Path of Exile 2 is a dark fantasy action RPG from Grinding Gear Games, in paid early access on PC, PS5 and Xbox until its free-to-play 1.0 launch on December 11, 2026. You fight through a campaign, unlock your Ascendancy, then push the Atlas map endgame. Winning means beating pinnacle bosses and finishing league challenges.
What is Path of Exile 2?
Path of Exile 2 is a top-down action role-playing game in the style often called a looter or ARPG. You pick a class, kill monsters, pick up gear and shape your character with skill gems and a huge passive tree. Grinding Gear Games, the New Zealand studio behind the first Path of Exile, both develops and publishes it.
The game entered early access on December 6, 2024. For now you need a supporter pack to play (the cheapest one is listed at $29.99 on Steam). That changes on December 11, 2026, when version 1.0 launches and the game becomes free to play, with more campaign acts and the sword-wielding Duelist class.
| Fact | Path of Exile 2 (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Developer and publisher | Grinding Gear Games |
| Early access start | December 6, 2024 |
| Full 1.0 release | December 11, 2026 |
| Platforms | PC (Steam, Epic and standalone), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Price model | Paid early access now; free to play from 1.0 |
| Genre | Action RPG |
| Current league | Forbidden Rites event (patch 0.5.5) alongside the Runes of Aldur league |
| Co-op | Up to 6 players |
What is the objective of Path of Exile 2?
The first goal is the campaign. In the current early access build it has four acts plus interlude chapters, and it ends with your character in the endgame at roughly level 60 to 65. Along the way you complete Ascendancy trials, such as the Trial of the Sekhemas and the Trial of Chaos, which unlock your class specialisation.
After the campaign, the goal shifts to the Atlas of Worlds. You run maps using items called Waystones, grow an Atlas passive tree, find better gear and work toward the pinnacle bosses. A session can be one map, a boss attempt or an evening of trading and crafting.
How do you win a match in Path of Exile 2?
There are no matches against other players. Winning in Path of Exile 2 means beating harder and harder content with your build. Here is how that breaks down:
| Mode | Team size | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign | Solo or co-op up to 6 | Beat each act boss and reach the endgame |
| Ascendancy trials | Solo or co-op | Clear the Sekhemas or Chaos trial to earn Ascendancy points |
| Atlas maps | Solo or co-op | Clear the map before you use up its attempts |
| Pinnacle bosses | Solo or co-op | Defeat bosses such as the Arbiter of Ash and Arbiter of Divinity |
| League challenges | Solo or co-op | Complete challenge goals during the league for cosmetic rewards |
| Hardcore | Solo or co-op | Do any of the above without dying; a death moves the character to Standard |
Dying in the endgame has a real cost. A death in a map removes part of the experience you need for your next level, and once a map's attempts run out, the next death sends you out of it.
How does ranked or progression work?
There is no ranked ladder in the shooter sense. Progress means levelling your character toward the level 100 cap, unlocking all your Ascendancy points, filling the Atlas passive tree and improving gear. Leagues add a seasonal layer: each one starts a fresh economy, and when it ends, characters move to the permanent Standard league.
The Forbidden Rites event began on September 4, 2026, with eight cosmetic challenges, and runs until the 1.0 launch. For more PoE 2 guides as we add them, see our Path of Exile 2 guides hub, and for a wider view, browse every game explained.
Beginner tips to win more
- Follow one build guide. The passive tree is huge, and a tested plan saves you from a respec later.
- Upgrade your main skill. Most damage comes from your main skill gem and weapon, so improve those first.
- Raise your resistances. Low elemental resistances are the top reason new characters die in maps.
- Do your Ascendancy trials early. The extra points are a large power jump.
- Use a loot filter. It hides junk items so you spot the useful drops.
- Play softcore first. Learn the bosses before trying Hardcore or Solo Self-Found.
- Plan for 1.0. A new launch league arrives on December 11, so it is a good time to start a fresh character.
How can Boosting Games help with Path of Exile 2?
We offer fixed-price PoE 2 help, listed in our Path of Exile 2 services collection and on the Path of Exile 2 boosting page. Prices below are starting prices as of October 2026; the exact price for your option shows before checkout. See how it works for the order steps.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| PoE 2 Campaign Boost | We take your character through the campaign. | From $39 |
| PoE 2 Ascendancy Trials Boost | Help clearing Ascendancy trials. | From $19 |
| PoE 2 Atlas Progression Boost | Progress on your Atlas endgame. | From $59 |
| PoE 2 Pinnacle Boss Kill | A kill of the pinnacle boss you choose. | From $29 |
| PoE 2 Arbiter of Divinity Kill | A kill of the Arbiter of Divinity. | From $49 |
| PoE 2 Build and Endgame Coaching | Live coaching on your build and endgame. | From $19 |
Honest risk note: Grinding Gear Games' terms forbid sharing your account, and paid boosting is against the rules. Piloted orders, where a booster logs in, carry the most risk. Co-op play with a booster in your party is lower risk, and coaching carries none because you keep your login. Read our account safety notice before ordering. We never sell accounts, currency, items, cheats or mods.
Get help with Path of Exile 2
Pick a service and option, see the exact price before you pay, and follow progress on your private order page.
See Path of Exile 2 servicesAsk Boost Up AIRelated reading: our Path of Exile 2 guides (more are on the way), plus the beginner guides What Is Path of Exile? and What Is Diablo IV? for two other action RPGs. Questions? Ask Boost Up AI.
Path of Exile 2 FAQ
Is Path of Exile 2 free to play?
Not yet. During early access you need a supporter pack, and the cheapest one is listed at $29.99 on Steam. Grinding Gear Games has confirmed the game becomes free to play when version 1.0 launches on December 11, 2026. After that, the game is funded by optional purchases such as cosmetics.
When does Path of Exile 2 1.0 come out?
Version 1.0 launches on December 11, 2026, ending a year of early access. The studio says it brings more campaign acts and the Duelist class, and the game goes free to play on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The current Forbidden Rites event runs until that date, so it is a good point to plan a fresh start.
What is a league in Path of Exile 2?
A league is a seasonal server with a fresh economy, where every player starts a new character on equal footing. Leagues usually add new mechanics and challenges with cosmetic rewards. When a league ends, its characters move to the permanent Standard league. Right now the Forbidden Rites event runs alongside the Runes of Aldur league.
Can I play Path of Exile 2 with friends?
Yes. Path of Exile 2 supports online co-op for up to six players, so you can run the campaign, Ascendancy trials, maps and bosses as a group. Many new players do the campaign solo first to learn how their build works, then team up with friends for the Atlas endgame and pinnacle bosses, where a coordinated party makes the hardest fights easier to learn.
What does winning mean in Path of Exile 2?
There is no final victory. Most players see finishing the campaign and unlocking their Ascendancy as the first win, then beating pinnacle bosses such as the Arbiters as the real goal. Others chase level 100, league challenges, a Hardcore character that survives, or a fully self-found build. You set your own goal for each league.
How many classes are in Path of Exile 2?
Early access has eight playable classes: Warrior, Sorceress, Witch, Ranger, Monk, Mercenary, Huntress and Druid. The full game is planned for twelve, and the Duelist joins with 1.0. Each class has Ascendancy options that change how it plays, unlocked through the Ascendancy trials. If you are new, pick the class whose weapons and skills you enjoy, since any of them can clear the campaign.
New directions: PoE 2 Pinnacle Bosses Guide: Arbiter of Divinity and More (2026) and all raid and dungeon guides.
Sources: Steam: Path of Exile 2, MMOBomb: 1.0 announcement, Push Square: 1.0 date and free to play, All Things How: 0.5.5 patch notes, Playnews: Forbidden Rites length, Kami Labs: beginner guide 2026.