Path of Exile 2
A free to play action RPG where you play the campaign acts, then chase loot forever in the Atlas of Worlds. Deep passive tree, gem-driven skills, and a Trial-gated Ascendancy.
Progression at a glance
| # | Stage | Region | Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Act 1 | Coastal forest and town, drowned and undead | Campaign start, first skill and support gems |
| 2 | Act 2 | Vastiri desert and mining regions | Trial of the Sekhemas: Ascendancy plus points 1 and 2 |
| 3 | Act 3 | Jungle and wetlands, ends at Doryani | Trial of Chaos: Ascendancy points 3 and 4 |
| 4 | Act 4 | In the current build, zones still changing | Newer campaign content, final layout unconfirmed |
| 5 | Interludes | Bridge content after the acts | Path to endgame (replaced the old Cruel run) |
| 6 | Ziggurat Refuge | Endgame hub with the Map Device | Atlas access after finishing the campaign |
| 7 | Atlas of Worlds | Map based endgame, Waystones open Maps | Atlas passive tree, Precursor Towers, pinnacle bosses |
Early Access, Content Update 0.5.x "Return of the Ancients" with the "Runes of Aldur" league mechanic, live since May 29, 2026. Full 1.0 is targeted for late 2026, so treat act count, boss names, and the meta as version-sensitive.
Top tips
- Keep resistances capped. Campaign progress applies resistance penalties, and low resistances are the most common cause of dying.
- Do not neglect Life, and Energy Shield if your build uses it. Combat is deliberate and hits hard.
- Manage Spirit deliberately. Reserving it for auras, minions, or meta gems limits what else you can run.
- Use weapon swap. Assign skills per weapon set and allocate passive points per set for two playstyles on one character.
- Do the Trials on time. Unlock your Ascendancy in Act 2, then grab points in Act 3.
- In the Trial of the Sekhemas, avoid hits. Honour depletes on being hit and the run ends at 0.
- Refill flasks by fighting. They recharge from kills, so stay in combat rather than hoarding charges.
- Follow a build guide for your first character. The passive tree and gem system are deep.
- Because this is Early Access, expect balance swings and character resets between major leagues. Read patch notes before starting.
Guides
builds
- Build Anatomy quick
The five parts of every PoE 2 build: skill gem, support gems, passive path, gear stats, and Ascendancy. The framework, not a meta list.
- Starter Archetypes quick
The playable classes and their Ascendancies, plus durable beginner-friendly archetypes by damage type. Meta picks are labeled version-sensitive.
progression
- Campaign to Maps quick
The act order and the jump from campaign to the Atlas endgame, on one page. Current Early Access build (0.5.x).
regions
- The Acts deep
The campaign acts and their regions in the current Early Access build, plus what is planned for full release.
bosses
- Act and Pinnacle Bosses deep
The notable act bosses on the campaign path and the endgame pinnacle bosses of the current Atlas, as confirmed by the 0.5 build.
systems
- Passive Tree and Gems deep
How power works in PoE 2: the shared passive tree, skill and support gems, Spirit reservation, and weapon swap.
- Ascendancy and the Atlas deep
The Trials that unlock your Ascendancy subclass, and the Atlas of Worlds mapping endgame with its own passive tree and pinnacle bosses.