The best Path of Exile 2 classes, ranked and tier list

2024-12-06

GamesAction RpgPath of Exile 2The best Path of Exile 2 classes, ranked and tier listWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

The Monk tears through enemies in Path of Exile 2

Jump to:Classes tier listMercenarySorceressMonkRangerWitchWarriorAll upcoming classes

The best Path of Exile 2 classes in our tier list rank the Mercenary as the best class overall, with the Sorceress and Monk just behind in the S-tier, and the Warrior coming last as somebody without enough firepower.

Best classes in Path of Exile 2 and ranked tier list

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

Path of Exile 2 Classes

The best classes in Path of Exile 2 are listed below in order of strongest to weakest, from our experience.

Early Path of Exile 2 bosses and questsPath of Exile 2 Bloated MillerPath of Exile 2 DevourerPath of Exile 2 Rust Runes

Early Path of Exile 2 bosses and quests

Path of Exile 2 Bloated MillerPath of Exile 2 DevourerPath of Exile 2 Rust Runes

Again, there are no classes in POE2 that we’d consider to be actually bad, but there is a clear scope of difference between playing as the Mercenary and the Warrior. There’s very little in the power difference between the Merc, Sorc and Monk respectively, but we would say the Merc clinches it, in part because the Monk is a little trickier to use and get the most out of effectively, especially in the early levels, and the Sorceress is a little too fragile at times.

Below we’ll go into all the existing POE2 classes in order of their strength as listed above, and explain what you’re getting when you pick each one.

Mercenary

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

Path of Exile 2 Classes

The downside is the reloading and lack of agility compared to similar classes like the Ranger, as well as a lack of any real battlefield-wiping powers. Still, the Merc remains lethal, and has a decent health pool to allow for any strikes that hit.

To get the most out of this devastating class, find out the bestPath of Exile 2 Mercenary buildright here!

Sorceress

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

Path of Exile 2 Classes

The Sorc is an elemental spellcaster who serves as the game’s real class cannon, throwing out elemental attacks at anything from a distance - fireballs, lightning bolts, ice storms - to the point where you barely need precision or thought. If there’s a section of the map that isn’t covered in swirling, crackling magic, then correct that.

The two major downsides of the Sorceress are the dependence on mana, perhaps more than any other class, and their extremely low health. Again, Path of Exile 2 tends to be kinder to ranged classes and that’s one of the reasons the Sorc is so highly thought of, but if an enemy breaks through your ranged assault and gets in your face, you need to get away quickly.

To make the most out of this class, check out our guide to the bestPath of Exile 2 Sorceress build, which focuses on ice and freezing foes to great effect.

Monk

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

Path of Exile 2 Classes

The Monk is perhaps the strangest and most anomalous class, though one that can be incredibly effective if used right. Based around fast movement, evasion and melee combat, the Monk has you sprint at enemies and hit them with a variety of attacks that build stun or leave them with special conditions, while other attacks cause special effects for you and enemies alike when you land a killing blow or meet some other condition.

The Monk is complex though, built around precision, the right attack for the right moment, and using special abilities to where they’ll be most effective. Not only that, but you have to do that from the fray itself, rather than throwing spells from a distance. The Monk’s ability to dash with many abilities is invaluable here - get it right and you’ll be unstoppable. There’s a lot of builds and variations as to how you make a Monk, so maybe check up onhow to respec in Path of Exile 2for some more flexibility.

To make the bestPath of Exile 2 Monk buildpossible, our guide will help you, with skills based around lightning and speed.

Ranger

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

Path of Exile 2 Classes

The bestPath of Exile 2 ranger buildis similar in nature to the Mercenary - keeping your distance and firing shots with selective elemental powers - but where the Mercenary is more for the mid-range and can survive at least a little up close, the Ranger is dependent on keeping far away from enemies, with some abilities based on quick retreats and creating distance, while others slow foes with ice.

Witch

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

Path of Exile 2 Classes

The Witch is the class you pick if you want to outsource combat, summoning skeletons and undead to attack foes and reanimating the corpses of those they kill, while you remain at a distance and whittle away with spells and negative effects and conditions.

The problem is that the Witch’s minions aren’t quite as lethal as we’d like them to be. They do hurt foes and often draw aggression to keep enemies off you (a very useful feature), but you can’t really control them and their damage is never quite as high as we’d hope - not to mention that many of your abilities are dependent on fresh corpses, which aren’t always there.

Warrior

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

Path of Exile 2 Classes

The Warrior is… hard to recommend if you’re determined to make the most out of Path of Exile 2. A tank that isn’t quite tanky enough, this barbarian is designed to survive combat with shield blocks and high health, stunning foes with melee attacks and heavy swings.

He’s technically the class best suited to melee, but he’s still not good enough at it: this is a game that favours distance and mobility, and it’s not long before the Warrior can find himself getting overrun to the point where even his survivability can’t handle it (in part because you don’t have the firepower to thin out the opponents fast enough).

All upcoming classes in Path of Exile 2

(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games)

Path of Exile 2 Classes

There are six more class options that will be added in the full release of Path of Exile 2, as follows:

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

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1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

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Best classes in Path of Exile 2 and ranked tier list

Mercenary

Sorceress

Monk

Ranger

Witch

Warrior

All upcoming classes in Path of Exile 2

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