Path of Exile 2 has revolutionized the ARPG landscape with its diverse character classes and build possibilities. As November 2025 progresses, players are constantly seeking the most powerful builds to conquer Wraeclast’s challenges. This comprehensive tier list ranks all character classes based on their effectiveness in endgame content, leveling speed, versatility, and overall power potential. Whether you’re a newcomer or veteran exile, this guide will help you choose the perfect class for your playstyle and goals.
Before diving into the tier list, it’s essential to understand the criteria used for these rankings:
| Name | Tier | Key Stats | Special Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sorceress | S | High Intelligence, Mana Efficiency | Elemental Mastery, Spell Scaling |
| Mercenary | S | Balanced Attributes, High Damage | Ranged Specialization, Traps |
| Beastmaster | S | Strength, Minion Scaling | Pet Command, Beast Transformation |
| Name | Tier | Key Stats | Special Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monk | A | Dexterity, Attack Speed | Martial Arts, Stance System |
| Huntress | A | Dexterity, Critical Strike | Bow Skills, Animal Companions |
| Warrior | A | Strength, High Defense | Stance Dancing, Warcries |
| Name | Tier | Key Stats | Special Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Witch | B | Intelligence, Curse Effectiveness | Dark Magic, Minion Support |
| Ranger | B | Dexterity, Evasion | Arrow Techniques, Traps |
| Duelist | B | Strength/Dexterity Hybrid | Weapon Specialization, Frenzy |
| Name | Tier | Key Stats | Special Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marauder | C | Strength, Tankiness | Juggernaut Stance, Bleed Effects |
| Templar | C | Strength/Intelligence Hybrid | Holy Magic, Defensive Auras |
| Shadow | C | Dexterity/Intelligence Hybrid | Stealth, Poison/DoT Effects |
| Name | Tier | Key Stats | Special Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scion | D | Balanced Attributes | Versatility, Ascendant Specialization |
The Sorceress stands at the pinnacle of Path of Exile 2’s meta with her devastating elemental capabilities and exceptional scaling potential. With access to fire, cold, and lightning spells, she can adapt to any content type while maintaining top-tier damage output. Her mana efficiency has been significantly improved in 2025, allowing for sustained casting without heavy investment. The Sorceress excels at both single-target and area-of-effect damage, making her perfect for bossing and clearing. While she can be squishy early on, proper positioning and defensive layers make her nearly unkillable in the endgame. For players seeking maximum damage output with satisfying spellcasting mechanics, the Sorceress remains the undisputed queen of Wraeclast.
The Mercenary has risen to S-tier with the 2025 updates that enhanced his trap and ranged capabilities. This class offers unparalleled flexibility with access to both physical and elemental damage types, allowing players to adapt to any encounter. His trap mechanics have been completely reworked, providing better AI interaction and increased damage scaling. What sets the Mercenary apart is his exceptional clear speed combined with respectable single-target damage, making him ideal for both mapping and bossing. The class also boasts impressive defensive options through dodge and evasion mechanics. While he requires more active playstyle compared to some other classes, the Mercenary rewards skilled players with some of the fastest clear speeds in the game.
The Beastmaster has clawed his way to the top tier with significant improvements to pet AI and minion scaling in 2025. This class offers a unique playstyle that focuses on commanding powerful beasts to fight alongside you. What makes the Beastmaster exceptional is his ability to transform into different animal forms, each with unique abilities and playstyles. His minions have received substantial buffs to their survivability and damage output, making them viable even in the most challenging endgame content. The Beastmaster also provides excellent party support through his beast auras and buffs. While the class requires some micromanagement, players who master the Beastmaster will find themselves with one of the most versatile and powerful builds in Path of Exile 2.
The Monk delivers a satisfying melee combat experience with his lightning-fast attacks and fluid martial arts combos. His unique stance system allows players to switch between offensive and defensive modes on the fly, providing excellent adaptability to different situations. The Monk’s attack speed scaling is among the best in the game, allowing for satisfying gameplay that feels both responsive and powerful. His main strength lies in his ability to dodge attacks while maintaining constant pressure on enemies. While the Monk can struggle with some of the tankiest bosses without specific gear, his mobility and damage output make him excellent for clearing content quickly. Players who enjoy fast-paced melee combat will find the Monk to be an incredibly rewarding choice.
The Huntress combines traditional bow skills with unique animal companion mechanics to create a versatile ranged playstyle. Her primary strength lies in her exceptional single-target damage, making her one of the best boss killers in Path of Exile 2. The Huntress also benefits from excellent mobility through her movement skills and evasive maneuvers. Her animal companions provide additional utility and damage, creating a synergistic playstyle that’s both engaging and effective. While her clear speed isn’t quite at the level of S-tier classes, her ability to quickly eliminate dangerous threats makes her invaluable for difficult content. The Huntress requires careful positioning and resource management but rewards players with satisfying gameplay and impressive damage output.
The Warrior stands as a bastion of strength and resilience in Path of Exile 2’s meta. His ability to switch between different stances provides excellent versatility, allowing players to adapt to various combat situations. The Warrior excels at both dealing and taking damage, making him an excellent choice for players who prefer a frontline playstyle. His warcry abilities provide powerful buffs and debuffs that can turn the tide of any battle. While the Warrior may lack the raw damage output of some S-tier classes, his survivability and consistent performance make him a reliable choice for all content types. The Warrior is particularly effective in party play where he can serve as a tank while providing valuable buffs to allies.
The Witch specializes in dark magic and curse effects, offering a unique playstyle focused on debuffing enemies and supporting allies. Her curse effectiveness has been improved in 2025, making her a valuable asset in party play. The Witch also has access to powerful minion abilities, though they don’t scale quite as well as the Beastmaster’s pets. Her main strength lies in her ability to weaken enemies significantly, making them vulnerable to damage from all sources. While the Witch can struggle with single-target damage when played solo, she shines in group content where her support capabilities can be fully utilized. Players who enjoy a more strategic, control-oriented playstyle will find the Witch to be a rewarding choice.
The Ranger offers a traditional archery experience with a focus on precision and tactical positioning. Her arrow techniques provide various utility options, from piercing multiple enemies to applying status effects. The Ranger also has access to trap skills, though they don’t scale as well as the Mercenary’s. Her primary strength lies in her ability to deal consistent damage from a safe distance, making her suitable for players who prefer a more cautious approach. While the Ranger’s damage output is respectable, she can struggle with some of the game’s tankiest bosses without specific gear investments. The Ranger also requires good positioning and resource management to be effective, making her slightly more challenging to play compared to some other classes.
The Duelist combines strength and dexterity to create a versatile melee combatant capable of adapting to various situations. His weapon specialization allows him to excel with different weapon types, providing excellent build diversity. The Duelist’s frenzy mechanics reward aggressive playstyle with increased attack speed and damage. His main strength lies in his balanced approach to both offense and defense, making him a reliable choice for most content types. While the Duelist doesn’t excel in any particular area compared to higher-tier classes, his versatility makes him a solid choice for players who enjoy experimenting with different weapon types and playstyles. The Duelist is particularly effective for players who enjoy fast-paced melee combat without the complexity of some other classes.
The Marauder embodies pure strength and tankiness, making him an excellent choice for players who prioritize survivability above all else. His Juggernaut stance provides impressive damage reduction and crowd control immunity, allowing him to stand firm against even the toughest enemies. The Marauder’s bleed effects have been improved in 2025, giving him better damage potential than before. His main strength lies in his ability to withstand tremendous punishment while dealing consistent damage. While the Marauder’s damage output falls short compared to higher-tier classes, his survivability makes him a viable choice for hardcore players or those new to Path of Exile 2. The Marauder is particularly effective for players who enjoy a straightforward, tanky playstyle without worrying too much about positioning.
The Templar combines strength and intelligence to create a unique hybrid class focused on holy magic and defensive capabilities. His aura abilities provide valuable buffs to both himself and allies, making him useful in party play. The Templar’s holy magic offers decent damage output with built-in utility effects. His main strength lies in his balanced approach to both offense and defense, with access to powerful defensive layers through his armor and energy shield. While the Templar doesn’t excel in any particular area compared to higher-tier classes, his versatility makes him a solid choice for players who enjoy a supportive role with decent damage output. The Templar is particularly effective for players who enjoy a more calculated, strategic approach to combat.
The Shadow combines dexterity and intelligence to create a stealthy assassin focused on poison and damage over time effects. His stealth abilities provide excellent utility for positioning and escaping dangerous situations. The Shadow’s poison effects have been improved in 2025, giving him better damage scaling than before. His main strength lies in his ability to apply powerful debuffs that wear down enemies over time. While the Shadow can struggle with burst damage compared to higher-tier classes, his damage over time capabilities make him effective against tanky enemies. The Shadow requires careful positioning and timing to be effective, making him slightly more challenging to play compared to some other classes. Players who enjoy a stealthy, calculated approach to combat will find the Shadow to be a rewarding choice.
The Scion offers unparalleled versatility with her ability to combine elements from other classes through her Ascendant specialization. Her balanced attributes provide flexibility in gear choices and build paths. The Scion’s main strength lies in her adaptability, allowing players to customize their build to suit their preferred playstyle. While this versatility sounds appealing on paper, the Scion often falls short compared to specialized classes that excel in specific roles. Her lack of unique mechanics and identity makes her feel less distinct than other classes. While dedicated players can make the Scion work with specific investments, she generally requires more effort to achieve similar results as higher-tier classes. The Scion is best suited for experienced players who want to experiment with unconventional build combinations.
For beginners, I recommend the Warrior or Marauder class. These classes offer straightforward gameplay with excellent survivability, allowing new players to learn game mechanics without constantly dying. The Warrior, in particular, provides a good balance of offense and defense, making it easier to progress through the campaign content.
The Sorceress currently boasts the highest damage potential in Path of Exile 2, especially when properly geared. Her elemental spells scale exceptionally well with investment, allowing her to deal devastating damage to both single targets and groups of enemies. The Mercenary also deserves an honorable mention for his impressive damage output, particularly with trap builds.
Yes, melee builds are definitely viable in Path of Exile 2! Classes like the Warrior, Monk, and Duelist offer satisfying melee combat experiences with respectable damage output and survivability. While melee builds may require more positioning awareness compared to ranged builds, they can be just as effective in endgame content with proper investment.
Tier rankings typically shift with major game updates, which usually occur every few months. The 2025 meta has seen significant changes to several classes, with some rising in prominence while others have fallen. I recommend checking back regularly for updated rankings, especially after major patches or league launches.
Absolutely! While tier lists provide general guidelines on class effectiveness, player skill, gear investment, and build optimization can make any class viable in Path of Exile 2. Some of the most impressive feats in the game have been accomplished by dedicated players using unconventional or lower-tier builds. Choose a class that matches your preferred playstyle rather than simply following tier rankings.
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