POE2 Update 0.4 - Downgrade from Abyss league

First and foremost, things they got right this league:

. League mechanic is, though less streamlined than I would have hoped, also very interesting. The combination of rooms provided interesting strategy on building your own map, when the game permits you the correct rooms.

. Swapping unique traits for a trait on a pre-determined list of options. Awesome addition, and creates some interesting builds.

. Druid is fun, and both ascendancies offer their own unique way of playing. I decided to go with Oracle, but am told Shaman is also a very good ascendency to go for when it comes to minion builds.

With all that being said, here is what is disappointing:

. With the increase in damage and health scaling rather than mob size, everything once again feels like Season 2 level of spongy, if not worse so for endgame mapping. Bosses are less so affected by this. The game was FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFAR healthier in Abyss league in comparison. Perhaps next seasons atlas map and endgame WIP will fix these issues.

. Druid shapeshifting is great, but the ascendancies don't really reflect it that much. Would like to see an ascendency that focuses heavily on this mechanic in the future. I'm told you can benefit with some shapeshifting using Oracle wyvern builds.

. Vaal league mechanic feels like it is taking you away from your mapping, rather than being inter-connected to it much like the Abyss was. It can make wanting to skip it instead of engaging with it far more appealing, which is a shame given the interesting mechanics it provides.

. Breach splinters and Simulacrum splinters are not dropping that much, and the market reflects that also so far. Prices usually drop by now as more and more people reach endgame, but so far breach splinters for example as of writing this are 1.7/per Exalt. That is insane, these drops needs to be heavily buffed again. A lot of us enjoyed farming breach for breach rings, catalysts and gems, as well as more powerful equipment.

. --!MINION DISCUSSION TIME!-- Left and right hand of darkness chaos damage buffs DO NOT affect minions, so why are they directly connected to the minion damage, area of effect and resistance nodes? Either this is an oversight, or a poor placement for what it is intended for. Moreover, these chaos damage buffs are for Attacks (I.E. Physical attacks like your good 'ol bonk stick). Sure, there is reap for this assuming that counts, but if you are running minions, you are more than likely running sceptre, this node being here makes 0 sense at all. Just give the buff to minions as well as players for spells and attacks and it's good to go.

i do agree, last league was better.

afaic i definitly feel the density nerf and hate it, the change they made to many boss so you have do endure the mechanics is bowring has hell, freaking slow phase with invincible boss and you running around avoiding whatever shit he is throwing, vaal temple disapointing.