If you thought Path of Exile was intense, wait until you get your hands on Path of Exile 2. This sequel is turning heads with a ton to break down such as new classes, a deeper endgame, and a fresh early access update.
And this time, we’ll cover everything about Path of Exile 2, from classes and updates to the much-anticipated release date. Ready? Let’s go full loot goblin.
What Is Path of Exile 2?
Pump the brakes if you’re picturing a mere expansion to the first Path of Exile. Path of Exile 2 is a full-blown sequel. Built by Grinding Gear Games, this isometric action RPG doesn’t just polish up what worked before cause it reinvents it.
Unlike its free-to-play predecessor, Path of Exile 2 launched in early access with a $30 price tag, and despite that, it soared past 570,000 concurrent players on Steam. That’s double what the original pulled. Not bad for a supposed “niche” game, huh?
You’re not just buying another loot-grind simulator. You’re stepping into a world that offers 33+ hours of campaign gameplay, over 50 hours if you go completionist, and it’s not even done cooking yet.
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Path of Exile 2’s Early Access: When’s the Full Release?
Next, let’s talk timelines. The game dropped into early access on December 6, 2024, and players swarmed in faster than loot in a Breach event with over 570,000 concurrent players on Steam. That’s double what the original game ever saw.
So, when’s the Path of Exile 2 full release date? According to Grinding Gear Games, their goal is to launch it by May 2025 fully. But if history’s any teacher (PoE 1 took 17 months to go from early access to 1.0), we might be looking at a late summer or even fall 2025 release.
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All Confirmed Path of Exile 2 Classes and Ascendancies
In Path of Exile 2, classes are way more than cosmetic choices. They define your entire playstyle, from skill gems to Ascendancy trees.
There’s a revamped class system with 12 base classes, each tied to specific attributes and weapon archetypes. Every class has 3 unique Ascendancy Classes, offering powerful playstyle specializations to suit your build.
Early Access Launch Classes (December 6)
At the start of Early Access, only 6 of the 12 classes will be available:
- Mercenary
- Monk
- Ranger
- Sorceress
- Warrior
- Witch
Let’s break down each confirmed class and their Ascendancies:
1. Huntress (Patch 0.2.0 – New Class)
- Attributes: Dexterity
- Weapon: Spears
- Archetype: Spearman
Ascendancy Classes:
- Ritualist – Uses blood and sacrifice to empower herself and debilitate enemies. Can boost amulets and rings.
- Amazon – Infuses weapons with elemental energy and exploits weaknesses for high crits.
2. Warrior
- Attributes: Strength
- Weapon: Maces
- Archetype: Melee Tank
Ascendancy Classes:
- Warbringer – Delivers heavy AoE bursts with rippling effects.
- Titan – Bulwark of defense and unstoppable damage.
- Smith of Kitava – Summons weapons in battle and customizes gear mid-fight.
3. Sorceress
- Attributes: Intelligence
- Weapon: Staves
- Archetype: Elemental Spellcaster
Ascendancy Classes:
- Stormweaver – Casts devastating elemental storms.
- Chronomancer – Manipulates time to boost spell rotations and mobility.
4. Ranger
- Attributes: Dexterity
- Weapon: Bows
- Archetype: Agile Archer
Ascendancy Classes:
- Deadeye – Precision and crit-heavy bow combat.
- Pathfinder – Specializes in flasks and traps for clever CC and utility.
5. Monk
- Attributes: Dexterity & Intelligence
- Weapon: Quarterstaff
- Archetype: Martial Artist
Ascendancy Classes:
- Invoker – A mobile hybrid spellblade class.
- Acolyte of Chayula – Channels forbidden knowledge with powerful spiritual energy.
6. Mercenary
- Attributes: Dexterity & Strength
- Weapon: Crossbows
- Archetype: Flexible Crossbowman
Ascendancy Classes:
- Witch Hunter – Master of status effects and swift finishes.
- Gemling Legionnaire – Calls upon ancient military skill sets with elemental ammo.
- Tactician – Battlefield controller with banner buffs and precision shots.
7. Witch
- Attributes: Intelligence
- Weapon: Wand
- Archetype: Necromantic Occultist
Ascendancy Classes:
- Infernalist – Summons fire-based minions and spreads chaos.
- Blood Mage – Trades HP for immense spell power.
- Lich – Master of curses, chaos, and death, increasing Energy Shield through life sacrifice.
Upcoming Classes After Early Access
Path of Exile 2 will eventually feature 12 total classes with specialized weapon mechanics. The following are confirmed to be arriving later:
| Class | Attributes | Weapon | Archetype |
|---|---|---|---|
| Druid | Strength & Intelligence | Scepter | Shapeshifter (Bear form) |
| Duelist | Strength & Dexterity | Swords | Agile Swordsman |
| Marauder | Strength | Axes | Brutal Axe Barbarian |
| Shadow | Dexterity & Intelligence | Daggers | Cunning Rogue |
| Templar | Strength & Intelligence | Flails | Holy Bastion |
Each class will come with its weapon system and 3 new Ascendancy Classes.
Total Class Breakdown
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Base Classes | 12 |
| Ascendancy Classes | 36 |
| Ascendancies at Launch | 12 |
| New Ascendancies in Patch 0.2 | 5 |
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New Features in PoE 2 Update 0.2.0: Dawn of the Hunt
Ready for an info dump? Because Update 0.2.0 just dropped on April 4th, 2025, and it’s packed like a vendor’s stash at the league start. Below are the key content additions:
- 8 New Endgame Maps, including:
- The Fractured Lake
- The Silent Cave
- Ezomyte Megaliths
- 100+ New Unique Items – Time to theory craft.
- 25+ New Skills, mostly spear-based, to suit the Huntress.
- 2 New Item Types: Spears and Bucklers
- 4 Unique Strongboxes – Because regular loot wasn’t spicy enough.
- 12 Rogue Exiles – Dangerous reflections of yourself, anyone?
Oh, and let’s not forget the Azmerian Wisps, spirit-like entities you’ll find throughout both the campaign and endgame content. These bad boys add extra flavor (and challenge) to your grind.
Crafting, Corruption, and Chaos
If you’re a sucker for crafting, update 0.2.0 also introduced:
- 15 new socket-able items with wild modifiers
- Corrupted Essences, a new Vaal Orb feature that lets you push RNG to its chaotic limits
Want a Unique item but wish it had more flare? Use a Twilight Reliquary Key to get a foil version selected by community supporters. It’s bling with lore.
Quality of Life Improvements You’ll Notice
Grinding Gear Games didn’t just throw in shiny things and call it a day.
- Reforging Benches and Stashes were repositioned for smoother town flow.
- Nvidia crashes are now better handled with a smart “Device Removed” recovery screen. That’s tech speak for “your game won’t just explode anymore.”
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That’s all you need to know about Path of Exile 2–a dark, ambitious leap forward for the Action Role-Playing Game (ARPG) genre. With 12 unique classes, 36 Ascendancies, and deep, weapon-driven mechanics, the game offers more build freedom and combat variety than ever before.
The early access version already shows strong potential, especially with Patch 0.2.0 adding even more layers to the experience. PoE 2 is a full-on reinvention, and it’s clear that Grinding Gear Games is aiming to push boundaries.
