Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt – A New Chapter Opens with The Huntress

Grinding Gear Games has officially announced the forthcoming significant update for its eagerly awaited action RPG sequel, Path of Exile 2. Named Dawn of the Hunt, this update is scheduled for release on April 4 and introduces a wide array of new content to the perilous and shadowy realm of Wraeclast. Central to this update is the arrival of a completely new class: The Huntress, a nimble and versatile warrior who injects a novel approach to combat with her distinctive combination of speed, accuracy, and adaptability.

Presenting The Huntress – A Champion of the Wilderness

The Huntress is a dexterity-oriented class that thrives in both ranged and melee confrontations. Armed with a spear and a buckler, she can effortlessly shift between offensive maneuvers and defensive strategies, positioning her as one of the most adaptable characters in Path of Exile 2 thus far. Exiled from her homeland for utilizing forbidden Skill Gems, The Huntress now traverses the untamed lands of Wraeclast, pursuing her targets with lethal efficiency.

Her fighting style centers on fluid movements and reflexes. The newly introduced buckler weapon type features the Parry skill, enabling players to thwart enemy assaults with finesse. A successful parry can trigger Disengage, a skill allowing The Huntress to leap backward while acquiring a Frenzy charge, paving the way for her next attack. Her initial skill, Whirling Slash, conjures a dazzling whirlwind that inflicts damage on enemies and can synergize with elemental abilities like Flame Wall, Frost, or Electricity for powerful combo effects.

Jonathan Rogers, Game Director at Grinding Gear Games, highlighted that The Huntress presents some of the longest and most intricate combo sequences ever crafted in the franchise, providing players with a steep skill ceiling and gratifying gameplay.

Five New Ascendancy Classes – Enhancing the Armory

Dawn of the Hunt also brings five new ascendancy classes, two of which are unique to The Huntress:

– Ritualist (Huntress): Harnesses ancient Azmeri rituals, employing blood offerings and plague to amplify her attacks.
– Amazon (Huntress): A precision-focused elemental warrior who capitalizes on enemy weaknesses through high critical hits and elemental enhancements.

The remaining three ascendancies broaden the potential of existing classes:

– Lich (Witch): A soul-dividing necromancer who wields fragments of their soul to empower rare gems, trading vitality for power in a high-stakes, high-reward playing style.
– Smith of Kitava (Warrior): A fierce blacksmith who crafts weapons in the heat of battle, conjures animated weapon replicas, and enhances equipment through fiery rituals.
– Tactician (Mercenary): A former Blackguard elite utilizing battlefield manipulation and suppression tactics to control foes while securing substantial rewards.

New Skills and Mounts – Mastery of the Spear and Rhoa Riding

The update introduces more than 20 new spear skills designed specifically for The Huntress, with two available for all classes. One of the standout features is the Summon Rhoa Mount skill, permitting players to call forth and ride a Rhoa into combat. While mounted, players can attack at full pace, but excessive damage may result in a dismount and temporary stun, adding an element of risk to this powerful mobility advantage.

Another noteworthy skill is Raise Spectre, enabling players to ensnare and summon the souls of nearly any creature in the game. Whether conjuring a swarm of weaker minions or a handful of robust allies, this skill provides significant strategic possibilities.

Expanding the Universe – New Content and Features

Dawn of the Hunt is not just a class enhancement—it represents a vast content expansion. Key highlights include:

– 100+ New Support Gems: Boost build variety with new effects like Caltrops, which create slowing hazards across the battlefield.
– 100+ New Unique Items: Featuring spear and buckler-specific equipment. Each unique item type aims to promote experimentation and inventive strategies.
– 20+ New Crafting Runes: These socketable mods scale across various tiers and present new means to enhance gear.
– 8 New Endgame Maps: Expanding the game world and offering fresh challenges for seasoned players.
– 4 Unique Strongboxes: Delivering new loot opportunities and elevating the significance of endgame content.
– Rogue Exiles: A new enemy type that mimics player techniques and behaviors, including dodge rolls and distinct gear. These perceptive adversaries provide intense encounters and valuable rewards.

A New Era in Wraeclast

Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt is poised to be one of the most monumental updates for the franchise to date. With an exciting new class, new ascendancies, and a multitude of fresh systems and content, Grinding Gear Games is reaffirming its dedication to providing a profound, rewarding, and continuously evolving ARPG experience.

Players can immerse themselves in the update when it enters early access on April