Picking the right class in Path of Exile 2‘s Early Access can make your journey through Wraeclast much smoother. As of now, there are six classes available in the game, with six more planned to be released on a later date. These classes affect your weapon, stats, and damage and weakness types. Thus, knowing which one is suited to your preferences or play style will help you greatly. Want to know which classes are strongest in the game? Here’s our Path of Exile 2: Classes Tier List to guide you in your choice.
Path of Exile 2 Classes
The first six playable classes in Path of Exile 2 are:
- Mercenary
- Monk
- Sorceress
- Ranger
- Warrior
- Witch
They all carry different weapon types and have different abilities, making at least one of them the perfect match for you. Since they’re all different from each other, there really is no “worst” or “bad” class in Path of Exile 2. Their ranking may only be based on how easy it is to master them, how quickly they can be leveled, or how fast they can clear content at the beginning of the Early Access. Our Path of Exile 2: Tier List considered these things in rating all the six available classes.
Path of Exile 2: Classes Tier List
S Tier
- Mercenary
Without a doubt, the Mercenary stands as the best class in our Path of Exile 2: Classes Tier List. This crossbow-wielding fighter transforms the game into an isometric shooter experience with impressive versatility.
The Mercenary excels at dealing massive damage with customizable ammo types (shotgun, sniper, and machine gun modes). This class can also adapt to various enemy weaknesses, making it the top class in clearing content and defeating hordes. While their attacks are primarily ranged, the Mercenary can still maintain some decent survivability, so you don’t need to be too careful or scared.
While reloading can slow you down and the class lacks the agility of others, its damage output and flexibility make it perfect for both beginners and veterans.
A Tier
- Ranger
The Ranger excels at precision attacks from a distance. This class has a Bow as its primary weapon, dominating ranged battles. The Ranger has exceptional evasion and mobility and strong single-target damage. It also has good synergy with elemental effects, especially with cold damage, adding power to attacks.
Her squishiness requires careful positioning, but her damage potential makes her viable throughout the game, especially with the Deadeye ascendancy.
- Sorceress
The Sorceress ranks high as an elemental spellcaster who, like the Ranger, also deals range attacks. Her strengths include exceptional AoE (Area of Effect) capabilities yet also powerful single-target spells. Sorceress as a spellcaster naturally deal strong elemental damage and have excellent ailment application. Stay at range, and you’ll melt through enemies with devastating elemental attacks.
However, this class’ drawbacks are considerably worse than that of the Mercenary. They have low health and are mana-dependent, making positioning crucial. Thus, they are placed in this tier.
- Monk
The Monk makes it to the A-tier as well in our Path of Exile 2 Tier List. It’s a complex but rewarding class, and may have been S-Tier if it was more beginner-friendly. This fighter wields a quarterstaff as its weapon, specializing in fast melee attacks. The Monk has unmatched mobility and speed and effective stun capabilities, allowing him to bash-and-dash with only a few scratches. This class also synergizes really well with elements, but especially with lightning.
The Monk requires mechanical skill and careful timing, especially against bosses. However, mastering this class pays off with exceptional clear speed and satisfying gameplay. The Invoker ascendancy particularly enhances the Monk’s elemental capabilities.
B Tier
- Witch
For the lower-ranked classes in our Path of Exile 2 Tier List, the Witch is still a solid option. If you want a unique summoner experience, the Witch lets you command an army of minions while casting spells from safety. She has strong chaos and curse abilities, and brings minion-based gameplay that draws enemy aggression away from you. Her Infernalist ascendancy also provides you two distinct playstyles to enjoy and master.
While her minions aren’t as powerful as direct damage from other classes, she offers a more relaxed gameplay style once you get deeper into the game.
- Warrior
The Warrior ranks low in our tier list too, but that doesn’t mean that these classes are unplayable. As a traditional melee fighter, the Warrior has higher survivability with armor and health, allowing you to hold out longer and make mistakes without too much consequence. It also has strong stun capabilities, and most importantly, potential for impressive boss damage in the endgame.
The Warrior suffers from the inherent challenges of melee combat in ARPGs. You’re always in danger’s path, and without exceptional defenses, you’ll struggle more than ranged counterparts. However, patient players who master boss mechanics can still make this class work.
Conclusion
In this Path of Exile 2: Class Tier List, we considered the versatility, synergies, combat potential, early game performance and damage potential of these classes. It’s important to note that we only ranked based on the current state of Early Access.
Path of Exile 2 will eventually feature twelve classes, with six more coming in the full release: Druid, Duelist, Huntress, Marauder, Shadow, and Templar. Each will bring unique playstyles and abilities to expand your options. For now, you should choose what feels comfortable for your playstyle so you can easily master them!
