cannon setup might farm fast until it meets one mechanic that refuses to be ignored.

Farming choices will matter earlier

For everyday players, the real question is simple: where's the money? Not in some vague sense, but in actual repeatable play. If the new mechanics drop crafting materials, special bases, or boss fragments, early farming could split hard between speed runners and careful grinders. You may see casual players selling access pieces instead of running them. You may also see stronger players buying those pieces to chase rare drops. That kind of market is usually chaotic at first, but it creates chances. The trick is not getting stubborn. If one farm dries up, move.

What smart players should watch

Don't treat May 29 like a normal patch day. Go in with a starter that can survive ugly fights, keep some currency liquid, and pay attention to what other players are avoiding. That's often where profit hides. If a mechanic feels annoying but drops something everyone needs, it won't stay ignored for long. Prices will swing, builds will shift, and demand for cheap POE 2 Items may rise fast as players patch holes in their gear instead of rerolling. Return of the Ancients looks like the first update where planning ahead could matter as much as raw playtime.