PoE 2 0.2.0 Release Date & Patch Notes (New Classes, League, Gems, Uniques & More)

UPDATE on March 31st! Path of Exile 2's 0.2.0 update is shaping up to be the most impactful patch since the game’s early access launch. Teased with new classes, fresh two-handed weapon subtypes, a new league, major endgame changes, and a variety of new support gems, this update is set to redefine the game’s meta. However, some upcoming changes - particularly in mapping - have sparked debate within the community. Let’s break down everything we know so far.

PoE 2 0.2.0 Patch Release Date

The PoE 2 0.2.0 Patch - Dawn of the Hunt Season is set to launch on April 4, 2025, at 12 PM PDT. This expansion marks the first major update since Early Access began, bringing significant changes such as a new league, playable classes, ascendancies, and major endgame adjustments. Teasers have been released over several weeks, revealing new bosses, crafting mechanics, and gameplay improvements.

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PoE 2 0.2.0 Patch Notes (New Class, League, Gems & More)

Patch 0.2.0 marks Path of Exile 2’s first major expansion post-Early Access launch. Titled Dawn of the Hunt, it introduces a new playable class, five total new ascendancy classes, over 100 new unique items, over 100 support gems, and sweeping changes to the game’s endgame system and mapping mechanics. With a focus on quality-of-life improvements and deeper mechanical complexity, Dawn of the Hunt is both a refinement and an escalation of PoE 2's systems. Below, we detail the patch notes for the upcoming massive patch:

1. New League: Dawn of the Hunt & Economy Reset

As with every major update in the franchise, Patch 0.2.0 begins a new league. This means a completely fresh economy—no items, no currency, no legacy gear. Players will start from scratch, creating new characters and exploring league-specific mechanics that may eventually be added to the core game. While standard characters will still exist, they won’t benefit from the league’s fresh content loop and economic ecosystem.

Supporter Packs Available Now at pathofexile2.com

2. New Class: The Huntress

The Huntress is the first new class introduced since Early Access began. She is a spear-wielding hybrid archetype from the Asmeri tribe, specializing in both melee and ranged combat. With a focus on mobility, elemental combos, blood loss mechanics, and beast taming, the Huntress is a tactical, high-skill character.

Her skill set includes 22 new active abilities, such as:

• Whirling Slash: Creates a growing tornado that explodes for AoE damage.

• Twister: Ranged tornado projectiles that bounce off walls and can be infused with elemental effects.

• Rake, Blood Hunt, and Rapid Assault: These introduce the new blood loss mechanic, enabling massive bleeds and detonation effects.

• Thunderous Leap: Detonates spears embedded in enemies or the ground.

• Beast Taming: Capture rare monsters mid-combat and turn them into companions that retain their modifiers.

This class introduces deep synergy between ranged and melee playstyles, offering new layers of build complexity and visual flair.

Huntress Ascendancies

The Huntress can ascend into two distinct classes:

Ritualist

Embraces corrupted rituals and sacrifice. Can absorb power from rare monster corpses—or herself—to gain temporary buffs. Skills like Corrupted Life Force and Whispers Ask/Demand allow devastating blood-based effects and plague mechanics.

Amazon

A disciplined elemental warrior who uses Elemental Infusion to convert charges into explosive elemental power. She excels at critical strikes, pinpoint accuracy, and battlefield control. Skills like Mystic Harvest and Predatory Instinct enhance her survivability and damage output.

3. New Ascendancies for Existing Classes

Three more ascendancies are being added to existing core classes:

Smith of Kitava (Warrior)

A forge-wielding melee powerhouse who can craft their own body armor through passive tree nodes. Can summon animated weapons and enhance gear with fire-based explosions. The armor system replaces traditional chest pieces with a fully customizable set of passive-based stats.

Tactician (Mercenary)

A battlefield commander who uses banners, pinned projectiles, and off-screen archer barrages. Offers both offensive control and party support, ideal for tactical players and summoner hybrids.

Lich (Witch)

A chaos-based caster who sacrifices life for energy shield power. Through skills like Crystalline Factory and Rupture the Soul, the Lich unleashes a torrent of curses and chaos explosions. Dominion Over Flesh allows for additional curses and more powerful hex builds.

4. New Support Gems (100+)

Support gems are the cornerstone of PoE’s build system, and Patch 0.2.0 introduces over 100 new support gems, drastically expanding build variety:

• Hemac Crystals: Converts bleed damage into volatile explosions.

• Alignment: Position-based bow support that rewards precise gameplay.

• Perfection Support: Grants stacks of bonus damage for perfectly timed skill usage.

• Batter Shout, Commiserate, Volcanic Eruption, and more—each designed to enable underused or experimental archetypes.

These gems are not just additions—they’re potential meta-defining tools for creative players.

5. 100+ New Unique Items & Weapon Types

This patch brings over 100 new unique items tailored for mid and endgame content. Examples include:

• Chernobog’s Pillar: Converts block chance into fire damage.

• The Coming Calamity: Grants all Elemental Heralds passively.

• Wastescape: Specialized belt for blood magic or mana-only builds.

• Scyther’s Spear: Combines ignite and bleed for brutal DoT synergy.

• Cyrus' Arc (Buckler): Parry ranged attacks from afar.

Unique charms and two-handed weapon subtypes (swords, axes, maces) are also introduced, along with the reworked Bringer of Rain, which now allows dual-wielding two-handers.

6. New Systems: Wisps, Runes, and Crafting

Asmarian Wisps

Found throughout the game, these spirits empower enemies and drop socketable crafting items. Each Wisp type (Bear, Owl, Wildcat, Fox) affects monster stats and behaviors uniquely. Some even upgrade monsters into bosses.

Runes Rework

Runes now have tiered modifiers, scaling with progression. New crafting effects tied to Wisps, maps, and bosses allow for deeper socket-based customization.

Crafting Updates

• Recombination: Merge two items into one.

• Fracturing Orbs: Lock powerful modifiers permanently.

• Corrupted Essences: Add unpredictable affixes with unique combat effects.

7. Endgame Overhaul: Towers, Nexus, and Cleansed Maps

Towers & Tablets

Tower quantity is reduced by two-thirds, but their power is greatly increased. Towers now support up to 3 tablets and apply more mechanics based on map tier. Each tower has its own boss encounter, and all league mechanics can appear within.

Corrupted Nexus & Cleansed Maps

Players must now clear rare monsters to unlock the Nexus, which spawns one of three new bosses. Cleansed Maps (after Nexus completion) offer exclusive rewards like Fracturing Orbs and enhanced loot.

8. Atlas Tree Expansion & Rogue Exiles

The Atlas Passive Tree now includes:

• Rogue Exile Nodes: PvP-like fights with AI-controlled exiles using real builds.

• Shrine and Strongbox Nodes

• Wisps and Essence Enhancements

Completing 5 unique maps grants 10 new passive points. You’ll also find 4 new strongboxes, including Aum’s Legacy and Eel’s Torment, each with unique mechanics and loot tables.

9. QoL & Respawn System Rework

• Players now get 6 respawn attempts per map, scaling down with map difficulty.

• Pinnacle bosses no longer grant or remove XP, removing death punishment from high-end content.

• Boss arena respawns are now party-wide and work like PoE 1's Pinnacle system.

10. Supporter Packs, MTX & Twilight Reliquary Keys

New Paladin and Penance supporter packs are available, each offering 6 cosmetic MTX. The Twilight Reliquary Key system allows supporters to find any unique item (if tied to a boss, must be unlocked via that content). Pinnacle uniques can now drop at all difficulties—rarer at lower tiers.

Patch 0.2.0 Dawn of the Hunt is shaping up to be the most ambitious update to date for PoE 2. With over 100 new items, 100 support gems, 5 ascendancies, 8 new maps, and a complete rework of endgame systems, this patch offers something for every kind of player.

Whether you're a mapper, crafter, summoner, or hardcore min-maxer, Patch 0.2.0 provides clear build diversity, innovative mechanics, and a refined grind.

Patch 0.2.0 is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious updates yet, with sweeping changes across all aspects of the game. May your Vaal Orbs yield great results!