head to head
vs
Path of Exile 2vsThe First Descendant
Path of Exile 2 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The First Descendant leans Optimization (Practiced Mastery).
Path of Exile 2The First Descendant
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 6
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance6 vs 6
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization9 vs 8
Path of Exile 2 leans harder on optimization: Build theory and passive tree navigation reward deep system knowledge
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.