Path of Exile 2 Adds Shadow Class for December 11 1.0 Launch
Grinding Gear Games revealed the dagger-wielding, trap-setting Shadow at ExileCon as the second new class arriving with Path of Exile 2's full release on December 11.
Path of Exile 2 will launch version 1.0 with two new classes, not one. During ExileCon's keynote, Grinding Gear Games revealed the Shadow, a dagger-heavy, trap-wielding class built around new stealth mechanics, according to PC Gamer. It will arrive alongside the previously announced Duelist.
The Shadow had been hinted at earlier with a cryptic teaser trailer.
What we know about the Shadow
On release, Shadows can ascend as the returning Assassin or pick a new ascendancy, the Infiltrator. PC Gamer notes that every Path of Exile 2 class will eventually have at least three ascendancies. Which one the Shadow gets third is not yet known. The Saboteur, the Trickster or something new are all open possibilities.
As with earlier class additions, the Shadow brings a new weapon type. The dagger arrives in 1.0 alongside the Duelist's swords, with new skill gems and support gems to go with it.
How stealth and traps work
Stealth stops monsters from seeing you until you get close. It has a cooldown, but the cooldown resets when you kill something. That means a Shadow can strike from cover and move on quickly.
Stealth also changes how traps work. In the original Path of Exile, traps were mostly thrown at monsters' feet mid-fight. In Path of Exile 2, traps thrown from stealth won't trigger until you reveal yourself, which suits an ambush. The 1.0 release will have eight trap types, and they interact with each other in different ways.
There are more mechanics:
- Entering stealth leaves behind a shade that blinds monsters and distracts them.
- The shade copies your melee attacks, doubling your damage.
- A new Darkness resource is collected from darkness-spreading skills and boosts the damage you deal when you leave stealth.
How it fits the December launch
PC Gamer says more will be known about both new classes later. The full release also includes two new acts, a new league and endgame improvements, on top of the Shadow and Duelist. The Shadow is one part of a larger 1.0 package rather than a standalone update.
What happens next
More details about the new classes are still to come, according to PC Gamer. The Shadow's third ascendancy has not been revealed.
Quick answers
When does Path of Exile 2 1.0 release?
The full release is set for December 11, according to PC Gamer's report on the ExileCon announcement.
What are the Shadow's ascendancies?
At launch, Shadows can choose the returning Assassin or the new Infiltrator. A third ascendancy has not been revealed.
What weapon does the Shadow use?
The Shadow uses daggers, a new weapon type for Path of Exile 2 that comes with its own skill gems and supports.
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