In Path of Exile, each class gains power through Skill Gems, equipment, and several skill trees that intertwine to empower the player. The series' iconic (and enormous) Passive Skill Tree returns alongside another mainstay of the original Path of Exile: Ascendancy classes. These PoE 2 Ascendancy classes upon each base class by offering dramatically powerful or useful abilities through Ascendancy Nodes.
Path of Exile 2: All Early Access Supporter Packs & Rewards
There are six Path of Exile 2 Early Access Supporter Packs players can buy to gain access to the PoE 2 EA.
As of the Early Access release of Path of Exile 2, Ascendancy is limited to two per class – and on launch, there were six classes. This makes for a huge variety of class Ascendancies Path of Exile 2 players can build towards, each of which offers completely different gameplay with unique Ascendancy nodes that grant game-changing Passive and Active abilities as well as mechanics wholly unique to each Ascendancy.
This list of all Path of Exile 2 class Ascendancies will be updated throughout the PoE 2 Early Access as more classes and Ascendancy classes are added to the game.
Updated April 8, 2025 by Erik Petrovich: With the release of the Dawn of the Hunt patch, there are five new Ascendancy classes Path of Exile 2 players can pick up. Three of these are for classes that already exist in the game – the Lich for the Witch, the Smith of Katava for the Warrior, and the Tactician for the Mercenary. Two of these are tied to the new Dawn of the Hunt class, Huntress, including the Ritualist and the Amazon Ascendancy classes. This guide to all PoE 2 Ascandancies has been updated to include these new Dawn of the Hunt Ascendancy options, alongside notable Ascension Tree nodes for each new Ascendancy that grant each class powerful passive (and, sometimes, active) abilities.
All Huntress Ascensions in PoE 2
The Ritualist
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Unfurled Finger |
+1 extra Ring slot |
|
Mystic Attunement |
25% increased bonuses from equipped Rings and Amulets |
|
Wildwood Persistence |
Increases Life Recovery rate by 3% for every 5% missing Max Life |
|
Intricate Sigils |
+1 extra Charm slot Gain 20% more Charm Charges |
|
Mind Phylacteries |
Can use 25% of Max Mana to trigger Charms if your Charm does not have enough charges |
|
As the Whispers Ask |
Grants the Ritual Sacrifice skill, which lets the Huntress sacrifice a Rare monster to steal its modifiers |
|
As the Whispers Demand |
Ritual Sacrifice can be used on yourself to remove 20% of Max Life and gain one random Monster modifier |
|
Corrupted Lifeforce |
Grants the Blood Boil skill, which lets the Huntress automatically summon Blood Boils on nearby enemies that explode on death |
The Amazon
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Critical Strike |
Chance to hit with Attacks can go over 100% Gain Crit Chance equal to 25% of your excess Hit Chance |
|
Penetrate |
Attacks with Weapons gain Physical Damage equal to 25% of the Accuracy Rating on that weapon |
|
Predatory Instinct |
Reveals Weaknesses against Rare and Unique enemies Attacks against enemies with an Open Weakness deal 50% extra damage |
|
In for the Kill |
Gain 20% Movement Speed and 40% Skill Speed when nearby an enemy with an Open Weakness |
|
Elemental Infusion |
Grants the Infuse Weapon skill, which lets you consume Power Charges (Cold), Endurance Charges (Fire) and Frenzy Charges (Lightning) to infuse your weapon with elemental damage |
|
Infused Avatar |
50% chance to not consume an Infusion when used on a projectile weapon |
|
Stalking Panther |
Evasion Rating from Body Armor is halved, but Evasion Rating from Helmet, Gloves, and Boots is doubled |
|
Mystic Harvest |
Life Leech recovers Life based on your Elemental and Physical damage |
|
Azmeri Brew |
Life Flasks also recover Mana, and Mana Flasks also recover Life |
PoE 2 Mercenary Ascensions
Gemling Legionnaire
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Crystalline Potential |
+10% to Quality of all Skills |
|
Implanted Gems |
+1 to Level of all Skills |
|
Advanced Thaumaturgy |
30% less Cost for all Skills Skill Gems gain 30% more Attribute Requirements |
|
Integrated Efficiency |
Grants +3 Skill Points |
|
Gem Studded |
You can use two copies of the same Support Gem in two different Skills |
|
Thaumaturgical Infusion |
+1% to Max Cold Resist for every 4 Blue Support Gems socketed +1% to Max Fire Resist for every 4 Blue Support Gems socketed +1% to Max Lightning Resist for every 4 Blue Support Gems socketed |
|
Adaptive Capability |
Attribute Requirements for Gems can be satisfied by your highest Attribute |
|
Enhanced Effectiveness |
Inherent bonuses from Intelligence, Strength, and Dexterity are doubled |
The Tactician
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
A Solid Plan |
Persistent Buffs use 50% less Spirit Reservation |
|
Watch How I Do It |
Nearby Allies gain extra Attack Damage equal to 25% of your main Weapon's damage |
|
Whoever Pays Best |
Can place multiple Banners |
|
Suppressing Fire |
|
|
Right Where We Want Them |
Pinned Enemies cannot perform Actions |
|
Polish That Gear |
Gain 100% of Armor as Stun Threshold, and 100% of Evasion Rating as Ailment Threshold |
|
Stay Light, Use Cover |
Defend with 200% of your normal Armor. Enemies gain an Accuracy Penalty based on distance Maximum Evade Change and Physical Damage Reduction becomes 50% |
|
Unleash Hell! |
Grants the Supporting Fire skill, which lets the Mercenary the ability to summon a rain of arrows in an AoE area |
|
Cannons, Ready! |
Totems gain 30% Skill Speed, and only use skills when you fire a Projectile |
Witchhunter
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Weapon Master |
20 Passive Skill Points become Weapon Set Skill Points |
|
Pitiless Killer |
Grants the |
|
Judge, Jury, and Executioner |
Grants the Decimating Strike ability |
|
Witchbane |
Unlocks the Concentration mechanic Enemies have Max Concentration equal to 40% Max Life Enemy Concentration depletes at a rate of 100% Damage Dealt, lowering Cooldown recovery Enemies gain Concentration back over time after 5 seconds |
|
No Mercy |
Deal up to 30% more Damage to enemies based on their missing Concentration |
|
Obsessive Rituals |
Grants Sorcery Ward, but reduces Armor and Evasion by 50% |
|
Ceremonial Ablution |
Empowers Sorcery Ward by 50% and reduces Sorcery Ward recovery time by 50% |
|
Zealous Inquisition |
10% chance for enemies you kill to Explode, dealing their Max Life as damage Chance doubled against Undead and Demons |
Path of Exile 2: How To Equip Support Gems
In Path of Exile 2, Support Gems work a bit differently than they did back in PoE 1.
PoE 2 Monk Ascensions
Acolyte of Chayula
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Ravenous Doubts |
Mana Leech becomes an Instant skill |
|
Consuming Questions |
Mana Leech also recovers Energy Shield, but it does not recharge normally |
|
Chayula's Gift |
+10% Max Chaos Resistance Doubles Chaos Resistance |
|
Reality Rending |
23% chance to gain 25% extra Chaos Damage with hits 13% chance to gain 50% extra Chaos Damage with hits 7% chance to gain 100% extra Chaos Damage with hits |
|
Waking Dream |
Grants the Into The Breach skill, granting Breach status in non-Breach zones |
|
Lucid Dreaming |
Flames of Chayula duration is doubled |
|
Embrace the Darkness |
Replaces Spirit with Darkness, which is Reserved at a 1:1 ratio instead of taking damage to your Life (if possible) |
|
Grasp of the Void |
Gain 1% damage as extra Chaos Damage for every 20 Unreserved Darkness |
|
Inner Silence |
Darkness Reservation duration reduced by 50% |
Invoker
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Lead me through Grace... |
Gain 1 Spirit for every 6 Energy Shield on Body Armor Gain 1 Spirit for every 15 Evasion on Body Armor Removes ability to gain Spirit from Equipment normally |
|
...and Protect me from Harm |
Evasion also grants Physical Damage Reduction Reduces Evasion by 40% |
|
Faith is a Choice |
Grants the Meditate skill, allowing you to |
|
I am the Blizzard... |
Gain extra 10% of damage as Cold Damage Create Freezing Ground when attacking Freezing enemies |
|
...and I Shall Rage |
Grants the Unbound Avatar skill, allowing you to become temporarily massively empowered |
|
The Soul Springs Eternal |
Gain 35% more Energy from Meta Skills |
|
Sunder my Enemies... |
Critical Hits ignore non-negative enemy Elemental Resistances |
|
...and Scatter Them to the Winds |
Grants the Elemental Expression skill, which triggers a massive elemental explosion with melee Critical Hits |
PoE 2 Ranger Ascensions
Deadeye
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Avidity |
30% chance that if you gain Frenzy Charges, you instead gain up to your maximum number of Frenzy Charges |
|
Thrilling Chase |
Benefits from consuming Frenzy Charges for your skills have a 5% chance to be doubled |
|
Eagle Eyes |
You have no Accuracy Penalty while at a distance |
|
Specialization: Far Shot |
Projectiles deal more damage after traveling for 3.5 m, scaling up to 20% after 7m |
|
Specialization: Point Blank |
Projectiles deal up to 20% more damage before traveling for 3.5m, scaling down to 0% bonus to enemies beyond 7m |
|
Endless Munitions |
Skills fire an additional Projectile |
|
Called Shots |
You can apply an additional Mark |
|
Gathering Winds |
Gain Tailwind on Skill use, which stacks to grant increased Movement Speed and Skill Speed, but lose all stacks upon being hit |
|
Wind Ward |
Take 3% less damage per Tailwind stack |
Path of Exile 2: How To Upgrade Item Rarity
To upgrade Item Rarity, Path of Exile 2 players must use one of two specific PoE 2 upgrade currencies.
Pathfinder
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Connected Chemistry |
|
|
Enduring Elixirs |
Life Flask Effects are not removed when Unreserved Life is Filled Life Flask Effects do not Queue |
|
Contagious Contamination |
The most Damaging Poison on Enemies you Kill is Spread to other Enemies within 1.5 meters |
|
Overwhelming Toxicity |
Double the number of Poisons you can inflict on Enemies 35% less Poison Duration |
|
Brew Concoction |
Grants the Ranger the ability to brew one of five concoctions, which use Mana Flask charges to create thrown weapons Poisonous Concoction: Chaos damage & Poison effect Fulminating Concoction: Lightning damage & Shattering Concoction: Cold damage & Explosive Concoction: Explosive/Fire damage & Bleeding Concoction: Physical damage & Bleed effect |
|
Traveller's Wisdom |
Grants 5 Passive Skill Points |
|
Running Assault |
30% less Movement Speed Penalty when using Skills while moving |
|
Relentless Pursuit |
Your speed is unaffected by Slows |
PoE 2 Sorceress Ascensions
Chronomancer
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Now and Again |
All Skills have a 33% chance to not consume a Cooldown when used |
|
Unbound Encore |
Grants the Time Snap skill, which resets the cooldown of other Skills |
|
Ultimate Command |
Grants the Time Freeze skill, which freeze all enemies in place in a large area |
|
Footprints in the Sand |
Grants the Temporal Rift skill, which lets you return to a prior location with the Life and Mana you had at the time |
|
Quicksand Hourglass |
Every 12 sec, gain 50% bonus Cast Speed for 4 sec |
|
Apex of the Moment |
Enemies in your nearby Presence are Slowed by 20% |
|
Circular Heartbeat |
30% of all damage taken Recouped as Life |
|
The Rapid River |
Recoup Effects instead occur over 4 sec |
Stormweaver
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Scouring Winds |
All elemental Exposure you inflict lowers the affected Resistance by an additional 20% |
|
Tempest Caller |
Grants the Elemental Storm skill, which lets you create a storm on a location that deals Elemental damage Trigger Elemental Storm on Critical Hits with all Spells |
|
Rain Dancer |
Elemental Storm has a 150% faster Cooldown recovery rate |
|
Heavy Snows |
Targets can be affected by your Chills at the same time Your Chills can reduce all affected enemy Action Speed by up to 35% 25% less Magnitude of Chill when inflicted |
|
Shaper of Water |
All Damage from Hits Contributes to Chill Magnitude |
|
Strike Twice |
Targets can be affected by two of your Shocks at the same time 50% less Shock effect duration |
|
Shaper of Storms |
All Damage from all Hits contributes to Shock Chance |
|
Constant Gale |
Grants the |
|
Force of Will |
1% increased effect of Arcane Surge for every 15 maximum Mana |
|
Heart of the Storm |
40% of Elemental Damage taken is Recouped in your Energy Shield |
Path of Exile 2: Burning Questions, Answered
This list compiles more than a dozen commonly-asked questions and answers about the upcoming ARPG Path of Exile 2.
PoE 2 Warrior Ascensions
Smith of Katava
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Heat of the Forge |
Grants the Fire Spell On Hit skill |
|
Coal Stoker |
Modifiers to Fire Resistance also grant 50% of their value to Cold and Lightning Resistance |
|
Forged in Flame |
Modifiers to Max Fire Resistance also grant Max Cold and Lightning Resistance |
|
Against the Anvil |
Grants the Temper Weapon skill, which allows the Warrior to smith their weapon and grant it Combust damage on the next few hits |
|
Living Weapon |
Grants the Manifest Weapon skill, which allows the Warrior to summon a copy of their currently-equipped weapon to fight alongside |
|
Smith's Masterwork |
Can only use Normal Body Armor, but also unlocks access to 12 unique Smith of Katava skills that will enhance Normal Body Armor in various ways |
Titan
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Stone Skin |
50% more Armor from equipped Body Armour |
|
Earthbreaker |
20% chance for Slam Skills you use yourself to cause Aftershocks |
|
Ancestral Empowerment |
Every second Slam Skill you use yourself is Ancestrally Boosted |
|
Colossal Capacity |
Carry a chest which adds 20 Inventory slots |
|
Hulking Form |
50% increased effect of small Passive Skill Tree skills |
|
Crushing Impacts |
All Hits become Crushing Blows |
|
Surprising Strength |
40% boosted Damage against Heavy Stunned enemies |
|
Mysterious Lineage |
15% boost to Maximum Life |
Warbringer
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Anvil's Weight |
Break Armor equal to 10% of Hit damage dealt |
|
Imploding Impacts |
Enemy Armor can be broken below 0, increasing damage taken |
|
Jade Heritage |
Grants the Encase in Jade skill, protecting the player from all damage but completely restricting movement |
|
Answered Call |
Grants the Ancestral Spirits skill, summoning an Ancestral Spirit minion whenever you summon a Totem If the Totem is destroyed, the minion is de-spawned |
|
Wooden Wall |
20% of damage from Hits is taken from your nearest Totem's Life before your own Life |
|
Renly's Training |
Gain 40% of your base chance to Block from equipped Shields instead of the Shield's intrinsic value |
|
Turtle Charm |
Reduce Block Chance by 35%, but you can Block without a Shield raised |
|
Warcaller's Bellow |
Corpses in your Presence Explode when you use a Warcry, dealing 25% of their Max Life as Physical damage |
|
Greatwolf's Howl |
Completely remove all Warcry cooldowns |
PoE 2 Witch Ascensions
Blood Mage
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Sanguimancy |
Grants the Life Remnants skill, allowing you to restore Life from enemies and spawn Life Remnants Life Remnants restore Life and can Overflow your Max Life total |
|
Vitality Siphon |
Leech 10% of Spell Damage as Life |
|
Open Sores |
Your Curses have an infinite duration |
|
Blood Barbs |
Gain 10% of damage as extra Physical damage Elemental damage also contributes to Bleeding strength |
|
Gore Spike |
1% increased Critical Damage Bonus for every 40 Max Life |
|
Sunder the Flesh |
Base Critical Hit Chance for Spells becomes 15% |
|
Grasping Wounds |
25% of Life loss from Hits is instead spread out over 4 sec |
|
Crimson Power |
Your Body Armor's Energy Shield rating contributes to your Max Life |
Path Of Exile: Best Classes For Beginners
Newcomers to Path of Exile should consider selecting the following classes to begin with, as they are the most beginner-friendly of them all.
Infernalist
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Altered Flesh |
20% of Cold Damage taken as Fire Damage instead 20% of Lightning Damage taken as Fire Damage instead 20% of Physical damage is as Chaos Damage instead |
|
Beidat's Gaze |
Reserves 25% of Life +1 Max Mana for every 6 Max Life you have |
|
Beidat's Will |
Reserves 25% of Life +1 to Max Spirit for every 25 Max Life you have |
|
Beidat's Hand |
Reserves 25% of Life +1 to Max Energy Shield for every 8 Max Life you have |
|
Demonic Possession |
Grants the Demon Form skill, unlocking the ability to shapeshift into a Demon and empower your spells Depletes over time as you accumulate Demonflame, until your Life reaches 1 |
|
Mastered Darkness |
Max Demonflame increased to 10 |
|
Pyromantic Pact |
Replace Mana with Infernal Flame, and assign an Infernal Flame cost for every Skill that would use Mana Casting Skills builds up your Infernal Flame meter instead of depleting Mana Take devastating damage when Infernal Flame reaches its maximum |
|
Bringer of Flame |
While not on Low Infernal Flame, all damage from you and Allies in your nearby Presence contributes to Ignite Chance |
|
Seething Body |
While on High Infernal Flame, you and all nearby Allies in your presence gain 20% of damage as Fire Damage |
|
Loyal Hellhound |
Grants the ability to summon an Infernal Hound minion, which takes 20% of your incoming damage, ignites enemies, and revives itself |
|
Grinning Immolation |
Ignite when you deal a Critical Hit, taking 15% Life and Energy Shield as Fire Damage every second, but granting +30% Critical damage |
The Lich
|
Notable Nodes |
Effects |
|---|---|
|
Necromantic Conduit |
Grants Unholy Might to you and nearby Allies while you do not have Low Mana Saps 5% Mana every second |
|
Dominion over Flesh |
You can apply an additional Curse, and Curses can affect Hexproof enemies |
|
Rupture the Soul |
Cursed enemies you kill have a 33% chance to explode and deal 25% of their Max Life as Chaos Damage |
|
Blackened Heart |
Magnitude of Unholy Might buggs increased by 4% per 100 Max Mana |
|
Eldritch Empowerment |
Non-Channeling Spells cost 3% Max Energy Shield, but deal 30% more damage Spending Energy Shield does not interrupt its Recharge |
|
Crystalline Phylactery |
Can use this to socket one non-Unique Jewel Doubles the effect of the socketed Jewel, but costs 50% more Mana if you do not have any Energy Shield |
|
Price of Power |
Non-Channeling Spells can use Power Charges to increase damage by 25% |
|
Soulless Form |
10% of incoming Damage bypasses your Energy Shield Base Mana Regeneration is removed, instead, regenerate Mana equal to 6% of your Max Life per second |
|
Eternal Life |
Your Life total cannot change while you have an Energy Shield |
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Nudity, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Language, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)
- Developer(s)
- Grinding Gear Games
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Franchise
- Path of Exile
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash, MMORPG
Culling Strike
Overcharge
Lightning Exposure
Cold Exposure
Fire Exposure
Arcane Surge