Path of Exile 2 1.0: Release Date, Shadow, Duelist, League

Path of Exile 2 leaves Early Access and launches its 1.0 full release on December 11, 2026 (PST), and it becomes free-to-play that day. Grinding Gear Games confirmed the date on August 25, 2026 at gamescom, so the earlier November speculation is off the table. Version 1.0 completes the campaign with Acts 5 and 6, adds two classes (the Shadow and the Duelist), and starts the Conquerors of Wraeclast challenge league. This guide covers the confirmed date and platforms, the new content, what happens to the current leagues, and the registration rewards you can still sign up for.

Checked against Grinding Gear Games' ExileCon 2026 announcements and 1.0 press release on November 12, 2026.

Everything below comes from GGG's own announcements unless marked as press coverage. GGG has not yet posted 1.0 patch notes or an exact launch hour, and the balance changes it has called "massive" have no published specifics yet.

When does Path of Exile 2 1.0 come out?

December 11, 2026, Pacific time. GGG first announced the date on August 25, 2026 alongside the Duelist reveal at gamescom's Opening Night Live, then repeated it at ExileCon 2026 on November 6.

The exact launch time has not been announced. Earlier talk of a November launch did not pan out; for games that are confirmed for this month, see the November 2026 release calendar.

Is Path of Exile 2 free-to-play at 1.0, and on which platforms?

Yes. From December 11 the game is fully free-to-play, ending the paid Early Access period that began in 2024. GGG lists PC, Mac, Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation and Xbox for the full release.

Mac is new: the game debuts there with 1.0 and supports M2-series Macs and newer, plus M1 Pro systems. Path of Exile 2 is also Steam Deck Verified. GGG says the 1.0 update brings up to 25% more CPU performance, lower memory use and smoother frame pacing.

If you are thinking about buying an Early Access Supporter Pack now, note that GGG announced on October 23 that those packs will leave the store permanently "in a few weeks" and be replaced by five new packs. The current packs include Early Access keys, store points and microtransactions usable in both Path of Exile games.

What is new in Path of Exile 2 1.0?

The headline additions are the final two campaign acts, the Shadow and Duelist classes, a new challenge league, and a large passive tree and item overhaul. GGG's fact sheet for the full release lists the totals below.

Acts 5 and 6

Act 5 returns to Oriath, a city wrecked by war and corruption, where you face the Twilight Order and the Beast across slums, abandoned noble estates, a desecrated temple district and a grand arena. GGG has not published area or boss counts in its own posts; according to press coverage of the ExileCon keynote, the two acts add 24 areas and 18 new major bosses.

The Shadow and the Duelist

The Shadow fights with daggers, traps and stealth, and its Ascendancies are the Assassin and the Infiltrator. The Duelist is the game's first sword-focused class. Its Knight Ascendancy launches with 1.0, while its second Ascendancy, Master of Arms, arrives at a later date per GGG. The classes and Ascendancies guide breaks both down.

Passive tree, skills and reworks

• The passive skill tree gets a large overhaul with hundreds of new stats, and Jewel sockets move into passive clusters.
• Support gems get broad improvements and rebalancing.
• New skills include Molten Forge (a mace skill that summons a blazing anvil) and Soul Extraction (a chaos skill that consumes Decay).
• The Mercenary, Infernalist, Blood Mage and Acolyte of Chayula receive reworks.
• The Atlas passive tree is cut down to 70 more impactful nodes, earned by completing objectives, defeating bosses and conquering special maps.
• A new endgame storyline joins the Atlas.

What is the Conquerors of Wraeclast league?

Conquerors of Wraeclast is the 1.0 challenge league, and it adds a strategy layer: you raise armies, besiege castles and fight for territory. The story follows the Maraketh clan, bound by a promise to Severa, an ancient vampire lord seeking resurrection; you conquer three rival clans and then march on Severa's stronghold.

Press coverage of the keynote adds that troops are recruited to an outpost and fed with supplies and rations, and that you build and defend a Stronghold against faction assaults.

What happens to Runes of Aldur and Forbidden Rites at 1.0?

Both current leagues end at the 1.0 launch. GGG's Forbidden Rites FAQ states that the event league runs until the full release and ends alongside Runes of Aldur.

Runes of Aldur launched with 0.5 on May 29, 2026 and added Ezomyte Runesmithing through the blacksmith Farrow. With 0.5.5, GGG moved Runes of Aldur content into the core game so it is available in Standard. Forbidden Rites, launched with 0.5.5 on September 4, brought Ritual sites to every campaign area, the Wildwood endgame encounter and a Trial of Chaos overhaul that lets endgame Trials reach 30 rooms. Its 8 challenges award four cosmetics and a Hideout Statue, so finish them before December 11 if you want those rewards.

How do you get the Path of Exile 2 launch rewards?

Register an email at pathofexile2.com/register before December 10, 2026 (PST). Every registrant gets at least one exclusive microtransaction, and if the community hits all four registration milestones, each player gets five in total.

• Codes are emailed after the game launches on December 11 and are redeemed on the Path of Exile website.
• You need a Path of Exile account to redeem, and each account can redeem one code.
• Steam, Epic, PlayStation and Xbox players qualify if their platform is linked on the account connections page.
• Unsubscribing from the emails before distribution means you will not get a code.
• GGG says the rewards will not be sold in the store.

For more on the game, see the Path of Exile 2 hub.

What should you do before Path of Exile 2 1.0 launches?

Finish anything tied to the current leagues, register for the rewards, and get your account and hardware ready. A short checklist covers it.

1. Complete Forbidden Rites challenges. The event's 8 challenges include completing campaign Rituals, defeating named Rare monsters and reaching level 90, and the rewards (Locust Footprints, Locust Swarm Finisher, the Wildwood Guardian pet and a Wildwood level-up effect, plus a Hideout Statue) are exclusive to the event.
2. Wrap up Runes of Aldur. GGG kept the league open so players could finish endgame progression and challenges, and it closes at 1.0 too.
3. Register by December 10. Use any email you can access; it does not have to match your account email.
4. Link your console or store account. PlayStation, Xbox, Steam and Epic players need their platform linked to a Path of Exile account to receive the reward code.
5. Check your Mac. Only M2-series and newer Macs, plus M1 Pro systems, are supported at launch.
6. Decide on Supporter Packs early. The Early Access packs are leaving the store, and GGG has not given an exact removal date.

Path of Exile 1 players have a separate date to note: the Covens of Umbra expansion for the original game goes live on November 13 (PST), four weeks before Path of Exile 2's full release.

Related guides

• Path of Exile 2 classes and Ascendancies list for 1.0
• Path of Exile 2 hub
• New games in November 2026
• All game guides