Path of Exile 2's 0.5 update, Return of the Ancients, lands on May 29 at 1PM PDT, and it feels like the first patch that really says, "Right, this is what the endgame is meant to be." Players jumping in for the free weekend will get the whole thing, not some trimmed-down trial, so it's a good time to test builds, learn the new systems, and get a feel for how PoE 2 Currency fits into the new crafting loop before committing to early access. Progress carries over too, which makes the weekend more than a quick demo.

Free access and league rewards

The free weekend runs from May 29 to June 1 across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. You can use an existing Path of Exile account, make a fresh character, and push as far as you like. There's no awkward progress wall. If you want to keep playing after that, the Early Access Supporter Pack is half price until June 12 and comes with 150 store points. The new Runes of Aldur league also brings a few simple rewards. Reach Clearfell Encampment for the Ezomyte Rune Scars skin, beat Count Geonor for the Candlemass Portal Effect, and play 15 minutes through the Discord Quest to pick up the Runeseeker Avatar Decoration.

The Atlas finally has a clearer purpose

The biggest shake-up is the endgame. The old waystone routine is being replaced by five story-led paths, each tied to familiar league-style content but with new bosses, rewards, and crafting hooks. You'll chase Tangmazu through foggy zones, defend the Keepers of the Flame, help a trapped spirit escape the King in the Mist, work with Atlas Masters, and even head out looking for Rog's missing wife. It sounds odd on paper, but that's very Path of Exile. The Atlas now has fixed points of interest, so you're not just praying the map gives you something decent. If you want a practical early goal, push toward the Fortress area. It's meant to be the main hub for Atlas Tree progress.

New builds, new crafting, and less guesswork

Two new ascendancies are coming as well: Martial Artist for Monk and Spirit Walker for Huntress. Both look aimed at league starters, not just late-game theorycrafters with perfect gear. Crafting is also getting a serious lift. Runesmithing sits at the centre of the league, while Alloys and Fluxes help reshape resistances and modifiers. Later on, the Genesis Tree opens up another layer of item work, including chase pieces like the Absent Amulet. Runic Ward is worth watching too. It sits under Life, unlike Energy Shield, and can keep you alive even when Life hits zero. There are also 30 new skills that spend Runic Ward and don't ask for attributes, which should make oddball builds easier to try.

Small changes that players will notice fast

Some of the best additions are the quiet ones. The in-game Build Planner should save newer players a lot of tab-switching, especially if creators can share trees, gems, gear notes, and cut recommendations in one place. Price checking is getting easier as well: Control + Alt + Click opens a market search with item stats already filled in. Corruption is changing too, so don't treat Vaal Orbs like before. They now multiply existing numeric values rather than rerolling them, which means you'll usually want to Divine an item first. If you're returning for the free weekend, test the systems, stash what matters, and only worry about things like cheap poe 2 currency once you know which build you actually want to keep playing.