Return of the Ancients 0.5 changed party gameplay in a big way. Random groups can still clear content, but the strongest teams now rely on planning and clear roles before they even enter a map. Players no longer stack damage without thinking about the rest of the group. Carries need support builds behind them, and support players need the right weapons, banners, and defensive tools to keep the run stable. Sustain also matters much more now because strong groups spend huge amounts of resources and PoE 2 Currency while upgrading gear for endgame farming.
Lightning Spear Carries Lead Most Strong Groups
Many organised groups build around a Lightning Spear Tactician carry. The skill deals strong elemental damage, and it scales very well with party buffs. Because of that, many players use support gems like Elemental Armaments, Pinpoint Critical, and Armour Break III. Armour Break has become one of the most important parts of the setup because it weakens enemy defenses for the whole team. Once bosses lose their armour, the carry can push much higher damage numbers during long fights. Most experienced players also focus on critical strike consistency instead of only chasing larger tooltip damage. Reliable damage matters more during difficult boss phases where missed attacks can slow the entire run.
Banner Supports Keep The Whole Party Strong
Banner supports have become one of the most important roles in organised play. War Banner, Dread Banner, and Defiance Banner each provide useful effects, and together they can completely change how the carry performs in combat. Many support players also use the passive Watch How I Do It because it shares attack damage with nearby allies based on the support’s weapon. This means support gear directly affects the party’s overall damage output. Good banner setups can improve attack speed, accuracy, damage, and elemental resistance caps all at once. Jewels such as Megalomaniac also appear often in these builds, especially when players get useful passive effects like Stormcharged or The Frenzied Bear.
Defensive Builds Hold The Party Together
Damage alone cannot carry every encounter in Path of Exile 2. Strong groups still need frontline characters that can survive heavy pressure while the carry continues attacking. Defensive Tactician variants usually stack large amounts of Energy Shield and Armour to stay alive in dangerous fights. Some players also use Doryani-style setups because those mechanics handle elemental damage more safely during difficult encounters. A support character with around 7,500 Energy Shield and 15,000 Armour can protect the party from sudden deaths when the screen becomes crowded with enemies and effects. These tankier builds may not appear impressive on damage charts, but many groups fail quickly without them.
Pathfinder Utility Makes Farming Smoother
Pathfinder still plays an important role in organised party farming. Flask uptime, Alchemist’s Boon, and Charge Regulation give the group steady sustain during long sessions. The new Idol system also improved the class even further. Some players use an Idol of Ralakesh for stronger defenses, while others choose an Idol of Sirrius for extra movement speed during map clears. Other Idol setups improve mana sustain, chaos damage, or warcry cooldowns. Most players notice the value of Pathfinder support once the role disappears from the group. Without those utility bonuses, runs often feel slower and less stable.
Loot Roles Bring More Value To Endgame Farming
Dedicated loot characters have become more common in Return of the Ancients 0.5. Many groups now use a Ritualist culler to improve rewards during fast farming sessions. Builds using items like Morior Invictus Grand Regalia focus heavily on item rarity, quantity, and bonus gold drops from enemies. Grand Spectrum jewels also help push those loot bonuses even further without destroying the build completely. The carry and support players still do most of the combat work, but the culler is often the reason farming sessions feel profitable in the long run. Once gear, gold, and path of exile 2 currency begin stacking up quickly, the value of a dedicated loot role becomes easy to understand.