Path of Exile 2’s 0.4.0 “Last of the Druids” patch is the first time the game really feels different, and if you want to stay ahead of the pack you need to change how you level and how you spend your PoE 2 Currency. Running the campaign like it is still PoE 1 will just leave you underleveled and stuck. The XP penalty before level 40 is no joke; if you are more than four levels under a zone, your XP gain falls off hard. You will think you are moving fast, but you are actually wasting time. Keep checking zone levels on waypoints, and if you drop behind, go back to a dense area and farm for a bit. It feels slow in the moment, but it keeps you in that sweet spot where every pack gives real progress.
Levelling And XP Basics
The early game is basically a race against that XP penalty. You do not need to clear every corner, but you really do not want to sprint past half a zone and end up three or four levels down. A good rule: if you ding right before the next main zone, you are on track. If not, go back one area and chain pull blue packs. Magic mobs are like little XP jackpots, much better payout than random white monsters. Rare mobs look tempting, but unless they are easy to burst, they slow you down more than they help. Also keep an eye on quest timing in Act 1 and 2. Skipping side areas is fine, skipping permanent bonuses is not. That is the stuff that saves you time later when bosses actually start to hurt.
Gear, Speed And Early Druid Setup
Most new players put way too much effort into staying tanky early on. It sounds safe, but it is slower, and slow is what kills your run. In the first few acts, your best defence is killing packs before they even get to you. Throw your early currency into weapon upgrades and attack speed. Pick up magic crossbows or strong bases from vendors when you level, and do not be shy about using Blacksmith’s Whetstones right away for weapon quality. That extra damage makes every skill feel smoother, especially stuff like Escape Shot. Artificer’s Orbs are worth treating like proper high-tier currency. Since they refund shards, they are ideal for gear you plan to keep for a while, like a solid belt or amulet, not for junk that you will ditch in ten minutes. If you are trying the new Druid, lean into Wolf form early; the leap is great for zipping from pack to pack, so getting movement speed on boots is a huge deal.
Act Routes, Buffs And Passive Choices
Routing through the acts matters more now than it did in earlier tests. In Act 1, it is tempting to rush the end boss, but doing that and skipping permanent buffs is just asking for pain later. Kill Beira in Clearfell for that +10% cold resistance; it is free power and it sticks forever. Act 2 has a slightly changed flow in this patch, so plan a line that hits the Valley of Titans for the extra charm slot. That slot is massive in 0.4.0 because charms got a lot of soft power baked in. By Act 3 and 4, your focus shifts to resists and power spikes. Grab the +10% fire res from Blackjaw, then tackle the Act 4 islands from lowest level to highest so you do not walk into a brick wall. Omniphobia in Journey’s End is on the must-do list now since it drops two weapon set points. On the passive tree, just start with flat damage and attack speed on the way to the Warrior clusters; you can respec into crit or more defence around level 65 using all those free refunds the game hands out.
Big Power Spikes And Early Crafting
If you really want to break the curve, aim for a 4–6 link as soon as you reasonably can and slam an Exalt on it for a big early spike. It looks like a gamble, but that one strong item can carry you through some of the nastier Vaal encounters if your base is good. If drops are not going your way, do not panic; smart vendor gambling usually patches the holes. Unlock your hideout as soon as it is available so you can start using crafting benches and setting up tablets. Those early crafts, even if they look small, keep your damage and resists from falling behind. If you hit a wall and feel like you are wasting time, you can always look at external options such as grabbing some divine orbs for sale to smooth out the gearing curve, then jump right back into the Druid shapeshifting chaos while everyone else is still rerolling their keybinds.
