Path of Exile 2 is Grinding Gear Games' action RPG, in Early Access since December 2024 and reaching its 1.0 full release on December 11, 2026. Players race through temporary leagues in Softcore, Hardcore and Solo Self-Found, and the official ladder ranks the top 1000 characters in each. This page explains leagues, the ladder, classes and what is confirmed for 1.0.
Where does Path of Exile 2 stand in October 2026?
Path of Exile 2 launched in Early Access on December 6, 2024 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, per GGG's Early Access FAQ. It has had a major update roughly every few months since. The current one is 0.5.0, Return of the Ancients, which started the Runes of Aldur league on May 29, 2026, per Wikipedia's update history. On September 4, 2026 GGG added the 0.5.5 event league, Forbidden Rites, with eight challenges and a Trial of Chaos overhaul.
GGG's Forbidden Rites FAQ says both leagues run until the 1.0 full release and end together. Wikipedia also notes there will be no 0.6.0 update, so 0.5 is the bridge to 1.0.
How do Path of Exile 2 leagues work?
A league is its own game world with separate characters, economy and ladder. Standard is permanent. Challenge leagues are temporary and start fresh with each major update, and each comes in several variants, as the 0.5.0 patch notes list for Runes of Aldur.
| Variant | Trade and parties | On death |
|---|---|---|
| Softcore | Yes | Respawn and keep playing |
| Hardcore | Yes | Character moves to the parent Softcore league |
| Solo Self-Found (SSF) | No | Respawn, using only your own drops |
| Hardcore SSF | No | Character leaves the Hardcore ladder |
When a challenge league ends, its characters move to the permanent Standard or Hardcore leagues. For SSF to trade moves, event leagues and league endings, read Path of Exile 2 Leagues and Ladder Explained.
How does the Path of Exile 2 ladder work?
Every league and variant has its own ladder. GGG's developer API reference documents what each entry holds: rank, character name, class, level and experience, the account name, and flags for characters that are dead, retired or ineligible. The default sort is experience or time, depending on the league, so on most ladders the characters with the most experience rank highest.
There is one important limit. The same reference says PoE2 ladders hold "the top 1000 entries," compared with 15000 for Path of Exile 1. If your character is outside the top 1000 of its ladder, it will not appear on the official ladder at all.
Because ladders belong to a league, they reset when a new league starts. A new challenge league means a new, empty ladder and a fresh leveling race.
What classes and Ascendancies are in Path of Exile 2?
Path of Exile 2 is planned to have twelve classes, each with three Ascendancy classes, per Wikipedia's update history. Early Access added them in stages, and the Duelist is the next one confirmed.
| Class | Added |
|---|---|
| Warrior, Monk, Mercenary, Sorceress, Witch, Ranger | Early Access launch, December 2024 |
| Huntress | 0.2.0 Dawn of the Hunt, April 2025 |
| Druid | 0.4.0 The Last of the Druids, December 2025 |
| Duelist | 1.0 full release, December 11, 2026 |
Ascendancies are specializations you unlock by completing trials. Your first one comes from the Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2. Update 0.5.0 added two new Ascendancies, the Martial Artist for the Monk and the Spirit Walker for the Huntress, per the 0.5.0 patch notes. GGG has not yet detailed the Duelist's Ascendancies. For trials, gems and flasks while leveling, see the Path of Exile 2 leveling guide.
What changes at 1.0 on December 11, 2026?
GGG's GGG's 1.0 press release confirms the main points:
- Free-to-play: the game launches "as a fully free-to-play action RPG."
- The Duelist: the first sword-wielding class, a master of sword and shield.
- The full campaign: the final two acts, completing the story.
- Platforms: PC (standalone, Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation and Xbox.
The press release also promises "a massive pile of other content and changes" without details. The launch league, the exact launch time and how Early Access characters migrate have not been announced. GGG's original Early Access FAQ said there would be no wipe and that Early Access characters would still exist after launch. ExileCon 2026 runs November 7 and 8 NZT, with a keynote stream on November 6 at 1PM PST that GGG says will include "big announcements." Our Path of Exile 2 1.0 release guide tracks what is confirmed.
When will RankSurge show Path of Exile 2 stats?
Not yet. RankSurge only uses official, permitted data sources, and Path of Exile 2 ladders and characters are only available through GGG's developer API, which needs an approved application. GGG's developer docs currently say GGG is "unable to process new applications." We do not scrape the official website, which GGG's Terms of Use forbid.
Available now
Guides to leagues, the ladder, leveling and the 1.0 launch, written from GGG's official posts.
Planned after approval
A read-only Path of Exile 2 league ladder viewer, using GGG's official ladder data.
Planned after approval
An opt-in character lookup: sign in with your Path of Exile account to view your own characters. Read-only, and it never changes your account.
We will update this page when access is approved. Until then, nothing on this page is a live lookup.
Where can you learn more?
- Leagues and ladder: Path of Exile 2 Leagues and Ladder Explained.
- Leveling: Path of Exile 2 leveling guide for a build-neutral campaign plan.
- Launch: Path of Exile 2 1.0 release guide.
- Other games: browse the Guide Library, all RankSurge guides, or learn how we read numbers in Stats Explained.
Path of Exile 2 lookup coming soon. RankSurge will add a ladder viewer and opt-in character lookup once Grinding Gear Games approves our API access. This product isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Grinding Gear Games in any way.
Frequently asked questions
Can I look up my Path of Exile 2 stats on RankSurge?
Not yet. Path of Exile 2 ladder and character data is only available through Grinding Gear Games' developer API, which requires an approved application, and GGG's developer docs say it is currently unable to process new applications. RankSurge does not scrape the official site. Once access is approved we plan a read-only ladder viewer and an opt-in character lookup, and we will update this page when it goes live.
When does Path of Exile 2 fully release?
Path of Exile 2 reaches its 1.0 full release on December 11, 2026, Pacific time. Grinding Gear Games announced the date at gamescom in August 2026. The full release is free-to-play, adds the Duelist class and the final two campaign acts, and launches on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. The exact launch hour and the first 1.0 league have not been announced yet.
What is the current Path of Exile 2 league?
As of October 2026 the main challenge league is Runes of Aldur, which began with update 0.5.0 on May 29, 2026. The Forbidden Rites event league, from update 0.5.5, has run alongside it since September 4, 2026. GGG says both leagues run until the 1.0 full release on December 11 and end together. Standard, the permanent league, is always available as well.
How many characters are on the Path of Exile 2 ladder?
Each Path of Exile 2 ladder holds the top 1000 entries, according to Grinding Gear Games' developer API reference. Path of Exile 1 ladders hold 15000. Every league and variant has its own ladder, so Hardcore, SSF and trade versions of a league are ranked separately. If your character is below rank 1000 on its ladder, it will not appear on the official ladder.
How many classes does Path of Exile 2 have?
Eight classes are playable in Early Access: Warrior, Monk, Mercenary, Sorceress, Witch and Ranger from launch, the Huntress from April 2025 and the Druid from December 2025. The Duelist joins at 1.0 on December 11, 2026. The game is planned to have twelve classes, each with three Ascendancy classes that you unlock through trials, starting with the Trial of the Sekhemas in Act 2.
Will Path of Exile 2 characters be wiped at 1.0?
Grinding Gear Games has not posted a 1.0 specific answer yet. Its Early Access FAQ from November 2024 said there would be no wipe and that Early Access characters would still exist after launch. The current Runes of Aldur and Forbidden Rites leagues both end with the 1.0 release. Expect official details on migration closer to December 11, possibly at ExileCon 2026 in early November.
