Path of Exile 2 is a deeply intricate game, offering players a vast array of skills, items, and customization options to tailor their characters precisely to their preferences. Just when you think you've mastered these elements and fully explored your character's potential, the game presents another layer of complexity: choosing an Ascendancy Class!
Currently, in the early access phase of PoE2, each class features two progression paths, with a third path to be added by the full release. Let's delve into the existing Ascendancies!
For guidance on selecting the optimal starting build, be sure to check out our related article.
Image: ensigame.com
Table of Contents
- Witch Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
- Infernalist
- Blood Mage
- Sorcerer Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
- Stormweaver
- Chronomancer
- Warrior Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
- Warbringer
- Titan
- Monk Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
- Invoker
- Acolyte of Chayula
- Mercenary Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
- Witchhunter
- Gemling Legionnaire
- Ranger Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
- Deadeye
- Pathfinder
Witch Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
Infernalist
The Infernalist stands out as one of the most powerful Witches in the game, boasting an extensive arsenal of fire spells. For fans of summoning minions early on, the Infernalist offers a thrilling new skill: the Infernal Hound, a direct summon from the underworld to bolster your forces.
Ever fantasized about becoming a hellish beast? The Infernalist makes this dream a reality. By transforming into a demonic form, the Witch not only boosts her attack damage and mobility but also faces the challenge of quicker health depletion. To mitigate this, the Loyal Hellhound skill becomes crucial. Additionally, Beidat's Will ties Spirit to maximum HP, urging players to prioritize this stat alongside Strength. This investment allows you to command a formidable army of the undead!
Image: ensigame.com
Blood Mage
While not as balanced or popular as the Infernalist, the Blood Mage offers a uniquely engaging playstyle. With Sanguimancy, you'll tread the fine line between life and death, using HP instead of MP. This shift demands a careful balance to avoid fatal recklessness.
To counteract the risk, Vitality Siphon and Life Remnants allow you to drain health from foes. Sunder the Flesh enhances critical hit chances for triggering buffs, and Gore Spike amplifies attack damage.
Image: ensigame.com
Sorcerer Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
Stormweaver
The Stormweaver Sorcerer excels in dealing massive elemental damage, often with high critical hit chances that trigger Elemental Storm via Tempest Caller. A core aspect of the Stormweaver's strategy involves inflicting status ailments on enemies, facilitated by the passive skill Strike Twice. Utilizing Spirit Gems, the hero can amplify elemental attack damage against groups of negatively affected enemies.
Constant Gale and Force of Will enhance spell casting speed and MP regeneration, essential for a magic-heavy playstyle. The Heart of the Storm node significantly boosts survivability by converting part of Elemental Damage into an Energy Shield, ensuring the character can withstand multiple attacks.
Image: ensigame.com
Chronomancer
The Chronomancer introduces a unique class not seen in the original Path of Exile, manipulating time to control the flow of battle. This innovative approach opens up new possibilities for combos and strategic play with exclusive spells like Temporal Rift and Time Freeze.
Although currently not the strongest Sorcerer Ascendancy, the Chronomancer holds significant potential. Time manipulation abilities such as Now and Again, which offers a chance to avoid cooldowns, Apex of the Moment, which slows nearby monsters, and Quicksand Hourglass, which increases magic creation speed, are among the class's key features.
Image: ensigame.com
Warrior Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
Warbringer
The Warbringer combines war cries with totem summons to excel in close combat, aiming to maximize melee damage. This strategy proves effective even against bosses, as totems can distract and absorb damage intended for the hero.
Enhance armor penetration with Imploding Impacts and Anvil’s Weight for improved effectiveness. Warcaller’s Bellow causes enemy corpses to explode upon using a Warcry, and Greatwolf’s Howl removes Warcry cooldowns. For a defensive approach, Renly’s Training and Turtle Charm bolster shield and blocking capabilities.
Image: ensigame.com
Titan
Prefer a more controlled, less risky combat style? The Titan path is ideal. With powerful, slow attacks, Titans paralyze foes, forcing them to break through substantial armor before inflicting damage. Stone Skin enhances defensive gear by 50%, while Mysterious Lineage increases max HP by 15%, further boosting survivability.
Titans aren't just defensive fortresses; they also deal significant damage. Unlike Warbringers, they possess unique offensive abilities: Earthbreaker and Ancestral Empowerment strengthen Slam abilities, and Surprising Strength increases damage against stunned enemies by 40%.
Image: ensigame.com
Monk Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
Invoker
The Invoker enables Monks to harness elemental power, providing access to potent abilities and status-enhancing effects. This melee-focused class leverages elemental damage and status effects to decimate enemies and trigger powerful effects. The ability to use Power Charges to enhance skills adds strategic depth to the class.
Image: ensigame.com
Acolyte of Chayula
The Acolyte of Chayula has embraced Darkness, gaining control over dark forces bestowed by Chayula. By using the Embrace the Darkness skill, you can forgo the Spirit resource entirely, increasing the maximum Darkness to 100 and significantly enhancing survivability.
To further bolster defenses, Consuming Questions can be paired with Mana Leech. However, be cautious, as this setup eliminates the Energy Shield’s cooldown, relying solely on MP drain, which is currently inefficient. Until this issue is resolved, the Acolyte remains less effective than the Invoker.
Image: ensigame.com
Mercenary Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
Witchhunter
The Witchhunter is one of the strongest classes in the current game version, excelling in hunting and quickly dispatching demons and the undead. With increased damage on both initial and final hits, the Witchhunter efficiently clears weaker foes. Against bosses, passive skills like Pitiless Killer, Damage vs Low Life Enemies, and Judge, Jury, and Executioner can be crucial for securing victory.
Witchbane and No Mercy facilitate a playstyle focused on reducing enemy concentration and dealing increased damage. The Zealous Inquisition node reflects the Witchhunter’s deep-seated hatred for demons and the undead, with a 10% chance to make slain enemies explode, damaging nearby foes.
Image: ensigame.com
Gemling Legionnaire
The Gemling Legionnaire's gameplay revolves around gems, focusing not just on their stats and quality but also their color. Thaumaturgical Infusion increases resistances based on the number of equipped stones of a specific color, while Crystalline Potential and Implanted Gems enhance all skill levels.
Advanced Thaumaturgy reduces skill costs and attribute requirements, similar to Adaptive Capability. Integrated Efficiency expands the active skill arsenal by three additional slots, and Gem Studded allows the use of two identical Support stones, offering vast potential for experimentation and powerful builds.
Image: ensigame.com
Ranger Ascendancy Classes in PoE2
Deadeye
The Deadeye follows a familiar gameplay style for ranged combat enthusiasts. Unique passive skills increase effective attack range and enhance damage output. Endless Munitions allows you to fire an additional projectile per skill use, ideal for clearing entire screens of enemies.
This path is perfect for those who prefer traditional bows over modern crossbows and aim to focus on elemental damage. Increased movement speed, extra projectiles, and an additional Mark will prove invaluable.
Image: ensigame.com
Pathfinder
If green is your favorite color, the Pathfinder is your ideal choice. As a master of poisoning, this class efficiently drains enemies' health, doubling the effectiveness of poison. The passive skill Overwhelming Toxicity doubles the Poison applied to enemies but shortens the debuff duration.
Be cautious! The Pathfinder's signature weapon, the gas grenade, combined with high movement speed and slow resistance, allows you to quickly blanket the battlefield in toxic mist. If you enjoy poison mechanics and unique gameplay, this path is definitely for you!
Image: ensigame.com
Remember, we've only covered twelve of the planned thirty-six Ascendancy Classes. As PoE2 progresses through early access, these are the currently available specialization paths for your characters. More will be added over time! Additionally, future game updates may introduce changes to passive skills, meaning the details in this guide may differ from the final version.
