PoE2 Mid-League Update: Temple Changes and How to Build Optimized Temples

Path of Exile 2 (PoE2) continues to captivate players with its deep mechanics, high-stakes loot, and evolving league content. Among its many systems, the Temple of Atzoatl has remained a central feature for players looking to maximize their currency and rare item gains. Recently, Grinding Gear Games (GG) made one of the most controversial mid-league changes regarding the use of the lock medallion in temples—a change that sparked extensive debate across the community. Thankfully, the developers have listened to player feedback and decided to revert the most controversial aspect of the nerf, allowing players once again to fully optimize their temples. This article breaks down the update, its implications, and strategies for building profitable temples in POE 2 Currency.

The Lock Medallion Nerf: Why It Caused Controversy

A few days ago, GG introduced a restriction on the lock medallion in temples. Previously, players could use this item freely to lock rooms and optimize the structure of their temples, ensuring maximum loot. The nerf limited the lock medallion to tier three rooms only, effectively restricting players’ ability to build full, fully optimized temples.

For long-time players, this created a major problem. Many temples that had been meticulously planned before the nerf—often referred to as legacy temples—were now a significant advantage for early builders. New or late-joining players found themselves unable to compete, as the new restriction prevented them from achieving the same level of temple optimization.

The community response was immediate and overwhelmingly critical. Discussion threads exploded with feedback, totaling hundreds of pages of commentary. Players argued that this change unfairly punished those who had not already constructed a temple and risked fracturing the league’s economy and progression system.

Reverting the Change: A Win for Players

Acknowledging the backlash, GG decided to revert the lock medallion nerf, allowing all players to use the item without restriction once again. This decision restored parity in the temple system, meaning that anyone can now build fully optimized temples regardless of whether they had previously participated in earlier rounds of temple building.

While some adjustments remain—such as loot nerfs and swapping spy masters for golems—the core functionality that allows players to design high-value temples is intact. This means that while temples may yield slightly lower rewards per room than before, they are still extremely profitable, offering estimated returns of 40–50 divines per fully optimized run, which remains a significant gain in the league economy.

This reversion also removes the unfair advantage of legacy temples, ensuring that the system is accessible and rewarding for new and returning players alike.

Understanding Temple Planning in PoE2

Building a successful temple is more than just placing rooms randomly. A properly designed temple requires careful planning to maximize loot, efficiency, and room synergies. With the lock medallion restrictions removed, players can now engage with the system fully, using advanced techniques to optimize their builds.

One approach that has become increasingly popular is the use of the “Russian tech” method, a more advanced temple-building strategy that involves the precise placement and sequencing of rooms to maximize rewards. While highly effective, these setups can be challenging to build, requiring careful planning and a deep understanding of temple mechanics.

New Optimal Temple Builds

Following the revert, players now have several strategies for constructing their temples. Recent community contributions have introduced two main types of builds:

Complex Russian Tech Builds – These are the most optimized temple designs. They require advanced planning and the precise use of resources but offer the highest potential rewards. One of these builds, while extremely lucrative, is also very difficult to construct. Players often need to sacrifice multiple rooms or manage intricate chains of golem and spy master swaps to achieve maximum efficiency.

Simplified, Accessible Builds – For those who prefer a more straightforward approach, simplified builds such as Milky’s BK template allow players to construct a functional temple without Russian tech. These builds are easier to manage, require fewer resources, and can be completed in half the time compared to the advanced setups. While the rewards may not be maximized, they still provide a solid income and are highly effective for players with limited time or experience.

The key advantage of this tiered approach is that both casual and hardcore players can participate in the temple system, enjoying meaningful rewards at their own pace.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Profitable Temples

For players new to temple planning, the following steps provide a structured approach to building efficient temples:

Choose Your Build Method – Decide whether to pursue a Russian tech or a simplified temple. This choice will dictate your resource allocation and planning.

Plan Your Room Layout – Start with the highest-tier rooms, prioritizing those with the best loot potential. Map out your room chains before placing medallions to avoid costly mistakes.

Lock Key Rooms – Use the lock medallion on critical rooms to ensure they maintain their tier and do not degrade during the temple’s construction. With the recent revert, players now have full freedom to lock rooms without tier restrictions.

Swap Strategically – Depending on your build, you may need to swap spy masters for golems or adjust other room interactions. Keep track of these changes to maintain maximum efficiency.

Monitor Loot Output – As rooms are completed, keep an eye on loot rewards and adjust your approach if necessary. Even small optimizations can significantly improve overall returns.

Finish the Temple – Complete room chains and finalize the layout. For Russian tech builds, this may involve complex sequencing and resource management, while simplified builds follow a linear, step-by-step approach.

By following these guidelines, players can reliably construct temples that are both profitable and efficient, regardless of their league experience.

Why Temple Design Matters

Temple design in PoE2 is not just a matter of aesthetics or game completion—it has significant economic and gameplay implications. A well-built temple can generate substantial returns in currency items, rare gear, and divination cards, which can then be reinvested in character progression or traded in the league economy.

Additionally, optimized temples contribute to long-term sustainability in the league. Players who master temple planning early on can consistently generate high returns, allowing them to invest in better equipment and more advanced builds. Conversely, inefficient temple layouts can result in lost opportunities and lower overall rewards.

The recent nerf revert reinforces the importance of skillful temple planning, ensuring that the system rewards careful strategy and player investment rather than punishing newcomers.

Community Reactions and Future Outlook

The response from the PoE2 community has been overwhelmingly positive following the revert. Players have expressed relief that legacy temples no longer create an unfair advantage and that everyone can participate fully in the league. Forum discussions and social media threads indicate that player feedback directly influenced GG’s decision, highlighting the importance of open communication between developers and the community.

Looking ahead, it is likely that GG will continue to refine the temple system in minor patches, making incremental adjustments to loot, room balance, and resource requirements buy Path of Exile 2 Currency. However, the recent update suggests a commitment to player-friendly mechanics, ensuring that mid-league changes do not undermine the enjoyment or fairness of the game.

For players interested in maximizing their temple efficiency, the combination of Russian tech builds for advanced users and simplified builds for casual players offers a flexible framework that can be tailored to any playstyle.

Conclusion

The recent lock medallion nerf and its subsequent revert serve as a case study in community-driven game development. While initial changes caused frustration, the developer’s decision to listen and adapt has restored balance and accessibility to one of PoE2’s most rewarding systems: the Temple of Atzoatl.

For players, this update means full freedom to optimize temples once again, whether through advanced Russian tech builds or simpler, more accessible layouts. Temples remain a lucrative avenue for currency farming, providing both strategic depth and significant rewards for those willing to invest the time and effort.

Ultimately, PoE2’s temple system exemplifies the game’s core philosophy: complex, rewarding mechanics that challenge players and reward careful planning. With the latest changes, the community can now enjoy a fair and engaging temple-building experience, making the league’s remainder both profitable and fun.

Whether you are a hardcore min-maxer looking to squeeze every last divine from your temple or a casual player seeking a simpler, enjoyable layout, the recent updates ensure that PoE2 continues to deliver one of the most engaging and dynamic experiences in modern ARPGs.