PoE 2 is introducing a new core game mechanic: Weapon Set Points. In PoE 1, characters were limited by how many skills you could fit into your equipment. Furthermore, with a limited amount of Passive Points, players often focused on one thing to excel at.
With the new Weapon Set system, PoE 2 is adding more character customizability.
The Weapon Set system works in two main ways:
- Characters will gain access to a limited number of "Weapon Set" Passive Points. With these points, you essentially have two different Passive Trees.
- At the end of the Campaign, you should have 24 Weapon Set 1 and 24 Weapon Set 2 points.
- Skills can be set to either Weapon Set Loadout. Your character will automatically swap between your first/second weapon loadout and use the skills set to it.
Secondary weapon loadouts were a thing in PoE 1, but they were rarely used. If builds did use it, it was quite clunky to use as you had to swap weapons, use a skill, swap back, etc. With PoE 2, the act of weapon swapping is automatic, and you only need to press your skill like normal.
There is a small delay when switching weapons, so you may want to set some skills to both weapons if there is no difference. (Your character won't switch if set to both, but will switch for other skills)