Mercenary Class And Grenades: Grinding Gear Games’ Latest Dev Stream Offers More Details On Path Of Exile 2

Today, Grinding Gear Games hosted a dev stream highlighting some of the features coming in Path of Exile 2, as well as what players can expect from Path of Exile’s Affliction League. During the stream, the developers introduced a new class, the Mercenary. This is the sixth class highlighted since Path of Exile 2 was first revealed. The others are Druid, Monk, Warrior, Huntress, and Sorceress – all of which are classes players likely expect from a game of this type.

All of the above classes are intended to play differently, but the class revealed today is even more different. The Mercenary uses a projectile weapon – specifically the crossbow, and it takes its inspiration from shooters. Earlier this week, we were given a preview of today’s reveals, and one of the things noted was that twin-stick shooters were part of the design influence.

The Mercenary can carry two crossbows at a time, and there are different types of crossbows to be had. Not only that, but there are various types of ammunition as well. This allows players access to a wider variety of abilities intended to cause the most damage. The crossbow is made even more diverse with the addition of attachments. For example, layers can add grenade launchers. And yes, there are different types of grenades too.

The class also benefits from a feature that didn’t exist in PoE 1 – the WASD movement. Players can now move in any direction regardless of where they are aiming. This doesn’t mean that click to move is gone. Players can swap between the modes at any time. Also note that WASD will not be added to PoE1, as adding it would just require too many changes to the game’s system.

As for Path of Exile 1’s Affliction season, it launches on December 8. When it does, it will introduce Sacred Wisps. These wisps will take players to overgrown passages leading to Viridian Wildwood, besieged by an affliction of darkness. The whisps will surround players and burn away the darkness as they move through it. Along the way, players will find other types of wisps that can be collected and used to uncover secrets.

Of course, it won’t be easy. The wisps have limited energy and if players find themselves left in the dark, they will find themselves in even more danger.

Upon returning to Wraeclast from these adventures, the wisps players have collected will disperse, affecting monsters. The monsters can be affected by a single type of wisp or a combination. Each grants different bonuses or benefits.

While exploring, players can also run into the remaining Azmeri wanderers – each with different specializations they are willing to teach players if they help them defeat the King of Mists. Players must decide which Azmeri to help, as the choice determines which of three new Ascendancy classes they can unlock to go along with their regular Ascendancy class.

In addition, players can learn to become a Warden of the Maji. This is a class that uses wilderness knowledge. That includes using tinctures to coat their weapons and grant various effects. Tinctures are equipped to the flask slots and are toggled on and off.

Of course, there’s a good bit more players can expect with the arrival of Affliction. This includes a big metagame change that combines alternate quality gems, labyrinth helmet enchants, and unique threshold jewels into a single system called Transfigured gems. Transfigured gems have a different functionality and balance from regular gems.

One example is the Frost Bomb of Instability, which is changed from a cooldown skill in order to cast a large explosion. This changes Frost Bomb from a utility to a main damage skill. More details on this, as well as everything else coming in Affliction, are available in the stream.