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In this Path of Exile 2 tier list, we'll attempt to rank all the 17 Ascendancies (stemming from the seven base classes in the game so far). This is done on the basis of all the balance changes in the 0.3.0 patch. Right now, this is a pre-patch tier list. As the meta shapes up after the release of The Third Edict, the standing of what Ascendancy makes it to what tier may change as new powerful build synergies get figured out.
Before we proceed, note that any Path of Exile 2 tier list will have at least some degree of subjective bias. If you are a new player, you should not take the ranking of the classes or Ascendancies as the main reason for what to play. The tier list is only here to reflect where the Ascendancies fall in the current balance (and the direction of the meta).
Best classes to pick in Path of Exile 2 (0.3.0 pre-patch tier list)
If you're wondering what class to league-start, here's what the pre-patch state of base classes in Path of Exile 2 looks like:
Trending
So, why is Warrior so low yet again? Two reasons: firstly, you don't do DEX, so you don't have access to Deflection; secondly, the Armor buff via additional Elemental damage mitigation might be poorer than advertised depending on whether it's calculated after the Armor calculation. It's the Heatproofing problem, but on other Elements. Thirdly, you need to one-hand big mace to keep big damage and block, but Giant's Blood now punishes your Health gain from STR.
The class rankings on the the tier list above is also mainly done as an average of what your Ascendancy options provide you. That's what we are going to discuss now.
Path of Exile 2 Ascendancy tier list for patch 0.3.0 (The Third Edict)
For this Path of Exile 2 tier list, we'll rank all the specs based on their merits as a foundation for builds. In other words, the Ascendancies on the higher tiers will tend to have many ways to platform multiple good builds. Meanwhile, those on the lower tiers tend to be restricted in terms of their access to the best mechanics and buffed Skills.
Before you move on, I want to again emphasize that this is a pre-patch tier list. We still don't have the full Passive Skill Tree, which has received a major revamp with over 150 new Notables, and less Travel Nodes. Expect this Path of Exile 2 tier list to look very different once the all the changes/techs are known.
So, without further ado, here's where each Ascendancy stands ahead of Path of Exile 2 League 0.3.0, as per the patch note changes:
There's no straight D-tier outliers at least for now, but we'll revisit the subject once the League starts in earnest.
SS-tier Ascendancies in Path of Exile 2 League 0.3
Deadeye: If there was one standout top Ascendancy on any Path of Exile 2 tier list based on patch 0.3, it would have to be Deadeye. Deadeye is the meta-resistant ol' faithful form the first game, and this trend continues in PoE2.
On top of this, Deadeye got straight buffs - with Called Shots, notably, making this spec more broken than ever. Not to forget, you get a bunch of free Movement Speed boosts innately.
Check out: 5 Deadeye builds to try in Path of Exile 2 The Third Edict (0.3)
S-tier Ascendancies in Path of Exile 2 League 0.3
Blood Mage: Blood Mage's crit scaling through Life got slightly nerfed, but this Ascendancy still has enough fuel left to be S-tier endgame material. You now get Sanguimancy as a pre-unlocked Node for ascending to a Blood Mage, so you can get to stuff like Vitality Siphon leech or infinite Curses right after the first Sekhema trial.
Overall, this boost alone is probably enough to keep this Ascendancy in the running, even though Overflow can now only be up to 1.5x of Max Life/Mana (previously 2x).
Tactician*: I may have jumped the gun in putting Tactician so high on a Path of Exile 2 tier list pre-patch, but it feels like his time to shine has finally come. Specifically, there's just one big thing that will determine how good this Ascendancy feels: the new passive Glory generation on Whoever Pays Best.
If this is enough to permanently get banner uptime on Defiance Banner (which now gives 30% movement speed on top of much higher defenses), Tactician has cracked the code. Cannons, Ready is now also pretty good for the AFK Artillery Ballista/Mortar builds.
*Note: Asterisks means the Ascendancy may get placed in a different tier once more variables are known.
Lich: If you want to play a caster with good defenses and overall solid scaling regardless of your luck, Lich is the best starter to try on this tier list. The Third Edict doesn't nerf the Contagion setups by a lot, so you're going to be cruising as Lich. Plus, now Curse builds are potentially going to be even better (although the viability of new infinite Curse tech on Lich is still not 100% guaranteed).
A-tier Ascendancies in Path of Exile 2 League 0.3
Stormweaver*: Stormweaver's new Elemental Infusion mechanics seem really fun to play, but fun and fiddly can become just fiddly if the numbers aren't there to back it up. The QoL on instant staff-swapping and Arcane Surge getting a significant buff might make Stormweaver one of the best Ascendancies to start as, despite its restrictions of being a pure-caster spec.
Ritualist: Ritualist was mostly untouched in this patch, so it will place on a Path of Exile 2 0.3.0 tier list about as well as it did in 0.2.x. Ritualist has huge scaling potential as a tabula rasa Ascendancy due to additional Ring slot and stronger jewelry. However, we're talking deep into the League; Ritualist is very unsavory as a starter in a fresh economy.
Invoker: Unless you have a particular affinity towards Monk, this placement on A-tier relative to others on this list may seem a bit unearned. My focus here is mainly Meditate, which was buffed -- which is now more necessary than ever because Eternal Youth no longer regens Energy Shields. Other than that, Invoker is still the usual Spirit stick he once was. Also, this will be the theme-appropriate pick for a Hollow Palm starter.
Witchhunter: In a last-minute amendment to the 0.3 patch notes, Witchhunter has made a miraculous comeback in all the pre-patch Path of Exile 2 tier lists. Long story short, Witchhunter's new de-facto gimmick is converting 100 of his Passive Points into Weapon Set Passives, and thus running divergent two-in-one builds. Which is quite busted in a patch where curses seem really good. This might even be S-tier as more builds get figured out.
Warbringer*: Thanks to Totem buffs across the board, Warbringer is in a very strong position in this patch. With Lucky Block from the Svalinn unique shield, Warbringer might even be the best way to make a true tank-style Warrior viable in Path of Exile 2. Ancestral Jade Hulk's 50% damage bonus Warcry is just the cherry on top.
B-tier Ascendancies in Path of Exile 2 League 0.3
Acolyte of Chayula*: We already know that Volatile Power most likely got cut, but if Volatility support is removed as well, the top end of Chonk is gimped big-time. If Volatility does not get re-introduced or re-implemented as a Lineage Suport, that is.
This gives the Chonk's placement on this tier list a big asterisk. The changes that PoE2 patch 0.3 makes to the Ascendancy itself is a mixed bag. The new Into the Breach and Lucid Dreaming (purple Flames) seem like they are overall a buff, but the removal of Energy Shield leech is a big nerf.
Amazon: The big Accuracy-to-crit conversion passive that you'd pick Amazon for has been nerfed significantly. It's still a decent option to League-start if you want some gearing ease, but Amazon is certainly past her 0.2 Lightning Spear glory days.
Gemling Legionnaire*: The Right-side of the Gemling tree has far less relevance, since Attribute pressure was reduced for Gems and gearing overall (and Support Gem exclusivity is also gone). However, the Gem quality and Levels are bonuses that remain relevant in any meta. Even though it's not really looking like a patch for Attribute-stackers, Gemling seems an okay option for some setups.
Chronomancer*: This is yet another Ascendancy where the actual potential is very hard to gauge in a tier list specific to PoE2 patch 0.3.0. Inevitable Agony might be straight A-tier, but the patch notes only say "a portion of Damage they take from Hits" is redistributed as a Curse - which tells us nothing about the numbers. The new Sands of Time notable, on the other hand, seems like an overall buff.
Infernalist: Infernalist got straight buffs for in this patch (although depending on how you want to read it, Demon Form may be a sidegrade). Minions also got some direct and indirect buffs of their own, so if you want to play a comfy summoner, you can't go wrong with Infernalist. The reason why it's still B-tier is the stiff competition from other Witch Ascendancies.
Pathfinder: GGG went all-out in making poison-arrow playstyles better in Path of Exile 2 in this patch, so Pathfinder should actually be higher on this tier list. Sustainable Practices is still very middling after the buffs, but the bottom branch (Relentless Pursuit and Running Assault) of this Ascendancy has unconditionally valuable utility. The only reason we're here in B-tier is because you'd have to pass on Deadeye to go Pathfinder.
C-tier Ascendancies in Path of Exile 2 League 0.3
Titan*: For a pre-patch PoE2 tier list, Titan is the most wildcard entry right now. This is because one of its main draws, Hulking Form, boosts small passives, and the Passive Tree got a significant revamp with a lot of new Notables and clusters around them. I have put it in C-tier because the Giant's Blood nerf still stings quite a bit for a STR-stacking one-trick pony.
Smith of Kitava: The Smith got nerfed across the board, but and it's no longer that great of a League-starter option. In 0.2.0, if you were a first-time PoE2 player and wanted a relatively easier path to the Endgame without relying on minions, Smith of Kitava would have been the way to go.
Now you're forced to wear white body armour with less to show for it: Fire Res-stacking has been significantly nerfed, and Smith did not receive any meaningful changes to offset that. The only reason to play Smith in 0.3 is if you really like the class flavor it provides.
With new tome-sized patch notes, comes yet another moment where you're tempted to league-start with LA Deadeye. However, if you're about to start your first-ever campaign in PoE2, our advise is to not worry too much about what a tier list suggests.
With the current state of balance, most specs get by just fine through the campaign. If your build can do T1 mapping, you're only potentially a respec away from trying out a somewhat-scalable setup, regardless of what class you are.
Check out our other articles on Path of Exile 2 0.3.0:
- 5 biggest changes in patch 0.3, The Third Edict
- Support Gem rule change in 0.3 is a big buff to all builds
- All Crafting changes in 0.3.0 (The Third Edict)
- Rise of the Abyssal League mechanics, explained
