Path of Exile 2 1.0: Release Date, New Classes, Campaign and League
Grinding Gear Games has revealed the full launch plans for Path of Exile 2 1.0, confirming that the game will leave Early Access and become free to play on December 11, 2026 (PST). Announced during the ExileCon 2026 keynote on November 6, the full release will complete the campaign with Acts 5 and 6, introduce two new classes, add the Conquerors of Wraeclast challenge league, and deliver major changes to skills, passive trees, Unique items, and existing class mechanics.
For current Early Access players, this is more than a routine content update. Version 1.0 is intended to bring the game's campaign and major systems into a full-release structure. For new players, December 11 will provide an opportunity to enter Wraeclast without purchasing Early Access.
Path of Exile 2 1.0 Release Date and Launch Details
GGG confirmed December 11 (PST) as the full release date. The game will become free to play when it launches, ending the paid Early Access entry requirement.
The keynote took place on November 6 in Pacific time as part of ExileCon 2026. The convention itself was held in Auckland, New Zealand, where the local date was November 7. This explains why some coverage refers to November 6 and other reports use November 7.
GGG has confirmed the launch date, but players should check its official channels for the final server opening time and any region-specific launch instructions. The announcement establishes December 11 as the date, not a universal local clock time.
Acts 5 and 6 Complete the Path of Exile 2 Campaign
One of the biggest changes in POE 2 1.0 is the completion of the main campaign. Acts 5 and 6 will join the existing content, bringing the story to six acts.
GGG's reveal describes 24 new areas, 18 new unique bosses, and more than 20 Champion Rare encounters across the new campaign content. These additions give players more than a new endgame system to work toward: they also provide a substantial amount of story and combat content before the Atlas progression begins.
This matters for two groups of players.
First, existing players will have new campaign encounters to learn. New bosses and Champion Rare enemies can require different defensive and offensive approaches, so characters that performed comfortably in earlier acts may still need equipment or passive-tree adjustments.
Second, players waiting for the full release will enter a more complete campaign experience. A finished six-act structure gives new players a clearer progression path and makes the launch a more natural starting point than joining during an evolving Early Access period.
The new acts should not be treated as simply additional leveling zones. Their bosses and encounters will also be part of the game's overall difficulty curve, making resistance management, life or energy shield investment, and reliable damage important considerations.
Shadow and Duelist Join the Class Roster
POE 2 1.0 introduces two new playable classes: the Shadow and the Duelist. They bring new weapon types and combat approaches, expanding the number of character concepts available at launch.
Shadow: Daggers, Traps, and Stealth
The Shadow uses daggers, traps, and abilities connected to stealth. Its defining feature is a new Stealth mechanic.
While Stealthed, monsters cannot detect the Shadow until they get close. The class can use this window to approach enemies and empower dagger attacks. The reveal also describes interactions between stealth, traps, and the Shadow's shade, giving the class a more deliberate ambush-oriented combat identity.
This could make positioning and encounter timing central to Shadow gameplay. Rather than relying only on standing in place and dealing sustained damage, players may need to decide when to enter combat, when to deploy traps, and how to use stealth to create openings.
GGG has named the Shadow's two launch Ascendancies as the Assassin and Infiltrator.
Duelist: A New Sword-Based Playstyle
The Duelist adds swords and a different combat identity to the roster. Its two announced Ascendancies are the Knight and Master-at-Arms.
The Knight reveal includes a squire companion that can wield melee weapons and use skills assigned through the gem system. This introduces another way to think about combat support and skill customization.
The Duelist may appeal to players who prefer direct melee engagement, while the Shadow offers a more tactical approach built around daggers, traps, and stealth. Their actual performance will depend on final skill numbers, passive-tree interactions, and equipment availability after launch.
| Class | Main Weapons and Style | Announced Ascendancies |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow | Daggers, traps, stealth | Assassin, Infiltrator |
| Duelist | Swords and melee combat | Knight, Master-at-Arms |
Conquerors of Wraeclast Is the New Challenge League
The new Conquerors of Wraeclast challenge league is one of the defining features of the 1.0 release.
Its central fantasy is built around recruiting an army, developing a stronghold, and fighting rival factions. Instead of focusing exclusively on clearing monsters in isolated encounters, the league introduces a broader progression loop involving troops, fortifications, and sieges.
Players will recruit forces and take part in battles across Wraeclast. The league also develops into a faction conflict in the endgame, where players who choose the same faction contribute to a shared campaign against competing groups.
This structure could make progression feel different from the familiar cycle of completing maps, collecting drops, and upgrading equipment. Army development and stronghold progression introduce additional objectives that players will need to balance with character power.
The faction system is particularly interesting because it connects individual progression to a larger shared conflict. However, players should wait for the complete league information before assuming how faction selection, rewards, or long-term competition will work in practice.
For players who mainly enjoy solo mapping, the important question will be how much of the league's progression can be completed independently. For players who enjoy coordinated play, the shared faction objectives may offer another reason to participate in group activities.
Major Changes to Skills, Passive Trees, and Unique Items
GGG has also announced a broad rework of character progression and itemization.
The passive skill tree is receiving hundreds of new stats, while Jewel Sockets are being moved into passive clusters. This changes how players plan their routes through the tree. Instead of treating Jewel Sockets as isolated destinations, players will need to consider which clusters best support their builds.
Support Gems are also being substantially rebalanced. GGG says the goal is to make them more useful, while new skills are being added for classes that have fewer options, including the Warrior and Witch.
Unique items are another major focus. The official announcement confirms more than 40 new Unique items and over 70 reworked existing Uniques. GGG says the changes include improved modifiers, skills, and visuals.
These changes could have a meaningful effect on build planning and the value of equipment. A Unique that was previously overlooked may become relevant after its modifiers or associated skills change. Meanwhile, new items could create build opportunities that were not practical during Early Access.
Players should be cautious about relying too heavily on existing build guides. Passive-tree routes, support-gem combinations, and Unique item recommendations may all need revision after the final balance changes.
Existing Classes and Ascendancies Are Also Being Reworked
The 1.0 update is not limited to the two new classes. GGG has highlighted several changes to existing characters and Ascendancies.
The Mercenary's reloading system is being fundamentally changed. The Infernalist receives a new demonic minion that can cast spells assigned to it, alongside changes to Infernal Hounds and Covenant skills. The Blood Mage gains new skills and curses, with changes to Corrupted Blood. The Acolyte of Chayula also receives a new companion-related ability and additional mechanics involving its own life and a clone.
These examples suggest that GGG is using the full release to revisit how established classes function, rather than simply adding new options around an unchanged foundation.
The exact balance impact will depend on the complete skill and Ascendancy details. Until the final patch notes are available, players should treat these announcements as a preview of the rework direction rather than a complete build-planning reference.
What the 1.0 Changes Could Mean for the POE 2 Economy
A full release with new campaign content, classes, Unique items, and a challenge league can change how players acquire and value equipment.
The introduction of more than 40 new Uniques and the reworking of over 70 existing items could create new demand for certain item types. Changes to Support Gems and passive-tree clusters may also make previously less popular equipment more useful for particular builds.
For players who trade or manage POE 2 currency, the practical lesson is to avoid assuming that Early Access prices and farming priorities will remain reliable after launch. New builds can change demand, while new league progression systems may influence which activities players prioritize.
That does not mean every new Unique will become valuable or that a particular currency item is guaranteed to rise in price. Item value will depend on actual drop rates, build popularity, supply, and the final balance of the game.
A flexible approach is more useful: keep resources available for early equipment upgrades, compare the cost of crafting with the cost of trading, and wait for real league data before committing to a specialized farming strategy.
What Should Players Do Before December 11?
Players preparing for Path of Exile 2 1.0 should focus on understanding the scale of the changes rather than trying to predict every new build in advance.
- Review existing builds: Expect changes to Support Gems, passive-tree paths, and some Ascendancies.
- Explore the new classes: Shadow and Duelist offer different combat styles worth considering before choosing a launch character.
- Prepare for the campaign: Acts 5 and 6 add new areas and bosses, so defensive planning remains important.
- Follow the league reveal: Learn how army recruitment, strongholds, and faction progression work before deciding how to approach the new challenge league.
- Keep currency plans flexible: Avoid treating current Early Access item prices or farming assumptions as guaranteed indicators of the 1.0 economy.
- Check official launch information: Confirm the final server time, patch notes, and platform-specific details through GGG before launch.
Path of Exile 2 1.0 Is a Full-Game Milestone
The December 11 release is a major milestone for Path of Exile 2. It completes the campaign, adds Shadow and Duelist, introduces Conquerors of Wraeclast, and revisits core systems such as the passive tree, Support Gems, Unique items, and existing Ascendancies.
For current players, the biggest adjustment may be relearning parts of character progression and endgame preparation. For newcomers, the free-to-play launch offers a more complete version of the game to experience from the beginning.
The final balance details and the real impact of the new league will only become clear once the full patch notes and live game are available. Until then, the most useful preparation is to understand the confirmed changes while keeping build and currency plans adaptable.
