Path of Exile 2’s next big patch, 0.4.0, is bringing in a brand-new class that’s got a lot of players curious – the Druid. This isn’t just another “hit stuff as a bear” type of design. GGG has built it from the ground up as a shapeshifting powerhouse where your whole playstyle changes depending on the form you’re in. These aren’t just skill swaps – each form has its own movement, attack flow, and purpose, so switching mid-fight changes everything about how you react and plan. In the first reveal, we’ve seen Bear Form acting as a slow but unshakable tank, and Wolf Form as a fast, evasive striker. Both feel miles apart in pacing, yet you can shift between them on the fly, making the combat more layered. You can already imagine the PoE 2 Currency investment for this class being worth it when you start mixing those playstyles mid-run.
Bear Form puts you in control when things get hectic. It’s all about close-range dominance and shrugging off blows that would push other classes out of position. Attacks land with real weight – more deliberate than flashy – and the form’s built for holding choke points or locking down enemies where they stand. You feel slower, but also harder to stop, which makes it perfect for players who like to turn any fight into a contest of grit. It’s not the “highest DPS wins” type of role; instead, it makes you think about timing and using your mass to control the pace.
Switch to Wolf Form and the game flips. You get a burst of speed, sharper strike animations, and a sense of constant movement. Wolf plays almost like a hit-and-run fighter – dart in, slash, step out before things get messy. It feels closer to an action game than a typical ARPG stance, and there’s a strong hint that bleed effects or some momentum-based damage bonuses could be in play here. You’ll find Wolf isn’t great for soaking hits, but it’s fantastic for tearing through low-defense targets and escaping a bad spot fast.
Datamined info floating around suggests there might be a third shapeshift – something draconic, maybe a Wyvern. If that’s true, flight-style abilities or elemental breath attacks could change the Druid into a more mythical, long-range threat. All of this ties neatly into the new weapon type they’re adding: Talismans. Unlike the PoE 1 amulets, these are full two-handers requiring both Strength and Intelligence. That stat pairing matches the Druid’s dual nature – part muscle, part magic – and early talk suggests Talismans might unlock or boost specific transformations, so gear choice will matter even more here.
The Druid’s STR/INT blend finally gives that section of the passive skill tree a real purpose beyond being a path to somewhere else. Expect nodes that boost specific forms, extend transformation time, or let you specialise deeper into Bear’s resilience or Wolf’s speed. This kind of focused class identity is a big shift from PoE 1, where the starting class often faded into the background mid-game. If GGG gets this right, the Druid could be the first of several classes built to stay mechanically strong and flavourful from start to finish, making the pick feel genuinely meaningful – and for those thinking ahead about gearing, the poe2 cheap divine hunt will likely start early.
