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The creators of Path of Exile 2 continue to introduce new character classes with each update. The December 2025 update, titled The Last of the Druids, adds the Druid class, which features different animal forms that dramatically alter your combat style.
If you enjoy casting elemental magic from a distance while relying on beastly melee attacks, the Druid might be the right choice. Focused on primarily using the bear form, the Druid becomes immensely powerful by managing its mana and Rage resources effectively.
Build Overview
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Large damage output and area-of-effect moves make the bear effective against boss fights and groups of enemies | Managing Fury can be challenging |
| Higher health pool compared to other classes | The bear form is slower for movement and attacking |
| Balanced magic and physical strength between forms |
If you’re interested in The Last of the Druids, try the new Druid class. Those who favor magic skills and tanking will find this class appealing.
As a Druid, you can switch between multiple forms using a special talisman. This allows seamless transformation from human to bear or wolf forms. However, each form’s skills need individual upgrades as you level up, so it might be best to focus on one form early on for maximum effectiveness.
In combat, you’ll need to balance melee and ranged tactics. Your human form excels at magical attacks from afar, while the bear form excels at close-range, devastating melee attacks, though it takes time to charge up its powerful hits.
Attribute Focus and Ascendancy
By default, your highest skill attribute will be Strength, closely linked with Intelligence to enhance your close-range bear abilities and ranged spellcasting. Dexterity is the lowest, but it can be boosted through passive skills if needed. Dodging is a crucial skill due to the slow speed of large animal forms.
Given the Druid’s skill set, the best ascendancy choice is the Shaman. As a Shaman, Fury management for your bear form becomes easier since you gain more control over Fury regeneration. Using your Berserk and Rampage skills effectively makes Fury a vital resource, so selecting the Shaman path helps maximize these abilities.
Build Tips
| Human Form Skills | Description |
|---|---|
| Volcano | Summons magma on the ground, burning enemies in the area |
| Ice Nova | Fires ice daggers around you, dealing cold damage and knocking back enemies |
| Time of Need | Heals your Druid and removes elemental effects |
| Herald of Ice | Freezes enemies and shatters them for damage |
| Bear Form Skills | Description |
|---|---|
| Maul | Your first skill, generating Rage on hit |
| Furious Slam | Slams the ground, creating shockwaves that grow with Rage |
| Fury of the Mountain | Pounds the ground, creating hot fissures |
| Savage Fury | Builds Fury over time, then unleashes a frenzy of attacks (ends if you revert to human) |
| Ferocious Roar | Warcry that generates Rage |
Passive Tree Strategy
Starting in the bear form, allocate points towards armor and attack damage. Early nodes improve your tankiness with increased armor and health regeneration—important for surviving in tank form. As you level, adapt your passive priorities based on your dominant form: prioritize spell power upgrades if you focus more on magic in human form, or melee strength if your strategy revolves around the bear.
The passive tree is rich with elemental damage boosts and defenses that ease the slow movement of large animal forms. Enhancing your resistances and speed can dramatically improve your performance in battles, especially as you expand your skill set further.
Equipment and Gear
The best gear for a Druid depends on your preferred combat style. Since the bear form doesn’t use weapons, armor in this form notably enhances your damage and defenses. For magic-focused play, staves are ideal—they allow you to attack from a distance before closing in with the bear form for melee combat. Each staff grants access to specific skills that align with your elemental choices from the passive tree.
Always verify the skill each weapon provides. Relying on a particular skill means you’ll need to quickly adapt if you switch to a different weapon or skill set.
For gear, prioritize items that boost elemental resistance and elemental damage. Boots should enhance movement speed, especially since the bear form tends to be sluggish.
Summary
Switching forms as a Druid provides strategic versatility, combining ranged magic attacks with powerful melee assaults. Focus on upgrading your preferred form’s skills, and use your equipment to bolster defenses and elemental damage. Whether you prefer magic or brute force, the Druid offers a dynamic playstyle that leverages the strengths of both forms to dominate the battlefield.
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