Path of Exile 2 Update 1.008 Patch Notes (POE2 Version 1.008.000)

Path of Exile 2 update 1.008 is available to download on PS5, PC and Xbox players. According to the official POE 2 1.008 patch notes, the latest update introduces significant improvements and changes, including a passive block chance that now applies to hits from all directions, and player size set to zero units while dodge rolling. Smaller monsters can be pushed during dodge rolls, and Ascendancy Skill Points are now displayed for Inscribed Ultimatums and Djinn Baryas. Apart from this, Path of Exile 2 patch 1.008 also includes new features such as a CTRL+Click shortcut for the Currency Exchange and updated art for several items.

Unfortunately, since the last POE 2 update 1.006, players have been experiencing several POE2 server and login issues. Today’s Path of Exile 2 version 1.008.000 will fix a few of these issues. Check out more details below.

POE2 Update 1.008 Patch Notes – December 12, 2024

Gameplay Adjustments

• Passive Block Adjustment: Passive block chance now applies to blockable hits from all directions, instead of just hits from in front.
• Dodge Roll Improvements:
  • Player size is now reduced to zero units while dodge rolling (previously one unit).
  • Smaller monsters, such as Adorned Beetles in Keth, can now be pushed while dodge rolling.
• Trial Updates:
  • Inscribed Ultimatums and Djinn Baryas now indicate whether completing the Trial of Chaos or Trial of the Sekhemas grants Ascendancy Skill Points.
• Map and Encounter Updates:
  • World map pins for encounters not tied to specific locations (e.g., monster drops) have been removed.
  • A new button on the world map allows players to travel directly to the Trial of Chaos.
• Improved Attack Behavior: Adjustments to enhance “attack in place” functionality.
• Skill Tweaks:
  • Rain of Arrows and Firestorm now have hit-rate limits to balance boss encounters with large hitboxes.
  • Boneshatter now hits targets more reliably.
  • The duration of Armour Break has been increased to 12 seconds (previously 6 seconds).

Performance and Visual Updates

• Performance Optimization: Incinerate now creates circular ignited ground areas instead of segments to improve game performance.
• Art Additions:
  • New art added for Close Combat Support.
  • 2D art introduced for the Defiance of Destiny Unique Amulet.
• Audio Adjustments: Tweaked the sounds of Kiwi Pets, Chimera Pet, and Baby Crowbell Pet to reduce impact in town areas.

Usability Enhancements

• CTRL+Click Shortcut: Added to quickly open the Currency Exchange at relevant NPCs.
• Gemcutting and Vendor Inventory Search: Added search functionality when using a controller, with updated keybinds for stash searching.
• Trade Website Access: A new option for opening the trade website has been added to the main menu for consoles.

Item and Skill Updates

• Runes:
  • Now sell to vendors for more Gold.
  • Updated descriptions to clarify socketing mechanics.
• Auras and Curses: Now display resistance-affecting values in the skill popout panel.
• Fiery Death Support: Updated to clarify that the supported skill doesn’t need to kill the ignited enemy.
• Ascendancy Skill Points: Now a searchable keyword with detailed explanations on obtaining Ascendancy Points.

Monster and Encounter Changes

• Magma Barrier Modifier: Reduced monster defenses provided by this modifier.
• Walking Goliaths: These monsters no longer use their suicide attack if they are rare-tier enemies.

Energy Gain Rework for Trigger Gems

Trigger gem energy gain has been significantly overhauled to address balance issues related to energy generation during combat.

• Monster Power Integration:
  • Energy gain is now tied to Monster Power, making it easier to trigger skills when fighting Unique Monsters compared to normal ones. This adjustment balances energy generation for both boss fights and general clearing.
• Ignite Source Adjustment:
  • Previously, low-level skills with guaranteed ailment applications (e.g., Flame Wall) were exploited for triggering.
  • The energy gain is now dependent on the strength of the ignite, making the source of the ailment matter more significantly.

Rebalancing Across the Board

All energy gain values have been rebalanced to reflect these changes:

• Triggering skills in boss fights is now optimized to maintain a challenge without overpowering.
• Redundant energy gain mechanics during general map clearing have been curtailed to reduce unintended spam.

Ultimatum Changes

General Improvements

• Balance Tweaks: Adjusted Ultimatum monsters, bosses, and modifiers to improve overall balance, targeting outliers that were disproportionately difficult.
• Monster Density: Encounter density during Ultimatum has been made more consistent.

Specific Changes to Encounters

• Restricted Hazard Spawns:
  • Stormcaller Runes, Blood Globules, Heart Tethers, and Impending Doom rings no longer spawn near lifts or altars in the Vaal Soul Core room.
• Bug Fix for Minions: Resolved an issue where player minions could become stuck at the top of lifts in the Trials of Chaos.

Bug Fixes

Gameplay Fixes

• Fixed a bug causing enemies to become Primed for Stun or Electrocute earlier than intended during party play.
• Resolved an issue where Gemling Legionnaires with the Integrated Efficiency Ascendancy Passive Skill would lose their 3 additional skill slots when entering a new area.
• Corrected a bug preventing players from reviving party members from the intended distance when using WASD input.

World and Encounter Fixes

• Addressed a problem where the Atlas Passive Tree ability “Waystones found have a chance to be a tier higher” was not functioning correctly.
• Fixed issues in specific locations:
  • Portals could not be opened in The Riverbank during Cruel difficulty.
  • The Candlemass map icon in Cruel difficulty was not updating properly.

Skill and Ascendancy Fixes

• Fixed various skill functionality issues:
  • Hexblast: Updated its description to clarify that only a single curse detonates per enemy.
  • Fiery Death Support: Resolved a bug where it failed to deal damage correctly.
  • Contagion: Fixed an issue where it wasn’t spreading poison properly.
  • Infernalists: The Pyromantic Pact Ascendancy Passive Skill now accurately reflects that “Low Infernal Flame” triggers at 35% of Maximum Infernal Flame, not 50%.

Quality of Life Fixes

• Fixed errors with NPC name labels not displaying in hideouts while using a controller.
• Addressed issues with socketed skills:
  • Skills not meeting attribute requirements were missing their names in the Skills menu when using a controller.
  • Gems could fail to upgrade despite satisfying attribute requirements due to a passive skill allocation.
• Resolved controller-related issues:
  • Searching and disenchanting could cause unintended freezes.
  • Accessing the trade website was problematic on some platforms.

Visual and Audio Fixes

• Fixed visual bugs for skills like Volatile Dead, Tempest Bell, and Elemental Storm.
• Resolved issues where Zalmarath, the Colossus abilities persisted after its death.

Crash Fixes

• Resolved:
  • Eight instance crashes.
  • Six client crashes.
  • One Xbox-specific crash.
  • Three PlayStation 5-specific crashes.

Download free Path of Exile 2 update 1.008 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.