7 Things Likely to Get Nerfed in Path of Exile 2's 0.3.0 League

Patch 0.2.0 for Path of Exile 2 left a massive impact on the game's meta. Several skills and mechanics were heavily nerfed, leaving only a handful of reliable league starters and endgame builds in the Dawn of the Hunt League. Players quickly gravitated toward the most powerful remaining options, which naturally became the new meta.

In an interview with Chinese media, Game Director Jonathan Rogers revealed that patch 0.3.0 will focus on improving underpowered Skill Gems and passive nodes. That said, given the dominance of certain items and builds, some nerfs still appear inevitable.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at seven candidates most likely to be nerfed when the next major update arrives. And as always, if you're preparing for these changes, make sure to stock up on POE 2 Currency to pivot into new builds when the patch hits.

1. Beacon of Azis Solar Amulet

Beacon of Azis is one of the most sought-after amulets thanks to its unique ability: all critical hits ignore enemy elemental resistances. This single mechanic allows crit-based builds to bypass one of the biggest damage roadblocks in the game. On top of that, it grants a generous amount of Spirit, making it even more versatile.

Because of its widespread popularity, Beacon of Azis is likely to receive a nerf. Instead of ignoring resistances outright, it may be reworked to only ignore a percentage of resistances, balancing it for both early and late-game progression.

2. Tangletongue Forked Spear

At first glance, Tangletongue doesn't look overwhelming. Its stats are fairly standard, until you consider its unique property: "Forks Critical Hits."

This ability essentially allows your critical hits to roll twice. If both rolls succeed, you deal triple critical damage. Combined with the Huntress' Amazon Ascendancy, which makes achieving high crit chance trivial, Tangletongue has become a cornerstone of some of the most powerful builds in the game.

Expect to see a change here, possibly lowering the extra damage multiplier or altering how crits are forked.

3. Lightning Spear

The single most dominant Skill Gem in Path of Exile 2 right now is Lightning Spear. Introduced in patch 0.2.0, this ability chains lightning across entire packs of enemies, often wiping them out with a single cast, even those off-screen.

Currently, Lightning Spear accounts for nearly half of all builds in the Dawn of the Hunt League. Its ability to clear maps effortlessly, paired with Herald of Lightning for additional damage, makes it too good to ignore.

It's all but certain that Lightning Spear will see adjustments in patch 0.3.0, likely reducing its chain range or damage scaling.

4. Amazon Ascendancy Passives

The Amazon Ascendancy for the Huntress has been a key driver in the dominance of crit-based builds. One notable passive allows Accuracy to exceed 100%, converting the excess into increased base critical chance.

This means almost any skill, when combined with high Accuracy stacking, can be turned into a crit machine. The issue isn't just the synergy with Lightning Spear, it's the fact that Amazon's passives make nearly every crit-based build disproportionately strong.

A nerf could take the form of lowering the bonus critical chance or capping how much Accuracy converts into crit.

5. Chaos-Based Skills

Skills like Contagion and Essence Drain have proven to be among the strongest mob-clearing tools in the game. Even without heavy investment, they can wipe out entire groups of enemies, and when paired with the Lich Ascendancy, they scale well enough to melt rares too.

The catch? Their strength comes largely from the fact that many other skills were nerfed. Still, it wouldn't be surprising if Contagion's chain damage or Essence Drain's scaling gets adjusted in 0.3.0. If not a direct nerf, expect tweaks to their synergy with support gems or POE 2 items.

6. Energy Shield

Survivability has been a major concern since 0.2.0, but certain Energy Shield builds have flipped the script by becoming nearly unkillable. With powerful passives that reduce recharge delay and increase recharge rate, players can achieve recharge times of under a second.

When combined with Convalescence (for uninterrupted recharge) and Chaos Inoculation (for immunity to direct health damage., Energy Shield has become the most reliable defensive option in the game.

GGG may not outright nerf Energy Shield values, but we could see a rework to passive tree placement, making these defensive combinations harder to reach.

7. Lich Ascendancy Passives

The Lich, a new Ascendancy for the Witch, has risen to prominence with Chaos-based skills. Key passives like Dominion Over Flesh and Crystalline Phylactery allow incredible damage and survivability scaling. Add in Rupture the Soul, which gives cursed enemies a 33% chance to explode on death, and you get one of the most efficient mob-clearing setups in the game.

Given how central the Lich has become to the current meta, some of its passives may see toned-down values, particularly those that interact with curses and jewel effects.

Preparing for 0.3.0

Whenever a major balance patch hits, the economy of Path of Exile 2 shifts drastically. Skills and items that were once cheap skyrocket in price, while nerfed builds plummet in value. This is why having a healthy stockpile of POE 2 Currency is so important.

With enough currency on hand, you can:

Transition quickly into new meta builds.

Buy rare items before their prices inflate.

Experiment with different setups without being locked into one archetype.

If you're planning to adapt smoothly to patch 0.3.0, investing time in farming currency now will ensure you're ready for whatever the developers throw at us.

Final Thoughts

Patch 0.3.0 promises to bring buffs to underused skills, but that doesn't mean the dominant options will escape untouched. Lightning Spear, Tangletongue, and Amazon Ascendancy passives are all prime candidates for nerfs, while Energy Shield and Lich passives may also see adjustments.

Whether these nerfs are light touches or major reworks, the safest way to stay ahead is to prepare your resources. Stockpiling POE 2 Currency ensures you'll have the flexibility to adapt tomorrow.

The only certainty in Path of Exile 2 is change, so get ready, because the meta is about to shift again.

MMOexp POE 2 Team