The Dawn of the Hunt is the first major content update in Path of Exile 2, bringing a brand-new class along with five new Ascendancy classes. This update also introduces a variety of Unique Items and Support Gems, followed by significant improvements to Endgame systems, Endgame content, and much more.
Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunted 0.2.0 launches on April 4 at 12 PM PDT for PC and consoles. Before the release, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) will host a live broadcast on March 27 at 12 PM PDT. The stream will feature a Q&A session, leading up to the unveiling of the full patch notes.
New Playable Class: The Huntress
The Huntress is an Azmeri warrior skilled in spear combat. Exiled from her homeland for using a skill gem to protect her village, she defies tradition with her dexterous fighting style. She excels in both melee and ranged attacks, swiftly dashing in and out of battle to strike with precision.
Five New Ascendancy Classes
Dawn of the Hunt introduces five new Ascendancy classes—three for existing classes and two exclusive to the newly added Huntress. These Ascendancies bring fresh mechanics and playstyles, expanding character customization and strategic depth.
The Ritualist
The Ritualist, one of the Huntress’s Ascendancy classes, wields the power of blood sacrifice and corruption. She taps into forbidden Azmeri traditions, using lifeforce manipulation and plague to devastate her enemies.
The Amazon
The Amazon, an Ascendancy of the Huntress, is a master of precision and elemental power. Trained as an elite hunter, she channels raw fury into devastating attacks, using her unparalleled skill to protect the Azmeri Elders with lethal accuracy.
The Lich
The Lich, an Ascendancy of the Witch, embraces the dark arts by sacrificing their own soul to master the forces of undeath and chaos. Specializing in Chaos damage and Curses, the Lich can use their life force to empower their energy, becoming a harbinger of death and destruction. Through control of these dark powers, the Lich wreaks havoc on their enemies, bending life and death to their will.
Smith of Kitava
The Smith of Kitava, an Ascendancy of the Warrior, forges weapons of destruction through fire and suffering. Embracing sheer power, they elevate their smithing skills to new heights by channeling the insatiable force of Kitava. Masters of weapon creation, they craft instruments of war, using raw strength and dark rituals to fuel their deadly creations.
Tactician
The Tactician, an Ascendancy of the Mercenary, brings military-grade brutality to the battlefield. A former Blackguard Elite, the Tactician uses their training to decimate enemies and earn a lucrative income. Combining strategic thinking with ruthless combat, they excel at dominating Wraeclast’s monstrous forces while securing their wealth.
New Support Gems and Their Effects
| Support Gem | Effect |
|---|---|
| Derange | Supports Skills which you can use yourself which can deal damage. Supported Skills gain an Energy Shield cost equal to your Intelligence, while also dealing more non-Ailment Damage over time based off of your Intelligence. |
| Volcanic Eruption | Supports Melee Strike Skills. Supported Skills trigger Volcanic Eruption on Hit against Ignited Enemies. |
| Embitter | Supports Skills which can Damage Enemies with Hits. Causes all sources of Damage Gained to instead be treated as Damage Gained as extra Cold for Supported Skills. |
| Concoct | Supports Skills which you use yourself which Damage enemies with Hits. Supported Skills consume a percentage of your maximum Life Flask charges, inflicting more Powerful Bleeding based on Life Flask charges consumed. |
| Commiserate | Supports Skills you use yourself which can cause Damaging Hits. Supported Skills inflict more powerful Ailments if you are afflicted with those ailments at the time of use, while also removing from you any Ailment that they inflict. |
| Battershout | Supports Warcry Skills. Supported Skills trigger Physical Damage explosion on Enemies within their range who have Fully Broken Armor but cannot themselves Break Armor. |
| Perfection | Supports skills which have a benefit for Perfectly Timing their use. On successfully executing Perfect Timing with Supported Skills, gain Perfection (6-second, 3-stack buff granting 5% more Damage per stack), which is a powerful damage buff. However, failing to execute any Perfect Timing (even with skills not supported by Perfection) will remove all Perfection on you. |
New Unique Items and Their Modifiers
| Unique Item | Modifiers |
|---|---|
| Prism Guardian (Sectarian Crest Shield) | % increased Armor and Energy Shield + to Dexterity +% to all Elemental Resistances +1 to Maximum Spirit per 50 Maximum Life |
| The Deepest Tower (Spiritbone Crown) | % increased Armor and Energy Shield + to Maximum Life +% to Chaos Resistance Enemies in your Presence count as being on Low Life |
| The Bringer of Rain (Decorated Helm) | % Increased Armour and Evasion + to Accuracy Rating Life Regeneration per second Can’t use Chest armor You can wield Two-Handed Axes, Maces, and Swords in one Hand |
| The Hammer of Faith (Giant Maul) | % Increased Physical Damage % Reduced Attack Speed +% to all Elemental Resistances % increased Mana Regeneration Rate Gain a random shrine buff every 10 seconds |
