Path of Exile 2 Release Date Is December 11: Free Full Launch, Acts 5 and 6, the Shadow and the Duelist

The Path of Exile 2 release date is December 11 (PST), when the action RPG leaves Early Access and becomes free to play. Grinding Gear Games announced on November 6 that 1.0 brings the complete six-act campaign, two new classes, the Shadow and the Duelist, a new Challenge League and sweeping balance changes.

Path of Exile 2 full release at a glance

When does Path of Exile 2 fully release?

On December 11, PST. Grinding Gear Games hasn't given a launch time yet. Because it's PST, the launch may land late on December 11 or early on December 12 in the UK and Europe once the time is confirmed. We'll add it here.

Is Path of Exile 2 free?

Yes. The studio says you can "play Path of Exile 2 for free on December 11" when it enters full release.

What are the new classes in Path of Exile 2?

• The Shadow: uses daggers, traps and shades, and introduces Stealth. Monsters can't see you until you're close, and the shadows empower your dagger skills. Traps can be laid in stealth and go off in the order you threw them. Ascendancies: Assassin and Infiltrator.
• The Duelist: a swordsman who uses Stances. Ready Stance empowers sword skills and can be upgraded to Sand or Blood Stances. Ascendancies: Knight and Master-at-Arms.

What is the Conquerors of Wraeclast league?

You join Varek and his mercenaries to stop the awakening of the ancient Blood Lord. Recruit warriors, find enemy fortifications and lead your army into battle across 70+ new points of interest, conquering castles for a new crafting material that reforges gear. In the endgame you build a stronghold, pick one of three factions and team up with that faction's players to capture castles from rival factions.

What else changes in 1.0?

• Passive tree: hundreds of new stats, and all Jewel Sockets moved into the clusters.
• Support Gems: massively rebalanced.
• New skills for classes that were missing them, such as the Warrior and the Witch.
• Reworks: the Mercenary's reloading, the Infernalist (a new spellcasting demon and up to three Infernal Hounds), the Blood Mage and the Acolyte of Chayula.

How many people play Path of Exile 2?

About 17,700 people were playing on Steam when we checked on November 7, ahead of ExileCon weekend.

Watch the Path of Exile 2 trailers

The official Shadow trailer. Grinding Gear Games also released a full release announcement video and an Act 5 and 6 trailer.

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