Grinding Gear Games has not only continuously out did themselves each year with new content and completely original ideas; they’ve pushed the boundaries of what can be done with a game. Path of Exile’s is one of my favorites and the most recent update, Affliction, has been nothing short of exceptional. Everything from the music to the lore all the way to the gameplay and how things are done has been a breath of fresh air.
My build can be found here. I’m working on a POB and will update the blog post when it’s available.
What are the changes in Affliction?
Affliction significantly revamps Path of Exile’s gameplay with three major changes. First, it introduces Transfigured Gems, a streamlined system merging Alternate Quality Gems, Labyrinth Helmet Enchantments, and Unique Threshold Jewels. This not only simplifies existing mechanics but also unlocks a wealth of exciting new playstyles, like combining previously incompatible effects.
Secondly, the Labyrinth transforms into a versatile crafting tool, allowing players to create Transfigured Gems or enhance other gems with quality or experience. Finally, the Wildwood offers a unique opportunity to unlock a powerful new Ascendancy class, adding another layer of customization to your character build.
Is Affliction enjoyable?
Take a watch below and see what you think!
Campaign League Mechanics
The campaign was always the first step when testing out a league mechanic and if I enjoyed it. Affliction didn’t disappoint with the design. In Wildwood, the more Wisps that are gathered the harder the monsters become and greater rewards that drop. In Affliction, we were in control for our rewards. Wild Wisps provided item rarity, Vivid Wisps provided quantity and Primal Wisps provided currency.
I felt more accomplished in this league than in any others. I didn’t feel over burden with league mechanics but rather they felt like they’ve always been there. The blend of the Affliction with the core game is very fluid
Endgame League Mechanics
Affliction’s endgame is definitely one for the books. Mapping with stacked wisps and other effects like possession makes for one impossible boss, although the rewards are exceptional. The Eternal Labyrinth changes now provide ways to obtain support gems like Empowered and Enlighten was heavily needed. With these small changes, the gameplay felt simplified and more readily available for solo players like myself.
With that, Affliction does have some downsides with hard to see effects and one-shot problems. The area can be tendentious to finding where the NPCs are located and bosses being slightly off screen in the darkness can cause some headaches.
As of this writing, stacking MF (magic find) with the Wisps proves to improve drops by a massive amounts. Ideally, collecting anywhere from 5k-10k Wisps seems to provide a huge significant drop increase for all loot (depending on which Wisps was collected).
Completionist
Affliction provides a pretty unique armor set and style. One that I will attempt to achieve by completing as my Challenges as possible within the League. Here’s the list of the challenges for this league. Providing a nice breakdown to look through and plan for.
I’m always excited for new content and styles of playing. I enjoy challenges that they provide and finding new ways to play Frost Blades. What has you excited with Path of Exile? Let me know in the comments.
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