The Dawn of the Hunt league in Path of Exile 2 (Patch 0.2.0) introduces new Ascendancies and rebalances existing ones, shifting the meta significantly. Choosing the right Ascendancy is crucial for efficient farming, bossing, and progression. Below is a tier list ranking all Ascendancies based on their damage potential, survivability, mobility, and efficiency.
S-Tier Ascendancies (Best Choices)
These Ascendancies dominate the meta with exceptional damage scaling, survivability, and versatility.
Stormweaver (Sorceress)
● Strengths: Best synergy with Archmage scaling, massive elemental damage, and AoE potential.
● Weaknesses: Heavy reliance on mana stacking and specific gems.
● Analysis: Stormweaver was dominant in 0.1.0, and unless Archmage gets heavily nerfed, it will remain a top-tier choice.
Gemling Legionnaire (Mercenary)
● Strengths: Versatile—works with melee, ranged, or minion builds; scales well with Astrus and Pillar of the Caged God.
● Weaknesses: Requires expensive uniques for peak performance.
● Analysis: This Ascendancy started slow but ended 0.1.0 as one of the strongest due to its synergy with attribute stacking.
Infernalist (Witch)
● Strengths: Fire-based builds, demonic transformations, and crazy damage scaling with Demon Flame.
● Weaknesses: Requires unique build adaptations.
● Analysis: Infernalist is a powerhouse with Pyromantic Pact mechanics, making it one of the most unique and versatile Ascendancies.
Ritualist (Huntress)
● Strengths: Monster taming, ritual sacrifice, and gear manipulation.
● Weaknesses: Requires deep understanding of mod stealing mechanics.
● Analysis: Ritualist enables ring/ammy stacking and bleeds explosions, making it a brokenly powerful Ascendancy.
Lich (Witch)
● Strengths: Chaos-focused, leveraging energy shield, curses, and power charge consumption.
● Weaknesses: Requires careful resource management.
● Analysis: Lich introduces new chaos-mage archetypes with high AoE potential and powerful spell-damage multipliers.
A-Tier Ascendancies (Strong Choices)
These Ascendancies are powerful but require specific setups or gear investments.
Amazon (Huntress)
● Strengths: Hybrid melee and ranged combat, high mobility.
● Weaknesses: Proper gear scaling is required for optimal damage.
● Analysis: A throwback to Diablo 2’s Amazon, this Ascendancy offers flexibility with javelins, spears, and bows.
Tactician (Mercenary)
● Strengths: Battlefield control, utility-heavy combat.
● Weaknesses: Not as strong for raw DPS.
● Analysis: It is likely to use traps, turrets, or strategic buffs, making it a strong contender for defensive or control-based builds.
Smith of Kitava (Warrior)
● Strengths: Heavy-hitting melee powerhouse.
● Weaknesses: May lack mobility compared to other melee Ascendancies.
● Analysis: It could have forge-based enhancement abilities, making it a strong choice for tanky melee builds.
B-Tier Ascendancies (Situational Choices)
These Ascendancies have potential but may struggle in certain aspects of the game.
Shadowblade (Rogue)
● Strengths: High burst damage, stealth mechanics.
● Weaknesses: Squishy and requires precise execution.
● Analysis: Shadowblade excels in burst assassinations but lacks sustain in prolonged fights.
Bloodcaller (Warrior)
● Strengths: Life-leech mechanics, strong sustain.
● Weaknesses: May struggle with scaling in late-game content.
● Analysis: Bloodcaller is a tanky option but requires careful gear choices to remain viable.
Ascendancy Tier List Changes for Patches
The Ascendancy tier list in Path of Exile 2 has shifted significantly across patches, especially with the introduction of Dawn of the Hunt (Patch 0.2.0). Here’s a breakdown of the major changes:
New Ascendancies Introduced
● Huntress Class Added – Comes with two new Ascendancies: Amazon and Ritualist.
● Lich (Witch) – A chaos-focused Ascendancy emphasizing curses and energy shield mechanics.
● Smith of Kitava (Warrior) – A forge-based melee powerhouse with armor modification abilities.
● Tactician (Mercenary) – A battlefield control specialist with utility-heavy mechanics.
Major Meta Shifts
● Ritualist (Huntress) is Overpowered – Its ability to steal monster mods and enhance ring effects makes it one of the strongest choices for endgame.
● Stormweaver (Sorceress) Still Dominates – Despite balance changes, its synergy with Archmage scaling keeps it at the top.
● Gemling Legionnaire (Mercenary) Remains Strong – Attribute stacking and synergy with Astrus and Pillar of the Caged God ensure its viability.
● Infernalist (Witch) Gains Popularity – Fire-based builds and Demon Flame mechanics make it a powerhouse.
Nerfs & Adjustments
● Ice Strike, Spark Archmages, and Deadeye Lightning Arrow Nerfed – These popular builds saw reductions in effectiveness, forcing players to adapt.
● Boss Fights Last Longer – Durability and sustain are now more important than ever.
● Weapon-locking Between Set Swaps Delayed – This feature was planned but postponed for a future hotfix.
The Dawn of the Hunt patch has reshaped the Ascendancy meta, favoring Ritualist, Stormweaver, and Gemling Legionnaire as top-tier choices. If you’re looking for a fresh experience, Amazon and Lich offer unique mechanics worth exploring.
Final Thoughts
The best Ascendancy depends on your playstyle and goals. If you want high damage and versatility, Stormweaver and Gemling Legionnaire are top choices. If you prefer unique mechanics, Infernalist and Ritualist offer engaging playstyles. For hybrid combat, Amazon and Tactician provide strong alternatives.
With the Dawn of the Hunt league introducing new mechanics and balance changes, adaptability will be key. Which Ascendancy are you leaning toward for your league start?
