The Fate of the Vaal patch in PoE 2 feels like that moment when a familiar boss fight suddenly matters again, because the loot actually changes how you build. People have already started theorycrafting around Atziri's pool, and you can tell why: when demand spikes, so does trading, and a lot of players end up looking for poe 2 cheap currency just to keep their next upgrade moving without stalling out their atlas plans.

Atziri's core drops

Atziri's Step is back in a way that still makes sense. It's not flashy, but it's the kind of item you put on and instantly feel your character smooth out. Evasion builds love it, sure, but even hybrids can get mileage because it patches those "oops, got clipped" moments. Then there's Atziri's Splendour, which is where things get weird. No normal attribute requirements is already a curveball, but locking sockets into Soul Cores changes your planning. You're not just swapping gems around anymore; you're committing to a setup and living with it. And the life-for-mana conversion on corrupted gems? That's the sort of line that makes players sit up and start doing napkin maths.

Corruption toys and caster shenanigans

If you like casting, Atziri's Rule is the kind of staff that can turn a decent corrupted gem into a build anchor. The extra levels to corrupted spell gems are straightforward power, but the triggered Mirror of Refraction effect is what'll get you killed a few times while you learn it, then make you grin when it clicks. People are going to chase corruption outcomes harder this patch, because the game's basically nudging you to take risks and build around imperfect gear. It won't be "solved" fast, either, since corrupted setups don't copy-paste cleanly between characters.

Attack builds, shapeshifts, and the new gamble items

For projectiles, Drillneck returning is a big deal, mostly because the new pierce-and-return behaviour changes clear in a way you feel every map. You line it up, things pop, and the screen empties faster than you expect. Melee players get their own shiny with Atziri's Contempt, a spear that stacks Bloodstone Lances for serious single-target pressure. The talismans are the wildcard, though. The Flesh Poppet is pure chaos in the best sense: steal mods when you shapeshift, pray it grabs something useful, and roll with it. Fury of the King looks like it was written for fire Bear setups, converting physical damage and feeding Glory, which is basically the game saying, "go bonk, but hotter."

Summoners, mana comfort, and why farming Atziri will stay popular

Summoners didn't get ignored either. Hysseg's Claw giving you Cackling Companions and scaling off minion count is perfect for anyone running a crowded zoo, and it's the sort of item you can build around even on a budget. Meanwhile Lavianga's Spirits is quietly brilliant: you don't "use" it, it just keeps your mana recovery rolling, which is huge if you're sick of piano-flasking. And the spicy gamble is Flesh Crucible, handing out a random Keystone with a nasty downside—exactly the kind of thing that'll bait people into "just one more run." If you're planning to grind Atziri, you'll want your trade plan ready, because prices on the good stuff won't stay friendly for long, and having access to poe2 cheap divine can be the difference between testing a new idea tonight or shelving it for a week.