True ARPG Innovation Means GGG Fixing One-Shots and XP Loss

If GGG wants to claim true innovation in the ARPG genre, it's time to confront two of the most frustrating and outdated mechanics in Path of Exile 2: unpredictable one-shot deaths and meaningless XP loss.

Creativity isn't about designing encounters that delete players in a fraction of a second with no warning. It’s not a test of skill if there’s no way to react. The issue isn’t just that one-shots exist, it’s that you often can’t even tell they’re coming. That’s not challenging, it’s cheap.

To make matters worse, the only punishment is XP loss, which does more harm than good. Two of my friends have already quit PoE 2 permanently because of it. They saw it as a lazy mechanic meant to keep players grinding, but it had the opposite effect, making them hate the experience and walk away. That is not how you build long-term engagement.

If GGG truly wants to push the genre forward, they need to design content that rewards awareness, planning, and adaptability instead of punishing players for stepping out of line. They also need to find better ways to handle failure than a flat XP penalty that kills motivation.

You’ve built something amazing, now take the next step and show us real innovation.

get good = no xp loss = no issues

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get good = no xp loss = no issues

Saying 'get good' in an ARPG like PoE 2 is irrelevant. These games are not about mechanical skill like Soulslikes, they are about build paths, gear checks, and RNG.

When deaths come from invisible one-shots or stat checks rather than actual mistakes, 'get good' becomes a lazy excuse for poor design. I know exactly what real skill looks like, I was getting summoned to help players solo Malenia and Radahn.

PoE 2 is a very fun game, don't get me wrong, but we need real innovation to move past outdated mechanics like XP loss and unavoidable deaths.

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juju#3413 wrote:

get good = no xp loss = no issues

Was playing my warr the other day, got surrounded from all sides on a crappy cavern map on which the passable and usable space was made 90% of narrow pathways(truly stelar map design), one rare jumped me from across the screen, summoned 3 volatile plants on top of me, they spawned and I got killed. All that happened in about 1s. Git gud, indeed.

You'll find more sympathy on the POE2 boards.

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hUmMuS_BoSs#9302 wrote:

If GGG wants to claim true innovation in the ARPG genre, it's time to confront two of the most frustrating and outdated mechanics in Path of Exile 2: unpredictable one-shot deaths and meaningless XP loss.

"Unpredictable" one-shots and "meaningless" XP loss only matter if you’re not playing well or refuse to adapt.

PoE has always rewarded preparation, awareness, and build optimization. If you’re dying to one-shots, it’s either a skill issue, lack of mitigation, or ignoring telegraphed mechanics, none of which are game flaws.

As for XP loss, it's one of the few meaningful death penalties left in the genre. It creates real tension and forces you to play smart instead of face-tanking through everything.

GGG isn’t clinging to outdated systems, they’re preserving what makes PoE rewarding and fun, risk, challenge, and personal growth.

If you want to corpse run through everything while being hand-fed loot showers, there's a whole industry of games ready to sell you that instant gratification fantasy.

XP loss should stay.

One of the worst things about some of the newer ARPGs for me is that lack of punishment for dying. Dying should hurt. It should have a drawback that you feel.

I think drawing the line at losing XP but not downleveling is a good compromise.

Plz, there is nothing like crying about xp loss as showing you don't understand this game...

Just assume that the highest level in the game is 90 and play fearlessly.

I mostly don't worry about levels above 90 and then if it happens, it is like a happy surprise. End game is much more about finding better gear than a few more levels. Especially without trading.

Not worrying about levels I top out at about 93. Anything beyond that would take actual leveling effort which some people like but not me. I prefer to play fearlessly.