Looking for the best Ascendancy classes in Path of Exile 2? Choosing your character’s Ascendancy is just as important as choosing their base class. You should see Ascendancy as a class specialisation - a subclass, if you will. By unlocking an Ascendancy, you gain unique, powerful, and highly specialised abilities.
While Path of Exile 2 remains in Early Access, you can choose between two Ascendancies per class (12 in total). When you reach Act 2 of the campaign, you gain access to the first Ascendancy trial: the Trial of the Sekhemas. Complete this trial to obtain your first two Ascendancy points, which you may spend on your chosen Ascendancy’s skill tree. You’ll be able to gain more Ascendancy points in the Trial of Chaos when you reach Act 3.
Once you’ve chosen, you won’t be able to change your Ascendancy. It goes without saying that you should choose your Ascendancy carefully, as it will greatly affect your playstyle and build options. To help you make that decision, here’s an overview of the best Ascendancy classes in Path of Exile 2.
]]>At any given moment I am in the center of a wonderful vortex of skeletons. Bones splash and rattle and burst out of the ground in sharp, horrible spurs. My weakest skeletons, sensing their death coming, explode into fire and shards. My strongest skeletons fight so hard and with such alacrity that upon dying, they drag their spirits together and keep fighting as ghosts for a while. Foul little bone scorpions skitter around on fans of legs made from human hands. Somewhere in the middle, almost invisible among the noise, is the character I am actually playing: Path of Exile 2’s mean-spirited, callous, and gleefully enjoyable Witch.
This is a review in progress. It has to be. Even in its incomplete early access period, Path of Exile 2 is a great sprawling mass of a game. Three meaty acts of a planned six act campaign are followed by a trickier return tour through them, before the absurd endgame kicks into gear and the real work begins. If I came to you having played everything on offer I would be wild-haired, bloodshot-eyed and possessing perfect, incomprehensible knowledge. Let’s compromise: I have toured the dark caverns and the antediluvian crypts. I have been killed by various accumulated nasties. I’ve had a great time.
]]>Wondering how to complete the Trial of Chaos in Path of Exile 2? As you level your character in Path of Exile 2, you will unlock 'Ascendancy' trials that allow you to choose a specialized Ascendancy class for your character, complete with powerful new abilities. One such Ascendancy Trial is the Trial of Chaos, which takes place in the Temple of Chaos in Act 3.
Beware that the Trial of Chaos is notoriously difficult, so it's important to know what you're getting into. In this guide, we'll show you how to complete the Trial of Chaos in Path of Exile 2 and progress your character's Ascendancy.
]]>Looking for the best Ranger build in Path of Exile 2? The Ranger is a highly capable straight shooter in Path of Exile 2 with the ability to perform well with both regular bows and crossbows. She's quite similar to the Mercenary, who's more of a demolitions specialist, but she has greater Dexterity and elemental capabilities at the end of the day.
Playing well as the Ranger means becoming the best ranged specialist possible and maintaining the balance between solid damage and good mobility. In this guide we'll dive into the best Ranger build for Path of Exile 2's Early Access, focusing on the Deadeye Ascendancy for a truly unlimited projectile spree that'll deliver high DPS numbers like nothing else.
]]>Looking for the best Warrior build in Path of Exile 2? So you've chosen the massive mace-slamming warrior for your next Path of Exile 2 build; now it's time to get him a proper Warcry and maximise his already impressive area-of-effect damage. With the right loadout, the Warrior reaches a peak damage number that'll make even the toughest bosses shudder with fear.
As one of the best classes for beginners, the Warrior is a relatively straightforward melee fighter with reliable defensive abilities. In this guide, which focuses on the Warbringer Ascendancy, we'll show you the best build for the Warrior in Path of Exile 2 and how to enhance your damage with armour-breaking effects and the best skill and support gems.
]]>Looking for the best Mercenary build in Path of Exile 2? The Mercenary is a new class in Path of Exile 2 that shares some initial similarities with the Ranger in that they both use ranged weapons. But while the Ranger relies on bow strikes, the Mercenary is all about rapidfire tactics with his crossbow, which can shoot a speedy seven bolts prior to reloading as well as some really big explosives.
The Mercenary requires you to position yourself well and deal with the obstacle of reloading. If you can master this, though, the class is a lot of fun, and a wee bit better when it comes to ranged chaos than the Ranger in my book. In this guide we'll give an explanation of the best Mercenary build for Path of Exile 2's Early Access, with an eye towards loading grenades and using them to deal brain-shattering damage to all mobs and bosses in your path.
]]>Looking for the best Monk build in Path of Exile 2? Relying on massive elemental damage, elemental ailment afflictions, and powerful melee attacks, the best Monk build can turn this quarterstaff-wielder into an evasive crowd-controlling warrior. All it takes is an oversized bell and very low temperatures.
It may not be one of the best classes for beginners, but the Monk can become a powerhouse of elemental damage with the right abilities. After a tough first Act, the Monk will unlock more and more overpowered skills that allow him to crowd-control even the toughest bosses. In this guide, we'll show you the best Monk build in Path of Exile 2, focusing on the Invoker Ascendancy.
]]>Looking for the best Sorceress build in Path of Exile 2? The Sorceress is the strongest spellcaster in Path of Exile 2, emphasising elemental magic that sparks, sizzles, and freezes enemies. While relatively vulnerable at the onset of the game, with a little bit of time and care, the Sorceress has the potential to fill the screen with explosive spells of truly magnificent scale.
Builds for the Sorceress are highly dependent on which form of elemental magic that you prefer - lightning, fire, or ice. Chances are you'll either focus purely on one of these or mix and match two of them. In this guide we'll give an explanation of the best Witch build for Path of Exile 2's Early Access, with an eye towards figuring out the right elemental blend to keep you alive, especially in the game's early Acts.
]]>Looking for Act Two bosses in Path of Exile 2? If you thought Act One was tough, brace yourself for the abominations that await in Act Two. Just like the first act of the campaign, some Act Two bosses are optional and therefore missable. If you want as many rewards as you can get, including Skill Gems and extra passive skill points, be sure to pay them a visit.
]]>Looking for all Act One bosses in Path of Exile 2? There's certainly no shortage of Path of Exile 2 bosses in the first part of the campaign, but some of them are easy to miss. Although the mandatory bosses won't let you pass without a fight, the many optional ones are hiding in huts, caves, or dark corners of the map.
It's best to defeat all Path of Exile 2 bosses in Act One, as most of them drop Skill Gems, Support Gems, or permanent character buffs. To make sure you don't miss any loot, here's a full list of bosses complete with their location. Happy hunting!
]]>Looking for the best Witch build in Path of Exile 2? As the Witch, you'll raise skeletal minions to subdue all enemies in Path of Exile 2. The Witch serves as the only class in the game that starts with a small army at her disposal, and this army will only grow in size and power with every level.
Maximising the Witch's potential, then, is a delicate act of amplifying your minions as much as possible while ensuring that they're hardy enough to do their job as meat (or rather, bone) shields. In this guide we'll give an explanation of the best Witch build for Path of Exile 2's Early Access, breaking down the most useful skills and support gems to raise hell.
]]>Back when I played Path Of Exile 2 at Summer Games Fest, I fought a cave-dwelling boss who summoned hordes of grotty subterranean wildlife to swamp me. Fortunately, I was rolling a Witch - perhaps the best beginner POE2 class - so I could summon an army of skeletons in response. A similar horde vs horde encounter is underway at POE 2 developers Grinding Gear Games. The game launched in early access over the weekend, and has already drawn so many players that the developers are emergency-hiring additional staff to cope with the waves of support emails.
]]>Curious about the Path of Exile 2 game modes and endgame? Before jumping into the campaign, you'll have to choose a game mode, a.k.a. a Path of Exile League. Different Leagues come with different difficulty levels and social options, so it's important to know what you're getting into. Pick the best option to help you reach endgame, and when you do, you'll be able to dive into various endgame modes such as the Breach and Delirium challenges.
]]>Trying to figure out how to complete the Trial of the Sekhemas in Path of Exile 2? As you progress through Path of Exile 2, you'll soon feel the need to Ascend and take your character class to the next level. This can be done via the Trial of Sekhemas, one of the Ascendancy Trials included in Path of Exile 2's Early Access. Completing this trial will let you unlock new abilities for your class, but it won't be easy, and requires you to step off the beaten path of the campaign and survive a gauntlet of fierce challenges.
In this guide we'll explain exactly what you need to do to complete the Trial of the Sekhemas in Path of Exile 2 and put your character on the path to unlocking their Ascendancy class.
]]>Wondering how to use Skill Gems in Path of Exile 2? Both Uncut Skill Gems and Uncut Support Gems are essential items if you want to unlock more abilities in Path of Exile 2. As the names suggest, Uncut Skill Gems can be turned into skills, while Uncut Support Gems are used to upgrade those skills. To get them, you'll have to slay some enemies, gather some Gems, and find your way around the Gemcutting menu.
]]>Need to get more Spirit in Path of Exile 2? As one of the main resources in the game, Spirit is used to unlock persistent buffs as well as minion sidekicks, which can translate to a massive permanent DPS boost. Needless to say, it's important to gather plenty of Spirit for your first character build.
]]>Goblin-hitting bonanza Path Of Exile 2 launched into early access last weekend and the devs Grinding Gear Games have dropped some big patch notes that outline some things they've updated already, or things they plan on updating in a future patch. Things like dodge-rolling, checkpoints, items, currencies, and other stuff I can't list here because the intro to this article would expand and pop into a flurry of common rarity boots and bones, maybe with the odd purple rarity sword mixed in.
]]>Overwhelmed by the Passive Skill Tree in Path of Exile 2? Path of Exile 2 features a truly gigantic Passive Skill Tree that looks more like a series of constellations than anything else. While players who experienced Path of Exile 1 may be familiar with this node-filled thing of beauty, newcomers to the franchise are likely going to be struck speechless by the array of choices available.
The good news about this Passive Skill Tree is that it's much more intimidating upon first glance than it is in actuality. No node on the skill tree is useless, and you can respec your nodes at will as long as you've got a bit of gold to spare. If you're still intimidated, read on - in this guide we'll provide a full explanation of the Passive Skill Tree in Path of Exile 2 and give you some handy tips that'll help whether you're a newbie or an ARPG veteran.
]]>Confused about all of the Attributes in Path of Exile 2? Press C while playing Path of Exile 2, and you'll pull up a character sheet that's much simpler to read than its equivalent in the first game of the franchise. The core Attributes behind your character are easily viewable alongside a host of other information, and mousing over names of various stats brings up an explainer.
That said, there are still a few factors here that may be difficult to grasp for new players. What exactly is the Energy Shield, for instance? What about Spirit? And what stats are most important for each character class? In this guide we'll explain all of these questions and more as we provide a breakdown of all Attributes, mechanics, and other stats on the Path of Exile 2 character sheet.
]]>Wondering what the best class is in Path of Exile 2? Path of Exile 2 might only be in Early Access, but there are already six character classes for you to play with, each with a wide array of builds that are sure to test the mettle of any ARPG enthusiast. From the hardy, shield-protected Warrior to the necromancy-practicing Witch, each class is customisable to an extreme extent thanks to Path of Exile 2's immense skill tree.
For everyone intimidated by all the options in Grinding Gear Games' stellar sequel, we've taken a look at each class in the game and organised them into a list for new players. In this guide we'll break down which class is best for beginners in Path of Exile 2.
]]>Looking for some tips and tricks for the start of Path of Exile 2? Grinding Gear Games' Path of Exile 2 is an ARPG of big proportions, and considering that Early Access has only just begun, the game's only going to get better in the upcoming months.
With a bevy of options available for customising Path of Exile 2's various character classes, not to mention a truly gargantuan Passive Skill Tree and some tough-as-nails bosses, it can be tricky setting out on your first steps in the dark fantasy world of Wraeclast. In this guide we're providing 6 handy tips on what to do first in Path of Exile 2 to help the starting journey become a little more approachable.
]]>Confused by crafting in Path of Exile 2? Crafting in Path of Exile 2 features a fair number of moving parts. There are several currencies known as Orbs that you'll use when upgrading your gear, and understanding upgrades requires grasping the Affix system applied to equipment. Newcomers to the Path of Exile franchise will need to familiarise themselves with these concepts, and even if you played Path of Exile 1, it always helps to have a refresher.
In this guide we'll provide an explanation of the basics behind crafting in Path of Exile 2 and put you on the right path towards leveling up your gear from Normal to Rare and beyond. Keep in mind that this guide only covers normal crafting, as endgame crafting is a separate beast.
]]>Looking for the Path of Exile 2 release date? Path of Exile 2 is out soon and promises to bring lots of ARPG action to all fans of the first game, plus a truly extensive array of character builds for anyone who's dreamt of hacking and slashing their way through copious legions of foes.
Path of Exile 2's launch is an Early Access one that's only accessible if you order a Supporter Pack, however, and the game will only launch with a portion of its classes and half of its campaign. If you're wondering exactly what you'll get if you pre-order the game, then read on, for in this guide we'll break down Path of Exile 2's release date and what you can expect in each Supporter Pack.
]]>Path Of Exile 2's early access release has been shoved back three weeks from 15th November to 6th December 2024, game director Jonathan Rogers has announced in a brief Youtube video. The action-RPG itself will seemingly be ready in time for the original launch date, but there's a load of "server-side infrastructure work" that needs doing.
]]>ARPG (not to be confused with action RPG, the comments inform me) Path Of Exile 2 will release in early access November 15th, 2024.
Grinding Gear Games have been set on a November window for a while now, but this is the first time they’ve nailed down a date, and possibly clicked on it a bunch of times to show how serious they are. Do a game related verb I can’t accurately name because I never played past that beach at the beginning of the first game, and do it in the general direction of the trailer below. Watch it. Just watch it.
]]>Seeing as Path Of Exile 2 has already undergone a curious journey from 'sequel released as expansion' to 'actual sequel' in the four years since its announcement, not to mention years of delays, what's one more diversion? The action-RPG's developers announced last night that the closed beta planned to start on the 7th of June will now not. They think they could have something ready by then but it wouldn't be up to their standards, so what's the hurry?
]]>Happy New Year, folks! Have you recovered from the all the 100+ hour RPGs that came out last year? Well, I have good news and bad news for you. The good news is that everyone seems to be taking a bit of a breather in 2024, because (at time of writing at least) the official "big'uns" calendar is looking remarkably slim at the moment. There are still some heavy-hitters coming our way this year, such as Avowed, Star Wars Outlaws and Path Of Exile 2, but 2024 looks like another year where it will be the smaller, independent games that shine the brightest. They certainly make up the bulk of our most anticipated games list for 2024, which the RPS Treehouse has been feverishly putting together over the last few days. The bad news is that there are still loads of great games coming out. So come, join us, and see what's on our personal wishlists for 2024.
]]>Legendary-tier monster cards on the table time: I do not like video game loot. I think that the popularity of "looting", an English word itself looted from Hindi during the time of the East India Company, is one of the worst aspects of the modern games industry and especially of the blockbuster live service game, which strives to keep its audience coming back by means of fresh loot injections at regular intervals.
I distrust how the randomisation element of much video game looting flirts with actual gambling mechanics. I hate that structuring games around the acquisition of loot creates a framework and an appetite for microtransactions and arguably, NFTs. But I am kind of fascinated by the art of designing loot, and especially when it comes to action RPGs such as Diablo 4 and Path Of Exile 2, because it seems to trade on some irresolvable contradictions.
]]>I am late to walk the Path of Exile. Very late: the evergreen free-to-play dark fantasy action-RPG launched literal generations ago in 2013, the heyday of Bioshock Infinite and GTA 5. (It's still arguably the heyday of GTA 5. Bioshock Infinite, not so much.) It's my understanding that New Zealand-based developer Grinding Gears have released approximately one bazillion Path of Exile updates and expansions in the decade since, the latest of which, Affliction, is briefly detailed in a boxout down the page.
I am not your guy for blow-by-blow descriptions of what Affliction adds to Path of Exile. My cautious summary would be: lots of terrifying trees, and lots of modifiers. I am, however, your guy for a newcomer's snapshot verdict on the sequel ahead of the closed Path of Exile 2 beta on 7th June 2024. In a twist so far-fetched they might just pull it off, the new game is designed both for returning players and newcomers, and I think a lot of that is epitomised by the just-announced Mercenary class, which reflects game director Jonathan Rogers's desire to create combat mechanics that are at once more involved and more inviting.
]]>When Path Of Exile 2 was first announced in 2019, it was billed as an extra large expansion patch to the original game - an update, so to speak, rather than a standalone sequel. Since then, however, the scope of Grinding Gear Games action RPG has grown so much in the intervening years that they've now decided to make it a "completely separate game". The news comes from tonight's ExileCon, which also marks the first time we've seen Path Of Exile 2 in action since that original announcement.
]]>"It's been a really long time coming," Grinding Gear Games' co-founder and Path Of Exile 2 creative director Jonathan Rogers tells RPS, but their new action RPG will be getting its first closed beta on June 7th 2024. The news was announced at tonight's ExileCon, where the developers also showed off a big new chunk of the game that focused on its two new classes, the monk and the sorceress - and it looks to be shaping up very well indeed. As for a final launch, however, Rogers isn't quite ready to put a date on that yet.
]]>Get ready to die lots in Path Of Exile 2, as developers Grinding Gear Games have told me that both the regular and Hardcore difficulty modes of their upcoming, now standalone sequel to their enormously popular ARPG are going to be a whole lot more challenging than before - both when it comes to the campaign and the end-game afterwards. Bosses, in particular, will pose much more of a threat this time round, as studio co-founder and Path Of Exile 2 creative director Jonathan Rogers says the big monsters you fought in the first game's campaign were, in hindsight, "pretty anemic".
]]>Grinding Gear Games debuted a lovely big chunk of Path Of Exile 2 this evening, taking us through a section of Act 3 of its campaign and showing off two of its six new character classes: the Monk and the Sorceress. With almost 30 minutes of uninterrupted gameplay, we got to see exactly how they work in practice, and most importantly, we got a big long look at the monk's beautifully choreographed staff twirling melee attacks. Yes please and thank you. I have to say, this is instantly more exciting to me than biffing skeletons with my Druid in Diablo 4, and I'm very pumped indeed to try the Monk out for myself when Path Of Exile 2 enters its closed beta in June next year.
]]>Path Of Exile 2 was announced back in 2019, but we haven't heard anything more about it in years other than that it was still in development. Now there's a new trailer below with a promise of more details to come on July 28th.
]]>When is Path of Exile 2 due to be released? The original Path of Exile was released in 2013, a free-to-play ARPG inspired by the Diablo series. With Diablo 4 out now as well, fans of top-down action RPGs are soon going to be spoiled for choice, since Path of Exile 2 is releasing hot on its heels. A closed beta test is launching in 2024 ahead of the game's release date.
]]>Fantasy action RPG Path Of Exile’s been kicking about for nearly a decade, but it’s still receiving hefty chunks of fresh stuff every three months. The latest, roguelike expansion Forbidden Sanctum, was revealed fully today during a livestream by devs Grinding Gear Games. You can see more of what to expect when update 3.20 Forbidden Sanctum opens its doors on December 9th in the trailer below.
]]>The long-awaited Path Of Exile 2 will be fully unveiled next year, first at Exilecon 2023 before heading to Gamescom in August for European players to check out in the flesh, devs Grinding Gear Games have confirmed. Path Of Exile 2 had been pencilled in for a 2022 release, but it’s now looking like the sequel could arrive in time for the series’ tenth anniversary. A beta is planned, too, and dates for that will be announced when the game is shown at Exilecon.
]]>Path Of Exile 2 has been quiet since it was announced in late 2019, due in part to some delays caused by Covid-19. Now the free-to-play action RPG sequel has resurfaced with a new trailer and a new twenty minute walkthrough.
]]>Many game studios and their production schedules have been slowed by the pandemic, and this time it's Path Of Exile 2's turn to get a big tick in the "You've Been Delayed" box. According to Grinding Gear studio head Chris Wilson, Path Of Exile's sequel-shaped expansion probably won't arrive until 2022.
]]>Two weeks ago Auckland, New Zealand was the home of ExileCon, the first of possibly many conventions celebrating the increasingly popular action RPG Path Of Exile. While the mood was obviously buoyed by a trio of well-received announcements (a mobile spinoff, a pair of expansions, and Path Of Exile 2), what I found on the other side of the planet was a community and studio united in their love of the genre and the game Grinding Gear is making.
That, and a trading card game that threatened to take over everything.
]]>During their Saturday opening keynote presentation at ExileCon in Auckland, New Zealand, Grinding Gear Games announced three projects: Path Of Exile Mobile, a double expansion for POE this December, and Path Of Exile 2, due late next year. I got three hands on playthroughs of the sequel's show-floor demo, and I think all action RPG fans should be paying attention to it, even if you bounced off the original game.
]]>When is an update not an update? When it's a whole new game, patched in entirely free on top of one that you already play. Announced at ExileCon today - Path Of Exile's first fan convention - Path Of Exile 2 was the ace up Grinding Gear Games's sleeve. Path of Exile 2 is an all new story set decades after the original action RPG, pitting a new set of characters (albeit in mostly-familiar classes) up against a fresh hell's worth of grim and gothic ghouls and gribblies. Check out the debut trailer plus fourteen minutes of footage and new systems breakdowns below.
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