Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.4 brings one of the game’s most anticipated classes—the Druid—alongside major endgame updates and the next phase of early access progression. This guide breaks down everything revealed so far.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- The Druid’s core identity as a Strength/Intelligence hybrid
- All confirmed shapeshifting forms and how stance-dancing works
- The Druid’s elemental spell toolkit and natural summons
- How Talismans function as the class’s signature weapon
- Expected leveling path based on early previews
- Potential Ascendancies and endgame archetypes
- Every confirmed and likely feature coming in Patch 0.4
- What the update does not include (and why)
What Patch 0.4 Adds: Druid Release, Endgame Systems & Early Access Updates
Grinding Gear Games will unveil The Last of the Druids during the official reveal livestream on December 4th, with the patch launching shortly after on December 12th. A free weekend event will run from December 12th to 15th, giving players on all platforms full access to the early access build—including the new Druid class—and marking a major milestone in Path of Exile 2’s development.
Why the Druid Is So Important in PoE 2
The introduction of the Druid is a crucial addition, addressing the underdeveloped state of the passive tree’s left side and the limited build options available to Strength-based characters. With mechanics like slams and aftershocks lacking synergistic support, the Warrior has been at a clear disadvantage.
The Druid, as a Strength/Intelligence hybrid, begins to fill this void.
- For Casters: Its nature-themed spells, including abilities like Tornado and Volcano, will offer new tools for Intelligence-based classes.
- For Warriors: Its shapeshifting forms and associated slam skills will provide the Warrior with much-needed support, opening up new build paths for archetypes that previously lacked support.
The Druid’s hybrid archetype opens up cross-scaling possibilities that Path of Exile 2 currently lacks, particularly in builds that want to combine Armor, Energy Shield, and AoE spell setups.
Core Identity of the Druid: Hybrid Shapeshifting Spellcaster
At its heart, the Druid is a Strength/Intelligence hybrid class that combines automatic shapeshifting mechanics with high-impact elemental spells. The core design revolves around a dynamic, hybrid playstyle, seamlessly weaving between long-duration spellcasting and direct melee engagement.
The transformation mechanic is not a manual toggle but an automatic function tied to skill usage. Using a form-specific skill will instantly shift the character into that form, while casting a spell will revert them to their human form. This style of “stance dancing” aligns with Path of Exile 2’s animation-committed combat, where the slower, impactful slams of Bear form reward timing and dodge-weaving. The class is built around a deliberate combo rhythm rather than the instant stance toggling seen in other games.
The Three Pillars of the Druid
The Druid’s abilities are built upon three distinct pillars: Shapeshifting, Elemental Fury, and Natural Summons.
1. Druid Shapeshifting: Bear, Wolf & Wyvern Forms
| Form | Status | Playstyle Identity | Core Mechanics | Ideal Use Case |
| Bear Form | Confirmed | Slow, tanky, high-impact melee | Rage generation via Bear Maul, Rage consumption via slams like Rampage, heavy aftershocks | Bossing, tanking, damage trading |
| Wolf Form | Confirmed | Agile, fast melee, evasive | Quick movement skills, rapid attack chains, aggressive mobility | Map clearing, hit-and-run, mobility-heavy combat |
| Wyvern Form | Speculated | Mobile elemental hybrid | Datamined elements: Wing Blast, Flame Breath, Electric Spit | Potential mobility-focused elemental variant (not confirmed) |
The following forms and mechanics are drawn from official previews and datamined information.
- Bear Form (Confirmed): The primary transformation revealed, focusing on tanky, high-damage melee attacks with powerful Slam skills.
- Wolf Form (Confirmed): Revealed in the patch teaser, the Wolf is expected to offer a faster, more agile, and aggressive melee playstyle.
- Wyvern Form (Speculated): The following is based on datamined hints and is not confirmed content. While this is speculative, game files contain extensive placeholder data for a potential Wyvern form, which suggests a possible third form oriented around mobility and elemental attacks.
A core mechanic tied to the Bear form is Rage. This resource is generated by the primary attack Bear Maul and is consumed by powerful slams like Rampage to extend their duration and travel distance. The term “Primal” is often used by the community to describe the Druid’s nature-themed magic, but it is not a confirmed in-game resource system beyond Rage.
2. Elemental Fury: The Spells of the Wild
| Spell | Type / Identity | Tags | Primary Function | Key Synergies |
| Lightning Storm | Persistent AoE lightning zone | Area, Duration, Lightning | Repeated lightning strikes apply Shock, increasing enemy damage taken | Works well with melee follow-ups; primes packs for slams |
| Volcano | Channelling fire geyser | Area, Duration, Fire, Projectile | Summons a volcano that fires projectiles; channelling increases projectile count | Bear/Wolf slams trigger additional eruptions for burst AoE |
| Tornado | Mobile vortex control skill | Area, Duration, Physical, Vortex | Creates a vortex that pursues enemies, applies Hinder, clusters packs | Excellent setup tool for slams; pulls enemies into Bear range |
In human form, the Druid commands high-output elemental spells, often designed to create persistent damage zones or apply potent debuffs.
Lightning Storm: Creates an area where enemies are repeatedly struck by lightning.
- Tags: Area, Duration, Lightning
Volcano: A Channelling spell that summons a volcano firing projectiles. Channelling the skill causes it to fire additional projectiles, and any slam performed near the volcano causes it to erupt, firing extra projectiles.
- Tags: Area, Duration, Fire, Projectile
Tornado: Creates a vortex that chases down and repeatedly damages enemies, applying the Hinder debuff to slow them.
- Tags: Area, Duration, Physical, Vortex
3. Natural Summons: Druid Companions & Wolves
The Druid can call upon animal companions to aid in battle.
- Summon Wolves: When summoned, the wolves let out a howl that debuffs nearby enemies, increasing the critical hit chance against them. This aligns with PoE 2’s shift toward active, ability-driven minions. These summons are expected to behave like persistent companions rather than short-lived summons, though exact duration mechanics remain to be confirmed.
These mechanics come together through the Druid’s unique weapon interactions and form-specific melee abilities.
Druid Key Skills and Talismans (Signature Weapon)
Talismans Explained: The Druid’s Signature Weapon
An in-game tooltip has confirmed the introduction of Talismans as the Druid’s signature weapon.
- Type: Talismans are two-handed melee weapons that require both Strength and Intelligence.
- Function: Their primary purpose is to enable shapeshifting skills. This 2H lock-in means builds will focus on offense and alternate defenses like Armor/ES rather than a shield-block paradigm. (Note: This new weapon base is distinct from the socketable Talisman items that also exist in the game.)
- Flexibility: While each Talisman may be associated with a specific animal form, equipping one grants access to the skills from all available forms.
- Talismans are confirmed as a new STR/INT 2H base, but GGG hasn’t yet stated whether they inherit mace/staff tags for passives/supports. They will likely feature unique implicit modifiers and may even roll form-specific bonuses (e.g., “+1 to Bear skills”), though this is not yet confirmed.
Key Melee and Utility Skills:
- Bear Maul: A foundational bear attack that generates Rage with each hit.
- Furious Slam: A powerful slam skill focused on stunning enemies.
- Rampage: A charging attack that stampedes over enemies, consuming Rage to extend its duration.
- Ferocious Roar: A “meta skill” that causes the next slam attack to have a second aftershock, effectively doubling its impact.
Druid Passive Tree Start, Armor/ES Hybrid Defenses & Build Paths
The Druid’s starting position in the upper-left of the passive tree provides natural access to nodes that enhance Elemental Damage, Area of Effect, Minion Damage, and hybrid Armor/Energy Shield defenses. This placement also creates a smoother early leveling experience, as hybrid and AoE nodes become accessible earlier than for most classes. The primary defensive identity for the Druid appears to be a combination of Armor and Energy Shield.
Druid Leveling Path: Early Game, Mid-Campaign & Late Acts
Based on current previews and available information the Druid is not a “caster then respec” class; it is built to level as a hybrid once its core skills come online.
- Early Acts (Levels 1–10): Leveling will likely begin with human-form spellcasting, using low-level, duration-based spells like Tornado or Lightning Storm for early clear.
- Mid-Campaign (Post-Talisman/Bear Skill Unlock): The hybrid stance-dancing loop begins. Players will drop a long-duration spell, use Bear Maul to shift form and build Rage, then use Rampage as a Rage-dump and movement slam.
- Later Acts (Post-Wolf Unlock): Form specialization becomes possible, using Bear for single-target burst and tanking, while the Wolf form is expected to be the faster option for clearing maps.
Potential Druid Ascendancies: Shaman, Wild Heart, Harbinger
While the following are purely speculative, datamined names suggest a focus on the class’s three pillars. GGG has not yet confirmed Ascendancy names or mechanics; players should treat names like Shaman (Spellcasting), Wild Heart (Shapeshifting), and Oracle/Harbinger (Summoning) as placeholders. These Ascendancies are expected to define the class’s long-term archetypes and reinforce its three core playstyles.
Likely Endgame Archetypes (Based on Previews)
- Elemental Slammer: The explicitly previewed synergy of using persistent spells like Volcano before finishing enemies with powerful Bear slams.
- Rage-Stacking Bear Bosser: A build focused on generating and consuming large amounts of Rage to deliver massive burst damage.
- Minion-Assisted Hybrid: Utilizes Summon Wolves to debuff enemies, increasing the effectiveness of the Druid’s own attacks.
- Totem/Hybrid Shaman: Leverages the existing totem support in the upper-left of the passive tree.
Beyond the Druid: What Else to Expect in Patch 0.4
| Feature | Status | Description / Impact |
| New League Mechanic | Confirmed | Central mechanic shaping all content for 0.4; expands core gameplay loop |
| New Mapping Features (Abyss Pits, Tablet System) | Confirmed | Map “juicing” tools, stackable tablet items, underground Abyss Pit areas |
| Atlas Customization Expansion | Confirmed | New Atlas clusters, jewels, biome control, further passive customization |
| Passive Tree Expansion (Upper-Left Quadrant) | Highly Likely | Expected to support Str/Int hybrids and future classes near the Druid’s area |
| New Unique Items | Highly Likely | Standard feature for all major updates; adds new meta builds |
| Third Ascendancies for Existing Classes | Unlikely for 0.4 | Not announced; may be saved for a later patch |
| New Campaign Act | Very Unlikely | No indication; development time too long for 0.4 cycle |
| Second New Class | Very Unlikely | GGG nearly never introduces two classes in a single patch cycle |
This update has been described by developers as an endgame-focused patch, a common step after a new campaign act has been released.
Confirmed Endgame Systems and Content
- A New League Mechanic: A comprehensive new league mechanic is confirmed, which will define the gameplay loop for all activities.
- New Mapping Features: GGG has confirmed “a new way to juice endgame maps,” including a new stackable tablet currency with its own modifying orbs, and new underground map areas called Abyss Pits.
- Expanded Atlas Customization: The Atlas is confirmed to be receiving more control features, including new clusters, jewels, and unique jewels to further customize the passive tree, as well as more control over map biomes.
Highly Likely Additions
- Passive Tree Expansion: The upper-left quadrant of the passive tree is highly likely to be fleshed out to support future hybrid Strength/Intelligence classes.
- New Unique Items: As with all new patches, a fresh batch of unique items is expected to evolve the meta.
What Is NOT Coming in Patch 0.4 (New Class, New Act, Ascendancies)
- New Campaign Acts: The development time required for a new act is substantial, making its inclusion improbable at this time.
- A Second New Class: Creating a new class is a massive undertaking. Players will have to wait longer for the game’s full release to see other classes.
- Third Ascendancies for Other Classes: While classes like the Sorceress and Huntress are slated to receive a third Ascendancy, these have not been announced for patch 0.4 and may arrive in a future update.
All information regarding unconfirmed features should be considered speculative until the official livestream in the coming week. The full patch notes will be released closer to launch, and this guide will be updated accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the PoE 2 Patch 0.4.0 release date?
Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.4.0 officially releases on December 12. Grinding Gear Games will fully unveil the update—including the Druid class, new endgame systems, and mechanical reworks—during the reveal livestream on December 4. The patch arrives only a few days later, marking one of the fastest preview-to-release cycles in the game’s early access development.
What does “The Last of the Druids” mean in PoE 2 Patch 0.4.0?
“The Last of the Druids” is the theme, name, and marketing focus of Patch 0.4.0. It centers on the introduction of the Druid, one of Path of Exile 2’s most anticipated hybrid classes. The title reflects the class’s lore identity: the Druid is part of an ancient nature-based order, making this update a lore-heavy milestone as well as a major gameplay expansion.
Is the Druid class officially confirmed for PoE 2 patch 0.4.0?
Yes. GGG confirmed the Druid class is the flagship feature of Patch 0.4.0. They revealed artwork, gameplay previews, new spells, form transitions, and early mechanical details. The Druid is the first fully playable new class added during early access, making this patch critical for build diversity.
How does the Druid shapeshifting mechanic work in PoE 2?
Shapeshifting in PoE 2 is automatic, not manually toggled. The Druid shifts into a form by using a form-specific skill (e.g., Bear Maul → Bear Form) and returns to human form when casting spells. This creates a very fluid, intentional combat loop—often called stance-dancing—where players weave spells, melee strikes, mobility, and resource dumps together without button-clutter.
What Druid forms are confirmed in PoE 2 Patch 0.4.0?
Two forms are officially confirmed for release:
- Bear Form: Slow, heavy-hitting, tank-focused melee with Rage generation.
- Wolf Form: Fast, agile, high-mobility melee for clearing.
A third form, Wyvern, appears in datamined files (skills like Wing Blast and Flame Breath) but has not been confirmed by GGG, so players should treat it as speculative.
What is the Druid’s main resource?
The Druid’s confirmed resource is Rage, tied specifically to Bear Form. Rage is generated by Bear Maul and consumed by slams such as Rampage to increase attack power, travel distance, or aftershock effects. Although players often refer to a “Primal” resource system, GGG has not officially confirmed any additional mechanics beyond Rage.
What spells does the Druid use in human form?
The Druid in human form uses large-area elemental spells that shape the battlefield:
- Lightning Storm — Repeated lightning strikes in a persistent zone.
- Volcano (Channelling) — Summons a projectile-spitting geyser that erupts harder when slams are used near it.
- Tornado — A mobile vortex that pulls enemies, applies Hinder, and sets them up for melee.
These spells are designed to make human form a control and setup state, bridging into high-impact melee transformations.
Does the Druid have minions?
Yes. The Druid can summon Wolves, which act as persistent companions rather than short-lived temporary summons. When summoned, they emit a howl that debuffs nearby enemies, making them more vulnerable to critical hits. This minion design follows PoE 2’s philosophy of active minions, which use abilities rather than simply auto-attacking.
What is the Druid’s signature weapon in PoE 2?
The Druid’s signature weapon type is the Talisman, a new two-handed STR/INT weapon class. Talismans enable shapeshifting skills and determine which form-skills you can socket or use. Since they are 2H, they prevent shield use and push the Druid toward hybrid Armor/ES defenses. Talismans may include unique implicits or form-specific modifiers, though exact rolls will be clarified in patch notes.
Will the Druid level as a caster or melee?
The Druid is designed to level as a hybrid from the start. Early levels rely more on spells like Tornado and Lightning Storm for clearing, but once the Talisman and Bear Form skills unlock, combat flows into stance-dancing. The design goal is that you never need to respec from a caster into melee—the hybrid identity is present throughout the leveling process.
What Ascendancies will the Druid have?
GGG has not officially revealed the Druid’s Ascendancies. However, datamining suggests three early names mirroring the class themes:
- Shaman — Elemental spellcasting branch
- Wild Heart — Shapeshifting/melee specialization
- Oracle / Harbinger — Summoning or companion-driven archetype
These remain placeholders until officially announced during the livestream.
What endgame features are confirmed for PoE 2 Patch 0.4.0?
Patch 0.4.0 introduces several major endgame additions:
- A new league mechanic designed to shape gameplay for the entire patch cycle
- A map “juicing” system using stackable tablet items
- New Abyss Pits, underground map segments unlocked through boss kills
- More Atlas customization through new clusters, jewels, biome controls, and passive expansions
This makes Patch 0.4.0 the most significant endgame update of early access so far.
Will PoE 2 Patch 0.4.0 add a new campaign act?
No. GGG has stated that adding a campaign act requires a long development timeline, making its inclusion in Patch 0.4.0 very unlikely. Instead, this update focuses on endgame systems, class expansion, and new content loops.
Will any other classes besides the Druid be added?
No. Patch 0.4.0 will not add another new class. GGG seldom releases multiple classes in a single patch cycle, especially during early access. Players interested in the Templar or other future hybrid classes will need to wait for later updates.
What is the free weekend schedule for PoE 2?
A full free-access weekend will run December 12–15, aligning with Patch 0.4.0’s launch. Players on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation can try the current early access build, the new league mechanic, and the Druid class without purchasing the game.
What part of the passive tree does the Druid start in?
The Druid begins in the upper-left region of the passive tree, bridging Strength and Intelligence. This grants natural access to:
- AoE nodes
- Hybrid Armor/ES defenses
- Elemental spell damage
- Minion/companion support
- Totem-related clusters
This region is expected to expand heavily in Patch 0.4.0.
Is Patch 0.4.0 part of the current Abyssal League?
Patch 0.4.0 is not an Abyssal League, but it introduces Abyss-like mechanics such as underground Abyss Pits and a map tablet system reminiscent of past leagues. It evolves the current content cycle but does not replace it with a standalone Abyssal League.
Will the Druid be viable in the Hardcore Early Access League?
Yes. The Druid’s blend of Armor + Energy Shield, strong control spells, form-based mobility, and slam-driven burst damage makes it appealing for Hardcore players. Bear Form especially provides excellent durability, and Tornado/Volcano offer safe pre-engagement tools.
How does stance-dancing impact gameplay?
Stance-dancing is the core of Druid gameplay. Players cast long-duration spells, then automatically shift forms when using melee skills, chaining spells → Bear Form → slams in a seamless loop. This creates a highly rhythmic combat style with animation commitment and high skill expression.
Should players expect more details before launch?
Yes. The December 4 livestream will reveal the full Druid showcase, new mechanics, and gameplay previews. Full patch notes will be released shortly before December 12, so players should stay tuned for balance changes, new skill gems, Talisman stats, and final tuning of the endgame systems.
