Path of Exile 2 showcases Shadow class, complete campaign, and more

by Mikhail Madnani on 07 November, 2026

Path of Exile 2 from Grinding Gear Games has showcased Act 5 and 6, a new class, and much more ahead of its 1.0 Full Release on December 11 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, and standalone client).

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The team also revealed more performance improvements coming with 1.0. If you haven't kept up with the game recently, it was ahead of its full release as well. The full release of Path of Exile 2 will be free to play with optional microtransactions for cosmetics and additional stash tabs. There are also new supporter packs with exclusive microtransactions and more available to buy ahead of the full launch next month.You can find the new trailer, details on the new and reworked Uniques, and more details from Grinding Gear Games below:

Path of Exile 2 reaches its monumental Full Release on December 11 (PST), bringing the long-awaited conclusion to its epic campaign with Acts 5 and 6. Master the deadly arts of stealth, daggers, and traps with the new Shadow class, and command the battlefield with the Knight, a regal new Ascendancy for the Duelist: 

• The Epic Conclusion and Full Release: Path of Exile 2's monumental Full Release brings together ten playable classes, 26 Ascendancy classes, over 320 skills, more than 400 Unique Items, and over 150 endgame maps. 

• Siege Rival Factions: With over 70 new points of interest and 23 campaign battles, players will have opportunities to rally powerful allies and defeat enemy factions in Path of Exile 2’s new league, Conquerors of Wraeclast. 

• Forge Your Build With Over 110 New and Reworked Uniques:Forge your path to unimaginable power with over 40 brand-new Unique Items, more than 70 revamped Uniques, a sweeping overhaul of the passive skill tree, major changes to skills and Ascendancies, and significant improvements to endgame progression and performance.

In Act 5, players return to Oriath, a once-great city now ravaged by war, corruption, and the horrors that have taken hold within its walls. With the Twilight Order and the Beast threatening Wraeclast, players must carve a path through the city's fallen districts, confront the monstrosities lurking within, and breach its defences to pave the way for a full-scale assault. 

From the twisted slums and abandoned noble estates to the desecrated temple district and grand arena, the final acts will take players through some of the most ambitious environments and challenging boss encounters ever created for Path of Exile 2. 

Strike from the Shadows with a Deadly New Class

From the darkest corners of Wraeclast emerges the Shadow, a deadly new class specialising in daggers, traps, and the art of stealth. A master of deception and assassination, the Shadow is able to stalk his prey unseen, strike with lethal precision, and vanish into darkness before his enemies can retaliate: 

• The Shadow brings a uniquely fast and fluid style of Stealth to the ARPG genre. Set and execute deadly ambushes in an Instant. Each successful kill resets the cooldown of Stealth, allowing players to chain deadly attacks, disappear into the shadows, and prepare their next ambush.

• For those who prefer a more calculated approach, the Shadow can turn the battlefield into a deadly trap. While concealed, players can lay multiple Traps that detonate in the order they were placed upon leaving Stealth. With eight different trap types, players can unleash devastating combinations of impale, poison, fire, and ice, turning even the most formidable enemies into unsuspecting victims.

• But the Shadow's mastery of darkness goes far beyond stealth and subterfuge. Summon Shades that are shadowy copies to deceive enemies and replicate their attacks. 

  • Harness a new resource, Darkness, that empowers strikes while in stealth. 

  • With Eclipse, players can temporarily enter the shadow realm, transforming every attack into a stealth strike and unleashing the combined might of their Shades upon their enemies.

The Shadow arrives with two powerful Ascendancy classes, the Assassin and Infiltrator, offering even more ways to master the darkness. 

Lead the Charge with the Knight Ascendancy

Take up arms and lead your forces to glory with the Knight, a powerful new Ascendancy for the Duelist that commands the battlefield through martial prowess, War Banners, and mounted combat.

Never go into a battle alone, as this Ascendancy allows you to recruit a loyal Squire who can be outfitted with weapons and armor, that can use any melee Skill Gems. As a standard-bearer of Wraeclast's great empires, the Knight can wield powerful War Banners, each granting unique bonuses inspired by the different empires of Wraeclast. For instance, raise the Vaal standard to cover the battlefield in blood, empowering attacks and turning the tide of combat in your favour. And when the call to battle sounds, the Knight can unleash a thunderous Mounted Charge, riding a chariot headlong into enemy ranks, scattering foes, and stunning them in the process - making them unable to do any actions for a short time as they wander in drunken stupor. 

With steel in hand and loyal companions at their side, the Knight stands ready to lead the charge and carve a path to victory. The Duelists’ second ascendancy, Master of Arms, will arrive at a later date. 

Raise Your Armies, Siege the Castles, and Conquer Wraeclast

The drums of war echo across Wraeclast as Conquerors of Wraeclast, an all-new league, brings large-scale warfare, castle building, and territorial conquest to Path of Exile 2. Advancing your stronghold prowess will allow you to march upon enemy castles and deploy mighty siege engines to shatter fortress walls, send war elephants charging through enemy ranks, and unleash two-headed Chimeras to rain fire upon opposing forces. 

Beneath the banners of war, a far darker threat is stirring. The rival Maraketh clan are bound by a sinister promise from Severa, an ancient vampire lord, whose followers seek to resurrect her through forbidden blood-infused rituals. To uncover the truth and put an end to her ambitions, players must conquer the three rival clans before marching upon Severa's own stronghold for a final confrontation.

Additional features include:

• Reforging: A new crafting system that allows players to replace unwanted item modifiers with permanently fractured modifiers, including powerful new effects obtained through blood-infused materials.

• Independent Commanders: Recruit up to three commanders to lead armies on Atlas missions, explore new territory, and collect rewards over time.

• Faction Conquest: Join a faction and compete against rival players to capture and control 100 castles scattered across the Atlas. Each conquered territory grants increased item rarity, access to special Hunting Grounds, and strategic advantages that strengthen your faction's hold over Wraeclast.

Unleash New Powers, Unique Items, and Ascendancies

Over 200 new base item types have been added, along with 40 new Unique items and over 70 revamped Uniques that offer powerful modifiers, new abilities, and enhanced visuals. 

The Passive Skill Tree has also undergone a massive overhaul, introducing hundreds of new stats and expanded support for a wide range of combat mechanics. Jewel Sockets have been relocated into passive clusters, while Support Gems have received extensive improvements, including rebalanced abilities.

For those seeking new ways to unleash destruction upon their enemies, new skills such as Molten Forge allow players to summon a blazing anvil and imbue their maces with molten power, unleashing fiery slams upon their foes. Meanwhile, Soul Extraction lets wielders of Chaos magic consume accumulated Decay to deliver devastating bursts of damage.

Several existing classes and Ascendancies have also received major reworks, including the Mercenary, Infernalist, Blood Mage, and Acolyte of Chayula. From commanding demonic companions and manipulating the blood of fallen enemies to summoning deadly clones, these changes introduce new abilities and exciting ways to play.

A Reforged Endgame and Improved Performance

The Atlas Passive Tree has been reforged into 70 more impactful nodes, giving players greater control over their endgame progression. Atlas Passive Points can now be earned progressively by completing objectives, defeating powerful bosses, and conquering special maps.

Beyond the battlefield, significant improvements to the game's performance, delivering up to 25% additional CPU performance gains in the 1.0 update, alongside reduced memory usage and smoother frame pacing. 

The gates of Wraeclast are also opening to more adventurers. Path of Exile 2 is now Steam Deck Verified, allowing players to take their journey on the go. The game will also make its debut on Mac alongside the Full Release, supporting M2-series Macs and newer, M1 Pro systems.

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