Ruthless Mode In-Depth Review - Path of Exile 3.20

I go over my experience playing in Ruthless SSF Sanctum league for over 250 hours giving my opinions on nearly every facet of Path of Exile as it relates to Ruthless.
My journey through Ruthless SSF Playlist: • Ruthless SSF - Forbidd...
Ruthless SSF Builds
Level 89 Blight Occultist POB: pobb.in/qYWxTzhDSFpW
Level 88 Ele Cyclone Slayer POB: pobb.in/PPEubJ3BVqH9
Level 84 Reap CF Juggernaut POB: pobb.in/TtcUXRt08RFy
Level 84 Siege & Storm Ballista Deadeye POB: pobb.in/mD_J8Wc4zhrm
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Information about Ruthless mode: www.pathofexile.com/forum/vie...
Other Sanctum Builds
Level 100 Vaal Caustic Arrow Raider POB: pobb.in/leUSEsnBHgzV
Level 100 Poison Storm Rain Raider WIP POB: pobb.in/1p9SEITP5DK2
Level 89 Gauntlet Prac Caustic Arrow Raider pobb.in/oAdw-Xjunc_O
Level 94 Gauntlet Caustic Arrow Raider pobb.in/oRUP9h_NtG11
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:42 The Ruthless Experience
05:10 Crafting
07:17 Movement Speed/Skills
09:49 Flasks
13:14 Uber Lab & Pantheon
14:29 Map Drops & Atlas Passives
16:38 Chance Orbs
17:56 Divination Cards & GCPs
19:16 Additional League Content
21:39 Sanctum
23:08 Bestiary
24:30 Incursion
25:50 Delve
27:01 Betrayal
29:41 Kirac
30:22 Ritual
31:10 Blight
32:09 Delirium
32:47 Metamorph
33:17 Heist
34:48 Breach
35:16 Abyss
36:47 Expedition
37:21 Harvest
37:54 Legion
39:46 Other League Content
41:41 Atziri & Vaal Orbs
42:47 Endgame Bosses
43:56 Conclusion
45:26 Like & Subscribe :)
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#ItFightsBack #PathofExile #Ruthless

[@aries2857]

Just got to act 3 in ssf ruthless for the first time and this video is filled with great information. Thanks!

[@vandannski]

Very good overview. Thank you for making the effort.

[@GoodGuyGaming3]

Great discussion and even better beard!

[@seeess925]

I got through most this. There's lots of valid info. And yes meaningful progression is the exact words I used about the reason why Ruthless is the only reason to play PoE. It is the only reason the game didn't stay exiled off my computer after the one week I played it a few years back. As for new users, it's not about complexity. It's more about being a real game worth playing. Anybody new to the game should be starting on Ruthless Standard. Avoid regular altogether because most users simply will not enjoy it because it's not well balanced. The main thing incorrect in this video is the mobility gems. I'm a mobility user in rpgs. So there's a bit to say here. But the first thing that needs to be made clear is that reasons given in this video cannot be taken seriously by the dev. They have absolute zero to do with actual combat and gameplay. The reasons given are just so absurd. Because gems are meant to enhance your character synergistically for your combat play style. They don't exist to make your farming more convenient. That said, I play blink rogue in pretty much every game. Shadow was the most natural choice for me. I would love if Flicker Strike could be a reward much earlier. Because it's an important aspect of my combat style. I love the implementation of quickstep. I think there should be any form of blink with 4sec cooldown tops in a way that functions for particular builds. But not useable in every build or simply for convenience. Namely something to blink disengage regardless of enemies in the way. That and earlier flicker reward would be a valid suggestion. Do not implement mobility as suggested by this vid because it undermines it as a class specific playstyle. Something I found really off in the original base game. Some classes are better off with a guard shell spell. Like rogue using mobility spell. And tank using armor shell spell.

[@NyxaGrayheart]

Wow 18 hours for a level to maps is wild, this was really helpful I'm gonna run a SSF Week long challenge before the new league comes out in ruthless. This was super good to watch and see whats up. Thanks bud, you def earned a sub.

[@iamhatefield]

Thank you for going so in depth with your opinions on the ruthless mode. Going through you're points I would like to give my opinion on some of them. I agree that positioning during certain encounters is problematic without movement skills. An easy fix would be adding a dash skill like the one you get in Pillars of Arun for the fights that really need it as an implicit mod on the invitation. I don't think that speed is much of a problem while mapping though. If you want a speedy character you can still make a speedy character. You just have to give up on other things. I agree that cutting 2 points from the ascendancies as it creates imbalances. The game is roughly balanced on each ascendancy having 8 points not 6. Flasks seem fine. You can use 2-3-4 quicksilvers but you lose out on other flasks. Even though I agree they could bump up gcp drop rate a bit I don't think that's a really big deal. Gem quality is kind of a min/maxing thing anyway, quality not adding a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. With the time it takes to level up gems they could even bring the 20q recipe back. On the other hand if something is hard to find it makes you really care on how you allocate that resource which I think is the point. + Finding that 15+quality gem gives you something more to be excited about. I don't mind pantheons being gone. I think it is way too flexible and it solves some niche problems too easily. I mean you want to run ele reflect go to town press a button and part of the problem is solved. That's pretty silly. I would like a static pantheon system (like maybe the birthsign in The Elder Scrolls where on character creation you could chose a race bonus or something). I saw people sustaining red maps in ruthless but they had Alva (if you want an example look up Wallsh on youtube). But I don't know should you be able to sustain t14+ with ease? I remember a time when people used to exalt maps and still sustain was not guaranteed. One thing though, if we can agree that sustaining t14 maps should be difficult I think that increasing exarch and eater of world count is overkill. You disregard the fact that Sanctum was some of the best xp you could get. But yeah if you disregard the relics and the end boss unique items (of which some are pretty powerful) it's pretty lackluster. But it's pretty fun. That's why I do it mostly :) Bestiary - just make all talismans rare and it's fine. Incursion- I would be surprised if it doesn't get nerfed Delve- lower mob density. Ritual- add more rare items. Blight- seems fine. Metamorph - seems fine. Heist - lower mob density. Good xp though if you can handle it. Breach - seems fine. Abyss - dunno it's the first thing I block :D Expedition- needs a buff. Harvest - seems fine. Legion - would be fine if more jewels dropped (maybe a % drop chance per general killed? + the bar) Kirak - is fine Essences - are fine (maybe add a base chance of them spawning) Harbingers - are fine (maybe add a base chance of them spawning) Exiles - i don't have a solution here... (maybe if you have enough rarity you can see a change? dunno) Vaal side areas - maybe make them rare but still spawnable The rest- seems fine

[@ItFightsBack]

I really appreciate you taking the time to write up your opinions and add your voice to the mix. I really like the birth sign idea because the pantheon is pretty outdated at this point. A rework of that system would certainly be welcome IMO.

[@Alandur2010]

Thank you for the insanely detailed review. I agree with most what you say (hcssf r enjoyer here). I restarted two months into the league and found the gem drop system to be one of the best features ever since it creates in a twisted way more build variety than the other game modes. the absence of most auras during the first hours or days make things like MoM or Blood Magic viable options, so for players that are bored of the meta this might be refreshing. however the absence of movement skills makes hc a pretty tense experience, there is stuff that makes a logout macro mandatory to play (storm herald + ice prison to name one comb of mods) without those skills. to add another hc impression: i found the loss of your gems on character death to be one of the most devastating experiences ever, it added so much weight to the deaths, thats... something. Last thing i would like to add: atleast in hc muling (lvling characters for their skill gem rewards) feels mandatory for molten shell, vitaluty and enduring cry, which requires 2 marauders to kill brutus... and that for almost every character.

[@taylorminton1056]

First Ruthless I passed on incursion for shallow delving. Recently, I have started another Ruthless character who was atlas speccing into incursion. Had to scrap that path pretty fast. What you say here about the default timer for the incursions on maps without that passive node is spot on. I just don't have enough time to kill architect, get the passage stone, and reach the door. Not enough DPS and I am too slow to get where I need. That passive is also way up there from the start, making it frustrating to get.

[@jzw3534]

Thank you for this.

[@ItsTheGofa]

Really enjoyed your video, lots of good points made about areas I agree need a change. Hopefully GGG will find videos like this and pick up on the feedback that is sorely needed to make Ruthless mode a more viable, enjoyable and less tedious toil as it stands at the moment. I do love the reaction to finding the Ballista Gem, priceless...

[@EriktionEBW]

GGG should hire this man

[@Machiney]

Atziri spawns only through Incursion. You can get her via tier3 Incursion room, or collect sac frags via tier3 Incursion rooms which give a valuable item

[@erikengstrm7742]

Thank you for this, very helpfull. Wheres everyones best item-farming spot? It struck me that I got better items and uniques late in the campain than farming white/yellow maps. I can put on my Greeds golden plate and other gear with high chance of rarity findings and just farm act 10 reliquary, sure theres no xp in it but that unique or support gem makes up for it imo. I'm doing maps with about 100% inc. rarity but double it with my item-farming gear, no idear if thats good, it seems underwhelming still, but this is Ruthless ofc. And I play SSR if that matter.

[@stebobibo]

Great critique! Does anyone know if any of the things he criticized have be been changed?

[@ItFightsBack]

Not really, they added a generic movement skill with a huge cooldown that refreshes faster against bosses in 3.21. In 3.22 they are nerfing a bunch of ascendancy nodes and giving the 4th ascendancy for completing the Eternal Labyrinth.

[@stebobibo]

Thanks for answering, I really appreciate it! At least the move skill is a little something, but doesn't fix the main problem u outlined with maps. And is the second change even going to buff player power level, since they are also nerfing nodes? I still think I'm going to try ruthless for the first time next season, just for the new experience. @@ItFightsBack

[@MaxAngor]

I'm a newbie to PoE (my roommate loves it but it intimidates me) and am I weird for not really minding slow grinding? I mean that's what spotify and podcasts are for, right?

[@ItFightsBack]

💯

[@MaxAngor]

@@ItFightsBack Aside from boss mechanics, is there a reason I should even have more than one movement speed flask if I'm fine slow-and-steadying this game? My roommate will be confused and thrilled. He's been wanting me to play for years.

[@ItFightsBack]

@@MaxAngor if you want 100% move speed flask uptime you have to have 2 to alternate between and the duration is 4 seconds less than the base game. 2 flasks is the only way to get speed resembling what is possible in the base game. However you can play the game how you please. Its probably easier to go with 1 or 0 without the years of conditioning many of us have had.

[@MaxAngor]

@@ItFightsBack LMAO! When you're used to being a turtle... I'm legally blind. I have been my whole life. What I see is what I see. I can't even fathom how eye-havers see. Same basic idea.

[@ItFightsBack]

@@MaxAngor I understand that all too well. 3 of my 5 siblings are albino and legally blind. I have spent over half of my life trying to understand how they see and it is just as unfathomable. Playing mario kart with my sister with her nose touching the tv screen or telling my brother the moon is out and him whipping out his tablet of a phone to take a picture so he can see it. Wishing you all the best :)

[@SValchanov]

To me ruthless is about taking your time to have fun with the game. Min maxing speed seems relevant to me only if you ladder compete and on some boss mechanics where devs could find easy solutions.

[@ItFightsBack]

Min maxing speed means you clear maps faster and therefore get items faster. There is less value for your time investment on builds that dont have as easy access to movement speed which makes those slower builds feel bad to play by comparison.

[@SValchanov]

@@ItFightsBack Yes, but in my boomer mind it just does not matter how fast i zoom through if im enjoying myself with a build. I get the standard mode mentality of constant rushing while im just slow and steady having fun not worrying about it. A bit slower - means i'm having even more time to have fun within the season. Although im not against making more people happy with adding some mobility. ;D I'm probably not making sense to a lot of PoE players. I'm new to the game and play ruth only and i'm in love with it (coming from d2 obviously hah). Great insight on the game mode btw, ty for the video.

[@Kuzka_]

Just play normal SSF and limit yourself to gems from drop only (except for the starting one, to avoid hours of default attacks). Bonus for starting as a random character.

[@ItFightsBack]

If they don't give movement skills back to Ruthless I am 100% doing this next league. Sounds fun! :D

[@trentntb5437]

@@ItFightsBack Im playing through the first time due to them adding that one movement skill. Enjoying it a lot! What are your thoughts?

[@ItFightsBack]

@@trentntb5437 I have not tried ruthless yet with the movement skill, but my issues with builds that have less access to movement speed remain.

[@synkadus]

everything is true as a HC player it's even rougher

[@zipzap8937]

2.3k views on a video that everyone on staff at GGG needs to listen to every single word of. Oof. Here's hoping they come up with even ten percent of these gems of suggestions on their own.

[@patlogic9512]

Like the idea of travel skills in maps.

[@bumbuyman]

project PT at home

[@n8doggy733]

I too like the scarcity and simplicity, however i really hate how they just stripped away parts of every single mechanic instead of thinking about what would be best. also, removing speed from builds was dumb

[@michaelh370]

Going to down vote this because I'm a huge Blackhawks fan. j/k, great review and loving ruthless.

[@ItFightsBack]

Hahaha my most memorable hockey moments have come from when both our teams were good and that has been a minute XD. 2017 Winter Classic was one of the best experiences of my life! Glad you are enjoying! :D

[@tomblank8124]

No movement skills is one of the absolute best things about the game mode. Character classes and ascendancy’s now have strong identities. You wanna be tanky juggernaut with molten shell, you wanna be fast you go ranger but your gonna be squishy. Working on my 6th 90+ char in SSF ruthless so I’ve played quite a diverse array of chars a significant amount. Couldn’t disagree more about the move speed topic.

[@iamhatefield]

I couldn't agree more :) though I tend to value items like Devoto's Devotion a lot more now :D

[@ItFightsBack]

Then we are in disagreement on that front, but I appreciate your opinion nonetheless. I think no movement skills was absolutely an enjoyable experience progressing though the story, but in maps it is movement speed or be inefficient and I find that meta really hinders strong build diversity. I mostly miss withering step to apply wither and frostblink to apply bonechill. There is only 1 account that matches your description and should that actually be you, I wish you the best on the rest of the league.

[@mustafaozturk3343]

@@ItFightsBack Movement skills was one of the biggest reason I stopped playing poe. Now I am enjoying the game but respect your opinion.

[@Kuzka_]

It really depends on whether you want to see the game as your second job/everyday duty or not. If you enjoy clearing only 6 maps each day and gain nothing - all power to you, but you can also do that normally, just don't use movement skills and build around a weak skill. I would've been playing ruthless if it wasn't for many changes that are tedium for tedium sake. I usually make a random character in normal SSF for fun. And use gems only from drops (except for the starting one), to force myself to use different skills than usual, but with time and mechanics I can get them (incursion, heist, strongboxes, etc)

[@iamhatefield]

@@Kuzka_ 6 maps a day huh? I don't understand why you felt compelled to give your opinion here when you clearly didn't play the mode. Yeah I get it, you think that you wouldn't find it fun yourself but why do you try to explain to someone who does find it interesting that their experience is subpar?

[@adombovic]

that beard is enough to make me comment and stop watching within 14 seconds