PoE 3.24: Rare Monster item bonus mechanics are now rarer, and the following item bonus mechanics have been removed: Items dropped are converted to Gems, Items dropped are converted to Scarabs, Items dropped have all White Sockets, Items dropped are Duplicated, Slain Rare monster gives increased Experience, and Slain Rare monster gives increased Gem Experience.
You’re absolutely right! Path of Exile has made some changes to Rare Monster item bonus mechanics. Here’s a breakdown of what’s been removed and the overall impact:
Removed Mechanics:
Item Conversion: Mechanics that converted dropped items to Gems, Scarabs, or specific socket types are no longer available. This likely aimed to increase item diversity and make specific drops more predictable.
Duplication: The ability for Rare Monsters to drop duplicated items has been removed. This streamlines loot drops and potentially reduces overwhelming amounts of similar items.
Experience Boosts: Bonuses to experience or gem experience from slain Rare Monsters have been removed. This might require adjustments to leveling strategies if these bonuses were previously a significant source of experience.
Reduced Rarity:
Remaining Mechanics: While not explicitly mentioned, the update suggests that other Rare Monster item bonus mechanics (like increased quantity or rarity of dropped items) have become rarer. This means encountering these beneficial effects will be less frequent.
Overall Impact:
These changes aim to make Path of Exile loot drops more predictable and potentially less exploitable. While some farming strategies might be affected, the focus seems to be on a more balanced and consistent loot experience.