Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 Campaign Is a Slog? You Might Be Approaching It Wrong
Posted: Sep 18, 2026
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Is Campaign in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 really a drag? Player opinions vary; some focus on the time investment, map layout, and the fatigue of repetition, but you might be misunderstanding the nature of Campaign.
PoE 2 Is Not an MMO
First, it is important to recognize that Path of Exile 2 is an ARPG - viewed by many as the spiritual successor to Diablo 2. If you approach it with an MMO mindset - treating the main story merely as a tutorial before the endgame, Campaign naturally feels like a hurdle to be cleared as quickly as possible.
Many players naturally think of WoW or FFXIV in this context. However, FFXIV has long marketed itself primarily on its narrative; for most players, high-difficulty content like Extreme, Savage, or Ultimate raids isn't the main objective.
Consequently, if players view PoE 2 through the lens of MMO expectations, they are likely to mistake Campaign for nothing more than a transitional phase.

Why is it exhausting?
Players often find Campaign exhausting because of the repetition involved: every time a new league starts or a new character is created, they have to go through the same process all over again.
Moreover, PoE 2 features a highly flexible build system; trying a new direction often means starting from scratch. While the first run might feel fresh, the experience becomes increasingly draining with each subsequent restart.
Consider PoE 1 Campaign, which could be condensed into roughly 3 to 5 hours. In contrast, PoE 2 Campaign typically takes 8 to 9 hours - or even longer for players who prefer a slower pace.
Factors such as map layouts, dead ends, objective hunting, and a lack of support gems during the leveling phase force you into repetitive, tedious tasks. Even with powerful low-level gear to assist you, that sense of sluggishness is hard to shake completely.
Even with in-game hints, the process of locating objectives can still feel clunky or disjointed.
Can you skip Campaign?
Players hold widely differing opinions on whether Campaign can be skipped in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5.
Players who wish to skip Campaign generally want to jump straight into the endgame - farming maps, finalizing their character builds, and stabilizing their in-game economy as quickly as possible.
This is particularly true for those switching classes or returning for a new league.
Conversely, players who oppose a skip function argue that Campaign serves a vital purpose: it establishes the narrative, kick starts the early-game economy, and allows players to gauge their character's progression while leveling up.
Removing it entirely would diminish the core experience.
Since the developers have repeatedly stated they have no plans to implement a full Campaign skip feature, Campaign is unlikely to change in the near future.
However, players have proposed compromises, such as allowing subsequent characters to skip certain repetitive steps after the first character of a league has completed Campaign normally.
Examples include handling weapon passive skills similarly to unlocking Salvage Bench, or introducing more unique items designed for leveling to help new characters get up to speed faster.
Casual players with limited time, who might only play a few hours a week or fail to finish Campaign before the league ends, can still derive enjoyment from the process.
This demonstrates that Campaign's value isn't defined solely by how quickly it ushers players into the endgame.
Changes to the Current Experience
Campaign experience in the current Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.5.5 Forbidden Rites Event League differs significantly from previous iterations.
The integration of Ritual mechanic throughout Campaign enriches early-game drops, allowing PoE 2 currency and unique items to appear sooner and potentially smoothing out progression.
However, issues such as excessive monster density, high boss difficulty, or being swarmed by too many enemies in confined spaces can negatively impact the player experience.
That said, participating in Rituals is optional, and the current implementation does not necessarily reflect Campaign design planned for the future Patch 1.0 release.

Stop Fretting
Rather than arguing over whether Campaign should be skippable, it is more productive to consider what Campaign phase represents to you personally: is it merely a preparatory stage, or is it a significant part of the overall experience?
Every player has different priorities; some enjoy savoring the story, tackling bosses at their own pace, and feeling their character grow stronger incrementally, while others simply want to reach the endgame as fast as possible to start mapping and perfecting their builds.
Neither approach is wrong; what truly shapes your experience is whether you have a clear idea of what you actually want.
If you enjoy Campaign, play through it at your own pace; there is no need to worry about how long it takes others to finish.
However, if your goal is to reach the endgame quickly, you can prepare in advance: for example, by gathering unique items for leveling, familiarizing yourself with map layouts, or skipping unnecessary side quests.
In short, while we cannot change the nature of Campaign itself, the mindset you bring to completing it is entirely up to you.
Instead of complaining that PoE 2 Campaign drags on, it is better to adjust your expectations and strategy so the experience aligns with your own pace.
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