Why Deadeye is Set to Dominate POE2's Patch 0.3: A Deep Dive
In the ever-evolving world of Path of Exile 2 (PoE2), each new patch brings with it a wave of changes that shake up the meta. As we look forward to patch 0.3, one ascendancy class is receiving an overwhelming amount of attention — Deadeye. Historically one of the strongest options for projectile-based builds, the upcoming changes to Deadeye have many players predicting that it will not only maintain its power but become even more dominant. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the reasons why Deadeye is set to shine in the upcoming patch, with a specific focus on its ascendancy comparisons to other classes and the changes that are making it stronger than before.
Understanding the Deadeye PoE2 Ascendancy
The Deadeye ascendancy is primarily known for its emphasis on projectiles, offering enhanced speed, power, and precision for any build that revolves around ranged combat. Whether you’re using bows, crossbows, or spears, Deadeye’s ascendancy has always been a top choice for players looking to maximize their damage output, clear speed, and evasion.
With Patch 0.3 on the horizon, many Deadeye players are expecting a significant buff, and it's easy to see why. Let's break down the key changes and compare how Deadeye stacks up against other ascendancy classes, particularly Amazon, and how it can become even more powerful.
A Nerf-Free Deadeye: Patch 0.3 Adjustments
When compared to other ascendancy classes, Deadeye has received minimal nerfs in the upcoming patch. In fact, there’s only one nerf to the Deadeye ascendancy: the Avidity node. This particular node, which granted a chance to gain a frenzy charge, now offers a reduced 50% chance to gain one frenzy charge, down from 30% for maximum frenzy charges.
This change may seem like a significant nerf on paper, but in practice, it mainly affects frenzy-based attack builds, which, as it stands, aren’t that common in the meta — especially outside of spear builds. Moreover, many players prefer bows or crossbows, which aren’t heavily reliant on frenzy charges. Therefore, the nerf is quite minor and doesn’t dramatically impact the overall strength of Deadeye.
On the other hand, Amazon did receive a sizable nerf to its crit scaling, losing roughly 6-7% base critical strike chance. This is a substantial hit, as the Amazon's whole appeal revolves around its ability to scale critical strikes effectively. In contrast, Deadeye remains relatively untouched, which will likely make it the go-to ascendancy for those seeking damage scaling and versatility in patch 0.3.
The Rise of Evasion: New Deflect Mechanic
One of the most exciting changes in Patch 0.3 is the introduction of a new Deflect mechanic. This mechanic allows for a chance to reduce incoming damage by 40%, based on the player’s evasion rating. The more evasion you have, the higher the chance you have to deflect incoming damage, making it a perfect fit for the Deadeye ascendancy.
Previously, pure evasion builds were considered somewhat squishy due to their lack of effective damage mitigation. However, with the new deflect mechanic, it’s now possible to create much more durable Deadeye builds that focus entirely on evasion without needing to mix in Energy Shield (ES). This opens up a wider range of build options for Deadeye players, giving them the freedom to scale their damage and defense without being forced into hybrid setups.
The deflect mechanic is also key to the Deadeye PoE2 ascendancy comparison because it marks a clear distinction from other ascendancies, particularly Amazon, who still have to rely on the evasion/ES hybrid model. The new evasion buffs position Deadeye to be far more flexible and sustainable in combat, especially when compared to other classes that either lack this option or still need to juggle multiple defensive layers.
Cold Shots and New Marking Meta
One of the standout features of Deadeye in Patch 0.3 is the new Cold Shots ascendancy node, which drastically improves Deadeye’s utility with marks. Previously, Cold Shots simply allowed Deadeye to apply an additional mark, which wasn’t particularly game-changing. However, the upcoming update will introduce an insane new effect:
Cold Shots will now make all projectiles chain to any nearby marked target, and more importantly, it will automatically cast mark skills repeatedly on nearby enemies. This is a huge upgrade because, in PoE2, mark skills are no longer considered spells, meaning they cannot be triggered by other effects like Cast on Crit or Cast on Hit. This effectively means that Deadeye is now the only ascendancy capable of exploiting marks at full potential.
This new change offers several Deadeye PoE2 ascendancy comparisons with other classes. For example, while other ascendancies will still need to rely on manual mark placement or trigger-based effects to apply marks, Deadeye’s ability to automatically cast and chain marks for you sets it apart. With Voltaic Mark, this could open up huge clear speed potential, especially in areas where mobs are packed tightly. The addition of chain effects only enhances the efficiency of marking, making it a great tool for bossing and mapping alike.
The Return of Eagle Eye: 20% Critical Weakness
Deadeye’s Eagle Eye node is also seeing a significant change in Patch 0.3. Previously, this node was underwhelming, with its main benefit being that it removed the accuracy penalty when attacking at a distance. This wasn’t a particularly exciting benefit, as accuracy was rarely an issue for most ranged builds. However, in the new patch, Eagle Eye will grant 20% Critical Weakness when consuming a mark on an enemy.
The introduction of Critical Weakness is a game-changer. Critical Weakness lowers the critical strike resistance of enemies, making them far more susceptible to your critical hits. In effect, this gives Deadeye an on-demand 10% base critical strike chance boost, which is huge for builds relying on crit scaling. This is especially valuable since crit-based builds often rely on external sources of critical weakness, such as the popular Weapon Swap with Cruelty strategy, which is now being nerfed in Patch 0.3.
With Critical Weakness essentially giving you an extra 10% base crit, Deadeye players will have a powerful, reliable way to boost their crit chance, no matter what build they’re running. Whether you’re using a bow, crossbow, or spear, the added critical strike power will significantly enhance your damage output.
Versatility: Tailwind, Farshot, and Endless Munitions
Deadeye’s versatility is one of its strongest traits. It’s not just a projectile class; it’s a class that can adapt to a variety of playstyles. The introduction of Tailwind, which grants increased movement speed, allows Deadeye to scale its skill speed in addition to attack speed, casting speed, and even warcry speed. This makes Deadeye incredibly flexible, allowing players to experiment with spellcasting builds, totem builds, or even hybrid projectile/spell setups.
Moreover, Deadeye’s access to Farshot and Endless Munitions nodes allows it to scale projectile damage, but the real kicker here is that these nodes work with spells as well. This makes it entirely possible to build a spellcaster Deadeye who can take advantage of all the projectile scaling while still benefiting from the other ascendancy nodes that enhance speed and defensive mechanics.
The Fastest Ascendancy in the Game
If there’s one thing that separates Deadeye from the rest, it’s movement speed. As the only ascendancy in the game with movement speed baked into its core, Deadeye has exclusive access to some of the best movement speed nodes in the game. The importance of movement speed cannot be overstated in PoE2, as it directly impacts your ability to farm, dodge attacks, and avoid damage.
With Tailwind and numerous movement speed nodes scattered throughout the Ranger skill tree, Deadeye can outpace virtually any other ascendancy in the game when it comes to speed. This makes it an excellent choice for endgame farming and bossing, as movement speed is often the most valuable stat for optimizing both offense and defense.
Conclusion
As we approach Patch 0.3, it’s clear that Deadeye will not just remain one of the strongest ascendancies in PoE2, but it may even surpass its previous power levels. The combination of minimal nerfs, exciting new defensive mechanics, the ability to chain and exploit marks, and unparalleled movement speed all work together to solidify Deadeye’s place at the top of the meta.
The Deadeye PoE2 ascendancy comparison with other classes, especially Amazon, shows that Deadeye is in a great position to dominate both single-target and clear speed encounters. Whether you’re playing with bows, crossbows, or spears, or even experimenting with spells, Deadeye offers unrivaled versatility, making it a perfect choice for any type of build. If you haven’t considered Deadeye yet, Patch 0.3 might just be the time to do so — the potential is undeniable.
FAQ
1. Why is Deadeye considered one of the strongest ascendancies in PoE2?
Deadeye is extremely versatile, with buffs to defense, offense, and movement speed, making it one of the most flexible and powerful choices in patch 0.3.
2. What changes are coming to Deadeye in PoE2 Patch 0.3?
Deadeye received minimal nerfs, with the most significant being the reduction in the Avidity node’s frenzy charge chance. New buffs include the Deflect mechanic, which improves evasion-based defense, and a massive change to the Cold Shots node, allowing automatic chain marks and projectile bonuses.
3. How do the new changes to Cold Shots impact Deadeye’s gameplay?
Cold Shots will now automatically cast mark skills and allow projectiles to chain to marked enemies, making it powerful for both bossing and clearing.
4. How does the Eagle Eye node enhance Deadeye builds?
The new Eagle Eye node applies Critical Weakness when consuming a mark, giving Deadeye an on-demand 10% base crit, significantly boosting crit-based builds.
5. How does the new Deflect mechanic benefit Deadeye?
The Deflect mechanic gives Deadeye evasion-based characters a chance to reduce incoming damage by 40%, making pure evasion builds much more viable.
6. What makes Deadeye's movement speed so unique?
Deadeye has exclusive access to Tailwind, as well as multiple movement speed nodes, allowing it to be one of the fastest ascendancies in PoE2.
7. Can Deadeye be used for spell-based builds?
Yes, Deadeye is highly versatile, with projectile scaling nodes like Farshot and Endless Munitions that work with spells, allowing for hybrid or full spellcaster builds.
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