PoE2 Dawn of the Hunt Ladder Rankings Day 8

The weekend has arrived, but the Steam player count for Path of Exile 2 hasn't seen the rebound GGG was hoping for, lingering at 190,800 for the 24-hour peak—a steep drop from the all-time high of 578,569, effectively “cut down to the knees.” It's a quiet day with GGG taking a break, so there's no major news to share. Let's focus on the action at the top of the ladders and check out the latest rankings. We're here to bring you daily insights on the rankings and class trends. If you enjoy these updates, feel free to bookmark our site for easy access to future insights, and don't forget to check out our shop for exclusive gear to enhance your new league adventure. Let's dive into the Day 8 rankings!

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The Standard ladder showcases the fastest levelers in a trade-enabled environment. Here are the top 10 players:

Deadeye takes the lead at level 98 with liuxin007#2266, its precision pushing the boundaries in Standard.  

Amazon holds four spots, with three at level 97, showing its dominance in the trade environment.  

Smith of Kitava, Lich, Titan, and Ritualist all hit level 97, reflecting a diverse meta at the top.

Hardcore mode tests survival skills. Here are the top 10 players:

Deadeye leads at level 96 with Ben_#4007, its agility proving unmatched in Hardcore.  

Amazon takes two spots at level 94, showing its growing viability in this mode.  

Smith of Kitava holds four spots, but two deaths at ranks 9 and 10—rest in peace to the dead—highlight the mode's risks.

SSF players rely on self-found gear. Here are the top 5:

Ritualist and Smith of Kitava tie for the lead at level 96, dominating SSF with their self-sustaining builds.  

Smith of Kitava takes three spots, its crafting synergy shining in a no-trade environment.  

Titan at rank 5 holds steady at level 95, a tanky choice for solo players.

HC SSF combines the toughest challenges. Here are the top 5:

Deadeye leads at level 95 with Lymez#5507, its precision excelling in HC SSF.  

Amazon, Witchhunter, Smith of Kitava, and Titan tie at level 94, showing a balanced meta at the top.  

The absence of deaths in the top 5 highlights careful play in this brutal mode.

The weekend has arrived, but Path of Exile 2's Steam player count hasn't seen the rebound GGG was hoping for. Currently, 126,499 players are online, with a 24-hour peak of 190,800—a significant drop from the all-time high of 578,569 four months ago, effectively “cut down to the knees.” The graph from SteamDB shows a steady decline over the past week, with no weekend spike to bolster numbers. This follows a week of negative sentiment, as Steam reviews remain at a “Mostly Negative” rating, driven by player frustrations over difficulty, bugs, and polish. On Reddit, some players expressed disappointment, with one user noting, “I expected a weekend surge after GGG's recent patches, but it looks like the damage is done.” However, others remain engaged, with a post on X stating, “Still grinding Dawn of the Hunt—loving the ladder race even if the player count is down.” Today, GGG is taking a break, so there's no new patch news, but the ladders show top players pushing forward, with Deadeye and Amazon leading across modes, proving the dedicated are still thriving in Wraeclast.

That's all for the Day 8 ladder update for the Dawn of the Hunt league in Path of Exile 2. The meta is heating up, with Deadeye leading Standard and HC SSF, Amazon dominating Hardcore, and Smith of Kitava excelling in SSF. Despite a stagnant player count, the ladder race remains fierce. We'll be back with daily updates, so bookmark our site to stay informed and visit our shop to enhance your gameplay in the new league. See you tomorrow for Day 9!