Path of Exile 2 Best Classes in 2025

Choosing a class in Path of Exile 2 is one of the most important decisions you will make before even stepping onto the coast. Unlike many ARPGs, your class choice here does not just define your early skills. Our Path of Exile 2 best classes 2025 guide covers everything there is to know about classes together into one clear, readable breakdown. Keep in mind that with Path of Exile 2's constant updates, class balance stays in motion, and tier lists ranking might change. 

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How This Path of Exile 2 Class Tier List Works

Before diving into the rankings, it is important to understand how this Path of Exile 2 class tier list is defined. Clear speed and boss damage matter, but so does survivability. Ease of gearing is taken into account, but so is how high a class scale ceiling is once fully optimized. Ascendancies play a major role, since they are essentially what define the builds, and all classes rely heavily on them to function at a high level. All in all, the tiers break down as follows:

This table gives a quick snapshot, but the real value lies in the detailed breakdowns below. Each class section explains not just where it lands, but why.

Path of Exile 2 Classes Tier List

With the evaluation framework established, here is how the current Path of Exile 2 class tier list landscape looks:

This overview helps orient you, but it does not tell the full story. Many A-Tier and even B-Tier classes can outperform S-Tier classes with adequate builds and investments. The sections below explore those nuances in detail.

S-Tier Classes

S-Tier classes are the ones that consistently feel strong at nearly every stage of the game. They level smoothly, scale well into endgame, and their ascendancies amplify their already solid foundations.

Ranger

The Ranger consistently sits comfortably at the top of the Path of Exile 2 class meta, largely due to how well projectile-based gameplay translates into both clear speed and safety. Ascendancies are a major reason the Ranger performs well. Deadeye-style paths promote clear speed through stats like projectile speed and proj chains to extreme levels, turning maps into fast-paced clearing routes. Pathfinder-style options add sustain and elemental scaling, making longer fights and boss encounters more forgiving.

The main drawback of the Ranger is durability. Without proper investment into evasion, suppression, or defensive layers, Rangers can feel fragile. However, because of their speed and range, experienced players rarely see this as a serious limitation. Overall, the Ranger is the safest recommendation for players who want strong performance with minimal friction. It rewards mechanical skill, positioning, and efficient gearing, and it rarely feels weak at any stage of progression.

Witch

The Witch is a strong contender for Path of Exile 2 most OP class title. Unlike the Ranger, whose strength comes from speed and precision, the Witch thrives on control, scaling, and indirect damage. Minion-based builds are a standout option for Witches. Summons do a lot of work for witches:

• Absorb damage

• Distract enemies

• Scale exceptionally well with relatively modest investment

This makes Witch an attractive choice for players who prefer a more methodical playstyle or want to reduce mechanical pressure during difficult encounters. Spell-based Witch builds also perform extremely well with ascendancies defining the experience. Lich-style paths emphasize minion upgrades, energy shield, chaos damage, and sustain, while Infernalist-like options focus on fire scaling and explosive interactions. Blood Mage ascendancy gives her exciting new build possibilities, enhancing a lot of her scaling pathways. All of her build directions are viable and powerful, giving the Witch flexibility that few other classes can match.

The only consistent downside is mobility. Witch builds often feel slower than Rangers or Mercenaries, especially early on. However, this is offset by strong defensive layers and serious damage uptime. In short, the Witch earns S-Tier placement through sheer versatility and reliability. Whether you prefer minions, spells, or hybrid chaos setups, the class delivers consistent results, both with modest and extensive investments being made.

A-Tier Classes

A Tier classes are powerful, flexible, and fun to play, but they usually fall just short of S-Tier due to slightly lower ceilings or more complex optimization requirements. This is where the Druid firmly belongs.

Druid

The Druid is one of the most interesting additions to Path of Exile 2, and his A-Tier placement reflects both his current strength and long-term potential. Druid might not be PoE 2 best class, but he’s still pretty good and offers power fantasy no other class can fulfill. Druids combine elements of melee combat, spellcasting, and nature-based mechanics. This allows them to adapt to different situations more easily than many pure archetypes. The build direction options are nearly endless:

• Totems

• Elemental Caster

• Physical Bruiser

• Minion builds

All these builds are possible and scale well naturally within the Druid toolkit. One of the biggest advantages of the Druid is survivability. Between innate defensive tools, sustain options, and crowd control, Druids tend to feel sturdier than most A-Tier classes. This makes them especially appealing for solo players who value consistency over peak damage. Ascendancies reinforce this flexibility rather than locking the Druid into a single role.

The main reason Druids do not reach S-Tier is raw speed. While they clear content reliably, they rarely match the insane pace of top-tier Rangers or the effortless scaling of Witches. 

Mercenary

The Mercenary is a solid A-tier class in our Path of Exile 2 class ranking, combining ranged combat with outstanding utility. Mercenaries thrive in mid-range combat. They use firearms, crossbows, or skill-based ranged attacks that reward positioning and timing. This makes the class appealing to players who enjoy a more deliberate combat rhythm rather than constant movement.

Defensively, Mercenaries sit in a comfortable middle ground. Smart positioning and skill usage are key. The Mercenary earns its place in A-Tier because it rarely feels weak. Even though Gemling got nerfed pretty hard, the class is still a good choice for players who like the aesthetic.

Monk

Monk is a valuable addition to the game’s roster and certainly one of the Path of Exile 2 best endgame classes. Monk offers a very distinct and unique fantasy to play with. His ascendancies and skills are focused on:

1. Precision

2. Flow

3. Skill combos. 

Unlike melee-heavy classes, Monks rely on mobility and skill timing rather than brute force.

At higher levels, Monk builds can deliver impressive single-target damage while maintaining strong movement options. This makes them effective against bosses and elite enemies, where sustained pressure matters more than raw AoE.

Ascendancies reward disciplined play, enhancing buffs, strike speed, and defensive reactions. When played well, Monks feel fluid and satisfying, with combat that rewards mastery. The reason Monks remain in A-Tier rather than S-Tier is their early-game experience. Leveling can feel slower, and mistakes are punished more harshly than with tankier or ranged classes. Still, in the hands of experienced players, Monks perform extremely well.

B-Tier Classes

B Tier classes are fully viable but tend to be more specialized or require heavier investment to shine. They appeal strongly to certain playstyles, even if they are not meta leaders.

Warrior

The Warrior embodies traditional melee durability. High armor, strong physical attacks, and straightforward gameplay define the class. Warriors excel at soaking damage and standing their ground. This makes them comfortable for players who prefer slower, methodical combat. In boss fights, Warriors can feel very safe when properly geared.

Huntress

The Huntress is one of the Path of Exile 2 best classes for beginners, providing the middle ground between melee and ranged playstyles. She has access to strong offensive tools but often lacks the defensive consistency of other classes.

Her skills and ascendancies are pretty straightforward and impactful. With the right build, Huntresses can deal excellent damage and move fluidly through content. However, without careful optimization, they can feel fragile and inconsistent damage-wise, but that could be said about every class. An abundance of better options places the Huntress firmly in B-Tier. She is still fun and capable of clearing any content, but not as reliable as higher-tier options.

C-Tier Classes

C-Tier does not mean unplayable. It simply reflects classes or paths that currently struggle to compete without heavy optimization or niche use cases.

Sorceress

The Sorceress represents classic elemental spellcasting at its finest. Fire, lightning, and cold builds all find a home here, with powerful area damage and satisfying visual feedback. Sorceresses excel at burst damage and crowd control. 

Ascendancies push elemental scaling even further, amplifying shock, freeze, or burn effects depending on specialization. When optimized, Sorceress builds can feel explosive and highly efficient. However, survivability is the class’s main challenge. Previously regarded as the PoE 2 best class, the Sorceress now struggles to compete with options such as Blood Mage witch or new Druid iterations, which puts her in C-Tier. However, the addition of  Disciple of Varashta ascendancy might be the thing needed to bring her up the charts.

Conclusion

Path of Exile 2 offers one of the most diverse class ecosystems in modern ARPGs. While tier lists help guide decisions, they should never replace personal preference or playstyle enjoyment. If you want a safe, powerful choice, start with S-Tier. If you want depth and flexibility, A-Tier classes like the Druid are excellent long-term investments. And if you enjoy mastering underdog builds, B Tier and niche options can still deliver satisfying results.