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Path of Exile 2 currently has eight playable classes: Warrior, Monk, Ranger, Mercenary, Witch, Sorceress, Huntress and Druid. Each is tied to one or two of the three core attributes (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence) and a signature weapon style, and each has multiple Ascendancy specialisations. A ninth class, the Duelist — the game’s first dedicated sword user — is the new addition tied to the 1.0 launch on 11 December, though Grinding Gear has cautioned not every planned class arrives at once.
Here is the full Path of Exile 2 class roster, what each one plays like, the new Duelist, and a beginner-friendly pick. Details reflect the Early Access roster and GGG’s 1.0 announcements as of 5 November 2026; the exact 1.0 class and Ascendancy line-up was still being finalised.
All classes at a glance
The eight current classes, their core attribute(s), signature weapons and overall playstyle.
| Class | Attribute(s) | Signature weapons | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Strength | Maces, two-handers | Slow, heavy melee & armour |
| Monk | Dex / Int | Quarterstaves | Fast combo melee, elemental |
| Ranger | Dexterity | Bows | Mobile ranged, crit & speed |
| Mercenary | Str / Dex | Crossbows | Ammo-swapping ranged tactician |
| Witch | Intelligence | Wands, staves | Minions & chaos/fire casting |
| Sorceress | Intelligence | Wands, staves | Elemental spellcaster (fire/cold/lightning) |
| Huntress | Str / Dex | Spears, throwing | Spear-and-buckler, agile melee |
| Druid | Str / Int | Shapeshifting | Transforms, nature & elemental |
| Duelist (1.0) | Str / Dex | Swords | New — dedicated swordplay |
The new Duelist
The Duelist is the marquee class tied to 1.0 and the first to wield swords as its signature weapon — a notable gap in the Early Access line-up, since no existing class was built around one-handed and two-handed swordplay. Expect a Strength/Dexterity hybrid focused on fast, precise melee: the kind of agile duellist fantasy the name implies, distinct from the Warrior’s slow, armour-heavy mace style and the Huntress’s spear-and-buckler approach. Swords as a weapon class bring their own skill gems and passive options, so the Duelist opens up build space the game hasn’t had. Full detail on its Ascendancies and skills is expected around ExileCon and the 1.0 launch — Grinding Gear had not published the complete kit as of 5 November, so treat specific build claims as unconfirmed until the official reveal.
Which class to pick
For a first character, the most forgiving picks are the ranged and summoner classes. The Sorceress is the classic beginner choice — clear screens from range with fire, cold and lightning spells, with plenty of room to make mistakes safely. The Witch is similarly beginner-friendly if you like minions doing the fighting for you. The Ranger suits players who want mobile, bow-based ranged damage, while the Mercenary rewards a more tactical ammo-swapping style. Melee classes — Warrior, Monk, Huntress — are more demanding early because you’re in the thick of fights, with the Warrior the slowest but sturdiest and the Monk the most combo-driven. The Druid and the new Duelist are great once you know the game but add extra mechanics to learn. In short: pick Sorceress or Witch for an easy start, Ranger for ranged without casting, and save the melee and shapeshifting classes for when you’ve learned the dodge-roll-heavy combat.
Ascendancies & the full roster
Every class branches into Ascendancies — specialisation sub-classes chosen partway through the campaign that reshape how the class plays. The Witch, for example, splits into minion-and-chaos and self-immolating fire paths; the Huntress arrived with its own pair of Ascendancies; the Druid with nature- and spirit-themed ones. Grinding Gear has expanded the Ascendancy pool with each major patch, including new ones in the 0.5 update, so the exact count keeps rising and isn’t fixed at a single number right now. The intended design is a twelve-class roster, each with multiple Ascendancies, giving the kind of enormous build variety the Path of Exile series is known for. Because the 1.0 line-up was still being finalised as of 5 November — and GGG has said not everything planned will land immediately — the safest way to plan a build is to wait for the official 1.0 Ascendancy list, which is expected to be clarified around ExileCon and launch.
More PoE on EverythingEdinburgh: our best Path of Exile 2 builds, the 1.0 release date & is-it-free guide, the ExileCon 2026 watch guide, and everything we know about 1.0.
PoE 2 classes FAQ
Details are as of 5 November 2026, reflecting the Early Access roster and GGG’s 1.0 announcements (Maxroll, poe2wiki, Esports.gg). The exact 1.0 class and Ascendancy line-up and the Duelist’s full kit were still being finalised — we update once GGG confirms them.
