PoE2 Class Ascendancy Tier After 0.2.0 Patch Note
Time: 2025-04-03 by mmojugg Game: Path of Exile 2 Guide
Patch 0.2.0 Dawn of the Hunt drops tomorrow, April 4th, 2025, and with it comes a revamped Path of Exile 2 class lineup. New ascendancies, balance tweaks, and a flood of changes from the patch notes have us itching to rank 'em. This tier list isn't gospel—it's our take, forged from the patch details, prior class performance, and a gut feel for what'll shine at league start and beyond. Anyway, All nerf = No Nerf, am i right? So, Don't forget to bookmark and check out our PoE2 shop—whatever you can dream up, we've got you covered!
Whether you're chasing speed, tankiness, or meta dominance, here's where every class lands, from S to F. Let's dive in!
S Tier: Top Dogs for League Start and Beyond
Amazon: The queen of the patch. Fast, versatile, and packed with damage, the Amazon is a no-brainer for newbies and veterans. Bows, spears (hello, new toys!), crossbows (buffed this patch), or even quarterstaffs - she does it all. Clear's speed is silky, and her straightforward power makes her a league-starting MVP. Endgame may not be at the top of the charts, but you won't care when you're zooming through maps.
Lich: Endgame monster with a summoner's dream kit - double curses, explosions and unholy aura buffs. Pair it with uniques like Atziri's Disdain (tweaked this patch) for insane defence. Speed is her Achilles heel compared to Amazon, but the raw potential screams S-tier. Minion fans, this is your golden ticket.
Deadeye: Barely touched by nerfs, Deadeye is still a speed demon. Frenzy charges now count double when consumed - a sneaky buff. Projectiles and spears synergize perfectly, making her a clear speed beast and a meta staple. Fast, fun, and reliable S-tier all day long.
A Tier: Solid Picks with Punch
Smith of Kitava: The tankiest Ascension in the game, hands down. Mitigation is off the charts - armour nodes grab 5% max Res, 20% Strength to Life, and 75% Fire Res that spreads to Cold Lightning via Coldstalker. Offence? Clunky as hell - manifest weapon and tempering feel awkward to clear. Still, for a bleed spear melee build (think Herald of Blood explosions), it's a league-starting beast when gear is scarce. A-tier for durability alone.
Invoker: Evasion and Spirit have been nerfed (~25% hit rate), but the damage buff from Elemental Expression keeps this Monk ascendant humming. Speed, versatility, and solid elemental damage make it a comfortable choice. Staff skills can flop, but spear triggers or spell builds shine. A-tier for balanced fun.
Stormweaver: Took nerfs across four nodes, but Double Shock is still a damage juggernaut. Mana nerfs sting, but surge speed and scaling keep it viable. A-tier for sparkers who don't mind a slightly muted OP history.
B-tier: Niche but playable
Ritualist: Three rings and 25% increased ring/amulet effect sounds sexy, but the Ingenuity nerf (split to 20-30% per ring, double-roll hassle) cools the hype. Charm stacking is clunky early, and late-game power requires broken builds (mana stacking is nuked). B-tier gear-hungry and speculative.
Tactician: Banner spam is a party buff machine - half reservation is crazy with friends. Solo? Clumsy and slow. B-tier for group potential, but not a meta solo star.
Pathfinder: Concoctions got 200% more size buffs (Bleed, Ignite, etc), and immunity options add spice. Still, niche Potions builds dominate its identity. B-tier for flask fans.
Blood Mage: Niche powerhouse of unmodified blood builds that thrive while others flounder. B-tier for its weird, specific power.
Titan: Buffed heavy stun and aftershock damage (~10%), but slow and bulky. Versatile but not outstanding B-tier for steady melee lovers.
Gemling Legionnaire: Double attribute nerfed to 20% less, but new bonuses (20% damage, 6% speed, 20% crit) and +2 to skill type beat the old +1 to all skills. No speed hurts B-tier for gem tinkerers.
C-tier: Underwhelming Options
Infernalist: The demon form's gutted flat degen kills Health regen stacks. Minions hold up, but Lich overshadows them. C-tier - needs new uniques to bounce back.
Chronomancer: Circular Heartbeat is gone, casting speed is up (5s every 10s), and Unleash fits the burst window. Still niche boss killers might like it, but C-tier for most.
Warbringer: Minor buffs (AOE scaling, block chance), plus Jade's Guard fake life bar. Warcry explosion is its only draw - too narrow for more than C-tier.
F-tier: Rough road ahead
Acolyte of Chayula: Mana Leech isn't instant, but works on all damage - a small win. Loss of honour before darkness kills his old trick, leaving him a shell. F-tier - needs a rework.
Witch Hunter: 40% damage vs. lack of concentration (up from 30%) and a less shitty node don't save it. No identity F-tier unless you're a masochist.
Why This Matters for You
Patch 0.2.0's changes—crossbow buffs, mana nerfs, new skills—shift the meta. S-tier picks like Amazon and Deadeye are your safest bets for a smooth start to the league: fast, forgiving, and gear-light. Lich rules the endgame potential, while A-tier's Smith of Kitava tanks early poverty. B-tier's Ritualist may spike with the 100+ new uniques, but don't count on it on day one. F-tier? Stay away unless you like a challenge. Play what suits your speed king, but tanking has its charms.
Thanks for Reading
This tier list is your launchpad for Dawn of the Hunt. Keep an eye on MMOJUGG for more as patch 0.2.0 unfolds - Wraeclast awaits!
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