PoE 2 Ascendancy Classes & How to Ascend

Here's a detailed overview of PoE 2 Ascendancy Classes and their mechanics, along with how to unlock them efficiently through Ascension Trials:

PoE 2 Ascendancies Overview

Ascendancy Classes are advanced specializations in Path of Exile 2, designed to fine-tune your character's playstyle. Each class offers unique abilities and mechanics that significantly influence gameplay. At launch, six core playable classes are available, each branching into two Ascendancy Classes.

Core Classes and Ascendancy Paths

Warrior

Titan: Master of Slam Skills, excelling at Area of Effect (AoE) damage and reliably stunning enemies. Best suited for tanky, high-impact builds.

Warbringer: Calls upon Ancestral Spirits tied to totems, providing both offensive and defensive utility. Synergizes with Jade effects for protection or eliminating Warcry cooldowns for seamless engagement.

Mercenary

Witch Hunter: Specialist at countering spellcasters. Combines speed and precision with corpse explosion effects, enhancing area clearing.

Gemling Legionnaire: Leverages Skill Gems and Support Gems, gaining unique bonuses from gem setups and additional skill slots.

Sorceress

Chronomancer: Manipulates time with teleportation, status effects like freezing time, and the ability to reset or rewind your actions.

Stormweaver: Elemental magic specialist, focusing on Fire, Cold, and Lightning spells to deal heavy status-based and elemental damage.

Witch

Infernalist: Wields hellish powers, summoning a Hellhound, converting Mana into Infernal Flame, and transforming into a Demon for powerful temporary boosts.

Blood Mage: Sacrifices life for massive power gains. By using health as a resource, this Ascendancy enables explosive offense at the cost of survivability.

Monk

Invoker: Channels Elemental Damage through melee attacks, excelling in Cold and Lightning damage.

Acolyte of Chayula: Utilizes Spirit as Darkness to empower Chaos Damage, absorb damage, and execute destructive abilities.

Ranger

Deadeye: The pinnacle of Bow Skill mastery. Enhances precision and damage, perfect for players favoring ranged combat.

Pathfinder: Focuses on Flask mechanics, enabling devastating Concoctions or Poison-focused Chaos damage for prolonged battles.

Unlocking Ascendancy Classes: Ascension Trials

Ascendancy Classes are unlocked by completing Ascension Trials during the Campaign. These trials vary in mechanics, offering distinct challenges suited to different playstyles. Here's how to progress:

Types of Ascension Trials

Trial of the Sekhemas

Mechanics:

Features a resource called Honour, which decreases when you're hit. Losing all Honour ends your trial attempt.

Choose rooms strategically, tackling diverse monsters and challenges while collecting rewards and bonuses for the trial.

Best for: Players with high evasion or movement-based builds.

Trial of Chaos

Mechanics:

No Honour mechanic, but introduces escalating detrimental effects (environmental hazards, monster buffs, and curses) as you progress.

Focuses on endurance and adaptability rather than precision.

Best for: Tanky or slow-paced characters prioritizing resilience.

Upcoming Trial (Name TBD)

A third trial is planned post-launch, offering even more variety and challenges for unlocking Ascendancies.

Progression Rewards

Completing each trial:

Unlocks your chosen Ascendancy Class.

Grants additional points to invest in your Ascendancy Tree upon completing higher-difficulty trials later in the game.

Summary of Ascendancies

Power Themes: Each class has clear synergies, enabling builds that range from AoE-focused Titans to precise Deadeyes or chaotic Acolytes of Chayula.

Player Choice: You can tackle trials suited to your character's strengths, ensuring accessibility across builds.

With the right preparation, a combination of POE currency management and gear upgrades will ensure your success in mastering your Ascendancy Class and tackling even the toughest trials in Path of Exile 2.