Path of Exile 2 Ascendancy Guide: Unlock Your Class Potential
Path of Exile 2's Early Access release has players eager to master their chosen classes. While subclasses aren't a core feature, Ascendancies offer specialized abilities and a unique playstyle. This guide details how to unlock and utilize these powerful enhancements.
Unlocking Ascendancies
Before accessing Ascendancy Classes, players must complete a Trial of Ascendancy. Currently, the Act 2 Trial of the Sekhemas or the Act 3 Trial of Chaos are available. Completing either trial unlocks Ascendancy selection and rewards you with two passive Ascendancy Points. The earlier Act 2 trial is recommended for quicker access to enhanced abilities.
All Path of Exile 2 Ascendancies
Early Access features six classes, each with two Ascendancies. The full game will include twelve base classes, likely expanding the Ascendancy options.
Mercenary Ascendancies
The Mercenary class offers two distinct paths:
-
Witch Hunter: This Ascendancy boosts offense, defense, and battlefield control through passive buffs. Skills like Culling Strike and No Mercy enhance damage output, making it ideal for players who enjoy debuffing enemies.
Image via Grinding Gear Games -
Gemling Legionnaire: This path focuses on Skill Gems, allowing extra skills and additional buffs. Its flexibility lets players customize their builds without restrictive skill choices.
Image via Grinding Gear Games
Monk Ascendancies
The Monk class provides these Ascendancy choices:
-
Invoker: Embrace elemental powers and inflict status effects, ideal for melee-focused elemental combat.
Image via Grinding Gear Games -
Acolyte of Chayula: Harness shadow powers, offering defensive, healing, and damage-boosting abilities for a unique, dark-themed playstyle.
Image via Grinding Gear Games
Ranger Ascendancies
Rangers can choose between:
-
Deadeye: Enhance ranged combat with increased attack speed, movement, and damage. Skills like Eagle Eyes and Called Shots maximize accuracy and provide tactical advantages.
Image via Grinding Gear Games -
Pathfinder: Master poison and elemental damage with abilities like Poisonous Concoction and Contagious Contamination, offering an alternative to traditional bow-and-arrow builds.
Image via Grinding Gear Games
Sorceress Ascendancies
The Sorceress has these Ascendancy options:
-
Stormweaver: Amplify elemental abilities with Elemental Storm and increased elemental damage, perfect for enhancing existing elemental caster playstyles.
Image via Grinding Gear Games -
Chronomancer: Manipulate time to control cooldowns and strategically influence battles, offering a dynamic and tactical approach.
Image via Grinding Gear Games
Warrior Ascendancies
Warriors can choose between:
-
Titan: Maximize damage and tankiness with defensive skills like Stone Skin and offensive enhancements such as Crushing Impacts and Surprising Strength.
Image via Grinding Gear Games -
Warbringer: Summon Ancestral Spirits and Totems to support melee combat, adding summoned allies for damage and defense.
Image via Grinding Gear Games
Witch Ascendancies
The Witch class offers:
-
Blood Mage: Drain enemy life to restore your own, enhancing damage from lingering wounds and extending curse durations.
Image via Grinding Gear Games -
Infernalist: Summon a Hellhound and shapeshift into a powerful demon form, dealing significant fire damage.
Image via Grinding Gear Games
Path of Exile 2 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
