Ever since my journey began with Diablo 2, where I embraced the role of the Necromancer, I’ve been enamored with the idea of exploring an action role-playing game (ARPG) at a leisurely pace while my legion of minions takes care of the heavy lifting. This fantasy has been reignited with the introduction of the Path of Exile 2 summoner subclass, which has captured my attention like few things before it. Set to launch with the PoE 2 Return of the Ancients update at the end of the month, the Spirit Walker Ascendancy empowers players to command some of the game’s most formidable bosses, turning them into allies. A recent deep-dive video from developer Grinding Gear Games elaborates on the mechanics behind this exciting feature.
Expansive Updates and New Ascendancies
The upcoming Path of Exile 2 0.5 update promises to be monumental, featuring a comprehensive redesign of the endgame and a crafting overhaul aimed at enhancing the depth of the action RPG while making it more accessible. Among the highlights are two new Ascendancies—essentially the subclass system of PoE 2. The Martial Artist Monk caters to players eager to transform their critical strikes into explosive displays or to channel spirit clones that orbit around them, dispatching enemies with finesse.
However, it is the Spirit Walker Huntress that has truly piqued my interest. Grinding Gear Games has unveiled a wealth of information about this subclass, and while the ability to control beast bosses is certainly enticing, there is much more to explore. Central to the Ascendancy are three distinct branches: Vivid, Primal, and Wild, each aligned with the Azmerian Wisps. Players familiar with PoE2 will recognize these animal guardians, known for their capacity to empower foes, making them both more dangerous and valuable. Now, the tables have turned.
- Vivid Path: Summon stag spirits that leap ahead during attacks, leaving a trail of shocked ground.
- Primal Path: Enhance projectile skills, allowing for multiple projectiles to be fired simultaneously at increased speed.
- Wild Path: Gain a spirit bear companion that leaps at enemies, leeching life and occasionally intimidating them with a roar, while also boosting the damage and life of all your minions without counting towards the usual companion cap.
Players can choose to invest heavily in one specific tree for maximum effectiveness or opt for a balanced approach across all three paths for unique bonuses that enhance each branch. Additionally, the Idolatry path expands the Spirit Walker’s potential to accommodate a broader range of minion builds, offering further enhancements based on the Idols socketed into your gear.
What truly captivates me is The Natural Order, a feature that enables the Tame Beast skill to work on unique beasts, granting a 30% movement speed boost. This begins with early-game adversaries like the Devourer and Crowbell, but escalates to notorious foes such as the Mighty Silverfist and the formidable Great White One. While I suspect some adjustments may be made in the patch notes to prevent players from claiming iconic end-of-act bosses like Count Geonor, the options available are already abundant.
To showcase these features, game director Mark Roberts presented what he calls the “zookeeper build,” utilizing the new unique scepter, Sylvan’s Effigy, which eliminates companion limits. This allows players to command a permanent Azmerian Wolf, and Roberts recommends combining this with a regular Wolf Pack, the spirit bear from the Wild tree, Skeletal Clerics for healing, and a trio of Tame Beast minions. His selections include well-known summoner favorites such as Quadrilla, the Plague Harvester, and the Mighty Silverfist.
“The Spirit Walker has enlisted the entire zoo to fight on her behalf,” Roberts notes. “All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the show, and perhaps remind your alpha wolf to summon its spirit friends from time to time.” He further mentions, “This might be a good time to highlight that companion damage has been buffed across the board.” With individual balance adjustments in place, it’s likely that bosses have been fine-tuned to maintain game integrity, but that won’t deter me from the thrill of experimentation.
Path of Exile 2 Return of the Ancients is set to launch on Friday, May 29. Grinding Gear Games is also introducing an array of new features, including a raven flock reminiscent of the beloved Righteous Fire from PoE 1 and a cluster grenade launcher dubbed Redemption. With all these exciting developments, I feel it’s finally time to unleash my minion hordes upon the reimagined Atlas endgame of PoE 2.
