Path of Exile 2's 1.0 full release drops on December 11th, and along with the game going free-to-play, Grinding Gear Games is finally putting swords into every Exile's hands. After a long wait through early access, the sword weapon type arrives together with the Duelist class, a full campaign, and a fresh wave of skills. This guide walks through everything you need to know about swords going into 1.0, from base items and affixes to the skills they can use and the ascendancy classes that swing them best.
PoE 2 Sword Guide (1.0 Full Release)
Swords in Path of Exile 2 are a hybrid Strength and Dexterity weapon, meaning they scale off raw power for damage and finesse for accuracy and speed. They come in two flavors, one-handed and two-handed, and both branches cover a wide spectrum of playstyles, from precise single-target cutting to wide-sweeping cleaves. Because weapons in PoE 2 are class-agnostic, the arrival of swords is a big deal for the entire roster, not only the Duelist. Strength-based fighters like the Warrior and Titan can pick them up for heavy damage builds, while dexterity leaners like the Amazon can also make excellent use of one-handers.
Before jumping into the specifics, the sections below cover the sword base list along with their affixes, the new sword skills that come with 1.0, and the ascendancy classes that pair best with these blades.
PoE 2 Swords List (Affixes)
Swords are split into two categories. One-handed swords can be dual-wielded or paired with a shield or sceptre, while two-handed swords trade off-hand utility for higher raw damage. Below is a snapshot of confirmed sword base types heading into 1.0.
One-Handed Swords
| Base | Damage | Crit | APS | Req. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadsword | 8–13 | 5% | 1.6 | Lvl 6, 10 STR, 10 DEX |
| Charred Shortsword | 19–34 | 5% | 1.6 | Lvl 21, 28 STR, 28 DEX |
| Vampiric Blade | 11–20 | 5% | 1.5 | — |
| Cutlass | 33–49 | 5% | 1.5 | — |
| Commander Sword | 36–60 | 5% | 1.5 | — |
| Sickle Sword | 18–38 | 5% | 1.5 | Lvl 28, 37 STR, 37 DEX |
Two-Handed Swords
| Base | Damage | Crit | APS | Req. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Greatsword | 40–67 | 5% | 1.3 | — |
| Obsidian Greatsword | 49–73 | 5% | 1.25 | Lvl 36, 46 STR, 46 DEX |
| Regalia Longsword | 61–92 | 5% | 1.35 | Lvl 54, 68 STR, 68 DEX |
| Ultra Greatsword | 72–119 | 5% | 1.3 | — |
Common Sword Affixes
Swords roll a mix of local weapon affixes and global stat rolls. Some of the most common modifiers include:
Added Physical, Fire, Cold, or Lightning Damage to attacks with the weapon.
Increased Physical Damage (local prefix, one of the strongest damage rolls).
Increased Attack Speed (local suffix, hugely valuable on faster one-handers).
Increased Critical Strike Chance and to Critical Strike Multiplier.
To Accuracy Rating and Increased Light Radius.
Increased Stun Duration and causes increased Stun Buildup, which pairs well with heavy two-handers.
To Strength and Dexterity, adding both offense and quality of life.
Life gained on hit and Life Leech, ideal for sustained melee combat.
With a solid grasp of the bases and rolls to look for, it's time to look at what these swords can actually do in combat.
PoE 2 Sword Skills
The 1.0 reveal trailer showed off a wide toolkit of sword-based skills, many of them returning favorites from Path of Exile 1 reimagined for PoE 2's combo-driven combat. Because skills are attached to gems rather than classes, every skill listed here can be slotted onto any character who wields a sword.
Attack Skills Confirmed or Teased
Cyclone – The iconic spin-to-win skill returns, now with projectile behavior and Stance-based variations. Blood Stance appears to add flying projectiles, while Sand Stance drops damaging AoE puddles as you move.
Lacerate – A wide dual-blade sweep that carves through enemies in front of you, keeping its bleed-friendly identity from the first game.
Dual Strike – A high single-target attack that appears to be the entry-level pick for dual-wielding sword users.
Cleave – A classic sweeping strike that hits everything in front of you, one of the go-to AoE attacks for two-handers.
Lightning Sweep / Lightning Strike – A shock-flavored area attack that fits well with hybrid physical-lightning builds.
Whirling Blades – A movement-and-damage skill that dashes you through enemies, offering solid mobility for one-handed builds.
Flicker Strike – A teleport-style attack that flashes you between targets, and the sword version looks especially aggressive in the trailer.
Base Strike / Default Attack – A grounded single-target hit that serves as an early-game default for new sword users.
New Mechanics Around Swords
The Duelist showcase also hinted at fresh systems that specifically benefit sword play. A parry mechanic gives melee characters a defensive counter option against boss attacks, rewarding precise timing. On top of that, a Stance system, toggling between a blood-themed offensive stance and a sand-themed defensive stance, changes how certain sword skills behave, similar to how Blood and Sand and Flesh and Stone worked in the first game.
Once you've picked your favorite skills, the next step is choosing the class that lets them hit the hardest.
PoE 2 Sword Class - Ascendancy Classes to Use Swords
The Duelist returns as the flagship sword class in 1.0, sitting at the bottom-middle of the Passive Skill Tree as a hybrid STR/DEX character. That starting location gives easy access to Armour, Evasion, Melee, and Projectile nodes, which fits perfectly with sword-based builds. Two ascendancies were shown alongside the Duelist reveal.
Gladiator
The Gladiator is the one-handed sword and dual-wield specialist of the pair. Based on the trailer footage and its Path of Exile 1 heritage, this ascendancy is expected to lean into sword-and-board play with maxed block, high sustain, and bleed synergies. Expect it to feel great with skills like Dual Strike, Lacerate, and Whirling Blades, where fast attacks and shield-based defense can carry you through both mapping and boss fights.
Slayer
The Slayer is the two-handed powerhouse. The trailer heavily featured a Slayer-style character carving through waves of enemies with a huge two-hander, pointing to the return of overkill damage, life leech, and cull-style mechanics. Big-damage skills like Cleave, Cyclone, and heavy sweeping animations look tailor-made for this ascendancy, giving it a satisfying pace between mob clear and single-target burst.
Other Classes That Can Wield Swords
Because weapons are shared across the roster in PoE 2, several other classes can build around swords without touching the Duelist tree.
Warrior and Titan – Strength-focused fighters can pick up two-handed swords for slow, heavy-hitting builds that leverage stun buildup and physical scaling.
Amazon – A dexterity-heavy class that pairs surprisingly well with one-handed swords, especially for hybrid attack builds that want speed and crit.
Mercenary – Shares the same starting area of the tree as the Duelist, giving it easy access to sword nodes if a hybrid ranged and melee playstyle appeals.
Between the Duelist's Gladiator and Slayer as the dedicated sword ascendancies and the flexibility of every other class picking up the weapon, PoE 2 1.0 is opening the door for sword builds all over the roster. Whether you like flashy dual-wield attacks, weighty two-hand cleaves, or projectile-flinging Cyclone spins, December 11th is when it all comes together.
