Path of Exile 2 is leaving Early Access. Grinding Gear Games laid out the contents of its 1.0 release at ExileCon 2026 in Auckland on November 6. The full launch completes the six-act campaign. It also brings two new classes with new weapon types, broad balance changes and a new challenge league.

The release date itself was already known. The studio set the December 11 free-to-play launch in August. It made that announcement while revealing the Duelist in a trailer at gamescom Opening Night Live in Cologne. The new reveal at ExileCon was a second launch class. The Shadow uses daggers and traps and brings new stealth mechanics, PC Gamer reported.

Two new classes and two new acts complete the campaign

The Duelist brings swords to the sequel. It also carries over fan-favorite skills such as Cyclone and Hemorrhage. Alongside the Shadow and the Duelist, the release adds four new Ascendancy classes.

The final two acts fill out the story. They are the last pieces of the six-act structure players have been waiting on. Each brings new areas and unique bosses to fight through on the way to the endgame.

Gear is changing as well. That matters for anyone who has spent Early Access tuning a build. Characters that lean on existing uniques may play differently once the item rework lands. The new uniques also give players fresh options to plan around before launch day.

A siege league for the sequel, boss Fates for the original

Path of Exile 2 launches with the Conquerors of Wraeclast league. It adds base building and real-time strategy. Players raise an army, build a stronghold and lay siege to both boss strongholds and other players. Each player picks one of three factions: Ezomytes, Maraketh or Karui. Players then fight through 23 campaign battles before the league’s endgame opens up, MMORPG.com reported.

The original game moves first. Path of Exile 1: Covens of Umbra arrives free on November 13 on all available platforms. The expansion is update 3.30. It adds a new challenge league, basic changes to the endgame, upgrades to existing endgame systems and new unique items.

Covens of Umbra is built around two systems. Fate makes bosses stronger in exchange for better rewards. Wicker Man powers up characters with body parts taken from defeated bosses. Players can put up to three Fates on one area boss. Some Fate combinations give bonus rewards. Stacking a duplicate Fate triples the reward of the first one.

Prospero sends his regards

Wraeclast welcomes the Shadow, a new Path of Exile 2 class, coming alongside the Full Release on December 11 (PST).https://t.co/wWkIUEitsw#PathofExile #PathofExile2 #ARPG #Gaming #ExileCon2026 pic.twitter.com/eniDv2c5H3

— Path of Exile (@pathofexile) November 6, 2026

That gives players of both games a new league to plan for before the year is out. Veterans of the original can dig into Fates in November. Then they can decide whether to jump into the sequel’s siege league in December.

Players eyeing the sequel have one more thing to sort out. Community sign-ups for the full release have hit two milestones. As a result, every registered player gets two cosmetic effects at launch. Buying Early Access does not grant these rewards. Sign-ups remain open right up to launch day.

Sources

  • Announcements – ExileCon 2026 Announcements (Grinding Gear Games)
  • Path of Exile 2 announces a second new class, the Shadow, for its December 1.0 release (PC Gamer)
  • ExileCon 2026 Announces Path of Exile 2 Full Release and New Path of Exile League (MMORPG.com)
  • PoE1 New League 'Covens of Umbra' Preview (Inven Global)

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