POE2 is still just a meta stack that does not allow build creative freedom.

Shock everything to win - this covers 99% of the feedback.

But over all - if you do not play into a meta build and want to try something unique and creative then it will not be a fun experience. For each league there is always a handfull "top builds" that everyone follows while everything else goes out the window.

As with POE1 there is little to no understanding on mechanic or ability nerf and game balance and this is honestly the only thing that makes Diablo a better environment to be in - and knowing how terrible Diablo is balanced says a lot.

With the build comes the play - If you do not run a 1-shot build and try to rely on other mechanics that is in the game the game will not work for you. If by chance you manage to phase some bosses then the second phase boss ability rotations will most likely prevent you from progressing - Arbiter is a good example of this where boss abilities start overlapping and screen covering. This in turn forces the meta build play.

POE2 imo was a great opportunity to rework ability balance and avoid bugs and glitches from poe1 - yet this has not been the case and as of right now it feels that there is very little difference in play between poe1 and poe2.

Not true at all...

https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3859385

I agree there isnt enough freedom and still depends what you want to build but look at that that :D
If they'd remove attribute requirements would be massive, just keep level req for weapons, armour pieces and skills^^

I can suggest to play SSF (HC optionally) and try different builds/skills without "effective farming for currency" and do not look how others play.

I personally became much happier with the game when do so.

Of course there's still lack in balance and weapons and skills, but thats EA still and the content is upcoming thing.
I think the main issue currently is armor/evasion + life are far worse than just ES, also some spells from elemental branch are a bit underperforming. Don't like cold snap rework personally. But its still many fun things you can try and play.

If you want efficient farming, then for sure you need kind of a meta build.
But there are quite a number of builds you can do.

I understand the point tho. Many skills are pretty useless.

There definitely is build variety. You just have to be really good at making builds, AND the real problem, is you have to hope all of the skills and interactions on the tree work like they are supposed to.

Which, i personally wouldn't bother with right now, but some are finding success in the build hunt.

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Aragerok#4877 schrieb:

For each league there is always a handfull "top builds" that everyone follows while everything else goes out the window.

(1) Most players don't follow the top builds.

(2) If you genuinely think "everyone" is doing that, join a different guild.

(3) I'm running a Hollow Palm Ice Strike Pathfinder in SSF. It's a no-armor-no-energy-shield challenge run. I can only use Evasion and Deflection. Pathfinder allows evasion to reduce elemental damage. So I have 75% elemental resistances, and another 75% damage reduction ON TOP OF THAT.

Pure evasion melee is hardcore viable. I'm not good enough (crazy enough?) to do that, but I don't die often.

It's a lot more fun, for me, to construct a build that maybe nobody else has ever constructed, than it is to play a cookie cutter build to chase currency numbers.

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Aragerok#4877 schrieb:

Shock everything to win - this covers 99% of the feedback.



With the build comes the play - If you do not run a 1-shot build and try to rely on other mechanics that is in the game the game will not work for you. If by chance you manage to phase some bosses then the second phase boss ability rotations will most likely prevent you from progressing - Arbiter is a good example of this where boss abilities start overlapping and screen covering. This in turn forces the meta build play.

.

The best answer read so far. Well done.

Kill fast or nonexistent defences will kill you...or better....do what you've learned in Poe1! Zom zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom..

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.....zoom zoom zoom zoom zoom..
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This - I am using lightning warp on spellslinger just for added dashes.

For some of the other replies :

Right now I am running a spark CC on shock magnitude stack with added cold infusion. First thing everyone tells me is that arc is now the meta for this league.

My thing is - I do not want to use arc. A few leagues ago I was running chaos on gas and fire and everyone was also telling me "just run arc". SO many build potentials out there annd the moment you speak to anyone about a bug or a glitch in the game the response is usually "just get a 1 shot build and you won;t have to deal with the bugs". - Terrible mentality as I play this type of game for the genre but also for the creative freedom that the skill tree and gear combo is meant to offer. Otherwise I could just go back to Diablo if I wanted to do the same thing again and again and again and again.

Honestly I feel we should stop accepting broken npc mechanics and lack of game balance to the abilities. Making a bad build is not the same as making a good/creative build. A game like this should not revolve a single minded meta run.

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DistributedAutomaton#5739 schrieb:

"

Aragerok#4877 schrieb:

For each league there is always a handfull "top builds" that everyone follows while everything else goes out the window.

...
(3) I'm running a Hollow Palm Ice Strike Pathfinder...

I mean...... hollow palm is kinda all the rage at the moment.....

Im a Chayula monk and at 97 have been having a blast. Maybe I'm a little slower than the top speed builds. But its incredibly hard for me to die. I like that. Deadeyes are super fast/high damage but something tickles them they die. I like having a bit of a tank.

Most every build is viable. Im sorry you need to listen to streamers to think otherwise