Summary
In the wake of ExileCon’s recent showcases revealingPath of Exile 2’s status as a separate game from its predecessor, the action RPG has detailed its plans regarding new features and designs. Since the franchise’s debut iteration over a decade ago, the gaming industry has taken significant innovative strikes, andgames likeElden RingandGod of War: Ragnarokhave changed the scope of player expectations. WithPath of Exile 2bringing over a hundred boss fights for players to test the limits of their combat skills against, there have been questions about the upcoming title’s crowd control mechanics, and the sequel could draw inspiration fromElden Ring’s poise.
Path of Exile 2is a standalone sequeland its demo detailed some new gameplay additions for players to explore, such as the dodge roll which can serve as a strategic gambit in a pinch that allows players to sidestep impending perils nimbly. More mechanics come into play to overcome the title’s challenging boss fights, and crowd control elements such as freeze and stun can make the difference between victory and loss in Wraeclast.
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Elden Ring’s Poise May Inspire Path of Exile 2’s Combat Mechanics
The influence ofElden Ringas a trailblazer in the RPG community is evident inPath of Exile 2, particularly in the case of poise mechanics. The poise system measures how many hits acharacter inElden Ringcan sustain before staggering during a fight. There are three types of staggers, the worst of which renders players and enemies alike immobile for several seconds, leaving them vulnerable to critical damage attacks. As a result ofElden Ring’s unparalleled success, it is no surprise subsequent titles in the RPG scene are replicating its mechanics in one form or the other, andPath of Exile 2has a few tweaks to the poise system in the interest of originality.
Grinding Gear Games has a slightly different approach to the game’s dynamic than previously employed in the first installment. Instead, the sequel is adopting a play onElden Ring’s poise mechanics—which represent stamina—instead of the predecessor’s chance-dependent nature.Path of Exile 2’s crowd control has a much smaller meter than itsElden Ringcounterpart, and its features do more than stagger the opposition.
For instance, the Freeze effect grinds an enemy’s combat actions to a halt, preventing foes from performing any skills, attacks, and moving in general. Not every boss inPath of Exile 2is susceptible to freezing due to the Cannot Be Fully Slowed mod, and there are other options players can explore to outsmart these formidable opponents.
Antagonists like The Sharper that are impervious to the freeze effect can be affected by the stun mechanism, however. The main difference betweenPath of Exile 2andElden Ringin this regard lies in the rechargeability of its meters. After crushing an opponent’s poise inElden Ringand causing a knockdown stagger, the meter returns to capacity for players to whittle down again. ButPath of Exile 2gradually increases the limits of its meters, requiring a higher refill each time an effect like freeze or stun is employed on the battlefield.
Another distinguishing factor is the individual application of crowd control mechanics inPath of Exile 2, much likeDiablo 4, which adds more nuance than a simple stagger dynamic.Elden Ring’s poise mechanics were a major driving force behind the title’s stellar ratings, andPath of Exile 2’s unique spin could spell good things for Grinding Gear Games. Efficient crowd control is a must-have inmultiplayer RPGs, too, and the individual applications could potentially give the system more personality thanPath of Exile 2’s counterparts.
