In the initial plans for Path of Exile 2, there were a total of 12 classes. However, the current 0.5.0 Return of the Ancients, as the initial phase of Early Access, only features 8 classes for testing and updates.
The remaining four missing classes are Duelist, Shadow, Templar, and Marauder.
Considering the upcoming Patch 0.5.5, players are wondering if these missing classes will be added in the next major update. Currently, there are no official plans to announce anything, and the specific release date and order remain speculation.
However, the current class structure, weapon design, and previous update content can provide some useful clues.

Current Class Status
When PoE 2 Early Access launched, six playable classes were available:
- Sorceress
- Warrior
- Ranger
- Witch
- Mercenary
- Monk
Subsequent updates added Huntress and Druid. The official design goal was to create three Ascendancy Classes for each class; currently, only Ranger and Druid are missing one.
Missing Classes
The four currently missing classes represent different combat roles familiar to players in the game.
Shadow is expected to represent a high-speed, precise, and critical-hit-oriented combat style; Duelist may represent another important melee class; Marauder corresponds to the traditional strength-based heavy melee route; and Templar is expected to take on a hybrid role combining melee and spellcasting.
Officially, it's confirmed that these class names are part of the overall class system in Path of Exile 2. However, the developers have also stated in an interview that not all 12 classes might appear in Path of Exile 2 1.0, meaning these four classes might not all be released in 1.0.
Therefore, the real question now isn't whether these classes are planned for inclusion, but rather when GGG will actually make them playable.
Slow Development Progress
Of these four classes, Templar and Shadow are considered the most likely to be implemented after Path of Exile 2 1.0, as their development is likely to be the most complex and slowest.
Templar's core mechanics are often linked to Totems, elemental shields, and hybrid spells.
To avoid repeating the mistakes of PoE 1 where Totems system was overly automated and lacked impact, the development team is redesigning Totems casting and interaction logic for Souls-like action style of the sequel.
Currently, in version 0.5.0, the developers are still working on completing the third Ascendancy Classes for some existing classes, making it unlikely that Templar, with its extremely complex technology stack, will be completed before version 1.0.
Shadow is almost certainly going to be the last class to launch, likely in mid-2027 or even later. Its reliance on Dagger, Claw, and Toxic, especially the physically realistic trap and mine mechanics of PoE 2, presents a massive development workload.
Jonathan has also hinted in interviews that ensuring a perfect Atlas Endgame and a complete 6-chapter storyline is far more important for PoE2 1.0 than having one or two less hybrid classes.
Weapon Development
Furthermore, one of the most interesting topics in the player community regarding the remaining classes is the relationship between classes and weapon types.
Game Director Jonathan has also explicitly stated: "Path of Exile 2 is designed around weapons." Therefore, the development progress of new weapon types is the most accurate predictor of the release of missing classes.
1. Swords and Dual-Wielding System (Duelist)
Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients completely redesigned the dual-wielding system, requiring independent action detection for both left and right-hand weapons. The core weapon for Duelist is Sword (one-handed or dual-wielded).
Therefore, if a patch 0.5.5 or later features a significant overhaul of one-handed sword animations, Dual Wield Combos, or the introduction of new sword-type active skill gems, it means the official release of Duelist is imminent.
2. Daggers & Claws (Shadow)
Path of Exile 2 prioritizes hardcore physical collision and hit feedback for Daggers and Claws.
However, these weapons with extremely high attack speeds and very short attack ranges are extremely difficult to balance in Soulslike Dodge Roll mechanic. Too short a reach makes them vulnerable to attacks, while too high an attack speed can cause server synchronization issues or clipping problems.
More importantly, Path of Exile 2 aimed to make traps and mines entities that could be detonated or thrown using melee actions like Daggers and Claws, rather than simply being thrown out of thin air like in PoE 1.
Therefore, as I mentioned above, the immense development difficulty was a major reason for Shadow's poor release.
3. Flails & Staves (Templar)
To completely differentiate Warrior's two-handed hammer from Marauder's two-handed axe, the developers created a completely new weapon type specifically for Templar: Flail.
Flails are soft weapons, requiring extremely complex calculations of chain swing trajectories, inertia, and area-of-effect physical damage in 3D physics engine.
Furthermore, Path of Exile 2 introduced a Block Gauge mechanism for shields, requiring Templars to simultaneously use Flails to break through defenses and shield bashes with their shields.
Therefore, once the official gameplay demo of Flail weapon type was released, the release of Templar was imminent.
4. Two-Hand Axes (Marauder)
Some players might wonder why Marauder can't directly use Warrior's two-handed hammers?
This is because Path of Exile 2 0.5.0 Return of the Ancients positions two-handed hammers as stun, guard break, and functional melee weapons, while two-handed axes are positioned as pure limb slashing and wide-area heavy-hit tearing.
The development team wanted to design a completely different set of visual effects and Terrain Deformation for two-handed axes, with a strong sense of severity.
Currently, while two-handed axes drop in the game, there's a severe lack of dedicated active skill gems that can fully utilize their characteristics. Marauder will officially launch when the dedicated heavy-hit and bleed skill sets for two-handed axes are filled.
Why are These Missing Classes Important?
These four missing classes don't just enrich player class choices. Under the new weapon and class logic of Path of Exile 2, they essentially represent a complete gap in the game's core build path, key weapon system, and core combat mechanics.
As veteran classes with Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence attributes, their absence directly impacts Passive Tree by leaving certain areas undeveloped, effectively limiting players' high-level build possibilities.
Simultaneously, the release of these missing classes represents a strategic reserve for long-term development.
By highlighting the return of these old classes and the redesign of new weapons in the 1.1 or 1.2 league after 2027, Path of Exile 2 can maintain a continuous flow of community engagement and vitality in the post-1.0 era.
With ExileCon offline carnival in November 2026 fast approaching, the official launch lineup for version 1.0 will be revealed then.
If you don't want to miss any official news, follow EZG Facebook. We'll not only update in real-time and host related discussions, but also have a quick access to a free POE 2 resource giveaway at the top of the navigation bar on EZG homepage. Participate while waiting for updates!
In short, players can continue to pay attention to new weapons, abilities, Ascendancy, and developer announcements until GGG releases the official roadmap, but it's best to keep expectations reasonable for the specific release dates of Duelist, Shadow, Marauder, and Templar.













