Dawn of the Hunt Patch 0.2.0: Everything you need to know about PoE2’s latest update

Path of Exile 2 (PoE2) is about to release a massive update into its Early Access (EA). Dawn of the Hunt, coming on April 4, brings with it a new class, new weapons, new Ascensions, a literal boatload of new items, support gems, and huge changes to some of the game’s systems. In a live stream on March 27, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) showed the world their reveal for the upcoming patch, alongside everything coming in Patch 0.2.0.

When Dawn of the Hunt, Patch 0.2.0, goes live for PoE2 on April 4, it will be nearly 4 months after the game went into its early access period. While we have seen tweaks here and there, this update is set to change the game in many ways.

New class: Huntress

Dawn of the Hunt brings with it the Huntress class. This spear-wielding Azmerian warrior was exiled from her homestead and is now ready to be played by anyone. With a ranged and melee combat hybrid, the Huntress unleashes powerful attacks – with the added benefit of a buckler to parry and defend. Two Ascensions will be available for the Huntress on release, with Amazon and Ritualist for players to choose from.

New Ascendancies

Alongside this, 3 more classes have received new Ascensions. The Mercenary, Warrior, and Witch all can now find a new path to choose.

Players should also note that Ascendancy resets will still not be a feature, and thus, players will need to restart to try these.

During their livestream, GGG touched on both support gems and Unique items. Both of these are getting huge additions in Patch 0.2.0. With over 100 new support gems and over 100 new Unique items added, builds for every class are about to get a completely new look. Some of the gems highlighted during the live stream include:

While they did not expand on a lot of the gems, it just leaves players with some mysteries to learn when the new update releases.

On the other hand, the new Uniques that were added are said to focus mainly on Mid and Endgame tiers. However, there are a few created for early game, too. Below are just a few of the Unique items that were previewed during the livestream – but there are many more for players to find.

As can be seen in the images, we also got a hint at the inclusion of Unique Charms, which will be coming in the patch.

It isn't easy to simply write about every single aspect of PoE2 that is changing. One of the big parts of Dawn of the Hunt is the changes to the endgame. With that in mind, GGG has changed some systems. Maps will see a huge change, with new ones being added and big updates to how players can push forward.

The number of Towers has been reduced drastically, but to make up for this, they have also increased in power. Tablets will add twice as many mechanics, too, and higher tier Maps will increase the number of mechanics applied by the Tablets. Alongside this, Towers will be able to consume up to three Tablets - with the first unlocking on Tower completion.

There are many more changes, including Corrupted Map improvements, Corrupted Nexus, Cleansed Maps, new bosses, and so much more.

A brand-new feature coming to PoE2 will be Rogue Exiles. These enemies are, basically, much like the player – geared in some amazing items and with smarter artificial intelligence. According to GGG, they will be much tougher to defeat, but taking them down will secure the player the Exile’s gear. It almost seems as though it could be player-versus-player (PVP) action, but not entirely since it is technically not a player. There are a total of 12 Rogue Exiles, each with their own set of skills, ready to challenge the players.

There is a lot more coming to PoE2 in the Dawn of the Hunt 0.2.0 update. The livestream has reinvigorated the player base, as many will certainly be returning to try out all the new features on April 4, 2025. With new leagues also on the way, players can enjoy a reset of the economy or stick it out in the old one if they prefer. Either way, PoE2’s EA continues to be an impressive look at the game.

We will have further detailed posts on all the major changes in the coming week, so keep yourself glued to esports.gg.