Path of Exile 2 Guide: Everything We Know So Far

Path of Exile 2 is probably still a few months off from release but that isn't stopping us from digging deep and looking for details about the game. While the developer has been generally mum about the game, they've still released a few tidbits about what we can expect when the game finally releases.

If you're excited, then you've come to the right place as we've curated all of the details you can find about Path of Exil 2 in one place.

When Is The Path of Exile 2 Release Date

Path of Exile 2 was initially created as a standalone expansion pack for Path of Exile. However, the developers have since decided to make it its own game. The game was initially revealed at ExileCon in November 2019. Needless to say, it's been in development for a long time.

Unfortunately, we don't have an exact Path of Exile 2 release date yet but it could be coming anytime this year or next year considering that the development has been steady. It's also worth noting that the game is planned to release on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and MacOS.

Once this game releases, Path of Exile will still be available to play. In fact, the developers are going to continue releasing expansions for it moving forward.

When is The Path of Exile 2 Beta?

While no release date has been set for the game yet, it will have a closed beta which will launch on June 7, 2024. We've yet to know how the beta codes will be given out and for what platforms it will launch. However, it's speculated that the beta invites will be given out randomly to players of Path of Exile.

It's also possible that we're going to get to sign up for a chance at the path of Exile 2 Beta sometime this year. Still, it's best to wait for the developers to reveal more details about it as only the date of the beta is confirmed for now.

Story Details

Path of Exile 2 takes place 7 years after the death of Kitava. The world in the game has been slowly rebuilding but danger lurks in the corners once again. Corruption is starting to spread throughout Wraeclast and there are also rumors of a living Seed that turns those around it insane.

Since the game is only set a few years after the first one, expect to see some returning characters along with some new ones. It's good that the developers aren't shutting down Path of Exile as it will be a great opportunity for newcomers to dive into the story.

As per the developer, the game will feature a brand new campaign that comes with a total of six acts. There will be 100 distinct environments to explore, as well as 600 monsters and 100 bosses to face. That's a lot of content event for those who've spent hundreds of hours on Path of Exile.

Confirmed Character Classes And Character Progression

Like in the first game, character building and classes are going to play a crucial role in Path of Exile 2. The sequel will have twelve character classes - two for every combination of Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence.

You can use a class that's suitable for your playstyle but as expected, this is only a gist of the progression system. You can combine skills from various classes and create a build that's perfect for the way that you play. The game will offer more depth and freedom in terms of character building.

Each of the 12 character classes will also have three Ascendancy specializations. This results in a whopping 36 Ascendancy Classes to choose from. Needless to say, you&'ll be spending a lot of time optimizing your character and your build to fit how you want to play Path of Exile 2.

Also making a return in the sequel is Path of Exile's beloved Passive Skill Tree. This time around, it will come with 2,000 skills that let you completely customize your gameplay experience to fit your style of playing.

A new feature being introduced is Dual Specialization. This lets you allocate passive skill points to two sets of skills. The freedom of choice when it comes to building your character is certainly large.

Dual Specialization allows you to customize your character by choosing between two weapon sets and a shapeshift form. Various passive abilities enable you to fully optimize your use of two distinct weapon types, exploit different elemental affinities, or emphasize diverse combat styles. Each transformation activates its unique Passive Tree. Although there is a small time cost associated with swapping specializations, the flexibility it provides comes at the expense of this minor inconvenience.

This innovative feature opens up opportunities for creating a more resilient build in one specialization and enhancing area-of-effect damage in the other. The only drawback is the necessity to acquire two excellent weapons that synergize effectively. Dual Specialization extends its functionality to Reservation effects. For instance, in one specialization, you can employ "Cast on Shock" to trigger an area-of-effect effect for Spark, while in the second set, a "Cast on Crit" effect can focus on your single-target Arc skill. This enables seamless switching based on the specific situation. When transitioning to the second specialization, Reservations will automatically be enabled.

Lastly, Path of Exile 2 will also feature 700 equipment base types and each one will feature its own unique item that you'll need to grind for. If you want new weapons, you're in luck as there'll be new types introduced including Spears, Crossbows, and Flails. New supplementary items like traps, Focuses and more are also being introduced.

New Skill Gem System

Speaking of character progression, the game will bring back Skill Gems that will further maximize how you customize your character in the game. At launch, the developers note that there will be 240 Skill Gems with active skills and there will be 200 Support Gems that modify these skills. The results are going to be varied and devastating depending on how you build your character in the game.

The developers of the game hopes to take advantage of the success of the original skill system to create something more robust and open when it comes to freedom. It's not even possible to six-link all of the skills that your character uses.

New Combat Mechanics

A sophisticated crowd control system introduces the concept of light stuns and heavy stuns, adding depth to combat dynamics. Particularly noticeable with melee weapons, players can now incapacitate monsters, leaving them in a state where they are temporarily unable to react. This strategic maneuver provides a significant window of opportunity to unleash damage while the boss is in the recovery phase.

This intricate system is interlinked with Freeze, Stun, and a novel Immobilize effect, instantly triggered upon dealing sufficient damage. Failure to apply it immediately allows the effect to accumulate on the target, making it progressively easier to activate with subsequent hits. Once applied, there is an increased threshold for all these effects over a duration, making it easier to control a monster or boss at the start of a battle. However, as attempts to control them persist, their resistance intensifies.

Players, too, are subject to the same principle. If a player is stunned, they gain temporary resistance to further stuns, but this resilience is short-lived. A concentrated assault by a swarm of enemies, hitting close together, could potentially stun a player, although the recovery time is considerably faster than that of bosses.

Furthermore, these system effects exhibit a cascading nature; for instance, being frozen increases the likelihood of being stunned afterward. Notably, players cannot be heavily stunned or knocked down, adding a layer of balance to the overall crowd control mechanics.

The Endgame

Last but not least, it wouldn't be a full-on Path of Exile experience without the endgame. Once you finish the main campaign, you'll have access to over 100 endgame maps that each come with its own boss fight and modifiers. This is just the tip of the iceberg though as the developers are teasing more things to come into the endgame in the future.

Although the details are sparse and few in-between, Path of Exile 2 is looking to be an amazing game as well. There are still a few months to wait for before the closed beta releases. Hopefully, we get to see more of the game in the future.