The long-awaited Druid class is coming to Path of Exile 2 on December 12, bringing bear forms, werewolves, and nature magic to Wraeclast.

Grinding Gear Games has officially announced Path of Exile 2: The Last of the Druids, the game's third major content update since entering Early Access. The Version 0.4.0 update will release on December 12, 2025, finally bringing the shapeshifting Druid class that players have been begging for since the game launched.

What is the Druid?

The Druid is a Strength/Intelligence hybrid class specializing in Shapeshifting, transforming into creatures like a bear or werewolf. It blends melee combat with elemental magic, offering a primal and dynamic playstyle.

Unlike other classes in the game, the Druid character uses a mixture of spells and Shapeshift spells, meaning your character will often switch between human and animal form. When you use a skill, you will automatically transform between the correct form.

The recent teaser trailer confirmed that players will have access to at least two animal forms:

• Bear Form - Focused on tanky, high-damage slam attacks that build up Rage for devastating combos
• Werewolf Form - Revealed in the patch teaser, showing there's a lot more build potential compared to what GGG previously showcased

Datamined hints suggest a potential third Wyvern form oriented around mobility and elemental attacks, though this remains unconfirmed.

Key Skills Revealed

From previous showcases and demos, the Druid will have access to powerful nature-based abilities:

• Volcano - Summons a volcano that fires projectiles; slamming near it in bear form triggers extra attacks
• Lightning Storm - Creates an area that strikes enemies with lightning
• Tornado - Draws enemies to the centre for crowd control
• Bear Maul - Builds Rage resource for powering other abilities
• Rampage - Ground slams while moving, decimating groups of enemies
• Furious Slam - Stuns and damages nearby foes
• Summoned Wolves - Animal companions that fight alongside you

New Weapon Type: Talismans

Talismans are weapons specifically designed for Druids. They are two-handed melee weapons that require both Strength and Intelligence to equip, perfectly complementing the class's hybrid nature.

Free Weekend Event

Good news if you've been on the fence about buying into Early Access. A Path of Exile 2 free weekend will be running alongside the start of the league, giving everyone a chance to try the new content.

The free-to-play weekend runs from December 12 to December 15 on PC, PS5, and Xbox. Any progress made during the free-to-play weekend will carry over to the main game should you decide to purchase it.

Reveal Livestream

GGG Live will begin at 11AM PST on December 4th on the official Path of Exile Twitch channel. During the stream, they'll cover all the details of the update, followed by a Q&A session with ZiggyD, Jonathan Rogers and Mark Roberts, then the full patch notes.

What Else to Expect

While the Druid is a big part of the draw, anyone familiar with GGG updates will know to expect a bulky list of additions. New skills for other classes, support gems, unique items, and probably a fresh overhaul to the passive tree are all likely. A new league mechanic is also expected, along with potential endgame boss additions and Atlas adjustments.

Video Link from GGG YouTube.