May 29, 2026 at 1:00 PM PDT is the date to circle, because Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0, Return of the Ancients, is basically the last big stop before 1.0. If you're checking prices, builds, or even gold path of exile 2 chatter before league start, the short answer is simple: this update is about runes, a rebuilt Atlas, and two new Ascendancies. It lands on PC and console together, and the full 1.0 launch is still expected later in 2026 after ExileCon in November.

What is new in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.0

The big league hook is Runes of Elder, and it sounds like the kind of system that will eat my weekend in the best and worst ways. You meet Farrow, an Ezomyte blacksmith type, then start finding Rune Remnants out in the world. These stone altars take more than 100 rune types, and each rune changes both the fight and the reward. Fire rune? Expect fire nonsense. Stack more runes? Better crafts, harder resurrected Elder mobs, more chances to get humbled by your own greed.

How Runes of Elder crafting changes gear and affixes

I like this system because it isn't just another loot piñata. The rune count is the bet. You can push for currency, gear, or skill gem results, but the monsters scale fast, so glass cannon builds may get deleted before the payoff. The new Alloy materials are the sneaky part, though. Rolling mods like Cooldown Reduction onto gloves, when that slot didn't usually get that kind of stuff, could mess with the meta in a real way.

Runic Ward explained for PoE 2 builds

Runic Ward is not a free extra life. Good. We don't need more fake safety nets. It sits above your HP in a strange way: damage gets soaked by Ward only after life is gone, and one huge hit can still kill you if it beats both totals. Verisium, earned through the rune mechanic, can add Ward to almost any armor piece, even uniques. The nasty choice is that some new runic skills and supports spend Ward instead of mana, so your DPS button may be stealing from your panic fund.

Spirit Walker and Martial Artist Ascendancy details

Spirit Walker for the Huntress is the flashy one on paper. You get Asmiri animal spirits: Stag for movement, Owl for casting, Bear for staying alive. The wild part is beast taming, because bosses like the gorilla boss or the Ultimatum bird can become long-term allies. Martial Artist for the Monk is more my speed. Clones copy attacks, Stone Fist gloves push unarmed physical damage, and Rune Tattoos give permanent stat bumps. If that works cleanly, Monk mains are going to be insufferable for at least two weeks.

Atlas of Worlds rework and Origins of Divinity progression

The Atlas change may be the biggest deal for anyone who bounced off the endgame grind. Origins of Divinity gives the Atlas fixed points of interest and a main story path toward the Arbiter inside The Fortress. That's a huge shift from “run maps until your brain leaks.” The Atlas Passive Tree also moves to full allocation, so you can earn every node over time, but major choices can still lock you into different styles. Pick safer player buffs, or juice boss danger for better drops. I already know I'll pick greed, die, blame lag, and do it again.

Legacy mechanics returning in Return of the Ancients

Old systems aren't just pasted back in. Expedition becomes a seafaring setup where logbooks send you through ocean sectors and island chains, with Gwennen and Kalguuran tombs in the mix. Breach turns into Hive Invasion, using a Genesis Tree, Hive Blood, and Wombgifts to grow items, including special jewelry bases. Ritual now chains across maps with the King in the Mists, and those chains can pile up bosses until you're fighting six at once. Delirium gets a depth meter and Liquid Emotions for guaranteed jewel mod crafting, which should cut some RNG pain.

What players still do not know before PoE 2 1.0

A few things are still fuzzy, so don't treat every rumor like a patch note. “Well of Souls” is trending, but the material we have doesn't clearly name a system that way; it may be player slang for the soul-style parts of Ritual or Delirium. Duelist, Shadow, Templar, Marauder, Acts 5 and 6, and the third Atlas Master details are also not fully shown yet. If you're planning league prep, build testing, or checking sites like u4gm for game currency and item services, keep your plans flexible until GGG posts the final notes. Patch 0.5.0 looks packed, but 1.0 still has cards face down.