Path of Exile 2's 0.5 patch, Return of the Ancients, lands on May 29, and it doesn't feel like a small early-access touch-up. It feels like the point where the game starts asking players to take the endgame seriously. Old systems that were held back are finally being folded into fresh league content, which means builds, mapping habits, and trade plans are all going to shift. If you're already sorting stash tabs, checking crafting bases, or comparing POE 2 Items before the patch hits, you're not overthinking it. This is the kind of update where being ready saves a lot of pain later.

Endgame is getting harder to ignore

The big thing here is structure. A lot of players have been waiting for Path of Exile 2 to feel less like a campaign-first test and more like a proper ARPG grind. Return of the Ancients seems aimed right at that gap. You'll likely have more reasons to push maps, revisit builds, and chase specific rewards instead of just clearing whatever drops in front of you. That's good news, but it also means weak setups will show their cracks faster. A build that felt fine last week might feel clunky once the new systems start asking for better damage, cleaner defenses, and smarter resource use.

Farming plans may change fast

Players always find a route. Give the community a new mechanic and, within days, someone's worked out where the profit is hiding. Still, the first week after a patch is usually messy. Prices jump. Certain bases disappear. Crafting materials get hoarded. People copy popular builds and suddenly the same handful of gear pieces become expensive. If you're farming, it may be smarter to stay flexible instead of locking yourself into one method. Run content you can clear quickly. Sell early when demand is wild. Keep an eye on niche drops too, because odd-looking items often become valuable once streamers start testing strange interactions.

Build crafting won't be business as usual

The update should also shake up theorycrafting. Not just in a “this skill got buffed” way, either. New league mechanics tend to reward different things. Sometimes speed matters most. Sometimes control, burst damage, or staying alive through ugly boss phases becomes the real test. That's where players who experiment a bit can get ahead. You don't need to reinvent the wheel, but don't blindly follow the first guide you see. Try to understand why a build works. If one item is overpriced, look for a rough substitute. If one defensive layer feels bad, swap it before you waste a weekend forcing it.

What smart players will do first

When Return of the Ancients goes live, the best move is probably simple: get through the early noise and watch the market breathe. Don't panic-buy every shiny upgrade. Don't dump useful gear too cheaply just because your stash is full. Check what other players are actually using, then decide where your currency should go. Some will grind hard, some will trade, and some will browse POE 2 Items for sale while planning a smoother start, but the goal is the same for everyone: stay ahead of the curve without burning out in the first few days.