Path of Exile 2 Wiki: Complete Guide to Skill Gems, Passive Tree, and Ascendancies

Introduction Path of Exile 2 isn't just a graphical overhaul. Grinding Gear Games rebuilt the core mechanics from the ground up. If you're coming from POE1, forget what you know about socket colors and gem links. The new system is cleaner but demands a different approach to building characters. I've spent roughly 200 hours in the beta, and this wiki covers what actually matters—skill gems, the passive tree, ascendancy classes, and the item database. No fluff, just the numbers you need to plan your next build.

Skill Gems: The Three-Tier System Gone are the days of farming for a specific gem color. In POE2, skill gems drop as **uncut** versions. You cut them into the gem you want using a vendor recipe or the gem-cutting bench (unlocked at level 12). ### Gem Tiers | Tier | Level Requirement | Max Skill Level | Socket Cost | Drop Rate (approx) | |------|-------------------|----------------|-------------|-------------------| | Uncut | 1 | 1 | 0 | Common (Act 1) | | Cut | 12 | 10 | 1 | Uncommon (Act 2+) | | Polished | 30 | 20 | 2 | Rare (Act 4+) | **Real example:** You find a Polished Fireball at level 34. Cutting it gives you a level 18 Fireball (two levels below max for that tier). You can't level it further until you find a higher-tier gem. This forces you to think about gem progression—don't waste polished gems on filler skills. Support gems now have **socket points** instead of colors. A level 1 support costs 1 point, level 10 costs 2, level 20 costs 3. Your gear has total socket points (helm: 3, chest: 5, etc.). This means you can only socket high-level supports in gear with high capacity. My recommendation: save your best supports for your main damage skill, then use cheaper supports for movement or utility.

Passive Tree: Smaller but Punchier The passive tree in POE2 has 850 nodes versus POE1's 1,325. But each node gives roughly 30% more power. For example, a generic '10% increased spell damage' node in POE1 is now '13% increased spell damage' with a small life roll attached. This reduces the need to travel across the tree for stats—you get more value per point. ### Notable Changes

**Keystones** are now cluster-based. You need to allocate 5 nodes in a cluster to unlock the keystone. No more one-point wonders.

**Travel nodes** (attributes) cost 1 point but give 10 stats (up from 5 in POE1). This speeds up pathing to distant clusters.

**Masteries** are gone. Replaced by 'specialization nodes' that grant unique effects like 'Your minions explode on death dealing 15% of their maximum life as fire damage.' **Build example:** For a fireball witch, you grab the 'Burning Intensity' cluster (spell damage, fire damage, and cast speed) which takes 8 nodes to fully invest. That's 8 points for 52% increased fire damage, 18% cast speed, and 3% life regen. In POE1, you'd need 12 points for similar returns.

Ascendancy Classes: Weapon-Locked Specializations This is the biggest change. Each ascendancy class is now tied to a weapon type. No more picking a bow build with a staff-based ascendancy. Here's the list:

**Warrior:** Maces, axes, swords

**Ranger:** Bows, daggers

**Witch:** Staves, wands

**Sorceress:** Wands, scepters

**Duelist:** Swords, axes

**Marauder:** Maces, axes

**Templar:** Staves, flails (new weapon type)

**Scion:** Any weapon but with 20% reduced effectiveness Each ascendancy has 4 subclasses (up from 3 in POE1). For example, the Witch has: 1. **Necromancer** (minion focus) 2. **Elementalist** (fire/cold/lightning) 3. **Occultist** (chaos/curse) 4. **Blood Mage** (new—uses life as resource, gets 50% increased spell damage at full life) **Practical tip:** If you want to play a bow build, you must pick Ranger. No exceptions. This simplifies planning but limits flexibility. Personally, I think this is a good change—it forces thematic builds and prevents the 'one-size-fits-all' meta that dominated POE1.

Item Database: 2,400+ Unique Items The wiki's item database includes:

Full stat roll ranges (e.g., 'The Whispering Staff' gives 10-18% increased minion damage)

Drop locations (boss-specific, zone-specific, or global)

Build ratings from the community (1-5 stars)

Crafting recipes for 400+ base items **Example entry:** **Name:** Blazing Heart (Amulet) **Stats:** +20-30% fire damage, +10-15% cast speed, 5-8% life regen **Drop:** Act 5 boss 'The Ember King' (25% chance) **Rating:** 4.5 stars (essential for fire builds) You can filter by item type, stat type, or build tag. I use the 'build tag' filter most—just click 'Fire' and see all relevant uniques.

FAQ **Q: Can I change my ascendancy after choosing?** A: Yes, but it costs 5 Regret Orbs and resets your passive tree. You can do this at any town vendor after level 20. **Q: Are skill gems tradeable?** A: Only uncut gems are tradeable. Once cut, they bind to your account. This prevents gem flipping and encourages actual gameplay. **Q: How do I get more socket points on gear?** A: Use a Jeweler's Orb on an item to add 1 socket point (max 5 per piece). Vaal Orbs can corrupt an item to give 2 extra points at the risk of bricking it.