Path of Exile 2 is still in early access. Despite this, it has received numerous updates that have added much to the game, with one of the biggest additions being more classes.
Since the game was released in early access, there has been two new classes added, bringing the total up from six in the beginning to eight. Of course, not all of these classes are created equal, and some will be more beneficial to you than others.
Path of Exile 2: 6 Best Early Game Builds
For those struggling to pick a Class in Path of Exile II, this list covers a selection of great early-game builds to get you started!
Which classes do you prefer in Path of Exile 2? Are you one to slash at your foes as a druid, or would you rather stand in the back, shooting your crossbow as a Mercenary? I’m going to rank every class in Path of Exile 2 according to their standing in 2026.
8 Mercenary
Crossbow and Grenades
I’m going to preface this by saying that none of the classes in Path of Exile 2 are bad, but some are simply better than others at doing similar tasks. A good example of this is the ranger and mercenary.
The mercenary is similar to the ranger, but it gets grenades, giving it some nice AOE abilities. Unfortunately, many have described this class as more or less the worst part of all the other classes in the game.
It has a crossbow which is similar to the ranger who wields a bow, but it has a bad reload speed that makes it lackluster. It can do crowd control, but the sorcerer can handle that. The mercenary can be tanky, but so can the warrior. This class seems to lack identity, and it’s something many have pointed out.
7 Monk
Fists of Fury
The monk is quite interesting. With a staff and fists of fury, you can deal a lot of damage, and much of it can be infused with the elements, making you a force to be reckoned with.
The biggest advantages of the monk are the strong speed stats and the power to stun enemies. That price, however, is a body that is built less like a tank and more like a stuffed animal. If you are not good at dodging attacks, you will quickly meet your end.
With the monk being so finicky, requiring a precise hand to operate, it makes it fall short of other classes that are more intuitive and can handle taking a hit without needing to dodge perfectly.
6 Witch
The Dark Side of Magic
Witch is not a class that you pick if you want to be up front in combat. Instead, you will be relying more on summoning the undead and having them fight your battles for you.
This can be very effective, but it is also difficult to learn and more difficult to master. When you figure it all out, this class can be extremely powerful, but the know-how to get it built correctly can be time-consuming and annoying.
Along with this, if you mess up and your skeletons get killed, you will be almost instantly destroyed since you will lack any sort of health. Because of the difficulty and lack of health, this class is put further back on the list.
5 Sorceress
Elemental Power
If you want the raw power of the elements, look no further than the sorcerer. This beastly class offers powerful AOE attacks that can easily control the battlefield, making it one of the best classes for dealing with large groups.
Its ability to stay away from enemies while unleashing a torrent of elemental attacks will decimate foes almost as much as the barrage of poison coming from the ranger. The biggest issue it has is its lack of health, making it very vulnerable at close range.
The sorcerer has a lack of options to get out of the fray if caught in close-range, making it a little less versatile than the ranger when it comes to maneuverability, but it is nearly up there in terms of damage potential and ease of use.
Path Of Exile 2: Druid Build Guide
Bow before the Frozen Fiend!
4 Huntress
Primal Warrior
If you’d rather not stick with a hammer, crossbow, spells, or your fists, you can choose to use a spear, giving you the option of melee attacks or being thrown. This class feels like a mix between the ranger and warrior, but it also lacks the survivability of both.
In the early game, you will struggle with this class, as it doesn’t truly shine until later in the game when you unlock its ascendancy. At that point, you will be doing much better, but it might take you a minute to figure everything out.
A mix of good mobility, a range of build types, and bleed abilities, the huntress can definitely shine in battle in more ways than one. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the health that a melee class should, putting it just barely behind warrior on the list.
3 Warrior
Tanky Slams
The warrior is a beast in combat, utilizing stun abilities to take enemies down quickly. To top it off, you can build your warrior to be a tank, allowing it to take a lot of damage before needing to retreat.
With nothing more than a shield and mace, you can tank boss hits, and dish out some decent blows in return. The high-stun abilities allow you to build up the stun meter, knock enemies off guard, and give you the perfect opening to strike.
Combined with an easy-to-learn moveset, the warrior is a great class to bring into battle. The major downside is that it lacks some of the damage output that other classes have, but it makes up for it with a large health bar and lots of armor.
2 Ranger
Highly Mobile and Powerful
The ranger is what most people want in a class. It is easy to learn, has great power, and attacks from a distance. All of this combined makes it one of the best classes in the game at this time.
The class, being easy to learn, allows anyone to jump into the game, get used to the class, and then work on making a build for it. Along with this, nearly all the abilities are powerful, making it easy to craft a build once you have figured out how it operates.
On top of all of this, your bow allows you to keep a decent distance from enemies, preventing you from needing to dodge constantly. Instead, you can just keep on the move, dodge occasionally, and you will be fine. The only true downside to the ranger is its lack of health and lower number of AOE attacks. Of course, the few AOE attacks it has are very good.
1 Druid
Animalistic Pain
The druid is a literal beast on the battlefield, with the ability to transform into a bear, werewolf, and a wyvern. You aren’t locked into any transformation either, being able to switch freely at any time. On top of this, you can freely use skills that transform you into other forms, giving you a wide range of build options.
If you aren’t a fan of turning into an animal, which is arguably the greatest thing in Path of Exile 2, you can stick to spells, creating more of a warrior-type character that can beat the snot out of anyone using a heavy weapon and magic.
Druid is a bit more difficult to learn, but it is only slightly more difficult than the ranger in terms of class difficulty, and once you get it down, you will be tearing each enemy’s face off.
Path of Exile 2: Best Classes For Solo
It’s a little less dangerous to go alone with these classes.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
