Path of Exile 2 hints at a second new class for 1.0, driving fans into a frenzy

If this new Path of Exile 2 trailer proves to be a red herring, Grinding Gear Games will have a lot to answer for. Its latest teaser for the action RPG's 1.0 launch invites us to 'Become the Darkness,' and all the clues point to the addition of a second, unannounced new class when the full release arrives in December. The brief video has ignited a speculation fire under the community in the lead-up to PoE 2's big reveal at Exilecon, as players argue over which other mechanics or even characters could be ready for the full release.

All the way back at the end of 2025, Path of Exile 2 Game Director Jonathan Rogers told me there was a good chance that the ARPG's 1.0 launch wouldn't include all 12 of the planned classes. The team's focus was on a finished campaign, robust endgame, and enjoyable balance state, he explained. GGG has been rolling out additions throughout early access, however, and the announcement of the Duelist and swords for 1.0 is set to bring the total count up to nine.

That just leaves three of the original Path of Exile classes absent: the Marauder, the Templar, and the Shadow (ignoring the neutrally aligned Scion, which has never been talked about in a PoE 2 capacity). Enter our newest teaser, seen below. "A Perandus knows fate can twist at a price," the voiceover growls, "and to beware what lurks… in your shadow." A dagger, the signature weapon of the thief-style class, slams into a golden coin, sending black smoke spilling out. The signs all point in one direction.

This isn't official confirmation, of course. However, after a minor fiasco when a sword appeared in the teaser video for Return of the Ancients, only for the weapon type not to show up in the update, I suspect GGG will be acting very carefully when choosing its words and imagery. If the full 1.0 release doesn't deliver on what feels like such an explicit promise here, the only option will be to chalk it up to some apocalyptic mischievousness on the developer's part.

The Shadow isn't the only interesting aspect of the teaser, however. Perandus coins are actually a very old PoE 1 mechanic, tied to the family of the same name. They first appeared in 2016's Perandus League, then later became part of the Immortal Syndicate at the heart of 2018's Betrayal League. The former mechanic is perhaps a little light to make the jump to Path of Exile 2, but the latter could certainly be due a fresh overhaul for the sequel.

Give players the slightest hit of something new, however, and they'll immediately find a way to fly off the deep end with more theories. One popular suggestion in recent weeks has been that the new league could instead be a reimagining of Heist, where you fight through a facility as quietly as possible to snatch valuable loot before the alert is raised, then make your escape. Others have wondered if we might just be getting all four missing classes, although I'd urge a little restraint on clutching to such wishes; it's better to be surprised than disappointed.

Path of Exile 2 version 1.0 launches on Friday, December 11, when it will transition from its paid early access into a free-to-play game. If Grinding Gear Games has any more big secrets up its sleeve, expect to learn about them next weekend at Exilecon 2026, which takes place November 7-8 live from Auckland, New Zealand.