Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients New Crafting and Runeforging Systems

Path of Exile 2 is set to receive one of its most transformative updates yet with the launch of the 0.5 expansion, Return of the Ancients, on May 29, 2026. Developed by Grinding Gear Games, this major early access update introduces entirely new progression systems that fundamentally alter how players craft gear, enhance defenses, and develop endgame builds.

At the center of the expansion are two interconnected mechanics: Ezomyte Runesmithing and Runeforging. Together, these systems introduce over 100 new runes and crafting currencies while creating a more deterministic and combat-driven approach to character progression. For players focused on accumulating valuable Path of Exile 2 Currency, the expansion offers numerous new opportunities to target specific rewards rather than relying solely on random drops.

Return of the Ancients Overview

The 0.5 update introduces several major systems that work together to reshape progression from the campaign through endgame content.

Unlike previous crafting systems that largely depended on random drops and traditional currency usage, Return of the Ancients transforms crafting into an active gameplay loop where combat and item progression are directly connected.

Ezomyte Runesmithing: Crafting Through Combat

One of the headline features of the expansion is the introduction of Ezomyte Runesmithing, a new encounter-based crafting system unlocked through the NPC Farrow in Clearfell.

Rather than simply spending crafting materials at a workbench, players will activate Runestones using special inscriptions and then survive increasingly dangerous waves of enemies to earn rewards.

How Ezomyte Runesmithing Works

The basic crafting loop follows five key steps:

1. Select a desired reward

2. Activate a Runestone with inscriptions

3. Spawn empowered undead enemies

4. Defeat all encounter waves

5. Claim the crafted reward

This design effectively turns crafting into a challenge system where players actively earn their desired items through combat.

Risk Versus Reward Scaling

Difficulty scales according to the number of symbols used during Runestone activation.

At the highest tiers, monsters gain combinations of modifiers similar to powerful endgame bosses, creating a significant challenge for players seeking the most valuable rewards.

A More Deterministic Campaign Experience

One of the biggest changes introduced by Runesmithing is the ability to access meaningful crafting options much earlier in character progression.

Campaign Benefits

• Guaranteed access to early Orb of Augmentation recipes

• Improved gear progression while leveling

• Reduced dependence on random item drops

• Greater control over character power growth

This shift makes the campaign experience significantly smoother by giving players direct methods of improving equipment instead of waiting for favorable RNG.

Rune Discovery Progression

Runestones now play a much larger role throughout the game.

As players explore the world, they will gradually uncover new crafting possibilities that expand the overall system.

Runeforging Introduces a New Layer of Gear Progression

While Runesmithing focuses on creating rewards, Runeforging provides a way to improve existing equipment through the use of a new crafting resource called Verisium.

Verisium Overview

Verisium serves as the foundation for the Runeforging system and enables players to customize their gear beyond traditional affix crafting.

Runic Ward Changes Defensive Gameplay

Perhaps the most influential mechanic introduced in Return of the Ancients is Runic Ward, a completely new defensive layer.

Defensive Layer Structure

Damage Flow

Damage is processed in the following order:

Life → Energy Shield → Runic Ward → Death

This creates a deeper defensive structure and gives players more tools to survive difficult encounters.

However, Runic Ward is much more than another health buffer.

Runic Ward as a Resource

One of the expansion’s most innovative ideas is allowing Runic Ward to function as both defense and a resource for casting skills.

Players must decide whether to:

• Preserve Ward for survivability

• Spend Ward to increase damage output

• Balance both for hybrid playstyles

This dual-purpose design creates meaningful decision-making during combat and encourages more strategic resource management.

Unique Items Receive Long-Term Progression

Historically, many unique items in Path of Exile eventually became obsolete as characters advanced into higher-level content. Runeforging aims to change that.

Unique Upgrade Paths

By allowing unique items to scale further into progression, players gain additional freedom when designing long-term builds.

Calguran Skills and the Massive Rune Expansion

The update introduces more than 100 new runes and crafting currencies alongside an entirely new skill category known as Calguran Spells.

Calguran Skill Characteristics

An example of this new skill type is Triskelion Cascade, a projectile ability powered by Runic Ward consumption.

Rune Categories

New Build Archetypes Emerge

The interaction between Runic Ward and Calguran skills creates several distinct build directions.

Because Calguran skills have no attribute requirements, players gain significantly more freedom when experimenting with unconventional character setups.

How the 0.5 Update Changes Progression

The combined effect of Runesmithing and Runeforging dramatically alters the game’s progression structure.

Before and After Return of the Ancients

These changes create a progression path that feels more interactive and player-driven than previous iterations.

Why Return of the Ancients Could Reshape the PoE 2 Meta

The 0.5 expansion represents more than just additional content. It introduces fundamental design changes that affect nearly every aspect of character progression:

• Crafting becomes integrated with combat encounters

• Defense gains an additional strategic layer

• Resources become multi-purpose systems

• Unique items gain long-term relevance

• Build creation becomes less restrictive

The relationship between crafting, combat, and character development is now far more interconnected than before.

A Landmark Update for Path of Exile 2

Return of the Ancients stands out as one of the most ambitious updates released during Path of Exile 2 early access. By combining encounter-based crafting, deterministic progression systems, Runic Ward mechanics, and extensive rune customization, the 0.5 patch significantly expands player agency throughout the entire game.

Whether players are farming valuable currency or buy PoE 2 currency, optimizing endgame gear through Runeforging, or experimenting with entirely new Calguran skill combinations, the expansion delivers a level of customization and progression depth that could define the future direction of Path of Exile 2 for years to come.

The U4GM Team