iiak32's blog

If you have been ripping open Pokemon booster packs lately, you probably know the drill: you chase that one special illustration rare, then end up with a little mountain of code cards on your desk. For a long time I just tossed them in a drawer, but if you actually plug those codes into Pokemon TCG Live or use a handy Pokemon TCG Pocket tool, you are basically getting a second shot at value from the same packs. It is easy to forget that those tiny QR cards are the link between your physical pulls and your digital collection.

Patch 0.4 has flipped Path of Exile 2 on its head, and I didn't expect to fall this hard for an Entangle Sorceress, but here we are. If you're already shopping around for upgrades or just curious what makes the build click, it helps to think in terms of PoE 2 Items that support a setup-heavy playstyle rather than pure burst casting. This Disciple of Varashta approach isn't about spamming one button and praying. It's about making the ground dangerous, then choosing the exact moment to cash it in.

The Red Queen’s showing her face again in 0.4, and it doesn’t land like a cute throwback. It changes what people actually chase, what they vendor, and what they build around. If you’re already browsing PoE 2 Items to map out upgrades, you’ll notice the same pattern: the Atziri loop rewards commitment, not casual dipping in for one kill.

Path of Exile 2’s 0.4.0 patch lands on 12 December and if you have already run the campaign a bunch of times, you will notice straight away that you cannot treat it like the old game any more, especially when it comes to levelling and how you spend your PoE 2 Currency. The Fate of the Vaal league layout is different, Druid plays nothing like the old classes, and the XP rules hit hard if you ignore them. Before level 40 you really want to sit inside that four‑level window around the zone level. Drop too far under and your XP gain falls off so badly it feels like the game has stalled.

Alright folks, the wait’s nearly over. On December 12 at 11 AM PST, Patch 0.4 “The Last of the Druids” goes live, and it’s looking like the biggest shake-up PoE2’s had yet. There’s also a free-to-play weekend running through December 15, so it’s the perfect excuse to rope in those mates who’ve been sitting on the fence. You’ll wanna check out the Twitch Q&A with Jonathan and Mark tomorrow – they’re promising viewer drops and I’m hoping they finally talk about the lag during deep Delve runs, because that’s been brutal lately.

If you’ve been deep in the Rise of the Abyssal league lately, you know it’s absolute chaos. The monster density is off the charts – sometimes it feels like you’re wading through an ocean of mobs. That’s exactly why the Explosive Witchhunter Mercenary is such a blast to play. For me, it’s been less like running an ARPG build and more like pulling the trigger on a never-ending fireworks show. It’s insanely quick at clearing, but still somehow not as fragile as you’d expect.

In the Dawn of the Hunt league, the whole vibe has been brutal for hardcore solo players, but Lexd’s HCSSF Warrior run is on another level entirely. And here’s the crazy part – he’s ignored the meta completely. Just one skill, Shield Bash, from start to finish. No quick clears, no flashy combos. It’s all about surviving like a tank and crushing one enemy at a time. Through Act 1 the grind was real, but by Act 2, he was smashing his way forward, proving that with enough patience and timing, even a single skill can carry you up the ladder.

From the moment I jumped back into Battlefield 6 after the California Resistance update, it was obvious the devs really put some heart into this one. It’s not just about new stuff – the whole game feels sharper, more responsive, more fun. On console, there’s a noticeable improvement in how the aiming responds. That awkward delay is gone, and now it’s snappy enough to actually feel like you’re in control. They’ve even rolled aim assist back to the beta setting, which might sound small, but if you’re used to building muscle memory, it’s a big deal.

The Path of Exile 2 crowd’s been absolutely alive with chatter lately, and you can feel that mix of excitement and impatience everywhere. Every tiny leak or hint gets pulled apart in seconds, especially with the beta not far off now. The latest wave of talk is a big one though – we’re hearing about a fresh class, the return of a system most of us have missed for years, plus a bunch of other changes that could shape the early endgame.

Let’s be honest – if you’ve spent any time in ARC Raiders lately, you’ve probably been on the wrong end of the Anvil. It’s everywhere, and it’s changing how people play. I’ve been grinding runs, getting wiped, and finally piecing together what works and what’s just dead weight. This isn’t just about hitting hard – it’s about how a gun handles when a Grunt’s charging you, how much ammo you burn, and whether it’ll save your skin when things go south. Oh, and if you’re trying to keep up with the meta, having enough ARC Raiders Coins on hand never hurts.