Grinding Gear Games is set to release a major new expansion for Path of Exile 2, arriving on December 13. Titled “The Last of the Druids”, the update will feature a highly anticipated new class, a new dungeon-crafting league mechanic, and a powerful new Pinnacle endgame boss.
The Druid Arrives
Path of Exile 2’s latest class, the Druid, is a hybrid spellcaster and shapeshifter who can transform into three animal forms — wolf, bear, and wyvern — by equipping new Animal Talisman weapons. Each form offers distinct combat styles, from the wolf’s swift attacks and summoned pack, to the bear’s rage-fueled devastation, to the wyvern’s aerial assaults and elemental breath attacks.
In human form, the class focuses on nature-based spellcasting using staves, with skills that support both spell combos and shapeshifted combat. A new Spell Totem skill allows Druids to automate spellcasting for short durations.
The class features two new Ascendancies:
- The Shaman, built around rage-powered elemental spells
- The Oracle, a second specialization expanding caster options
The Fate of the Vaal League
A brand-new challenge league, Fate of the Vaal, sends players into the ancient empire at the height of its power. Set within Atziri’s grand temple, the league tasks players with stopping the queen’s pursuit of eternal youth while confronting her royal defenders.
Players can build their own custom dungeon by powering and modifying rooms within Atziri’s temple. Sacrificing corrupted monsters generates the energy needed to unlock and upgrade these rooms, each containing unique threats and rewards. More than a dozen room types are available, offering currency caches, equipment troves, and specialized challenges.
Players can also harness Vaal corruption through new crafting systems, including a Corruption Altar that adds a second enchantment to corrupted items, though with a 50% risk of destroying them permanently. The league culminates with battles against the Royal Architect and a new Pinnacle Boss encounter with Atziri in her prime.
Free Weekend and Early Access
To celebrate the expansion’s launch on December 12, Path of Exile 2 will be free to play from December 13–16 (SGT) across all platforms. All progress during the free period will be saved. Afterward, players can continue by purchasing an Early Access key or by waiting for the full free-to-play release.
Path of Exile 2: The Last of the Druids is now available in Early Access. Grab your Early Access Supporter Pack, which includes access to the expansion and exclusive cosmetics, on PC, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Epic Games Store.
