Dawn of the Hunt Reveal: New Class, Ascendancies, & More

Path of Exile 2 is releasing a new League Expansion titled "Dawn of the Hunt." This will be a major patch for PoE 2, similar to the updates PoE 1 receives.

This article will be a summary of changes and teasers you can expect from the latest content reveal. (video on the right)

Dawn of the Hunt Release Date

PoE 2 Version 0.2.0, Dawn of the Hunt, will release on April 4th at 12 pm (PDT) or (UTC-7).

Version 0.2.0 Summary

Classes & Ascendancies

• Huntress - New Class
• • Spears - New Base Item Type
  • The Ritualist - Huntress Ascendancy
  • The Amazon - Huntress Ascendancy
• New Ascendancies
• • Smith of Kitava - Warrior
  • Lich - Witch
  • Tactician - Mercenary

Dawn of the Hunt League Mechanic

• Azmerian Wisps
• Talismans

Endgame Improvements

• 7 New Endgame Maps
• • Simplex Amulet / Helical Rings
• Tower & Tablet Improvements
• Unique Tablets
• 6 Portal System Reintroduced
• Atlas Passive Tree Revamp
• Cleanse the Corruption!
• • Corrupted Maps & Bosses
  • Cleansed Maps & Bosses
  • Fracturing Orbs Added!

Player Highlights

• 25 New Skills
• 100+ New Support Gems
• 100+ New Unique Items

Other Additions

• Enzomyte Rune Revamp
• Rogue Exiles
• Unique Strongboxes
• Corrupt Essences
• Recombination Crafting System added to Expedition
• Twilight Reliquary Keys
• New Supporter Packs

Link to full Huntress Overview

The Huntress is a new class coming to 0.2.0, and with it, comes a new base weapon type: Spears. The Huntress has a very similar vibe to the Monk, but rather than melee mobility, she specializes in a mixture of both melee and ranged.

Below you can see the two Ascendancy Classes for the Huntress.

The Ritualist

"Embrace the dark side of Azmeri tradition by harnessing the power of animal sacrifice and plague."

The Amazon

"Trained as an elite guard to the most important Azmeri Elders, The Amazon will use more traditional fighting techniques, mastered to perfection."

Ascendancy Skills

Lich - Witch

"Witch players can join their legion by becoming undead themselves...a master of chaos and curses."

Smith of Kitava - Warrior

"Take your smithing skills to new heights by embracing power from the insatiable one himself, Kitava."

Tactician - Mercenary

"Free from the duties of a Blackguard, ..., use his training to decimate the monsters of Wraeclast."

Azmerian Wisps are the new league mechanic coming in Dawn of the Hunt. These Wisps will appear throughout the campaign and endgame. As the wisp travels through monsters, it empowers them.

Talismans

Defeat these empowered monsters for rewards such as Talismans, which are new and powerful socketable items.

7 New Endgame Maps

New Endgame Maps have been added with special rewards upon completion. Such as the Gloam Amulet, a base type that changes the prefix/suffix modifier rules.

Tower & Tablet Improvements

Many changes have been made to streamline Endgame Atlas experience.

• 1/3rd as many Towers as before
• Towers can have all map content including Bosses
• Tablets are stronger and affect more maps
• Towers can consume multiple Tablets
• Unique Tablets added

6 Portal System Reintroduced

Maps now have 6 portals again, so dying does not lose progression immediately.

As a map gains modifiers, the amount of portals decreases. As you progress to Rare Maps, the amount of portals will naturally go back to 2/1.

Pinnacle XP Change

Pinnacle Bosses no longer grant XP, and players no longer lose XP when dying to a Pinnacle Boss.

Atlas Passive Tree Revamp

The Atlas Passive Tree has been revamped, with many more nodes/options to explore. Players can now get up to 10 more points on the tree as well.

Cleanse the Corruption!

The endgame now has a bit more to it for the lore. The atlas will include Corrupted Maps (already existed in 0.1.0) and a Corrupted Nexus. Clearing the Corrupted Nexus (boss fight) will turn the Corrupted Maps around it into Cleansed Maps.

Both of these map types provide different rewards, have different monsters, and a new boss. Choose how you wish to progress.

Fracturing Orbs

For example, Fracturing Orbs can drop from Cleansed enemies!

"Fracture a random modifier on a Rare Item with at least 4 modifiers, locking it in place."

A Fractured Modifier cannot be changed through other crafting means, making it a very powerful tool for crafting powerful items.

Dawn of the Hunt is releasing a ton of new gems and items for players to build their characters.

• 25 New Skill Gems
• 100+ New Support Gems
• 100+ New Unique Items

Enzomyte Rune Revamp

Runes now have Lesser, (regular), and Greater versions, allowing for more progression variety.

Rogue Exiles

Rogue Exiles have been introduced. These exiles will drop their equipment upon defeat, including Unique items you can see them wearing.

Unique Strongboxes

Added Unique Strongboxes with unique rewards and challenges.

Corrupt Essences

You can now Corrupt Trapped Essences in maps for a random outcome. They sometimes may turn into a Corrupted Essence, each with unique effects. (There are 4 Corrupted Essences)

Recombination Crafting System

Recombination has been added to the Expedition mechanic. Use Artifacts to recombine items, hoping to get the best affixes of both into one item.

Twilight Reliquary Keys

Reliquary Keys from the Early Access Supporter Packs have been added to the game.