Path of Exile 2 is an action RPG from Grinding Gear Games (GGG), and as of 20 October 2026 it is in Early Access on version 0.5.5e. As a beginner you need to understand four things: how classes work, how you build skills from skill and support gems, what the passive tree is for and when Ascendancy unlocks. Then there’s the league you start in. This guide explains it all as systems, with no builds and no “best class” rankings.
Classes in Early Access
According to the official website, Early Access has 8 classes:
- Warrior
- Ranger
- Huntress
- Mercenary
- Monk
- Sorceress
- Witch
- Druid
The ninth class, the Duelist, a sword-and-shield fighter and the first class to use swords in PoE2, isn’t in the game yet. According to GGG it arrives with the full 1.0 release on 11 December 2026. The Steam description sets the target at 12 classes, two for each combination of Strength, Dexterity and Intelligence, each with three Ascendancies, for 36 in total.
What matters for your choice: a class is only a starting point. You can mix skills across classes, so your pick at the start won’t lock you into one playstyle. Go with the weapon and style you enjoy.
Skills: skill gems and support gems
Active skills come from skill gems. Support gems modify those skills and are socketed directly into the skill gem. In GGG’s words: “Each Skill can be modified by up to five Support Gems.”
In practice, one skill can change a lot depending on which support gems you add to it.
The passive skill tree
Your regular passive points go into a huge passive tree. Steam lists 1,500 skills in it.
A neat feature is Dual Specialisation. You can assign part of your points to two different weapon and skill sets. Only the set you are currently using applies, so you can prepare two setups and switch between them.
Ascendancy
An Ascendancy is a specialisation of your class. It takes the form of a small tree of its own in the middle of the passive tree. The points that go into it are special Ascendancy points, separate from your regular passive points.
Here’s how you unlock it:
- During the campaign you reach a Trial. The first one is the Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2.
- You complete the Trial.
- At the Altar of Ascendancy you choose an Ascendancy for your class.
- You receive your first 2 Ascendancy points.
More Ascendancy points come from further Trials. The second one is the Trial of Chaos, run by the Trialmaster. New Ascendancies get added with updates: Return of the Ancients (0.5.0), for example, brought Martial Artist for the Monk and Spirit Walker for the Huntress.
Campaign and bosses
The Early Access campaign is made up of acts and Interludes. Update 0.5.0 shortened some areas and added subtle path markers, so it’s easier not to get lost. Every campaign area has a boss fight and the game has more than 100 bosses. According to GGG, the final two acts, completing the story, arrive with the full release. After the campaign, the endgame on the Atlas awaits.
Which league to pick as a beginner
Before you create a character, you pick a league. As of 20 October 2026, the official list has Forbidden Rites, HC Forbidden Rites, Runes of Aldur, HC Runes of Aldur, Standard and Hardcore.
- Challenge and event leagues (Runes of Aldur, Forbidden Rites) – a fresh character and a fresh economy, everyone starts from zero.
- Standard – the permanent league where characters and items move when a league ends.
- Hardcore (HC) – death has consequences. Hardcore is “parented” to the standard version: if your character dies in HC Forbidden Rites, it carries on only in standard Forbidden Rites.
- Solo Self-Found (SSF) – as the name says, you play solo with what you find yourself.
You can also create a Private League. To join a league, select it on the character selection screen and create a new character in it. Old characters stay playable and GGG doesn’t wipe characters during Early Access. Details on the current leagues and patch are in our PoE2 leagues guide.
Playing with friends
Online co-op supports groups of up to 6 players. Path of Exile 2 also has couch co-op on one screen. The second player simply creates a character on the same account.
Builds: the Build Planner and your own path
Since version 0.5.0 the official website has a Build Planner and build guides from content creators. GGG doesn’t make “official builds” of its own and recommends that players develop their own. That’s why this guide doesn’t recommend any build. Before you start, check what it costs, and if you’re thinking about waiting, have a look at the 1.0 full release. If you enjoy similar action RPGs, we also have a Diablo 4 hub.
Just starting out and stuck on your first character? Join our Discord and ask other players: GamersTogether Discord.
How players and critics rate Path of Exile 2 in early access is covered in our Path of Exile 2 review (7/10).
FAQ
Eight in Early Access as of 20 October 2026: Warrior, Ranger, Huntress, Mercenary, Monk, Sorceress, Witch and Druid. The ninth, the Duelist, is due with the full release on 11 December 2026 according to GGG.
After the first Trial in the campaign, the Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2. At the Altar of Ascendancy you choose your Ascendancy and get your first 2 points.
Up to five, according to GGG. Support gems are socketed directly into the skill gem and modify the skill.
The current challenge or event league lets you start alongside everyone else in a fresh economy, while Standard is permanent. In Hardcore a dead character moves to the standard version of the league, and SSF is the solo variant.
Yes. The game has couch co-op, the second player creates a character on the same account. Online, up to 6 players can play together.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are waiting in our PoE2 guides hub.