Path of Exile 2 is rolling into its next big patch, The Last of the Druids, and yes, the name gives it away: this one spotlights the brand-new Druid class. Grinding Gear Games isn’t just dropping a shapeshifter and calling it a day, though—there are performance tweaks, system updates, and a fresh league to sink into.
As usual, a major update means a new season. The Last of the Druids arrives alongside seasonal content that sends you chasing down the Queen of the Vaal. If you’re plotting your first run (or a reroll), here’s when the update lands and what’s packed into it.
What time does the Path of Exile 2 “The Last of the Druids” update release?
You can jump into Path of Exile 2’s The Last of the Druids on Friday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. EST, as announced by Grinding Gear Games during the most recent GGG Live.
Depending on where you live, that could be Saturday, Dec. 13. Regional launch times:
- 11 a.m. PST on Friday, Dec. 12 — West Coast North America
- 2 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 12 — East Coast North America
- 4 p.m. BRT on Friday, Dec. 12 — Brazil
- 7 p.m. GMT on Friday, Dec. 12 — U.K.
- 8 p.m. CET on Friday, Dec. 12 — Western Europe
- 4 a.m. JST on Saturday, Dec. 13 — Japan
- 6 a.m. AEDT on Saturday, Dec. 13 — East Coast Australia
What to expect from Path of Exile 2’s “The Last of the Druids” update
Let’s start with the obvious: the Druid. In update 0.4, the class finally joins the roster and, in classic PoE fashion, comes with a twist. Sure, you’re getting the usual animal shapeshifts—think wolves and bears—but this Druid can also become a dragon. They sling elemental spells too, but come on. Dragon.
Even with the Druid stealing the spotlight, the rest of the lineup isn’t being left behind. Across the board, classes are getting balance passes, the passive tree expands by 200+ nodes, and some meta setups will likely shift. Expect a few favorites to take a hit while new builds open up, especially with Animal Talismans—new weapon-type items introduced in 0.4 that power the shapeshifting fantasy. Since those talismans are tied to weapon type rather than class, everyone can play with them.
The update also ushers in a new league, Face of the Vaal. As with every season, you’ll need to roll a fresh character on the league servers. This time, you’re delving into Vaal catacombs and piecing together custom rooms to chart a route toward Atziri, the Queen of the Vaal.
And if you haven’t bought into early access, there’s one more reason to log in: Path of Exile 2 is holding its second free weekend. The full release will be free-to-play, but during early access you typically need a key—except from Dec. 12–15, when anyone can jump in for free.