Path of Exile 2 has presented its 1.0 release along with a new class. MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus was able to try it live at the gamescom 2026 and is … unfortunately really thrilled. He actually wanted to stick to Diablo 4, but Grinding Gear Games is really delivering right now.
The majority of Hack‘n‘Slash fans simply play Path of Exile and Diablo 4 in alternation. However, a small group of hardcore fans fiercely defends their respective game on both sides. Until now, I belonged to Team Diablo and that with dedication for many years. Path of Exile has always been too complex for me.
Now, during the gamescom 2026, the 1.0 release of Path of Exile 2 was announced for December 11, along with the Duelist as a new class – a fan favorite that already existed in the first part.
For me as a Diablo fan, this was something that was only really exciting from a professional point of view. Nevertheless, curiosity eventually drove me to the Path of Exile booth at the gamescom, and unexpectedly, I discovered one of my highlights there.
I was allowed to spend 30 minutes with the new class, defeating numerous bosses and dozens of monsters, and even found a super-rare item for which I received a physical pendant. Best gamescom day.
Every skill of the Duelist is three skills and it is incredibly fun
I would not necessarily have expected that a class with sword and shield would attract me so much. Normally I play sorceresses, rogues, or paladins – so yes, also sword and shield, but holy warriors.
With the Duelist, the kit is simply a true spectacle, as every skill is not just a skill, but a foundation:
- The class fantasy of the Duelist is the use of sand and blood, basically a Roman gladiator.
- Blood changes skills to a more offensive form, while sand is supposed to be the more defensive variant.
- Depending on whether you parry an opponent’s attack (blood) or stun the opponent (sand), the “form” of a skill changes.
- Additionally, some mechanics of abilities change when you use them from a readiness stance (“Ready Stance”) – this is a position in sword fighting to prepare attacks.
Depending on whether the Duelist plays with a sword and shield, two one-handers, or a two-hander, the skills have slightly different effects. Additionally, certain skills can be charged with elements, for example from “puddles” in the environment that you can create yourself, but also simply borrow from other players or even opponents.
Of course, the skills can also be chained for additional effects. The result is a class with so many possibilities for combinations that it sounds absurd, especially considering the already complex game, but it’s a lot of fun with a little practice.
Not just a copy from Path of Exile, but its own thing
I admit, I probably would not have had so much fun if the head Jonathan Rogers had not explained the Duelist to me in detail beforehand. This was not actually planned, but technical problems threw our schedule somewhat off. Thankfully.
Rogers explained to me in conversation that although the Duelist originally comes from the first part, he was completely recreated in Path of Exile 2. Swords, he says, are not so easy to implement because they often seem boring. His vision was to bring a sword fighter into the game who has a “flow” in skills – and that was achieved.
As someone who has been actively involved in sword fighting for a long time, just the visual representation of the Duelist was a joy to watch. The gameplay is almost just a bonus. The chaining of attacks feels more like the choreography of a master swordsman than a brutish fighter in a Hack‘n‘Slash. A noble Duelist indeed, not a wild barbarian.
Path of Exile 2 is really getting me excited – But …
Right after the test, I told my colleagues that I could actually sit at the booth and play Path of Exile 2 for the rest of the day, I liked the brief insight so much. And when the game is released in December – maybe even earlier – I will definitely invest a few hours.
However, I cannot completely shake my skepticism. During the test, I had a prepared character. Reading up on the skills, the builds, and all the surrounding stuff will be exhausting, and usually, I just want to smash things in ARPGs. Yes, when it comes to that, I am a proud casual.
Ironically, it is now precisely the class that requires even more skill than Path of Exile already demands, which is why I want to dedicate myself more to the game. Hats off, Grinding Gear, I did not expect that.
Which class – regardless of any Hack‘n‘Slash – has excited you the most so far? Is there one that you would like to see in Diablo or Path of Exile? Leave a comment!
Path of Exile 2 is already the second action RPG in quick succession that is pulling me out of my Diablo comfort zone, and exactly with such things that I usually do not like about these games: I played a new Diablo alternative and had to do what I hate in Diablo: think
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