Everything to Know About Ascendancies in PoE

Ascendancies are one of the most powerful character-defining systems in Path of Exile (PoE). Choosing the right Ascendancy can completely change your build, playstyle, and even the skills you rely on. Whether you're a new exile or a seasoned theorycrafter, understanding how Ascendancies work is essential for maximizing your character’s potential.

This guide covers everything you need to know—from how to unlock Ascendancies, what each one offers, and how they shape the endgame.

Also Read: PoE 2 – How to Find More Citadels

What Are Ascendancies?

Ascendancies are specialized subclasses available to each of PoE’s core character classes. While your base class determines your general stat bias (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence), your Ascendancy class gives you powerful bonuses, mechanics, and build-defining passives.

Each core class has three Ascendancies to choose from (except Scion, which has one). That’s 19 Ascendancy classes in total.

How to Unlock Ascendancies

To access Ascendancies, you must complete The Labyrinth, an elaborate dungeon filled with traps, puzzles, and boss fights.

There are four versions of the Labyrinth, each unlocking more Ascendancy points:

1. Normal Lab – Grants 2 points (available in Act 3)

2. Cruel Lab – Grants 2 more points (Act 7)

3. Merciless Lab – Grants 2 more points (Act 10)

4. Eternal Lab (Uber Lab) – Grants the final 2 points (endgame)

Requirements to Access the Labyrinth:

• Complete trials of ascendancy that are scattered across acts to unlock each Lab.

• Defeat Izaro, the final boss of the Labyrinth.

• Touch the Altar of Ascendancy at the end to choose your subclass.

Also Read: Every PoE 2 Class Explained

Ascendancy Points and Respeccing

You earn 8 total Ascendancy points, spent in the Ascendancy skill tree, which is a unique mini-tree attached to your class.

Can you respec?

• Yes, using five refund points per Ascendancy skill.

• To change your Ascendancy class entirely, you must use an Ascendancy respec via Orbs of Regret and complete the Labyrinth again.

Buy PoE Orbs

Full List of Ascendancy Classes (By Base Class)

Here’s a quick overview of all Ascendancy subclasses:

Duelist

• Slayer – Leech-focused melee specialist

• Gladiator – Bleed/Block hybrid

• Champion – Tanky support/damage hybrid

Marauder

• Juggernaut – Tank-focused, high defense

• Berserker – High-risk, high-reward DPS

• Chieftain – Fire damage and totem synergy

Ranger

• Deadeye – Projectile specialist

• Raider – Speed and Frenzy Charge stacking

• Pathfinder – Flask-focused utility and chaos scaling

Shadow

• Assassin – Crit and poison synergy

• Saboteur – Trap and mine builds

• Trickster – Hybrid defense, energy shield, and damage over time

Templar

• Inquisitor – Spell crit, elemental damage

• Hierophant – Totems and mana stacking

• Guardian – Support/auras and tank

Witch

• Necromancer – Minion master

• Elementalist – Elemental spellcaster with golem synergy

• Occultist – Chaos and curse builds

Scion

• Ascendant – Hybrid that can choose passives from two Ascendancy classes

How Ascendancies Impact Your Build

Choosing the right Ascendancy can dramatically shape your build. For example:

• Necromancer turns you into a summoner with massive bonuses to minions.

• Raider is ideal for high-speed bow builds, stacking Frenzy Charges.

• Berserker boosts melee DPS at the cost of taking more damage.

Ascendancies often enable build archetypes. Many popular build names include the Ascendancy, like:

• “Seismic Trap Saboteur”

• “Toxic Rain Pathfinder”

• “Righteous Fire Inquisitor”

Also Read: What Is the Rarest Currency in Poe 2?

Tips for Choosing the Right Ascendancy

1. Match it with your skill setup – If you’re playing a minion build, go Necromancer. If you’re using mines, go Saboteur.

2. Consider survivability – Ascendancies like Juggernaut or Guardian offer massive defenses.

3. Look at scaling potential – Classes like Pathfinder scale well with high investment in flasks or chaos damage.

4. Use build guides – If you’re new, follow a community build to avoid wasting time or regret orbs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I unlock Ascendancies in Path of Exile?

A: Complete the Labyrinth after finishing the Trials of Ascendancy found throughout the acts. Use the Altar at the end to choose your Ascendancy.

Q: How many Ascendancy points can I earn?

A: You can earn a total of 8 Ascendancy points—2 from each version of the Labyrinth: Normal, Cruel, Merciless, and Eternal (Uber).

Q: Can I change my Ascendancy later?

A: Yes, but you must refund all Ascendancy nodes with Orbs of Regret and redo the Labyrinth to select a new Ascendancy.

Q: How many Ascendancy classes are there in PoE?

A: There are 19 total Ascendancies—three for each core class, and one unique hybrid (Ascendant) for the Scion.

Q: Which Ascendancy is best?

A: It depends on your build. For example, Necromancer is great for minions, Raider for speed, and Inquisitor for spell-based elemental damage.

Final Words

Ascendancies are the beating heart of endgame build customization in Path of Exile. They define your playstyle, amplify your strengths, and unlock mechanics that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. Understanding how they work—and picking the one that complements your build—is key to thriving in Wraeclast.

Take the time to explore each Labyrinth, unlock your points, and refine your tree. Whether you're charging in as a Berserker or cursing from the shadows as an Occultist, your Ascendancy will shape your legacy in PoE.

Path of Exile Items

Path of Exile Orbs