Update 0.4.0 not only brings the long-awaited Druid class, but also introduces a complex new league mechanic called “Fate of the Vaal.” We’ll show you the most important changes.
Game Director Jonathan Rogers and his team have lifted the curtain on the contents of Patch 0.4.0 for Path of Exile 2. nbsp;The update will go live on December 12, 2025 and will focus on a hybrid class, custom dungeons, and a profound overhaul of the endgame, where quality will take precedence over quantity. We’ve summarized the most important information from the reveal for you.
The Druid is coming!
Probably the biggest new feature is the introduction of the Druid, which, according to Rogers, is one of the most difficult character types to design. The Druid is a hybrid of strength and intelligence that uses both spells and attacks. Similar to Diablo, its concept is based on seamlessly switching between a human wizard form and various animal forms.
In human form, you use staffs to summon elemental effects such as volcanoes that cause damage over time. These abilities are designed to remain active while you transform into an animal to attack in close combat. As soon as you use an animal ability, you transform; a spell transforms you back.
Three animal forms for every playstyle
The Druid has three specific animal forms, each with its own mechanics:
- The Bear: This form is slow but powerful. It uses rage as a resource, which is built up through attacks. With enough rage, you can unleash devastating attacks or ultimate abilities.
- The Wolf: Here, the focus is on speed and cold damage. You mark enemies with attacks. If you kill them, you summon a pack of wolves to fight alongside you.
- The Wyvern: This form offers a mix of melee and ranged combat. You can fly, spit fireballs, or use lightning. A special feature is eating corpses to generate Power Charges, which enhance your attacks.
Meta Gems and Ascendencies
The Druid introduces new “Meta Gems,” which enable interactions with other classes. For example, the war cry “Ferocious Roar” can be socketed with war cries from other classes to use them in bear form. The popular “Spell Totems” from PoE 1 have also been introduced as Meta Gems, which can automatically cast any spell in the game as long as you invest Endurance or Power Charges.
For Ascendancy, you currently have the choice between the Shaman, who uses rage to amplify spells and unleash natural disasters, and the Oracle. The Oracle uses foresight to manipulate timelines and merge damage types to which the enemy is currently vulnerable.
New League: Fate of the Vaal
Update 0.4.0 introduces the “Fate of the Vaal” league. The mechanics revolve around building and manipulating your own dungeon: the Temple of Atziri. You will find the remains of the Vaal civilization in Wraeclast, activate them by sacrificing monsters, and gain access to the temple.
Before each temple run, you place six rooms on a map to connect paths and determine rewards. Placement is tactically relevant: for example, a “Commander” room should be placed next to a garrison to reinforce the troops there and increase the rewards.
https://www.global-esports.news/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/In-this-interface-scaled.jpg
The highlight of the league, however, is the time travel component. A prototype at the temple entrance allows you to travel back in time to before the destruction of the Vaal civilization. In the past, you have access to powerful Vaal technology:
- Double Corruption: In the “Corruption Chamber,” you can alter already corrupted items a second time. However, this comes with a risk: there is a 50% chance that the item will be destroyed.
- Body Modifications: At the Flesh Surgeon, you can have your own limbs severed and replaced with robotic parts that grant random bonuses. However, if you die during the operation, your body will be restored to its original state.
Endgame and Performance
With this update, Grinding Gear Games is also addressing fundamental issues in the endgame of Path of Exile 2. A common criticism was the sheer mass of monsters in high levels, which affected both the overview and performance.
Starting with update 0.4.0, the number of monsters in the late endgame (from Tier 15 onwards) will no longer scale. Instead, the developers are focusing on stronger individual opponents: monsters will receive 40 percent more health, but will also grant 40 percent more experience and drop 40 percent more loot. This is intended to reduce the feeling of being overrun by hordes of enemies while improving performance.
Technically, work has also been done on CPU utilization. Optimizations in the use of processor cores are expected to increase frame rates by at least 25 percent and reduce annoying frame spikes.
