Path of Exile 2 is getting a massive boost of new content with the release of The Third Edict on August 29, bringing a brand-new story arc in Act 4, along with new maps, bosses, the game’s first Event League, and a variety of gameplay changes to reinvigorate the player base. The game has remained fairly consistent during its Early Access period, with new content for Path of Exile 2 dropping every few months. As exciting as The Third Edict will be for Path of Exile 2 fans, it misses the opportunity to add one of the most highly anticipated features that developer Grinding Gear Games has confirmed is in development.
Build diversity is a major draw of Path of Exile 2, with the game currently boasting seven classes with 2-3 Ascendancies each for players to spec into as they level up their character. While new Path of Exile 2 Ascendancies are a great way to make the game’s existing classes feel refreshed, they don’t always compare to the hype of when a brand-new class is introduced. Several classes have been leaked for Path of Exile 2, but one of the few confirmed new classes is surprisingly absent from The Third Edict.
Path of Exile 2’s Druid Class is Still Missing After Update 0.3
The Druid Has Been Confirmed for Path of Exile 2, But Release Remains Elusive
Path of Exile 2‘s Druid class was showcased prior to the game’s Early Access launch as part of the teased content coming during the Early Access period, so players already have a solid idea of how the class will play. After Path of Exile 2 introduced the Huntress as a new class in update 0.2, Dawn of the Hunt, the expectation was that a new class would be added with each major Early Access update. However, with the Druid missing from The Third Edict, it appears as though this pattern will not continue for each Path of Exile 2 update going forward.
From what has been shown of the class so far, Path of Exile 2 players can expect the Druid to play like an elemental shape-shifter with primary attributes in Strength and Intelligence. The skills currently known for the Druid from previous Path of Exile 2 showcases include:
- Lightning Storm – A long-lasting spell that shocks enemies
- Volcano – Fires projectiles, with more projectiles fired the longer the button is held down
- Maul – Shape-shift into a bear to generate Rage
- Rampage – Slams the ground repeatedly while consuming Rage
- Furious Slam – Stuns nearby enemies
- Ferocious Roar – Empowers Slams with a second shockwave when used near Stunned enemies
- Summoned Wolves – Debuff and distract enemies
Several of these skills sound familiar to Diablo 4‘s Druid class, but have a distinct Path of Exile flair with their ability to synergize with the game’s different Support Gems. The Druid’s Strength and Intelligence focus makes it the perfect class for a hybrid melee-ranged elemental build, but the class’s Ascendancies could further dictate its build potential.
The final skills for Path of Exile 2‘s Druid may change before the class releases, so these skills may not appear in the final build.
Predicting the Most Likely Release Date for The Druid After The Third Edict
It’s hard to complain about the lack of a new class in The Third Edict update with how much other content this patch is adding. Between the Act 4 content, rebalanced classes, and Abyssal League additions, stuffing the Druid’s release in there would likely pull attention away from these other features. However, with the Druid class being teased long before Path of Exile 2 even entered Early Access, it seems odd that players haven’t seen either hide nor hair of the Druid in the game’s first three major updates.
Since the Druid is a no-show in update 0.3, the next most likely release window for the class is on Path of Exile 2‘s one-year Early Access anniversary. Path of Exile 2‘s major updates tend to release every four months, with update 0.1 releasing in January 2025, update 0.2 releasing in April 2025, and now update 0.3 in August 2025. As such, players can expect the 0.4 update for Path of Exile 2 to release near its first anniversary in December 2025, and including the Druid class in this patch would be the perfect way to bring the game full circle.
Path of Exile II
9/10
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Nudity, Violence
- Engine
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Proprietary Engine
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Franchise
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Path of Exile
- Early Access Release
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December 6, 2024
