Unleashing Supernatural Power: How Path of Exile 2 Surpasses Diablo 4 with Its Magic Attacks

Highlights

Path of Exile 2 will be a full standalone title and not just an update, featuring a larger variety of classes and innovative spellcaster gameplay.

Path of Exile 2 will coexist with the original game, offering a unique gaming experience while receiving ongoing support.

This game will adopt a gameplay mechanic akin to Diablo 4, where caster weapons come with integrated spells that can be cast without using mana. This addition will elevate the franchise's overall quality and potential.

Announced earlier this year, Path of Exile 2 is poised to carry on the tradition set by the original ARPG from Grinding Gear Games with its closed beta set to launch next year. Contrary to expectations of being a simple update, the sequel will stand alone as a full-fledged title, a decade after the initial release of the first game. With an expanded range of diverse classes, one of the standout elements of Path of Exile 2 could be its handling of spellcasters.

While Path of Exile 2 is the official successor, it does not aim to replace the original Path of Exile's live service experience. Both games will exist simultaneously and receive ongoing support, but this doesn't mean the sequel is not introducing significant gameplay innovations. The introduction of the Spirit resource offsets the use of Mana for casters, and there is also a new feature that updates the magic aspect of Path of Exile's gameplay in a manner reminiscent of one of Diablo 4's mechanics.

The Simplicity of Diablo 4's Basic Skills

The Diablo series has always had a strong emphasis on playable classes, with spellcasters playing a vital role in gameplay. In the first two Diablo titles, mana was the primary resource for spellcasters, with every spell requiring a certain amount of it. However, in Diablo 3, the introduction of Signature Spells allowed casters like the Wizard to use abilities like Magic Missile without consuming mana. This was done to balance the availability of caster abilities with the basic attacks used by melee-based classes. Since then, free-to-cast Skills have become an integral part of Diablo's caster gameplay.

In Diablo 4, this concept carries over, with Skills like the Sorceress class' Spark and Fire Bolt being able to be spammed without depleting mana. Although Diablo 4 has received criticism for its departure from the series' classic formula, the inclusion of concepts like Basic Skills demonstrates the game's potential for improvement through future updates. Meanwhile, the announcement of Path of Exile 2 has garnered significant buzz, especially considering the period of criticism surrounding Diablo 4. By adopting a similar feature, Path of Exile 2 has positioned itself as a frontrunner in the action role-playing game genre.

Path of Exile 2's Caster Weapon Attacks

In the first Path of Exile game, casters rarely used the default melee attack that came with their weapons. However, the sequel, Path of Exile 2, has introduced a game-changing mechanic. Each caster weapon wielded by the game's classes now comes with a built-in spell, which can be used without consuming mana. This allows magic-based classes to have a more comparable presence on the battlefield alongside melee characters. During the showcase of the Sorceress class, it was demonstrated that staves can be equipped with spells ranging from basic damaging Fireball to powerful utility spells like Unleash. It is expected that the best caster weapons will be crucial for creating top builds in the game.

One of the subtle but critical enhancements in Path of Exile 2 is the adoption of free spells for caster classes, inspired by the addictive gameplay of the Diablo series. This addition will undoubtedly improve the overall quality of life in the game and make magic stronger than ever before. Although it is hard to predict the advancements in the ARPG genre by the time Path of Exile 2 is released in 2024, the streamlined functionality of casters is just one aspect of its potential to make the franchise more expansive than ever.

Path of Exile 2 is in development.