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Overview
Path of Exile 2 has 12 character classes, each with their own strengths, weaknesses and unique forms of combat. Unlike other ARPGs, character classes in PoE 2 are not limited to their skill choices. Since skills come in the form of Skill Gems, all classes have the ability to use any gem of their choice, meaning that you aren’t limited to playing melee on a classic Warrior class, or a spell-based build on a Sorceress, if you are creative and skilled enough to find something that works. Don’t feel afraid to experiment and push the limits of your imagination when it comes to build-making, but as a new player, allow the game to guide you with the recommended skill choices.
Ascendancy
Despite all classes being able to use any Skill they want to, what sets each one apart is not only their starting position on the Passive Skill Tree, but also their ability to Ascend into a sub-class. In Path of Exile 2, each class also has 3 sub-classes, known as Ascendancies, which allow players to further specialise their character and tailor it to their exact needs. As of writing, no Ascendancy classes have been revealed, and the method of Ascending hasn’t been confirmed either.
Attributes
In Path of Exile 2, there are 3 Attribute types: Strength, Dexterity and Intelligence. Each character class is associated with either one, or two of these attribute types. There are two classes for each Attribute group: 2 for Strength, 2 for Dexterity, 2 for Intelligence, and then 2 for hybrid classes of Strength/Intelligence, Strength/Dexterity, and Dexterity/Intelligence
In today’s guide, we’ll be doing a brief overview of each of the 8 of 12 known classes to help you choose which one to play on November 15th!
Warrior
Typical Archetype(s): Two-handed weapon, melee tank
Primary Attribute: Strength
Starting Position on Tree: Left-hand side
Difficulty: More Advanced
The Warrior is the classic tanky melee class, specializing in wielding large weapons and fighting in close-combat. If you’re a fan of slamming enemies with massive two-handed Axes or Maces and watching them explode in front of you, The Warrior might be your pick.
Note: because of the close-combat nature of the class, The Warrior might be trickier to play for brand new players than ranged classes, however Path of Exile 2 does have some systems in place that will help you to stay alive, even when you’re standing toe-to-toe with swarms of enemies.
Gameplay Showcase
Courtesy of AlkaizerSenpai
Witch
Typical Archetype(s): Summoner / Dark Mage
Primary Attribute: Intelligence
Starting Position on Tree: Centre Top
Difficulty: Beginner-Friendly
Archetype(s): Summoner / Dark Mage
The Witch is Path of Exile 2’s version of a Necromancer class, which many of you might be more familiar with. This class specialises in summoning hordes of undead minions to fight for her, but also dark occult energies that can empower her army to take down large foes as well as hordes of enemies.
The Witch can reserve her Spirit to summon a range of minions, from Skeletons, to copies of slain enemies in the form of Spectres, to more short-term allies that rush into battle to explode on top of enemies. She is also able to cast spells such as Contagion to infect her own minions which allows them to spread poison throughout packs of enemies.
Path of Exile 2 also allows characters to be able to manipulate their minions to perform actions as needed, instead of having them mindlessly run around and not doing what you want them to.
From what we have seen so far, this looks to be a very safe, powerful class that should be good for newer players.
Gameplay Showcase
Ranger
Archetype(s): Archer
Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Starting Position on Tree: Right Side
Difficulty: Beginner Friendly
The Ranger is Path of Exile 2’s classic bow-wielding, Legolas-inspired Archer class. The Ranger is swift, mobile and can spray down enemies with a barrage of elemental arrows (fire/cold/lightning), or with an array of Poison-based skills that litter the battlefield with toxic pustules that explode on enemies
The Ranger also features abilities that allow her to move in and out of combat, or leaping backwards, high into the air while shooting explosive cold projectiles that slow enemies.
Gameplay Showcase
Huntress
Archetype(s): Spear Warrior
Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Starting Position on Tree: Right Side
Difficulty: Uncertain
Unlike the Ranger, the other pure Dexterity class, the Huntress is more focused on a blend of close and ranged combat while using spears instead of bows and arrows.
While this class was available for play during the 2023 Exilecon, little to no other information has been shared about the class at this stage. Anecdotally, the Huntress is touted as a powerful, fast warrior that moves quickly in and out of combat with her elementally imbued spears. This may have changed since 2023. What footage exists of the class currently is most likely so out of date that it wouldn’t be relevant to share.
Gameplay Showcase
Sorceress
Archetype(s): Elemental Spell Caster / Wizard
Primary Attribute: Intelligence
Starting Position on Tree: Centre Top
Difficulty: Uncertain
The Sorceress is a classic spellcasting mage that wields the elements to lay waste to her enemies. Through the use of fire, cold and lightning magic, the Sorceress will feel familiar to players who have enjoyed Wizards, Mages or other spellcasting heroes in other ARPGs.
Whether you enjoy burning up monsters with torrents of Fireballs, freezing and then explosively shattering mobs with frozen comets, or zapping entire packs of enemies with arcing lightning bolts, the Sorceress should satisfy players looking for flashy, explosive and colourful spell-based combat.
Gameplay Showcase
Note: this footage is from 2023 and many things will have changed since, however, this video gives you a general idea of the playstyle of the class
Mercenary
Archetype(s): Explosive crossbow-wielding, grenade-throwing one-man-army
Primary Attributes: Dexterity/Strength
Starting Position on Tree: Bottom
Difficulty: Assumed to be Complex
The Mercenary is a truly unique class that at first glance might appear to be similar to a Ranger, but instead of wielding a bow, he chooses Crossbows. In Path of Exile 2, there are a variety of different Crossbow types that can allow the Mercenary to either spray down enemies with a gatling-gun type spray of incendiary bolts, or snipe them from afar with high damage, frozen ballista style heavy crossbow attacks. This class is inspired by first-person shooter games, so it might appeal to players who enjoy gun-based gameplay
Other than Crossbows, the Mercenary specialises in using elemental grenades that can freeze enemies, or cover them in flammable oil. Once covered in oil, if an enemy is hit with fire damage, it will ignite, causing an inferno to spread throughout packs of monsters. The Mercenary seems to be an incredibly versatile class with many tools at his disposal to help him to be victorious in all circumstances.
This class might be more combo-focused, and require good positioning and skill-usage to feel his full effect, but it is truly one of the most interesting and unique classes ever seen in ARPGs.
Gameplay Showcase
Monk
Archetype(s): Staff wielding holy warrior
Primary Attributes:Strength/Intelligence
Starting Position on Tree: Left Side
Difficulty: Assumed to be Complex
The Monk is a Warrior that excels in agile combat, dashing in and out of the fray with quick staff attacks, while landing killing blows on enemies with unarmed attacks to empower his next elemental explosion. The Monk also has a magical aspect to him, being able to drop massive, metal bells which he can hit with other attacks to further increase his damage, as well as by quickly generating and expending Power Charges to enhance his abilities
Many of The Monk’s abilities involve movement – some skills will cause him to dash forward, hitting enemies with lightning-infused staff slams, another skill allows him to leap into the air, spinning his weapon and hitting multiple enemies in rapid succession. The Monk is also able to imbue his attacks with Cold and other elements that become more explosive when expending the Power Charges generated from killing blows.
The Monk appears to be a more advanced, combo-based class, but his mobile playstyle will appeal to enjoyers of fast paced, anime-style combat
Gameplay Showcase
Druid
Archetype(s): Elemental Shape Shifter
Primary Attributes:Strength/Intelligence
Starting Position on Tree: Left Side
Difficulty: Assumed to be Complex
If you like the idea of shapeshifting into a massive Werebear, slamming the ground with your paws and causing your summoned volcanoes to erupt with balls of molten magma, The Druid might be right up your alley.
The Druid is not only able to transform into a bear, but also other creatures, such as a Werewolf and is able to morph in and out of his human form as needed to cast different skills. This class is a perfect blend of raw, primal energy for players who enjoy hybrid elemental spell-casting and more melee-focused combat.
Many of The Druid’s elemental abilities can interact with his shapeshifted form, meaning it should be a true hybrid class instead of one where a player ends up only playing as either a Warrior- or Mage- style character. This class might be more complex for newer players, but if you enjoy steamrolling enemies with your paws as a giant bear while lightning and brimstone rains from the sky, you’ll feel happy playing this Class
Video
PoE 2 Upcoming Classes
There are still 4 more classes that GGG has not revealed for Path of Exile 2, but we are able to speculate on some of their designs based on their names and how those classes exist in Path of Exile 1.
Shadow: Intelligence/Dexterity Hybrid
We have no information on this class as of yet, but we have seen that Traps and Mines are now equippable items that can be crafted and used by characters in Path of Exile 2. For this reason, it’s fairly safe to assume that this will be a trap or mine-based class
Templar: Strength/Intelligence Hybrid
No information exists on The Templar at this stage. In Path of Exile 1, Templars are commonly played as mages that summon Totems to fight for them, or as tanky spell-based builds that can soak up more damage than pure Intelligence spell casters while still dealing large amounts of elemental damage. In Path of Exile 2, they may be more focused around flails and other holy magic as well as summoning.
Marauder: Strength
Little is known about this class in Path of Exile 2 at this stage, or if it will even be known as The Marauder. Presumed to be an attack-based, tanky class that wields Axes, but who knows what GGG will cook up
Duelist: Dexterity/Strength
No information has been revealed about this class at this stage. Most likely another attack-based class that may use Shields or dual-wielding in interesting ways.
No matter which class you pick, know that each has its strengths and weaknesses, and you should never feel limited to strictly adhere to the thematic suggestion of what the class is supposed to do. Path of Exile 1 has featured many spell-casting Marauders, and attack-based Witches over the years, so when you have the confidence, knowledge and creativity to experiment, don’t hold back!