A new era of carnage begins in Path of Exile 2 with the release of Dawn of the Hunt on April 4 at 12 PM PT/3 PM ET. This expansion for Path of the Exile 2 brings fresh challenges, powerful new abilities, and significant endgame overhauls that promise to redefine the experience for both new and veteran players. While everyone will be finding out about this new expansion very soon, Grinding Gear Games have myself along with a few others an early look at what they have in store… and damn if I can’t wait to dive back into the world of Path of Exile 2. Truth be told, I had burnt myself out, but with everything that is on the horizon, I’m ready to get back to it.
At the heart of this update is the Huntress, a fierce and agile warrior armed with a spear for offense and a buckler for defense. Her hybrid combat style allows for seamless transitions between ranged and melee attacks, making every battle feel like a relentless pursuit. She can blind enemies with Whirling Slash, stun them with Parry, and command tamed beasts for added tactical depth.
With a variety of elemental spear attacks and movement-based abilities, the Huntress offers one of Path of Exile 2’s most dynamic playstyles yet, and according to Grinding Gear Games’ Jonathan Rogers, Game Director of Path of Exile 2, the Huntress also has the most combo strings of any currently in-game character. That sounds like something I’d love to see in action for myself.
Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt also introduces five new Ascendancy Classes, each offering unique playstyles and mechanics. The Ritualist (Huntress) harnesses blood sacrifice and plague to decimate enemies, while the Amazon (Huntress) is a master of precision and elemental fury. The Smith of Kitava (Warrior) crafts powerful weapons infused with destruction, the Tactician (Mercenary) commands the battlefield with strategic precision, and the Lich (Witch) embraces chaos and undeath, enhancing their power at the sake of using her own life. Each of these Ascendancies opens up new build possibilities, encouraging experimentation and creativity.
There are also new skill and support gems that will expand the ways players can shape their characters. The highly anticipated Raise Spectre gem allows players to summon and control the souls of fallen monsters, while Summon Rhoa introduces a rideable companion that aids in combat. There will be OVER 100 new Support Gems! If you thought there were too many support gems, get ready for your mind to melt with these new additions.
High-level players will find plenty to chase with new Unique Items and Charms designed for mid-to-endgame progression. Items like Chernobog’s Pillar convert block chance into fire damage, while The Coming Calamity grants free Elemental Herald skills at the cost of enemy resistances. These additions ensure that high-tier content remains rewarding and diverse.
The endgame experience has been significantly overhauled to introduce more dynamic challenges. Towers have been reworked to be fewer but far more impactful, while Tablets now scale more aggressively in higher-tier maps, allowing for even deeper customization. Corrupted Maps present a new pinnacle challenge, featuring a terrifying boss that, once defeated, leaves behind crystallized power to enhance the Atlas Skill Tree.
As players venture through Wraeclast, they may encounter Rogue Exiles—characters who, like you, have been exiled and, well, they plain don’t like you. They will be hostile on first sight and like you, they will fight using skills and gear similar to actual players: dodge rolling, special abilities, everything. These will be tough encounters should you come across these Rogue Exiles. However, these unpredictable battles can result in valuable loot if the player emerges victorious. Sounds like a blast? Doesn’t it?
For those seeking even greater rewards, new Unique Strongboxes and Maps introduce high-risk, high-reward encounters. Ogham’s Legacy revives slain creatures with additional modifiers, making each battle increasingly difficult, while Fractured Lake warps reality, forcing players to face mirrored enemies in a surreal battleground.
With so many new additions, Dawn of the Hunt delivers a fresh and exciting experience for all Path of Exile 2 players. Whether you’re looking to master a new playstyle, push through reworked endgame challenges, or hunt for powerful new loot, this expansion promises to be one of the most thrilling updates yet. It’s also a good time for new players to jump in or for experienced players to re-roll due to all the updates and balance changes. Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt will change everything you thought about the game.
Get ready. The Dawn of the Hunt is upon us!
