I didn’t expect to see Wraeclast buzzing like this again. Yet here we are: a huge launch spike, queues that actually mean something, and towns so full you can’t stand still without someone brushing past. Patch 0.4.0 also feels like the first time the game’s performance finally matches its ambition, and after those CPU fixes you notice it right away. If you’re jumping back in and just want to get a build moving without wasting nights on spreadsheets, I’ve seen plenty of folks talk about u4gm poe currency in the same breath as gearing plans, and that says a lot about how fast things are moving.

The Druid Clicks

The Druid isn’t just “new class hype.” It changes how you think about hybrid setups. You’re not stuck in that old, awkward shapeshift loop where everything feels delayed. Now it’s more like you’re swapping moods. Cast in human form, then pivot into an animal form when the screen fills up. It’s quick, and it looks clean. The rage-style mechanic is the big hook for me—build it, spend it, feel the spike. Wyvern form is the show-off option, sure, but it’s also genuinely useful when you need to reposition and still keep damage rolling. If you peek at the ladders, it tracks: Druids and Shamans are everywhere, and people are already getting weird with Remnant Mastery in a way that’ll probably get nerfed sooner than later.

Fate of the Vaal Feels Like A Puzzle

The league mechanic, Fate of the Vaal, is the kind of system that eats hours because it’s half combat and half planning. You aren’t only clearing rooms; you’re placing them, shaping the run, chasing adjacency bonuses, and trying not to outsmart yourself. It’s got a bit of that Incursion itch, but with more room to mess up. I’ve definitely tanked a few layouts by chasing corruption altars too hard. Then you hit a run where the rewards line up, you land a spicy double enchant, and suddenly you’re telling yourself, “One more temple.” Bringing Queen Atziri back as a real pinnacle fight helps too—same icon, nastier timing, and less forgiveness.

Hotfixes, Balance, and The Player Economy

Launch day had the usual sharp edges. A couple crashes, some jank when entering the temple, that kind of stuff. But the quick hotfixes mattered, and 0.4.0b cleaned up a bunch of damage scaling weirdness that was making fights feel random. Armour finally has a clearer purpose now that damage can’t drop below 1, so you don’t get deleted by harmless-looking trash as often. And yeah, trade is on fire. It’s early-league chaos: prices swing, good bases vanish, and everyone’s racing their own deadline—level 100, first boss kill, first mirror-tier craft, whatever.

Why It’s Worth Logging In Right Now

What surprised me most is the vibe. People are experimenting instead of copying one stale template, and the game supports it because it’s running smoother and the new tools actually open doors. You’ll still brick a few attempts, you’ll still get humbled by a mechanic you thought you understood, but it’s the fun kind of painful. If you’re short on time and want to keep up with friends who no-life the start, there’s always chatter about poe 2 currency instant delivery while everyone scrambles to finish their setups, and honestly that’s just part of how competitive league starts go.