Trials is the single worst experience in gaming I've ever had

I've been playing games for 35 years. I've never had a worse experience in gaming then in PoE2 with the trials.

1. I don't find any trials, so I have to buy them. 2 Exalts each if I'm lucky.
2. Heavily disadvantaged as a melee
3. It's a roguelike where you don't get stronger as you progess in the run, but weaker.
4. Roguelike with very little permanent progression.
5. Heavily dependant on RNG.
6. 3rd and 4th ascendancy are not tied in with a quest, so you can't just keep on trying.

I did Sanctum once in PoE and knew it was horrible, so I stopped playing that league. Why would you implement the worst mechanic in PoE2?

1. you will find trials as you play
2. not really unless you want to do a "no hit run" you just have to learn how to play as a melee, same for a caster tbh
3. that can be true but does not have to be
4. the correct relics make it is substantially easier
5. seems roguelike
6. The 3rd ascendancy will be available with a different mechanic in one of the un-released story acts, so then there will be a quest for it.
The 4th ascendancy is supposed to be a late game achievement, honestly isn't so hard once you have a reasonably strong character.

Implementing Sanctum and Ultimatum as the foundational mechanics for Path of Exile 2 is a deeply misguided decision for several reasons. These mechanics, which were among the most divisive in Path of Exile 1, fundamentally clash with the core principles that have made the game successful and beloved by its community. Here's why it's an ill-conceived move:

1. Exclusion of Build Diversity

Narrow Playstyle Focus: Sanctum and Ultimatum heavily favor specific build archetypes. Sanctum thrives on ranged or avoidance-based builds, while Ultimatum rewards tanky, high-sustain setups. This drastically limits the viability of diverse character types, which is the hallmark of Path of Exile’s build system.

Kills Player Creativity: One of the biggest appeals of Path of Exile is its open-ended, sandbox-style build creation. Designing core mechanics around systems that inherently exclude many builds (e.g., melee, low-mobility archetypes) undermines the creative freedom players expect.

2. Frustrating Player Experience

Punishing Gameplay Design: Both Sanctum and Ultimatum rely on high-stakes, high-punishment mechanics. Sanctum penalizes players for minor mistakes over extended runs, while Ultimatum forces increasingly risky gambles for rewards. Making these systems foundational risks alienating players who enjoy more forgiving or dynamic gameplay.

Disconnect from Power Fantasy: Players invest time in Path of Exile to feel powerful and see their characters grow. Sanctum and Ultimatum strip away that fantasy by forcing careful, cautious gameplay that contradicts the fast-paced, explosive combat many players love.

3. Lack of Broad Appeal

Niche Systems: Both mechanics cater to a small subset of the player base. Roguelike enthusiasts might appreciate Sanctum, and fans of pure combat endurance might tolerate Ultimatum, but most players found these mechanics tedious or unfun. Making niche systems a core feature risks alienating the majority of the player base.
Poor Accessibility: These mechanics are inherently unfriendly to casual players or newcomers. Sanctum’s complexity and Ultimatum’s difficulty scaling are off-putting for those trying to learn or enjoy the game casually. Path of Exile 2 risks being seen as a game designed only for the most hardcore, leaving others behind.

4. Bad Risk/Reward Balancing

Underwhelming Rewards: Both mechanics suffered from poorly scaled rewards. Sanctum demanded perfection for mediocre loot, and Ultimatum required enormous risk for a chance at slightly better rewards. If these systems form the backbone of Path of Exile 2, the game risks being defined by unrewarding grinds.

High Effort, Low Payoff: Players are unlikely to tolerate a game where their effort frequently feels wasted, especially if death or failure erases all progress—a key frustration in both Sanctum and Ultimatum.

5. Ignoring Lessons from Path of Exile 1

Player Feedback Rejected: Sanctum and Ultimatum received significant criticism during their respective leagues, yet implementing them as core mechanics in Path of Exile 2 signals a disregard for that feedback. It suggests the developers are doubling down on unpopular ideas rather than learning from their mistakes.

Contradicts POE's Legacy: Path of Exile 1 is beloved for its flexibility, player choice, and variety of engaging systems. Building Path of Exile 2 around mechanics that were explicitly seen as restrictive and frustrating betrays the expectations set by the original game.

6. Risk of Losing the Community

Alienation of Existing Players: By focusing on mechanics that a large portion of the community disliked, Path of Exile 2 risks alienating the very players who have supported the franchise. If players feel their feedback has been ignored, they may abandon the game entirely.

Comparison to Other Games: Games like Diablo 4 already struggle with being labeled as unrewarding or overly punishing. By making Sanctum and Ultimatum core features, Path of Exile 2 risks falling into the same trap, losing its competitive edge.

7. Overcomplication and Grind

Unnecessary Complexity: Sanctum’s intricate mechanics and Ultimatum’s escalating difficulty add layers of complexity that can feel overwhelming. Instead of enhancing the game, these systems risk making it feel bloated and inaccessible.

Excessive Grind: Both mechanics demanded significant time investments for marginal rewards. If Path of Exile 2 makes this the baseline experience, it risks exhausting players rather than engaging them.

Conclusion

Building Path of Exile 2 around Sanctum and Ultimatum is a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes the franchise appealing. These mechanics amplify the worst aspects of the game—punishing design, restrictive build requirements, and unrewarding gameplay—while discarding the strengths that have defined its success. If the developers persist in this direction, Path of Exile 2 risks alienating its core audience, squandering its legacy, and failing to establish itself as a worthy successor.

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Quizzlemanizzle#2632 wrote:

1. you will find trials as you play
2. not really unless you want to do a "no hit run" you just have to learn how to play as a melee, same for a caster tbh
3. that can be true but does not have to be
4. the correct relics make it is substantially easier
5. seems roguelike
6. The 3rd ascendancy will be available with a different mechanic in one of the un-released story acts, so then there will be a quest for it.
The 4th ascendancy is supposed to be a late game achievement, honestly isn't so hard once you have a reasonably strong character.

1. No I didn't find any trials. I'm level 75 I think, not one trial has been found. I've also done about 10 level 50ish trials. Not one trial found.
3. I've not once found more boons than afflictions. And believe me, I've been trying to get them.
4. Too bad you can't reroll any of them, so it's once again RNG to see if you get the good ones. And even then, you can only put a couple of them in the trials.
5. Tell me you've never played roguelike without saying you've never played roguelike. It's basically my most played genre. RNG in roguelike isn't like 'if you enter the next room you will basically die' or 'oops, the next two rooms you can enter will only give you an infliction that will kill this run'. It's RNG is 'here's a random thing that will make your character better, you have to figure out how to use it'.

I came to the forums to post about this very issue, but I don't think I would say it's the single worst gaming experience I have ever had. My opinion is that I disliked Sanctum and honestly avoided Ultimatum because I didn't like the way the mechanics felt and my builds didn't seem to be 'good' for them.

I found the 1st ascendency to be annoying and definitely felt like it was skewed to punish melee. Needing to get up close to everything and any small thing melting honour away felt awful. I am leveling aside some friends that are playing ranged builds and they seemed to have a much easier time than I did.

I'm currently stuck on the 2nd ascendency, on my 14th attempt now, and I am not having a good time. Part of that is because I just don't like Ultimatum. But again, Ultimatum feels like it punishes melee builds harder than the rest. Thankfully I don't have honour working against me, but it really does feel bad as a Warrior.

@TheOrigin79#2030 I don't think I've seen quite an eloquent write-up about this issue, but you really have captured a lot of the same thoughts and feelings I have. Thank you.