Path of Exile 2 patch 0.5.0, Return of the Ancients, feels less like a small seasonal tune-up and more like a proper reset of what players do after the campaign. It arrives on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 4 p.m. EDT, with regional times landing later that night in Europe and on May 30 in Japan and Australia. If you're coming back after Fate of the Vaal, your old characters aren't being wiped; they'll move into the usual Early Access Standard or Hardcore space. That matters, especially for players sorting stash tabs, filters, and PoE2 Items before the new league rush starts.

A cleaner road into the Atlas

The big change isn't a shiny weapon type or a pile of new classes. It's the endgame. GGG has said this update is meant to make the jump from campaign to Atlas feel less like being shoved into the deep end. After the story, players should meet league-style systems through clearer questlines, then work toward weaker versions of pinnacle bosses. That's a smart move. Plenty of people love endless mapping, sure, but many players want a target they can actually see. A goal. Maybe even a place to stop without feeling as if they quit halfway through the game.

Runes, filters, and the new league mess

Runes of Aldur is the new league, and rune crafting is the hook. The idea sounds simple enough: find runes, use them for strange upgrades, and push items in ways that normal crafting might not. The catch is that the exact rune list, drop rules, and crafting limits still aren't fully clear from the available information. So don't build your whole plan around one rumoured rune yet. What is safe to say is this: update your loot filter. New league drops and rune-related rewards can make an old filter miss things or scream at the wrong stuff. That first evening is chaotic enough without guessing whether a drop was important.

Spirit Walker looks ready, Martial Artist less so

Two ascendancies are coming: Spirit Walker and Martial Artist. Spirit Walker has the better practical coverage right now, mostly thanks to the Huntress Twisters setup. That build starts fast because Whirling Slash and Twister are available early. The core loop is a bit fussy, though. You spin up three Whirling Slash attacks, stay inside the whirlwind, then fire Twister. Step out too soon and the damage falls apart. Barrage adds projectiles when Frenzy Charges are up, while Ice-Tipped Arrows turns the setup toward Cold damage, freeze, chilled ground, and cleaner pack clearing.

For a quick player-side read, this is how the main 0.5.0 talking points stack up right now.

What I'd check before logging in

Before launch, I'd do three boring but useful things: patch the client early, refresh the item filter, and pick a starter that doesn't rely on expensive uniques. Spirit Walker Twisters fits that brief, though you'll need to respect its weapon-set rules. Put Ice-Tipped Arrows with Twister, not with the speed setup. Don't judge the second spear by displayed DPS either; flat damage matters more there. If you're browsing trade options or comparing PoE2 gear for sale while planning, keep the build's actual mechanics in mind rather than chasing the biggest number on the tooltip.