Which Class Should You Choose to Play in Path of Exile 2
Image Credit: Grinding Gear Games, Path of Exile 2 (POE2)
Path of Exile 2 has six classes at the start of Early Access, with six more coming later. Choosing the right class can be overwhelming, especially if you're new to the game. But don't worry—this guide will break down each class and help you decide which is best for you based on your playstyle.
How to Choose a Class in PoE2
Before picking a class, keep these three things in mind:
Ascendancies Matter Most – Each class has two Ascendancies (specializations) that drastically change how they play. Your class choice mainly determines which Ascendancies you can access.
Weapon Choice Affects Playstyle – Every class can use different weapons, but some have natural synergies. Pick a weapon type you enjoy.
Survivability is Key – PoE2 is challenging, so think about how you’ll stay alive. Will you dodge attacks, block with a shield, or rely on energy shields?
Now, let’s break down each class.
1. Warrior – Melee Bruiser with Shields and Totems
Playstyle: Slow, heavy-hitting melee attacks that can be redirected mid-swing.
Survivability: Uses shields to block attacks completely (but builds up a stagger meter).
Utility: War cries, totems, and stuns.
Ascendancies:
Titan – Focuses on massive area damage and single-target melee burst.
Warbringer – Enhances war cries, totems, and shields for a more defensive playstyle.
Who Should Play Warrior?
If you enjoy playing a Barbarian in Diablo or a tanky melee fighter, this class is for you.
2. Sorceress – Elemental Spellcaster
Playstyle: Casts powerful spells using fire, lightning, and frost, often in combination.
Survivability: Relies on positioning and crowd control rather than tanking damage.
Utility: Can chain elements together for stronger effects (e.g., shooting lightning through a fire wall).
Ascendancies:
Chronomancer – Focuses on time-based abilities, cooldown reduction, and mobility.
Storm Weaver – Increases crit chance, elemental damage, and status effects.
Who Should Play Sorceress?
If you like high-damage spellcasters, similar to the Diablo Sorcerer/Wizard, this is your pick.
3. Monk – Agile Melee Fighter with Elemental Combos
Playstyle: Fast melee combat with evades, combos, and elemental attacks (think Avatar: The Last Airbender).
Survivability: High dodge and evasion rather than armor.
Utility: Can shift between fire, frost, and lightning attacks mid-combo.
Ascendancies:
Invoker – Boosts evasion and elemental damage, letting you specialize in fire, lightning, or frost.
Acolyte of Chaula – Converts all damage to chaos and replaces spirit with darkness, making it a high-risk, high-reward build.
Who Should Play Monk?
If you enjoy fast, high-mobility melee classes, like the Monk in Diablo 3 or Spiritborn in Diablo 4, this is for you.
4. Mercenary – Tactical Ranged Fighter with Traps and Ammo Types
Playstyle: Uses a crossbow with different ammo types like armor-piercing, explosive, and shock rounds.
Survivability: Mid-range playstyle with evasion and traps.
Utility: Can deploy grenades and traps to slow or weaken enemies.
Ascendancies:
Witch Hunter – Increases damage against healthy enemies and executes low-health targets instantly.
Gemling Legionnaire – Expands skill choices, making you a jack-of-all-trades with extra attributes and support gems.
Who Should Play Mercenary?
If you like twin-stick shooters or tactical ranged playstyles, this class is a great fit.
5. Ranger – Fast-Paced Bow Class with Poisons and Movement Abilities
Playstyle: High-speed bow attacks combined with flasks and poison damage.
Survivability: Relies on dodging and evasion rather than tanking hits.
Utility: Uses flasks for self-buffs and damage boosts.
Ascendancies:
Deadeye – Focuses on increasing projectile count and raw bow damage.
Pathfinder – Specializes in flask buffs, poison damage, and movement speed.
Who Should Play Ranger?
If you enjoy archer classes in games like Diablo 4 or Dragon’s Dogma 2, this is a solid choice.
6. Witch – Summoner and Caster Hybrid
Playstyle: Automatically summons minions using Spirit instead of manually casting them.
Survivability: Minions tank damage while the Witch casts curses and chaos spells.
Utility: Can summon a variety of minions, including skeletal warriors, clerics, and reavers.
Ascendancies:
Infernal – Turns you into a demonic caster, using health as a resource instead of mana.
Blood Mage – Uses life instead of mana for spells, focusing on crit damage and life leech.
Who Should Play Witch?
If you love Necromancers and Summoners, this is the best option for you.
Final Thoughts – Which Class Should You Pick?
If you're still unsure, here’s a quick recommendation based on playstyle:
For tanky melee combat: Warrior (Titan or Warbringer)
For high-damage spellcasting: Sorceress (Chronomancer or Storm Weaver)
For fast melee combos and dodging: Monk (Invoker or Acolyte of Chaula)
For tactical ranged combat: Mercenary (Witch Hunter or Gemling Legionnaire)
For high-mobility archery and poisons: Ranger (Deadeye or Pathfinder)
For summoning minions and cursing enemies: Witch (Infernal or Blood Mage)
Try Different Classes
You don’t have to stick with your first choice. PoE2’s Early Access is a great time to experiment, fail, and learn. If one class doesn’t feel right, switch it up and try something new.
Enjoy your journey through Wraeclast!
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