PoE2’s Latest Patch Notes Reveal a Surprising Ascendancy Change

Patch 0.3.0 for Path of Exile 2 keeps getting bigger and bigger. The update itself is already huge, but the patch notes are still growing. Grinding Gear Games is actively updating the official post with new additions, including some user interface features and an interesting change to the Witchhunter Ascendancy.

UI Changes for Mouse & Keyboard Players

If you play on PC, you might want to check out the new Aiming Mode Input setting. This is especially interesting, because you can now pick between:

• Cursor Targeting – Projectiles and strikes aim directly through your cursor.
• Ground Targeting – Skills target the ground, like before Patch 0.3.

By default, WASD uses Cursor Targeting, while click-to-move keeps the old behavior.

Two more welcome additions:

• A Keep Sprinting option lets you stay in Sprint mode after dodging, unless you stop or use a skill.
• You can now assign the same weapons to both weapon sets, instead of juggling separate gear.

Witchhunter Ascendancy Buff

If you are a Witchhunter player, this might interest you:

• Weapon Master now converts 100 Passive Points into Weapon Set Points (up from 20).
• The small node before it now grants 6% Cooldown Recovery Rate instead.

That is a massive bump in flexibility for dual-skill-set builds, and the community is already deep in theorycraft mode.

Basically, with the new Weapon Master node, you can now convert 100 passive points into weapon set-specific points, on top of the usual 24. That means you can effectively create two full passive trees and swap between them instantly with your weapon set. Yes, really.

The implications of the new Witch Hunter change are hilarious
byu/Effort_Proper inPathOfExile2

The Reddit discussion around this (check it out here) breaks down some interesting possibilities:

• A clear-focused tree and a bossing-focused tree
• Dual builds like lightning spear for maps + ballistas for bosses
• Snapshotting strategies: drop ballistas with one tree, then swap to a tankier tree mid-fight
• Curse-based builds, infusion combos, and more

Of course, there are some limits: gear and gems do not change on swap, and keystones/jewel sockets are shared. Still, with the right setup, Witchhunter could become one of the most flexible ascendancies in PoE 2 – especially for experienced players.

The node does cost two ascendancy points, so it will not fit every build. But just the potential of a fully swappable tree is making a lot of players re-evaluate Witchhunter entirely.

GGG is still updating the official 0.3.0 patch notes, so keep an eye on the post as we get closer to launch on the 29th of August. And if you missed it, check out our coverage of the new trade system coming with The Third Edict update.