PoE 2 Druid Release Date, Ascendancy, Skills, Gear, Build & Gameplay Guide

The Druid is one of the most anticipated classes in Path of Exile 2, offering a mix of Strength and Intelligence, melee combat, elemental magic, and shape-shifting. With PoE 2.2 on the way, speculation is growing that the Druid may be released alongside the Huntress.

The upcoming patch is expected to bring balance changes, an economy reset, and possibly new endgame content. While some worry about nerfs to popular builds, others are excited about fresh gameplay opportunities. If the Druid is introduced, it will add much-needed variety to the game’s early access phase. This guide covers everything known about the Druid, including its potential release, skills, weapons, and best builds.

PoE 2 Druid Release Date

The Druid has been teased in past development footage, showing a nearly complete class with Bear Form, elemental attacks, and summoning abilities. With PoE 2.2 scheduled for March 27th, many believe this will be the patch that finally adds the class.

Grinding Gear Games (GGG) has six more classes to introduce before PoE 2 exits early access, and if they want to stay on track for a 2025 full release, they may need to add multiple classes per update. Given the forest and nature-based theme of Dawn of the Hunt, releasing the Druid alongside the Huntress would fit the current expansion’s theme.

If the Druid is not introduced in PoE 2.2, it raises concerns about whether GGG can keep up with their release schedule. However, many players remain optimistic that the class is ready and will soon be playable.

Druid Ascendancy

The Druid is a hybrid Strength-Intelligence class, allowing for a flexible mix of melee combat and spellcasting. Its standout feature is automatic shape-shifting, which lets players seamlessly switch between human and bear forms depending on the abilities they use.

• Human Form: Focuses on casting elemental spells, setting up attacks, and controlling enemies from a distance.

• Bear Form: Prioritizes heavy melee attacks, Rage generation, and area-of-effect (AoE) damage.

The Druid’s ascendancy paths are expected to specialize in melee combat, elemental magic, or summoning abilities, giving players multiple ways to approach battles.

Druid Skills (Gems)

The Druid has a diverse skill set that combines brute force, elemental destruction, and summoned allies. Below are some of its key abilities:

Bear Form Melee Skills

• Bear Maul – A heavy melee attack that transforms the Druid into a bear. Each hit builds Rage, increasing attack damage.

• Rampage – Charges forward, slamming enemies repeatedly while consuming Rage for high AoE damage.

• Furious Slam – A powerful ground slam that stuns enemies, making it useful for crowd control.

• Ferocious Roar – Enhances slam attacks when used after stunning foes, dealing extra damage through aftershocks.

Elemental Magic & Summoning

• Lightning Storm – Creates a storm that continuously strikes enemies with lightning, applying a shock debuff to increase damage taken.

• Volcano – Fires projectiles around itself, dealing fire damage over time. Holding the skill releases more initial projectiles.

• Tornado – Pulls in enemies, separating them and making them easier to control.

• Summon Wolf – Calls wolves to fight alongside the Druid. Their howls weaken enemies, making them more vulnerable to critical strikes.

Skill Automation via Meta Gems

The Druid can take advantage of meta gems to automate abilities, improving combat efficiency. Some examples include:

• Cast While Channeling – Automatically triggers Lightning Storm while casting Volcano, maintaining consistent AoE damage.

• Cast on Melee Stun – Automatically summons wolves when stunning enemies, keeping a constant flow of summoned allies.

This allows Druid players to create powerful synergies between spells and melee attacks without manually activating every ability.

Druid Skill Tree

The Druid’s passive tree dynamically reconfigures based on its current form:

• Human Form: Focuses on spell damage, elemental penetration, and summoning bonuses.

• Bear Form: Emphasizes melee damage, Rage generation, and stun effects.

Players can allocate different passive points for each form, allowing for specialized gameplay depending on the chosen build.

For example, a Druid focusing on spellcasting can invest in lightning and fire damage nodes, while a melee-focused Druid can enhance slam attacks and Rage scaling.

Druid Weapon & Gear

The Druid's weapon choices depend on its build. Here are the best options:

• Two-Handed Maces & Axes – Best for Bear Form builds that rely on heavy melee attacks and Rage generation.

• Staves & Wands – Ideal for spellcasting-focused Druids who prioritize elemental damage and mana efficiency.

• Scepters – A balanced option for hybrid melee and spellcasting builds, offering bonuses to Strength and Intelligence.

Recommended Armor & Accessories

• Armor + Energy Shield Gear – Provides both durability and spellcasting efficiency, making it a strong hybrid choice.

• Rage-Boosting Items – Items that improve Rage generation will enhance Bear Form combat effectiveness.

• Cooldown Reduction on Shape-Shifting – Faster transformation between human and bear forms makes combat smoother.

• Minion Buffing Gear – For Druid builds that rely on Summon Wolves, gear that increases minion damage and survivability is beneficial.

Druid Build & Gameplay Guide

The Druid allows for multiple playstyles, letting players focus on melee combat, elemental magic, or a hybrid approach. Below are three recommended builds:

1. Elemental Caster Druid

• Focus: Uses Lightning Storm, Volcano, and Tornado to control fights from a distance.

• Skill Automation: Links Cast While Channeling to cast multiple spells simultaneously, ensuring constant AoE damage.

• Best Gear: Energy Shield-based armor and staves or wands for maximum spell damage.

• Strengths: High AoE damage, strong crowd control, and synergistic spellcasting.

2. Bear Form Melee Druid

• Focus: Prioritizes Bear Maul, Rampage, and Furious Slam for high-impact melee combat.

• Skill Synergy: Uses Ferocious Roar to boost slam attacks, increasing burst damage.

• Best Gear: Heavy armor for durability and two-handed maces or axes for hard-hitting melee strikes.

• Strengths: Tanky, high burst damage, and strong Rage generation.

3. Hybrid Summoner Druid

• Focus: Mixes spellcasting, melee combat, and summoned allies for a balanced playstyle.

• Skill Synergy: Uses Summon Wolves to draw enemy attention while casting Volcano and Lightning Storm.

• Best Gear: Hybrid armor (Armor + Energy Shield) for durability and scepters for balanced melee and spellcasting.

• Strengths: Versatile, adaptive to different combat situations, and self-sufficient due to summoned allies.

Gameplay Strategy

• Pre-Battle Setup: Start fights in human form, casting Lightning Storm and Volcano to apply elemental damage over time.

• Shape-Shift Timing: Once enemies are weakened, shift into Bear Form to finish them off with melee attacks.

• Survivability: Use Summon Wolves and Tornado to control enemy movement and reduce incoming damage.

• Automate Abilities: Utilize meta gems to cast buffs and skills automatically, improving overall efficiency.