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Classes and Ascendancies

The 8 released base classes, their starting attributes and weapon identities, all confirmed Ascendancy sub-classes, and how Ascendancy choice and respec actually work.

Why this lesson matters

Your base class and Ascendancy are the biggest build-shaping choices you make early on — bigger than any single passive node. Get the class right for your intended weapon and playstyle, and the passive tree (see The passive tree, dual specialization, and respec) does the rest of the work for you.

How class and Ascendancy selection works

You pick one of the 8 currently released base classes at character creation. Each class starts with a fixed attribute distribution and a primary weapon identity, though nothing stops you from branching out later via the shared passive tree. Partway through the campaign — Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2, Trial of Chaos in Act 3, same trials for every class (see Primary attributes, defenses, Spirit, and controls) — you choose one of that class's Ascendancy sub-classes. Each class has up to 3 Ascendancies; you pick exactly one per character. The two trials aren't a two-step unlock sequence for this choice, either — clearing *either one first* unlocks your Ascendancy pick immediately; the other trial (and repeat runs of both at higher difficulty) just keeps feeding the same shared point total afterward.

Character creation showing the eight released base classes
In-gameEight base classes at create — attributes and weapon identity are fixed; the shared tree is how you branch later.

GGG's stated eventual target is 12 total base classes. 8 are released; the remaining 4 — Duelist, Marauder, Shadow, and Templar — are confirmed as planned but not yet released. (If you've seen a claim that it's 6 more classes rather than 4, that's wrong — it's 4, and no other names beyond those are currently confirmed.)

Your Ascendancy choice isn't fully permanent. You can switch to a *different Ascendancy of the same base class* later — for example, a Ranger going from Pathfinder to Deadeye. The process: refund your Ascendancy points with Gold at The Hooded One, then re-run the matching trial and choose differently at the Altar of Ascension. You cannot switch to a different base class's Ascendancy this way (a Ranger can't become a Huntress) — this only moves you between the 2–3 Ascendancy options within your original class.

Altar of Ascension Ascendancy choice
In-gameAltar of Ascension — pick one Ascendancy after the trial.
The Hooded One refund Ascendancy points
In-gameSame-class swap later: refund Ascendancy points at The Hooded One, re-run the trial, choose again.

One relationship worth stating plainly: a class's starting attributes don't restrict which of its Ascendancies you can pick. All three (or two, where a slot is unrevealed) Ascendancies are available regardless of your starting spread — the attributes just describe your class's default lean, not a requirement gating specific Ascendancy choices. A Warrior can pick Smith of Kitava despite it being less Strength-focused than Titan; nothing in the class-creation attributes locks that out.

The 8 base classes

Warrior — Strength, Maces & Shields **Starting attributes:** 15 STR / 7 DEX / 7 INT

Ranger — Dexterity, Bows **Starting attributes:** 7 STR / 15 DEX / 7 INT

Witch — Intelligence, Wands & Minions **Starting attributes:** 7 STR / 7 DEX / 15 INT

Sorceress — Intelligence, Staves **Starting attributes:** 7 STR / 7 DEX / 15 INT

Monk — Dexterity/Intelligence, Quarterstaves **Starting attributes:** 7 STR / 11 DEX / 11 INT

Mercenary — Strength/Dexterity, Crossbows & Grenades **Starting attributes:** 11 STR / 11 DEX / 7 INT

Huntress — Dexterity, Spears **Starting attributes:** 7 STR / 15 DEX / 7 INT

Druid — Strength/Intelligence, Sceptres & Shapeshifting **Starting attributes:** 11 STR / 7 DEX / 11 INT

Roster at a glance

Base ClassStarting Attributes (STR/DEX/INT)Weapon IdentityAscendancies
Warrior15/7/7Maces, ShieldsTitan · Warbringer · Smith of Kitava
Ranger7/15/7BowsDeadeye · Pathfinder · *unrevealed*
Witch7/7/15Wands, MinionsInfernalist · Blood Mage · Lich
Sorceress7/7/15StavesStormweaver · Chronomancer · Disciple of Varashta
Monk7/11/11QuarterstavesInvoker · Acolyte of Chayula · Martial Artist
Mercenary11/11/7Crossbows, GrenadesWitchhunter · Gemling Legionnaire · Tactician
Huntress7/15/7SpearsAmazon · Ritualist · Spirit Walker
Druid11/7/11Sceptres, ShapeshiftingOracle · Shaman · *unrevealed*

Practical tips

  • Two classes — Ranger and Druid — still have one unrevealed Ascendancy slot. Don't plan a long-term build around a specific third option for either.
  • Ascendancy choice isn't a one-way door within your class: if Pathfinder isn't working out on your Ranger, Deadeye is a Gold-and-a-trial-rerun away, not a reroll.
  • Full notable breakdowns for Mercenary, Huntress, and Druid (and the other classes) live on the linked Ascendancy pages.
  • If you're reading older POE2 content and see Ascendancy names like Slayer, Elementalist, or Inquisitor, that's Path of Exile 1 terminology mistakenly applied to POE2 — none of those exist here.

Sources: Maxroll — Class Overview · Maxroll — Ascendancy Overview · Maxroll — Lich Ascendancy Overview · PoE-Vault — Classes & Ascendancy Overview · PoE-Vault — Disciple of Varashta Reveal · Mobalytics — Respec Ascendancy Guide · Mobalytics — Classes Breakdown · VULKK — Spirit Walker Huntress Ascendancy · Fextralife — Ascendancies · Fextralife — Monk · Fextralife — Gemling Legionnaire · Game8 — Lich Ascendancy Overview and Skills · allthings.how — Martial Artist: Every Node and Passive Explained · GameRant — All Class Ascendancies