News

Site news

PoE 2 Dawn of the Hunt 0.2 Best Ascendancies Ranked Tier List - Latest Meta Ascendancies!

Path of Exile 2 Dawn of the Hunt has had a few weeks to settle into the new meta, and it’s time to reassess the ascendancy rankings. With the game in full swing, some of the early predictions have held true, while others have shifted dramatically. This updated PoE 2 Dawn of the Hunt tier list will evaluate the best ascendancies, focusing on their current performance and the builds that shine with them. While the meta is still evolving, this guide will give you a clear picture of which ascendancies are leading the charge and which ones have dropped off. Let’s take a closer look at how the game’s top picks stack up in the current patch and which ones are best suited for your next adventure.

Revisiting the Predictions

Before we dive into the updated Best Ascendancy Tier List for Dawn of the Hunt 0.2, let's take a quick look at my previous predictions from before the Dawn of the Hunt release:

S Tier Predictions: Amazon, Monk, Lich, and Deadeye
A Tier Predictions: A wide range of strong Ascendancies with some underperforming options.
B Tier Predictions: Some questionable picks like Ritualist, which I didn’t expect to shine.

Looking back, many of these predictions were close.

Some Ascendancies performed exactly as expected, while others, like Stormweaver and Pathfinder, didn't quite live up to the hype.

Now, based on the data and feedback from the community, it's time to assess which Ascendancies belong in the S Tier, which ones are thriving in the A Tier, and where some other picks should land.

S Tier Ascendancies: The Powerhouses

1. Amazon

Predicted Tier: S
Current Status: S Tier
The Amazon remains extremely strong in the current meta. If you’re playing Lightning Spear, the Amazon is the clear go-to Ascendancy, offering numerous build variations that maximize damage output.
With multiple options and great synergy with various playstyles, Amazon continues to dominate the ranks.

2. Deadeye

Predicted Tier: S
Current Status: S Tier
I had high hopes for Deadeye, and I wasn’t wrong. This Ascendancy is one of the fastest and most efficient in the game, especially when paired with Ranger.
It remains unrivaled for high-speed gameplay, making it one of the best picks for various builds.
Deadeye's mobility and damage scaling ensure its place in S Tier, and even if it faces nerfs, it will remain a strong contender.

3. Monk

Predicted Tier: S
Current Status: S Tier
Monk continues to be a versatile Ascendancy with strong builds for Lightning Spear, Nuke Wave, Tempest Flower, and more.
The ability to generate Spirit and access to cool bonuses from the Monk ascendancy itself make it a powerful option in both offensive and defensive strategies.
It retains its position in the S Tier.

Check out our Strongest Monk Build in PoE 2 Dawn of the Hunt.

4. Lich

Predicted Tier: S
Current Status: S Tier
The Lich ascendancy remains incredibly tanky and solid, especially for minion builds or Bone Lich and Chaos Lich spellcasters.
The defensive capabilities of Lich are hard to beat, and it scales exceptionally well even with low-budget setups.
While it can be argued that Lich could drop to A Tier due to some minor scaling issues, it still firmly belongs in S Tier for its survivability and build diversity.

A Tier Ascendancies: Solid Choices with Some Room for Improvement

5. Blood Mage

Predicted Tier: A
Current Status: S Tier
I initially pegged Blood Mage in A Tier, but after seeing how effective it is for casters, especially when paired with Lightning Spear, I believe it deserves to be in S Tier.
The critical chance bonuses and versatility with a variety of builds make Blood Mage a powerful choice for any caster, and it’s one of the strongest Ascendancies for pure damage scaling right now.

6. Stormweaver

Predicted Tier: A
Current Status: B Tier
While Stormweaver was once considered a top-tier Ascendancy, it's currently underperforming.
Compared to other mage options like Blood Mage, Lich, and Chronomancer, Stormweaver doesn’t excel in any particular area.
Its overall performance is much weaker than anticipated, and it currently sits in B Tier.

7. Infernalist

Predicted Tier: A
Current Status: A Tier
The Infernalist Ascendancy is still a solid A Tier pick, offering decent options for both critical-based mages and minion builds.
It performs better than expected, but it still has limitations when it comes to maximizing the full potential of the ascendancy’s passives.
The fact that you only need four points to make it effective means there’s not much room to explore further bonuses, which limits its long-term viability.

8. Smith of Kitava

Predicted Tier: A
Current Status: A Tier
Smith of Kitava is a solid A Tier Ascendancy with high tankiness and decent defensive utility, though it lacks the damage bonuses of other top-tier options like Lich.
While Kitava has some strength, its damage output is relatively low, and its scaling needs some work.
Nonetheless, its survivability makes it a great choice for those focusing on a tanky build.

9. Gemlin

Predicted Tier: A
Current Status: A Tier
Gemlin is a fantastic choice for Ballistas, especially with Lightning Spear builds.
While it has great potential, the cost of building it is relatively high, and the clunky gameplay might deter some players.
The expensive nature of stacking Intelligence or Dexterity in Gemlin builds also makes it difficult for many to access at full potential.
For Ballistas, it remains a top pick, but its high cost keeps it in A Tier.

Don't worry, you can buy PoE 2 Currency directly from PoE2Currency for cheap if you want to get into the expensive side of the game without grinding.

B Tier Ascendancies: Underperforming or Niche Picks

10. Chronomancer

Predicted Tier: B
Current Status: B Tier
While Chronomancer has some potential for Cold Skills, its clunky mechanics and competition from Blood Mage and Lich make it fall short.
It provides crowd control, but it’s outclassed by more straightforward Ascendancies for casters.
B Tier seems to be the right place for Chronomancer.

11. Pathfinder

Predicted Tier: A
Current Status: B Tier
Pathfinder has fallen off significantly. Despite its initial potential, the reduced bonuses and the overall lack of synergy with the current meta have pushed Pathfinder down into B Tier.
The changes to the ascendancy and the reduction in useful bonuses leave Pathfinder with fewer reasons to be picked.

12. Witch Hunter

Predicted Tier: B
Current Status: C Tier
Once a niche pick, Witch Hunter simply doesn’t perform as expected. Despite promised buffs, the adjustments have been insignificant, and Witch Hunter now sits at the bottom of the barrel.
The Crossbow builds it supports are outperformed by others, making Witch Hunter a C Tier choice at best.

13. Acolyte of Chayula

Predicted Tier: B
Current Status: F Tier
We Never expected Acolyte of Chiula to perform well, and unfortunately, it hasn’t.
It’s simply not competitive with other Ascendancies.
The tankiness and energy shield scaling can be nice, but it lacks any meaningful damage scaling, making it an F Tier pick for most builds.

Best Ascendancies in PoE 2 Dawn of the Hunt Tier List

Tier	Ascendancy	Comments
S Tier	Amazon	Extremely strong with Lightning Spear builds. Best overall performance.
	Deadeye	Fastest class in the game with great mobility, especially with Ranger and Deadeye ascendancy.
	Monk	Very versatile with builds like Lightning Spear, Nuke Wave, Tempest Flower, and Ice Strike.
	Lich	High tankiness with great synergy for both minion builds and spells like Bone Lich and Chaos Lich.
	Blood Mage	Best caster ascendancy, useful for multiple builds, including Lightning Spear. High crit potential.
A Tier	Stormweaver	Strong mage ascendancy but has fallen behind compared to others like Lich or Blood Mage.
	Smith of Kitava	Tanky and solid, but lacks enough damage output and synergy with Lightning Spear.
	Infernalist	Great for critical-based mage builds and minions but limited by needing only 4 points to shine.
	Pathfinder	Falls off post-patch; was overestimated in the previous ranking. Still usable but in need of buffs.
	Warbringer	Very tanky with block nodes and potential for fun builds like Thorns. Should be in A-tier due to its survivability.
	Gemlin	Great for Ballistas and can be used for Lightning Spear builds, but expensive and requires high investment.
	Ritualist	Strong in party play and high-budget builds, but generally weak for solo play. Could be between A and B.
B Tier	Chronomancer	Clunky compared to other caster options, but can still be useful for Cold Skills.
	Tactician	Solid for Gemlin and Ballista builds but has fallen off compared to Gemlin.
	Titan	Remains average with a few cool passive bonuses but no major improvements. Best in B-tier.
C Tier	Acolyte of Chayula	Underperforming with limited potential compared to other options. Very tanky but not competitive.
	Witch Hunter	Overpromised buffs have not been impactful. Much weaker than Gemlin for crossbow builds.
D Tier	Stormweaver	Falls from A-tier to B-tier due to heavy underperformance compared to other mage ascendancies.
F Tier	Ritualist	For solo play, Amazon or other higher-tier ascendants perform better than Ritualist.

Conclusion

After revisiting the Dawn of the Hunt patch, it's clear that some Ascendancies have remained dominant, while others have faltered due to changes in the meta. If you're looking to maximize damage, Amazon, Deadeye, and Lich are still top-tier picks. Blood Mage has also been a strong contender for casters, while Stormweaver and Pathfinder have seen better days.

The meta is ever-evolving, so it's crucial to stay updated with the latest changes. For now, I feel confident about this tier list, but it’s always worth revisiting as new patches and builds are introduced.