Fans of divine warriors and holy archetypes have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Templar class in Path of Exile 2. Known for their unwavering faith and powerful elemental abilities in the first game, the Templar is expected to make a triumphant return in Path of Exile 2. But when will this iconic class arrive, and what do we know about its weapons, skills, and playstyle? Here’s everything we know so far from developer hints, leaks, and community speculation.

Path of Exile 2 Templar Release Date & Next Class Leaks

The Templar class is one of the most highly anticipated additions to Path of Exile 2. Although Grinding Gear Games (GGG) hasn’t officially confirmed its release window, the studio’s slow rollout of classes gives us a rough timeline to work with.

Each major update of PoE 2 has introduced a new class, with the development moving from version 0.1 to 0.3 over the course of more than eight months. Given this pace, it may take several years before all classes are added to the game.

Currently, the next confirmed class is the Druid, expected to launch in December 2025 or January 2026 with the Path of Exile 2 0.4 update. The Templar, which shares a similar Strength/Intelligence hybrid identity, is speculated to arrive 6–12 months later—possibly late 2026 or early 2027.

Some optimistic fans believe GGG might surprise players with an early reveal or dual-class update, but based on the studio’s release cadence, the Templar will likely come after the Druid becomes playable.

Templar Appearance and Lore

Unlike the pristine, armor-clad paladins seen in other RPGs, Path of Exile 2’s Templar continues the series’ theme of fallen heroes and outcasts. Early concept leaks depict the Templar as a red-haired man wearing a tattered toga-like robe, adorned with a belt and a worn amulet symbolizing his lost faith.

The design suggests a man who once served a holy order but was cast out or betrayed, aligning perfectly with Path of Exile’s grim tone. His visual style—rugged yet noble—embodies the struggle between redemption and wrath.

Lore-wise, players are hoping this version of the Templar retains the moral depth and conviction of his predecessor from Path of Exile 1. The original Templar was beloved for his strong yet conflicted faith, often quoting scripture-like lines that revealed both arrogance and compassion. Fans want PoE 2’s Templar to carry that same gravitas—representing hope and belief in a world of corruption and chaos.

PoE 2 Templar Weapon – The Flail

According to leaks and datamined content, the Templar’s signature weapon in Path of Exile 2 will be the Flail—a medieval chain-and-mace hybrid. This weapon fits the Templar’s archetype as a holy warrior who balances defense and aggression.

The flail’s mechanics are said to feature:

· High critical strike potential, rewarding precise melee combat.

· Strong synergy with shields, allowing players to mix offense and defense fluidly.

· Potential new attack animations, reflecting the swinging momentum of the chained weapon.

Players speculate the Templar will excel as a one-handed melee fighter, wielding a flail and shield to smite foes while maintaining resilience through consecrated auras and defensive passives.

Templar Passive Skill Tree

Leaked images and internal testing data point toward a Strength/Intelligence hybrid starting zone near the Warrior’s area on the massive Path of Exile 2 passive skill tree. Here’s what’s rumored to be part of his early passive clusters:

· Melee damage and critical strike nodes for aggressive melee builds.

· Elemental damage clusters (Fire, Lightning, and Cold) for hybrid magic-melee archetypes.

· Shield block and defensive mastery nodes to enhance survivability.

· Possible minion interaction nodes, hinting that the Templar may support holy relics or spiritual summons.

This combination of offense, defense, and elemental scaling will make the Templar one of the most flexible classes in Path of Exile 2, suitable for both solo and co-op playstyles.

Templar Skills and Holy Magic

The Path of Exile 1 Templar had access to a wide range of holy and elemental spells, many of which are expected to make a return in PoE 2 with reworked mechanics and visual upgrades. These include:

· Righteous Fire – Burns both the player and nearby enemies, a risky but iconic self-sacrifice skill.

· Smite – Channels divine power into a melee strike, empowering nearby allies.

· Purifying Flame – Calls down holy fire that creates Consecrated Ground for healing.

· Divine Ire – Charges up holy energy and releases it as a devastating beam.

· Consecrated Path – Teleports the Templar into enemies with a fiery strike.

· Herald of Purity and Summon Holy Relic – Minion-based holy summons for support or damage roles.

These abilities emphasize fire, light, and purification themes, aligning with the Templar’s duality—destroying corruption while cleansing the world.

PoE 2 Templar Ascendancy Expectations

In Path of Exile 1, the Templar’s Ascendancy subclasses were the Inquisitor, Hierophant, and Guardian—each offering a distinct approach to faith-based power:

· Inquisitor – Elemental battlemage with high crits and elemental penetration.

· Hierophant – Totem and spell specialist focused on mana and AoE.

· Guardian – Defensive and supportive paladin, perfect for party play.

It’s widely believed Path of Exile 2 will retain these archetypes, but expand them with more dynamic mechanics. For instance, the Guardian may gain auras that interact with allies’ health pools, while the Inquisitor could unlock hybrid melee-caster synergies, reinforcing his battlemage identity.

Origins of the Leak

The earliest mention of the PoE 2 Templar came from a community misunderstanding—a leaked image showed a ragged character model that some fans misidentified as the Templar. Later, concept art leaks confirmed the existence of a proper Templar model featuring a flail and shield stance, matching the visual style of other known PoE 2 classes.

While GGG has not commented on these leaks, the consistency between unofficial art and datamined weapon data gives them credibility among players and theorycrafters.

Final Thoughts

The Templar’s arrival in Path of Exile 2 marks one of the most anticipated milestones in the game’s ongoing evolution. Blending faith, power, and moral conflict, the Templar is poised to become a cornerstone class for players who enjoy hybrid melee-caster playstyles and defensive mastery.

While the official release date remains unconfirmed, current development pacing suggests a release window between late 2026 and early 2027, following the introduction of the Druid.

Until then, players can only speculate—and prepare their flails—for the moment this righteous warrior returns to cleanse Wraeclast once more.