3 BUFFS & NERFS for Patch 0.5 | Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients Predictions

I’ve been glued to every teaser since they dropped last month, and I’ll be honest — I’m more hyped for Path of Exile 2’s 0.5 than I’ve been for any patch in years. “Return of the Ancients” launches May 29th, and the May 7th livestream is literally tomorrow as I’m writing this. GGG has been teasing a full endgame overhaul, new classes, and some serious balance shifts. Everyone’s speculating, but after digging through the community feedback, leaked gems, and what the teasers actually show, I’ve narrowed it down to what I think are the three biggest buffs and three nerfs coming our way.

This isn’t just another content drop. It feels like the patch that finally makes PoE2 stand on its own.

Where We’re At Right Now (And Why 0.5 Feels Different)

Patch 0.4 left a lot of us frustrated. The Atlas loop got repetitive fast, map affixes felt weak or confusing, and melee (especially axes) was still lagging behind spells and ranged setups. The community has been loud about it — 12 major changes keep popping up in every poll and video. People want better progression after the campaign, real melee love, and less RNG in crafting and rewards.

The teasers for “Return of the Ancients” point to ancient ruins, precursor lore, and what looks like a completely reworked endgame system. We’re probably getting Duelist and Shadow with Swords as a new weapon type, plus fresh skill gems and supports that leaked recently. I’ve been theorycrafting all week, and I genuinely think this patch could flip the meta on its head.

The 3 Buffs I’m Most Confident About

Buff 1: Melee Finally Gets Its Glow-Up (Swords + Duelist/Gladiator)
The reason I’m putting this at number one is simple — melee has been the weakest archetype since launch. Warrior launch problems are still fresh in everyone’s mind. Adding Swords as a core weapon type with Duelist and Gladiator ascendancies makes too much sense. Expect new skills with built-in block and riposte, plus supports that actually make unarmed and melee lightning viable. There’s even a leaked unarmed lightning aura that procs on hits and caps at 5 times per half-second. That’s a Monk buff, sure, but it helps the whole melee fantasy. Life and ES balance tweaks are probably coming too, so axe and sword builds stop feeling like glass cannons. If this lands right, melee could finally compete at the top of the leaderboards.

Buff 2: Endgame Progression Gets a Real Overhaul
The reason this one matters so much is because the current Atlas and Tower system just doesn’t feel rewarding after a while. Map affixes are unintuitive, and the Tablet system feels pointless. I’m expecting a full rework — maybe quest-driven boss Sanctuaries instead of pure RNG, better reward scaling, and at least two new pinnacle bosses in the style of Arbiter. Some people are even speculating about an “Infinite Atlas Tower System” that replaces the repetitive mapping loop. If GGG delivers on the endgame refresh they’ve been teasing, this could be the patch that keeps players engaged long after the campaign.

Buff 3: Fresh Skill Gems, Supports & Auras
Leaked stuff like the Demon Magus (hands-free autocast buffs while you focus on movement) and cold ailment supports are exactly what build diversity needs. The reason these feel like guaranteed buffs is because they give spell and hybrid players new toys while indirectly helping melee through better utility options. We’re not just getting more of the same — we’re getting tools that actually change how we play.

The 3 Nerfs That Are Probably Coming

Nerf 1: Overpowered League Mechanics Get Hit Hard
The reason I expect Expedition or Temple to take a hit is because some current mechanics are just too easy to scale or too similar to PoE1. Temple especially feels like it’s on the chopping block — the community consensus is that it’ll become much harder to build and scale in 0.5. GGG loves to shake up the meta by making the strongest options less dominant, and these are the obvious targets.

Nerf 2: Item Rarity and Crafting Adjustments
A lot of players have been asking for this. The reason rarity might get toned down or reworked is because right now it either feels too rewarding or completely unrewarding depending on your luck. Expect either reduced rarity on certain content or new systems that make crafting more consistent but less explosive. It’s not going to kill the dopamine, but it should feel fairer.

Nerf 3: Specific Ascendancy or Skill Overperformance
We don’t know the exact targets yet (the May 7th stream will probably confirm them), but the reason some ascendancies or skills are getting nerfed is because GGG always hits the top 1-2% of builds to force diversity. If you’re running something that’s been dominating leaderboards, have a backup plan ready.

Here’s a quick table to sum it up:

How to Actually Prepare Before May 29

I’ve been farming currency like crazy this week because the economy is still relatively stable. The reason I’m doing that now is so I can test new builds the second the patch drops instead of being broke on day one. Update your loot filters, plan your ascendancy respecs, and maybe even level a Duelist or Shadow alt if you’re excited about Swords.

If you want to jump straight into testing without the currency grind, a lot of exiles grab extras from U4GM.com to hit the ground running on launch day. No shame in it when you’re trying to theorycraft the new meta fast.

My Honest Take on All of This

Look, I’ve been skeptical of big hype patches before, but this one feels different. The buffs to melee and endgame progression could finally make PoE2 feel complete instead of “PoE1 but prettier.” At the same time, the nerfs are classic GGG — they’ll hurt some builds, but they’ll also open up space for new ones. I’m genuinely excited to see what the May 7th stream reveals tomorrow.

The reason I think 0.5 could be a turning point is because it’s not just adding content — it’s fixing the systems that have been frustrating players since early access. If they nail the endgame rework and give melee the love it deserves, this could be the patch that keeps a lot of people playing for the long haul.

So here’s my question for you: Which of these predictions are you most excited (or nervous) about? Drop your boldest guess for the May 7th stream in the comments — I’ll be reading every single one after the livestream. And if you’re theorycrafting new builds already, tell me what you’re cooking up.

Stay sane out there, Exiles. See you in Wraeclast on the 29th.