Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
As the next Path of Exile 2 expansion, Return of the Ancients draws near, CrimsonCasts and Talkative Tri take a seat to discuss the exciting new content incoming, imminent balance changes, speedrunning in PoE2, the Exilecon race qualifiers, and much more. Welcome to episode 88 of the Still Sane Podcast, enjoy!
Check out my guest, the lovable, esteemed @CrimsonCasts:
twitch.tv/crimsoncasts
youtube.com/@CrimsonCasts
==CHAPTERS==
0:00 Intro & Patch 0.5 First Impressions
1:34 What Crimson Wanted From 0.5
3:03 Reworking Armor & Defensive Scaling
7:58 Runic Ward, Armor Buffs & Future Defenses
12:36 Tree Power vs Item Power
16:34 Boss Balance & Damage Variance
20:05 Why Speedrunning Makes PoE2 More Fun
23:47 The Real Appeal of Speedrunning
26:44 Campaign Changes & Environmental Clues
33:21 New Zone Layouts in 0.5
34:37 Endgame Progression & Atlas Questlines
36:00 Campaign Length & Player Expectations
37:21 Best 0.5 League Starter Predictions
39:11 Racing Motivation & Competitive Goals
39:45 ExileCon Race Format Discussion
42:02 Loading Screens & Regional Qualifiers
44:16 What the ExileCon Finals Race Could Be
46:05 Prize Pool Ideas & Race Supporter Packs
47:17 Dream Race Circuit Format
49:14 Crimson’s Dota 2 Casting Origins
52:45 The Future of PoE2 Racing & Esports
54:27 Favorite PoE2 Meta & Stomping Ground Rake
57:13 Games Done Quick & Becoming a Commentator
59:13 Behind the Scenes at GDQ
1:03:28 Spider Warning Story
1:06:26 Could PoE Return to GDQ?
1:08:33 How GDQ Commentary Is Prepared
1:10:31 The Art of Great Casting
1:11:40 Building Narrative in Esports Commentary
1:12:20 Dota 2 Casting Inspiration & Player Storylines
1:13:15 ExileCon Rivalries & Social Narratives
1:14:38 The Craziest Crossbow Ever Seen in a Race
1:16:22 “Am I Allowed to Swear on Stream?”
1:18:40 Qualifying for ExileCon & Future Casting Dreams
1:19:28 Final Thoughts Before Patch 0.5 Launch
► Talkative Tri support: patreon.com/cw/talkativetri
► Talkative Tri live: twitch.tv/talkativetri
► Talkative Tri videos and lives: youtube.com/channel/UCJQNiHTCkZl4XC_YwBoZf9Q
► Talkative Tri community: discord.gg/Nc3yh3XnSk
► Talkative Tri 2nd channel: youtube.com/channel/UCcAD20nTCDJ4M9zboDvjAmw
On this channel, I discuss games like Path of Exile 2, Path of Exile 1, Last Epoch, Diablo 4, Guild Wars 2, Age of Mythology, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, general gaming news, and anything else I'm passionate about.
As always, thank you for watching.
#pathofexile2 #poe2 #arpg #returnoftheancients
As the next Path of Exile 2 expansion, Return of the Ancients draws near, CrimsonCasts and Talkative Tri take a seat to discuss the exciting new content incoming, imminent balance changes, speedrunning in PoE2, the Exilecon race qualifiers, and much more. Welcome to episode 88 of the Still Sane Podcast, enjoy!
Check out my guest, the lovable, esteemed @CrimsonCasts:
twitch.tv/crimsoncasts
youtube.com/@CrimsonCasts
==CHAPTERS==
0:00 Intro & Patch 0.5 First Impressions
1:34 What Crimson Wanted From 0.5
3:03 Reworking Armor & Defensive Scaling
7:58 Runic Ward, Armor Buffs & Future Defenses
12:36 Tree Power vs Item Power
16:34 Boss Balance & Damage Variance
20:05 Why Speedrunning Makes PoE2 More Fun
23:47 The Real Appeal of Speedrunning
26:44 Campaign Changes & Environmental Clues
33:21 New Zone Layouts in 0.5
34:37 Endgame Progression & Atlas Questlines
36:00 Campaign Length & Player Expectations
37:21 Best 0.5 League Starter Predictions
39:11 Racing Motivation & Competitive Goals
39:45 ExileCon Race Format Discussion
42:02 Loading Screens & Regional Qualifiers
44:16 What the ExileCon Finals Race Could Be
46:05 Prize Pool Ideas & Race Supporter Packs
47:17 Dream Race Circuit Format
49:14 Crimson’s Dota 2 Casting Origins
52:45 The Future of PoE2 Racing & Esports
54:27 Favorite PoE2 Meta & Stomping Ground Rake
57:13 Games Done Quick & Becoming a Commentator
59:13 Behind the Scenes at GDQ
1:03:28 Spider Warning Story
1:06:26 Could PoE Return to GDQ?
1:08:33 How GDQ Commentary Is Prepared
1:10:31 The Art of Great Casting
1:11:40 Building Narrative in Esports Commentary
1:12:20 Dota 2 Casting Inspiration & Player Storylines
1:13:15 ExileCon Rivalries & Social Narratives
1:14:38 The Craziest Crossbow Ever Seen in a Race
1:16:22 “Am I Allowed to Swear on Stream?”
1:18:40 Qualifying for ExileCon & Future Casting Dreams
1:19:28 Final Thoughts Before Patch 0.5 Launch
► Talkative Tri support: patreon.com/cw/talkativetri
► Talkative Tri live: twitch.tv/talkativetri
► Talkative Tri videos and lives: youtube.com/channel/UCJQNiHTCkZl4XC_YwBoZf9Q
► Talkative Tri community: discord.gg/Nc3yh3XnSk
► Talkative Tri 2nd channel: youtube.com/channel/UCcAD20nTCDJ4M9zboDvjAmw
On this channel, I discuss games like Path of Exile 2, Path of Exile 1, Last Epoch, Diablo 4, Guild Wars 2, Age of Mythology, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, general gaming news, and anything else I'm passionate about.
As always, thank you for watching.
#pathofexile2 #poe2 #arpg #returnoftheancients
