Path of Exile 2: How to Prepare for Patch 0.5 — League Start, Builds, and What to Change

PoE2 Patch 0.5 launches May 29. You have two weeks to prepare: clear your old characters, study the Atlas changes, pick a league start build, and understand the new rune mechanic.

Author: Редакция MBG •

What Changes in Patch 0.5

Return of the Ancients fully rebuilds the endgame: new Atlas with 300+ nodes, 5 narrative arcs, 15 bosses, 100+ runes. Current endgame-tuned builds may lose relevance — this is expected.

What to Do Now

Clear current characters — move currency and items before the league wipe.
Study patch notes (May 21) — pay special attention to changes for your preferred classes.
Choose your league start Ascendancy — Chronomancer reportedly receives significant buffs in 0.5.
Prepare storage — the rune mechanic will require additional stash tabs.

Best League Start Builds for 0.5

Without patch notes, specifics are hard, but some archetypes look strong in any meta: Monk (fast clear), Chronomancer (confirmed buffs), Invoker (high DPS ceiling). Avoid blindly copying day-one S-tier builds — meta settles in 1-2 weeks.

Rune Mechanic: Where to Start

Ezomyte Runesmithing is the new league mechanic. Activate precursor remnants, fight empowered enemies, earn runes. At league start, focus on rare runes for critical gear slots rather than mass crafting.

Boss Accessibility

For the first time, every endgame boss has a questline. Use it — don't wait for a random key drop. Follow the quests. This fundamentally changes progression.