Patch 0.5.0: Return of the Ancients and the Runes of Aldur League is the biggest update yet for Path of Exile 2. It brings a reworked endgame, the new Runes of Aldur Challenge League, new Ascendancies, Runeforging, fresh Skill and Support Gems, and a wave of updated builds. Whether you’re returning for a new league start or jumping into the game for the first time, Maxroll has updated guides and tools to help you prepare.
Reworked Endgame and Runes of Aldur
Return of the Ancients brings a complete rework to Path of Exile 2's endgame. You now progress through new questlines, explore dedicated regions of the Atlas to find league mechanics, and meet with the Masters of the Atlas to further customize your endgame farming.
Additionally, in the Runes of Aldur Challenge League, players find Ezomyte Remnants guarded by monsters. Defeating the monsters allows you to select rewards, which resurrects them empowered with buffs tied to your choice. You must then kill the monsters again to gain the selected loot.
League Starter Ascendancy Tier List
The update also adds two new Ascendancies. The Spirit Walker Ascendancy for the Huntress focuses on animal companions and even lets ambitious players tame bosses, while the Monk’s Martial Artist Ascendancy leans into unarmed combat, mirages, extra bells, and the new Fists of Stone.
Before locking in your first character, we recommend you check out Maxroll’s League Starter Ascendancy Tier List for Path of Exile 2 Return of the Ancients 0.5.0.
This Ascendancy Tier List ranks the most powerful and popular Ascendancies in the game, with links to build guides. If you’re unsure whether to chase raw damage, better survivability, or a build that scales well into later content, this is the best place to begin.
Updated Path of Exile 2 Build Guides
Maxroll updated most of their existing builds for Patch 0.5. There are several new options for both leveling and endgame, such as the Spirit Walker Twisters guide, and more are in the works. There are still a lot of unknowns, so keep an eye out for more build updates right up until launch day, and some new guides shortly after Runes of Aldur releases.
Check out some of our recommended 0.5 build guides below:
- Bleed Rake Amazon
- Cold Minion Lich
- Cold Spark Pathfinder
- Minion Army Infernalist
- Permafrost Bolts Witchhunter
- Skeletal Sniper Infernalist
- Ice Shot Deadeye
- Lightning Arrow Deadeye
- Ice Strike Invoker Monk
- Shield Wall Titan
- Entangle Oracle
Written by IGN Staff with help from Maxroll.
