With Path of Exile 2 leaving Early Access on December 11, 2026, players want to know which class and ascendancy combos will carry them through the campaign and into the endgame. Our early PoE 2 1.0 Tier List ranks every class and all 26 ascendancies based on Early Access ladder data, build expert consensus, and the confirmed 1.0 changes from ExileCon.
PoE 2 1.0 Tier List - Best Classes & Ascendancies Ranked
The 1.0 release brings two new classes (Duelist and Shadow), two new acts, a passive tree overhaul with hundreds of new stats, reworks for Infernalist, Blood Mage, Acolyte of Chayula, and the Mercenary reload system, plus a massive support gem rebalance. Crit chance has been removed entirely from the passive tree and is now sourced from gear and jewels only, which will reshuffle a lot of build math. With 10 classes and 26 ascendancies at launch, picking the right starter matters more than ever. Let's start with the base classes themselves.
PoE 2 1.0 Class Tier List
1. Shadow (New Class, S Tier)
Shadow is the new dagger and trap class, and early playtests label it the most fun class at launch. Frost traps are already drawing "menace" tier reactions from hands-on previews, poison dagger stacking with Herald of Plague is wild, and the Shroud stealth skill (level one, dagger required) resets on kills for near-constant repositioning. The combo potential with traps exploding in the order you throw them puts Shadow immediately into the top tier of new characters.
2. Mercenary (S Tier)
Mercenary sits at the top of the heap thanks to Gemling Legionnaire eating a third of the Early Access ladder. The reload rework is a huge quality-of-life upgrade: ammunition now reloads in the background while you fire off another ammo type, so swapping between loadouts feels fluid instead of clunky. Mercenary covers crossbow grenadiers, Supporting Fire tacticians, and Witchhunter builds, giving it enormous flexibility going into launch.
3. Monk (S Tier)
Monk was the most-played class in the first two weeks of 0.5 and keeps that momentum rolling into 1.0. Quarterstaff combos with Falling Thunder and Whirling Assault still clear screens with ease, and the Acolyte of Chayula rework adds a Quarterstaff-wielding clone companion plus a soul-transfer ability that revives you in your clone's body when you die. Few classes offer this much raw mobility and burst in the same package.
4. Sorceress (S Tier)
Sorceress remains a top pick thanks to Disciple of Varashta Djinn minions, which Maxroll rates S tier for league starts. Stormweaver still functions as a reliable elemental caster, and Frost Bomb was a top-five skill in 0.5. The crit-from-gear change hits Stormweaver harder than Varashta since Djinn minion builds lean more on raw spell scaling than crit stacking.
5. Huntress (S Tier)
Huntress got a huge boost from Runes of Aldur and keeps that boost going into 1.0. Spirit Walker led that league at 28.4% share, and spear builds got new passive support for impale-fueled bleed and poison interactions. Amazon offers a stronger late game once geared, while Ritualist still needs help to come online quickly.
6. Duelist (New Class, A Tier)
Duelist is the new 1.0 sword class with Ready, Sand, and Blood Stances. Preview impressions suggest it feels more stuttery than Shadow, with a parry-then-stance combo loop that works but doesn't flow as smoothly. Knight ascendancy adds a Squire companion you can equip with any martial weapon and skill, War Banners, and the Honorbound mechanic that generates valor waves for extra damage. Bleed stacking looks viable, but the overall rhythm lags behind Shadow in early playtests.
7. Druid (A Tier)
Druid sits here mostly because Oracle Grim Pillars spell totems are hands-off and tanky, making it one of the safest league starters in the game. Shaman shapeshifting is powerful too, and the shift from three to six charm slots could push Shaman up a tier if Sacred Flow keeps giving 40 extra spirit per empty charm slot. GGG has also hinted a third Druid ascendancy may land before launch if time allows.
8. Warrior (A Tier)
Warrior gets a huge buff with new passive nodes focused on fissures, ancestral boosting, and totems, plus the Molten Forge anvil skill that drops from the sky for strike-triggered fire explosions. Titan is still the headline ascendancy with its 50% more bonus on smaller passive nodes, and Warbringer gets a shot in the arm from the Shield Wall starter build.
9. Ranger (A Tier)
Ranger keeps its spot thanks to Deadeye, which is still the king of bow clear. Ice Shot remains A tier while Lightning Arrow dropped to B after Early Access tuning. Pathfinder is a reliable poison and flask starter and will likely benefit from the new impale-into-poison passive nodes added to the shadow side of the tree.
10. Witch (A Tier)
Witch rises on the back of two confirmed reworks. Infernalist now gets a demonic minion that can cast any spell you give it, up to three Infernal Hounds with a charge-and-explode command, and Covenant skills that trade sacrifices for Demon Lord favors. Blood Mage picks up Sanguine Tides, the Dominate curse that turns dead enemies into permanent minions, Exsanguinate blood tendrils, and a Corrupted Blood rework where afflicted enemies take double damage from all sources.
PoE 2 1.0 Ascendancy Tier List
Here is the full 26-ascendancy ranking based on league-starter viability, Forbidden Rites ladder share, Maxroll expert tier placements, and the confirmed 1.0 reworks.
1. Gemling Legionnaire (S Tier)
Gemling Legionnaire ate 32.7% of the Forbidden Rites ladder, and the reason is simple: gem flexibility lets almost any skill work. Mercenary's reload rework makes ammo-swap builds smoother than ever. The one risk is the support gem rebalance, since Gemling's power lives mostly inside support gems.
2. Martial Artist (S Tier)
Martial Artist was the most-played ascendancy at the start of 0.5 and still holds 10.5% share. Both Whirling Assault and Falling Thunder are strong league starters, and Quarterstaff combos remain some of the best clearing tools in the game.
3. Disciple of Varashta (S Tier)
Disciple of Varashta sits at 7.2% share and is Maxroll's safest S-tier opener. Djinn minions do the work for you while you position, and the ascendancy rarely needs expensive gear to come online.
4. Oracle (S Tier)
Oracle holds 7.3% of the ladder and functions as the tankiest safe start in the game. Grim Pillars spell totems let you sit back and watch things die, which is ideal for new acts five and six where the bosses hit hard.
5. Spirit Walker (S Tier)
Spirit Walker led the Runes of Aldur league at 28.4% and holds 6.8% share in Forbidden Rites. Spear clear is still some of the fastest in the game, and the new impale-bleed passive nodes only improve the ceiling.
6. Deadeye (S Tier)
Deadeye hovers at 6.0% share and remains the strongest bow ascendancy. Ice Shot is A tier for league starts, and the ranged safety makes new boss fights easier to learn.
7. Titan (S Tier)
Titan sits at 2.7% share but punches well above that number. The 50% more bonus on smaller passive nodes is one of the strongest keystones in the game, and the new Molten Forge anvil skill gives Warrior a tier-one clearing option.
8. Infiltrator (New Ascendancy, S Tier)
Infiltrator is the trap-focused Shadow ascendancy, and early hands-on reports put it at the top of the Shadow lineup. Trap chains that explode in order unlock combo potential like frost-into-concussive shatter, and rearm support gives traps a 30% chance to re-trigger. Hazard scaling plus Herald of Ice makes this one of the most promising new picks for 1.0.
9. Infernalist (A Tier)
Infernalist moves up from Maxroll's 0.5.5 B tier thanks to the announced rework. The spell-casting demon minion, three Infernal Hounds with charge-and-explode, and Covenant skills that trade sacrifices for demonic power all push it into A tier. If the rework underwhelms on patch notes, it drops back to B.
10. Acolyte of Chayula (A Tier)
Acolyte of Chayula gets a Quarterstaff-wielding clone companion plus a soul-transfer ability that revives you in your clone's body. The old darkness nodes moved to the main passive tree, so you can still grab them if you want. Decay-based explosions on kill tie the whole package together.
11. Assassin (New Ascendancy, A Tier)
Assassin is the dagger-focused Shadow ascendancy, pairing well with poison stacking and backstab mechanics. Daggers have a 15% base crit chance (versus 5% on swords), which matters more now that crit has moved off the passive tree. If you want melee Shadow instead of traps, this is the pick.
12. Knight (New Ascendancy, A Tier)
Knight is the Duelist ascendancy that comes with the Squire companion, War Banners, and Honorbound valor waves. You can equip the Squire with any martial weapon and skill, giving you a second damage source that mirrors your build or complements it with impale or ignited ground effects. Honorbound triggers from banner use and boss presence, chaining into cyclone wave combos.
13. Witchhunter (A Tier)
Witchhunter is solid for crossbow and projectile builds, but Gemling simply does the Mercenary job better. Still a safe A-tier pick if you want to avoid gem shuffling.
14. Lich (A Tier)
Lich is the chaos caster ascendancy with one of the highest ceilings in the game. Needs more gear investment than S-tier picks but scales hard once online.
15. Pathfinder (A Tier)
Pathfinder remains a reliable poison and flask starter. The new impale-into-poison passive nodes and the shattering concoction playstyle make this one of the more fun A-tier starts.
16. Smith of Kitava (A Tier)
Smith of Kitava offers Warrior's tankiest option with slower clear. Good for players who want survival over speed.
17. Shaman (A Tier)
Shaman shapeshifting is strong, but Oracle is the safer open. If the six charm slot change keeps Sacred Flow at 40 spirit per empty slot, Shaman could jump to S tier at launch. 240 bonus spirit for existing would be absurd.
18. Tactician (A Tier)
Tactician's Supporting Fire remains an A-tier league starter build. The reload rework affects all three Mercenary ascendancies, and Tactician could gain the most from faster ammo cycling.
19. Amazon (A Tier)
Amazon offers strong spear damage once geared but has a slower start than Spirit Walker. Pick this as your Huntress second character, not your first.
20. Master-at-Arms (New Ascendancy, B Tier)
Master-at-Arms is the second Duelist ascendancy, and details are still thin. Expected to lean into sword stance combos and bleed stacking, but without a strong companion or standout mechanic like Knight has, it currently sits in B tier until patch notes clarify.
21. Stormweaver (B Tier)
Stormweaver holds 3.5% ladder share and remains a reliable elemental caster. Frost Bomb was a top-five skill in 0.5, but the crit rework hurts raw spell damage ceilings.
22. Warbringer (B Tier)
Warbringer is Maxroll C tier as an ascendancy, but its Shield Wall build is A tier on the starter list, so B is the fair split.
23. Blood Mage (B Tier)
Blood Mage holds 2.6% share and gets new skills, new curses, and the Corrupted Blood rework at 1.0. Sanguine Tides, Dominate, and Exsanguinate could push it up to A tier after patch notes, but the risk of blood-cost downsides keeps it in B for now.
24. Invoker (C Tier)
Invoker is overshadowed by Martial Artist in nearly every build archetype. Playable but not where you'd start.
25. Chronomancer (C Tier)
Chronomancer is Maxroll D as a starter, offering great utility and low damage. The Slowmaxing Chronomancer is one of the most fun builds in the game, just not the fastest.
26. Ritualist (C Tier)
Ritualist needs gear to come online and starts slower than other Huntress picks. Fun as a second character once you have currency.
What Could Change the Tier List After Patch Notes
Four things could reshuffle this list once the full 1.0 patch notes drop about a week before launch. The support gem rebalance is the biggest risk to Gemling Legionnaire, since Gemling's power lives mostly inside support gems. The crit chance removal from the passive tree hits every build that previously scaled crit through nodes, so expect dagger-wielding ascendancies (daggers have 15% base crit versus swords at 5%) to feel better than before. The passive tree overhaul moves jewel sockets into clusters, meaning every build's pathing changes. And the reload rework affects all three Mercenary ascendancies in ways we can't fully measure until people play it.
Final Pick for 1.0 Launch
For the smoothest start on December 11, pick one of the eight S-tier ascendancies and keep the Duelist for your second character once you have currency to fund it. New classes historically launch with fewer uniques built around them and thinner passive tree support, but Shadow Infiltrator is the exception thanks to how strong traps already feel in early playtests. If you want proven safety, Gemling Legionnaire or Martial Artist is the pick. If you want to try something new on day one, Infiltrator with frost traps is the most promising opener of the four new ascendancies, and the Knight's Squire companion is the most forgiving Duelist option.
Check back after the full 1.0 patch notes land for the updated rankings with real build math.
