PoE2 Classes and Ascendancies Explained

Choosing your class is the first major decision in Path of Exile 2. Each base class opens access to different Ascendancy specializations that fundamentally define your build. This guide covers every class and Ascendancy in patch 0.5 Return of the Ancients.

How Classes Work

Your base class determines your starting position on the passive tree, available Ascendancies (2-4 per class), attribute focus (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence), and starting equipment. Your Ascendancy choice matters far more than your base class.

Complete Class and Ascendancy List

Ranger - The Ranged Specialist

Starts on the Dexterity side. Excels at ranged bow combat.

• Deadeye - Projectile damage, accuracy, and speed. The fastest mapping class. Best for Lightning Arrow and Ice Shot builds.
• Pathfinder - Flask uptime and poison scaling. Best for DoT bow builds and flask-dependent setups.

Best Builds: Lightning Arrow Deadeye (S-tier), Ice Shot Deadeye, Toxic Rain Pathfinder.

Witch - The Caster and Summoner

Starts on the Intelligence side. Access to spells, minions, and damage over time.

• Infernalist - Fire damage scaling and elemental explosions.
• Blood Mage - Life-to-mana conversion with self-sustain. Zero mana cost through life mechanics. Budget-friendly caster.
• Lich - Minions and chaos damage. Best for ED Contagion and summoner builds. Very beginner-friendly.
• Abyssal Lich - Hybrid caster with low-life mechanics and plant synergies.

Best Builds: ED Contagion Lich (A-tier), Plant Oracle variants, Bonestorm builds.

Mercenary - The Crossbow Expert

Uses crossbows exclusively, with grenades and ammunition-based combat.

• Witchhunter - Damage amplification against debuffed enemies. Strongest offensive Mercenary. Grenade builds excel here.
• Tactician - Banner and buff stacking. Scales well over time in long fights.
• Gemling Legionnaire - Enhanced skill gem scaling with quality focus.

Best Builds: Grenades Witchhunter (A-tier), Galvanic Shards Witchhunter, Permafrost Witchhunter.

Monk - The Melee Combat Master

Uses quarterstaves and unarmed combat. Focus on Combo mechanics and elemental attacks.

• Invoker - Elemental damage with Power Charge synergy. Best for Glacial Cascade leveling.
• Acolyte of Chayula - Chaos and dark magic themed.
• Martial Artist (NEW 0.5) - Hollow Techniques, illusory bells, rune sockets, glove transformation, Combo execution. Most complex new Ascendancy.

Core Loop (Martial Artist): Summon bell, hit bell (guaranteed crit), trigger resonance, spend Combo points on finishers.

Huntress - The Wild Hunter

Uses spears with beast-taming and companion mechanics.

• Huntress - Core spear and projectile gameplay. Solid all-rounder.
• Spirit Walker (NEW 0.5) - Wisps, animal spirits (Stag, Owl, Bear), Idol-based gearing, Unique Beast taming. Most flexible new Ascendancy.

Best Builds: Twisters Spirit Walker (S-tier), Vivid Stampede Spirit Walker, Monkey Spiritwalker.

Sorceress - The Elemental Master

Wields fire, cold, and lightning with massive scaling potential.

• Stormweaver - Lightning and shock scaling. Premier elemental damage Ascendancy.
• Chronomancer - Time manipulation mechanics.
• Disciple of Varashta - Minion specter builds with enhanced command skills.

Best Builds: Spark Stormweaver, Disciple of Varashta Specter.

Warrior - The Tank

Starts on the Strength side. Focus on life, armor, and melee.

• Titan - 50% bonus to small passive nodes. Massive life and armor scaling. Best for shield builds.
• Wavewing - Mobility-focused melee.
• Kitava’s Forge - Fire damage and self-damage synergies.

Druid - The Shapeshifter

Newest base class with bear, wolf, and bird shapeshifting.

• Shaman - Elemental damage in beast forms.
• Oracle - Nature and plant magic. Plant Oracle is the safest league starter overall.

Best Builds: Plant Oracle Druid (best overall starter), Cold Wolf Druid.

Tier Ranking for Patch 0.5

How to Choose

1. Ranged or melee? Ranged: Ranger or Mercenary. Melee: Monk or Warrior.
2. Simple or complex? Simple: Lich or Druid. Complex: Martial Artist or Chronomancer.
3. Fast mapping or boss killing? Fast: Deadeye. Bossing: Stormweaver or Witchhunter.
4. Hardcore? Titan or Blood Mage for survivability layers.
5. First character? Lich or Plant Oracle Druid for smoothest experience.

Ascendancy Unlocking

Ascendancies are unlocked through the Labyrinth. Each has a passive tree with 8+ nodes. You can respec using passive refund points.

Related Guides

• Complete Beginner’s Guide
• Core Mechanics
• Leveling Guide
• Build Guides

Updated for patch 0.5 Return of the Ancients. Last verified: June 2026.