Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients — Update 0.5.0 Review: GGG Delivered
When Path of Exile 2 entered Early Access in December 2024, many players noted that the endgame left much to be desired. Patch 0.5.0 'Return of the Ancients', released May 29, 2026, was supposed to fix that. It did — and then some.
Return of the Ancients is the most important patch in PoE2's history. GGG delivered
Endgame Overhaul
The redesigned Atlas now has structure through the new Fortress system: instead of a uniform fog of war, players now have a non-linear map with fixed points of interest. This eliminates the main problem of previous versions — the feeling of aimless wandering. 300+ nodes in the Atlas Passive Tree means endgame paths are genuinely varied.
Runes of Aldur League: Fresh Mechanic
The new league is not just a cosmetic season. The Remnant system changes the crafting approach: instead of a lottery, players actively engage with runic recipes and recruit monster waves for specific rewards. Verisium Runeforging is the first genuinely new defense type in a long time.
Two New Ascendancy Classes
Martial Artist for Monk and Spirit Walker for Huntress expand the build pool with fundamentally different playstyles. Spirit Walker is particularly interesting: choosing between the Stag, Owl, or Bear spirits shapes your entire build from early levels.
Weaknesses
Not everything is perfect. Five hotfixes in a single day (June 1) show the league launched with some technical issues. Monster balance in certain Remnant situations feels overtuned. The Atlas UI remains less intuitive than PoE1's.
Verdict
Return of the Ancients is the most important patch in PoE2's history. It not only resolves accumulated problems but sets the right direction for the full release. GGG delivered. If you haven't played PoE2 in a while, now is the perfect time to return.