Summary of "REVIEW OF THE [0.5] RETURN OF THE ANCIENTS PATCH NOTES (WE WON)"
Storyline / Setting
- Game: Path of Exile
- This video is a patch-notes review for the “Return of the Ancients” (0.5) update, not a narrative playthrough. The “story” discussed is essentially the patch’s impact on build viability and endgame progression (maps/trials/encounters).
Gameplay Highlights (what the patch changes do to builds)
Main “important” buff/change called out
Salvo Support (character-level change; affects Tornado/Twister builds)
- Old:
- Gained a seal every 2 seconds (max 3)
- Granted 2 projectiles per seal
- New:
- Gains a seal every 1 second (max 6)
- Grants 1 projectile per seal
Key takeaway: The reviewer doesn’t treat this as a straight nerf. They say Twister “did not get nerfed”, and that Salvo + Barrage have synergy due to the extra projectile generation.
Tech/support interactions
Anticipation + Unleash support interaction
- Skills supported by Unleash gain 25% increased skill gain frequency
- The patch notes claim this applies to all seal skills, and the reviewer says this helps keep Twister viable.
Flicker Strike bug fix
- Heightened Charge support now correctly applies to Flicker Strike extra flickers per power charge consumed
- The reviewer calls it one of the best supports for Flicker Strike—now it works as intended.
Notable removals (big “the build is dead” moments)
Reverse Chill build-enabling setup nerfed
The reviewer says a unique interaction related to Reverse Chill is effectively over:
- Shackles of the Wretched can no longer roll:
- “all elemental ailments other than freeze”
- Instead, it can roll:
- % increased cold damage per curse on you
Conclusion: Reverse Chill won’t be a thing next league.
Other removed/changed tech
- Soulcore Ultimatum (“Fight Club tech”)
- Fixed a bug that allowed completion using a single soul core
- Now it requires the intended method → trial takes longer
- Infernal Legion 3
- Removed (the reviewer hears/chat says it’s “dead,” but notes they can’t personally verify future playability claims)
- Overextend support
- Removed
- The reviewer highlights it as a daze-on-crit-style support that’s gone
Major balance themes (survivability/defenses)
Energy Shield nerfs across the board
- Vile robe base ES reduced (example: 171 instead of 184)
- Energy shield recharge nodes reduced (example: ~15% down to ~6%)
- Convolescence notable cut roughly in half:
- 40% faster start → 20%
- Overall takeaway: ES “got slammed pretty hard.”
Shield Wall nerfs
- Fortifying Cry change:
- Shockwaves from one Shield Wall can’t hit the same enemy multiple times
- Shield Wall damage scaling changed:
- 5–7 added fizz per 15 armor instead of 6–8
- Reviewer notes shield base armor was raised, so the practical impact may be mixed
Build-specific nerfs (reviewer’s “watch-outs”)
Eternal Rage nerf (weapon set restriction)
- Old: could place it on one weapon set and avoid spirit ruin
- New: like Blink, it draws from both spirit totals
- Result: it can’t be localized to one weapon set
The reviewer expects this will change or hurt builds relying on weapon-set tricks (including a poison-burst interaction).
Argent reload mechanic nerf
- Previously: 100% reload on killing blow (the reviewer references “100% use rate” earlier)
- Now: effectively 1 in 4 chance equivalent behavior
Patch-history reference by the reviewer:
- ~35% → 100% → 25%
They still consider it good due to pack size, just less guaranteed.
Leech system nerf
Reviewer summary:
- Pretty much every source of leech changed
- An added upper limit:
- If a hit would deal more than 40,000 total damage, leech calculations treat it as 40,000
- Mentions additional changes to deflect/armor/evade to make scaling more linear
- Blood Mage is expected to be hit because of leech nerfs
“Hard targeted” build casualty
Time of Need interaction removed/reshaped
The reviewer explains a previously broken/abusive setup using:
- Time of Need + Hexeous Fulmination (Hyad?) lineage support
- Purpose: keep mana/life stable
Key changes:
- The support behavior no longer functions the same way
- Time of Need is no longer a duration skill
- Interval and recovery/blessing frequency values reduced
Outcome:
- The associated Hierophant/poison-leech variant (described as “this character might be on the chopping block”) is likely no longer viable.
Gameplay Strategies / Key Tips Mentioned
-
Patch-note triage strategy: The reviewer purposely focuses only on changes they consider most important, skipping reveal details and “everything else.”
-
League-start plan after the patch: They intend to campaign with Twister/Lich, then swap to Abyssal Lich for league start. They explicitly dislike leveling spells then swapping to attacks for newer players.
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What to expect for “safe” archetypes (reviewer’s assessment):
- Abyssal Lich and Spiral Volley / Projectile Acceleration / Rain of Arrows are described as unchanged (reviewer says they remain safe)
- Chayula described as safe
- Whirling Assault only slightly nerfed (not a big deal)
- Flicker Strike described as improved due to the bug fix
Gamer(s) / Sources Featured (mentioned at the end)
- Rabbit (referred to as having a guide)
- EDC (mentioned alongside Rabbit as part of guide references)
- Kparian (mentioned in a chat claim about Infernal Legion playability)
- K/“Kparian said” / chat members (general “chat told me” references; no other specific usernames provided)
- The Path of Exile YouTube channel (where the reveal video is hosted)
(No other named gamers/creators are clearly specified beyond Rabbit/EDC and the brief mentions above.)
Category
Gaming
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