As anticipation builds toward the upcoming Path of Exile 2 update, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) continues to expand its next-generation ARPG with fresh classes and powerful Ascendancies. The 0.3.0 content update, set to launch on August 29, 2025, brings a wave of speculation and excitement. From newly discovered Monk voice lines to long-awaited Druid transformations, here's everything we know so far about the new Ascendancy and class debuting in Path of Exile 2's next season.
Monk's Third Ascendancy: Martial Artist Confirmed for 0.3.0
Recent datamining has uncovered three death-triggered voice lines linked to the Monk class. While two of these were already familiar to players, a new line appears to confirm the long-suspected third Ascendancy: Martial Artist. With the Monk already boasting the Invoker and Acolyte of Chayula, this new Ascendancy rounds out the archetype with a distinct focus on unarmed melee combat.
The Martial Artist is expected to center around fist-based burst attacks, combo chaining, and possibly a unique resource system that builds toward devastating finishing moves. Leaked skill names like Palm Strike and Flame Fist hint at fire-themed close-range damage. With previous developer comments about claw gems working unarmed, many players speculate that the Martial Artist will reuse claw-tagged skills with new animations for punches and kicks.
This Ascendancy might also reintroduce a mechanic inspired by the popular Hollow Palm Technique from Path of Exile 1, scaling unarmed attacks with Dexterity or flat physical damage. Unlike the Monk's Quarterstaff-based routes, Martial Artist pushes players into fast-paced, agile melee with combo-based gameplay and potential elemental enhancements.
Players attending Gamescom 2025—just one week before the update—are expected to get hands-on access to the Martial Artist in a live boss rush demo, a tradition GGG has followed with previous Ascendancy reveals.
New Class Confirmed: Druid to Debut in 0.3.0
While the Shadow class has been teased in early trailers, community consensus strongly favors the Druid as the next major class release. This is backed by multiple signs:
· A ten-minute gameplay showcase from two years ago featured the Druid's shapeshifting powers.
· GGG rarely reveals incomplete classes, indicating the Druid has been ready behind the scenes.
· The 0.3.0 patch codename “Verdant Wilds” aligns perfectly with the Druid's natural and elemental theme.
· Placeholder nodes near Primal weapon clusters (Staff, Claw, Flail) on the passive skill tree are believed to mark the Druid's starting location.
The Druid class will reportedly include:
· Bear form for durable melee tanking.
· Wolf form for summoning and pack synergy.
· Storm or Tornado form for elemental spellcasting.
The Druid is designed to be versatile, seamlessly switching roles between caster, summoner, and melee tank based on form. The Staff weapon model, already seen in the current game, is expected to be the Druid's main weapon archetype. As with the Martial Artist, fans will likely get their first chance to try the Druid during Gamescom 2025, with full release set for August 29, 2025.
Future Ascendancies and Speculative Leaks
Alongside the confirmed Monk and Druid additions, several Ascendancy leaks suggest even more content is brewing in upcoming updates. Here are the most likely candidates:
Sorceress – Pyromancer
With only Chronomancer and Stormweaver Ascendancies available for the Sorceress, fans have long asked for a fire-themed caster. Leaks referencing skills like Immolate and Flame Surge strongly suggest the Pyromancer is in development. This Ascendancy may arrive in 0.3.0 or 0.3.5, offering a long-awaited fire specialization for elemental casters.
Warrior – Marauder
Despite the Warrior already having three Ascendancies—Titan, Warbringer, and Smith of Kitava—there is no true berserker-style dual-wielding archetype. Datamined assets referencing dual-wielded axes and swords, along with the classic "Berserker" archetype from PoE1, hint at a future Marauder-themed Ascendancy. This may arrive in 0.4.0 or a later major expansion.
Mercenary – Commander
After the Tactician was introduced in version 0.2.0, some players speculated the Mercenary might be complete—until files referencing battle banners, rallying cries, and aura boosts surfaced. The Commander Ascendancy could bring a new support-oriented playstyle, likely to appear in 0.3.5.
Conclusion
With Patch 0.3.0, GGG is doubling down on PoE 2's promise of class identity, playstyle diversity, and intricate build systems. The Martial Artist Ascendancy promises to reinvent unarmed combat with combo-centric gameplay, while the Druid class finally brings transformative versatility to the battlefield. Combined with the teased Ascendancies like Pyromancer, Marauder, and Commander, Path of Exile 2 is gearing up for its most ambitious updates yet.
Whether you're a theorycrafter looking for the next meta or a casual player excited to try something new, August 29, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal dates for the game so far. Be sure to tune into Gamescom 2025 for your first look at what could be your next favorite build.