Quitting the League & Uninstalling (Merc's/ Current state of the game/ Dev team are softcore andies)

I am deeply concerned with the current state of Path of Exile 1, particularly with how this league has been designed and balanced. From my experience, it feels as though the game is no longer being balanced with the hardcore community in mind. The introduction of the mercenary mechanic initially seemed promising and made the leveling experience more dynamic. However, in practice, it is widely avoided by hardcore players—unless a mercenary happens to offer something exceptionally valuable, such as a Mageblood—because the risk-reward balance feels severely off.

Despite having a fully optimized character with capped resistances, maximum block, high physical mitigation (including 17% conversion and physical aegis from my mercenary), six endurance charges, Vaal Molten Shell, and 5,000 life, I have been one-shot multiple times by mercenaries using abilities like Shield Charge or Ground Slam, even in relatively moderate Tier 9 maps with only a 2-life modifier. I have rolled and leveled ten characters this league, and all have suffered the same fate. This suggests the mechanic is overtuned and disproportionately punishing, making it feel more frustrating than engaging.

Many players, myself included, find themselves avoiding the league mechanic entirely—not out of disinterest, but because engaging with it often leads to abrupt, unavoidable deaths. This results in a boring and disjointed gameplay loop that discourages player investment. If future leagues follow this direction, I am unlikely to continue participating or supporting the game financially.

I hope the development team takes this feedback into consideration and refocuses future balance efforts toward creating content that is challenging yet fair, and enjoyable for all player types—especially the hardcore community that has been loyal for so long.