Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.4: The Last of the Druids Finally Rises

I haven’t stopped smiling all day—and I’m far from the only one. Grinding Gear Games has officially confirmed that Path of Exile 2’s 0.4 update is titled The Last of the Druids. For years, players have speculated, begged, joked, and coped about when the Druid would finally arrive. Either GGG is about to unleash the greatest prank in ARPG history, or we are finally, finally getting the class so many players have been waiting for.

This article is a deep dive into everything we know so far: past reveals, lore inspirations, design changes, community reactions, and why Patch 0.4 may be the most important update since Early Access launched. And yes—there’s plenty of speculation, hype, and cautious optimism along the way.

The Roots of the Druid: Real-World Myth Meets ARPG History

Before the Druid became one of ARPG gaming’s most iconic archetypes, they existed in real-world history. Our earliest detailed accounts of druids come from Roman sources—primarily Julius Caesar—who described them as spiritual leaders, Path of Exile 2 Orbs, diplomats, and occasionally ritualists across Celtic cultures. Their deep connection to nature later blended with Christianity as it spread across Europe, which is why for centuries scholars dismissed the idea of “nature-magic druids” as pure myth.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that modern researchers recognized how influential these figures truly were.

But for many gamers? The druid archetype began with Diablo II’s Lord of Destruction. Blizzard’s version combined feral shapeshifting, storm magic, volcanoes, and animal summons in a way that remains beloved to this day. Even with druids appearing in Last Epoch and other ARPGs, nothing has captured that same magic.

Path of Exile 2 wants to change that—while also paying homage to the classic.

2019: The First Glimpse — The Werewolf Reveal That Shook ExileCon

The very first confirmation that the Druid would appear in Path of Exile 2 happened live on stage during ExileCon 2019. The announcement trailer included a blink-and-you-miss-it shot of a werewolf sprinting across the screen—and the crowd exploded. Jonathan Rogers himself could be heard laughing as the audience erupted in cheers.

Immediately after the trailer, GGG showcased a full live demo. This early version of the Druid had a unique system: forms were persistent auras. You shapeshifted once and remained in that form until a skill forced you out of it. Want to be a werewolf using Leap Slam and Cleave? Sure. Shoot a bow? You’d auto-cancel the form.

It looked janky, experimental, and clearly unfinished—but even then, the potential was obvious.

And then? Silence. Four years of it.

2023: The Bear Emerges — A Completely New Design Philosophy

The next time we saw the Druid was in 2023, and nearly everything had changed.

Instead of shapeshifting being a passive aura, each form was tied to a specific skill. Slash? You become a bear. Rampage? Also a bear. This time around, forms were quick, fluid transformations triggered moment-to-moment depending on which abilities you used.

In that same reveal we also saw:

Lightning Storm – a wide-area nature spell

Volcano – erupting fire projectiles

Tornado – a classic wind spell

Wolf summons – confirming pets are part of the kit

This more modular system looked far more in line with PoE2’s new design ethos, where animations, forms, and mechanics blend seamlessly.

A Long Road of Delays — But Maybe for the Better

The Druid was originally planned for 0.1. Then 0.2. Then 0.3. Each time, GGG quietly delayed the class, citing animation complexity, design issues, and last-minute reworks (as we saw with the Huntress).

But the most intriguing detail came from content creator Darth Microtransaction, who was invited to New Zealand in mid-2024. While under NDA, he said the Druid is “the coolest-looking class in the game.”

Combine that with multiple design overhauls, animation improvements, and GGG’s desire to avoid another Warrior-style backlash, and it becomes clear:

The Druid is likely the most ambitious class the team has attempted.

A Major Discovery: Talismans — The Druid’s Signature Weapon?

One of the biggest revelations didn’t come from GGG directly, but from data miners: Talismans—a new two-handed weapon type requiring Strength and Intelligence.

According to the datamined stats:

Talismans allow shapeshifting skills

Each talisman corresponds to a specific form

But all talismans let you use all forms’ abilities

This is a huge deal. Weapons are central to PoE2’s identity, build expression, and progression. Early druid prototypes didn’t use weapons at all, which felt odd in a game built around itemization. Talismans fix that—and enrich the fantasy.

Will talismans ship in 0.4? GGG art suggests maybe, maybe not—the official druid art shows him unarmed. But even if talismans don’t appear at launch, their existence signals where GGG is headed.

The Forms: Wolf, Bear… and Something More?

GGG has confirmed that there will be three core forms:

Werewolf

Bear

A third form (speculated to be avian)

But datamines also show something juicier: the Wyvern form. A dragon-like shapeshift with wings and bestial posture. If true, PoE2’s druid could end up being the most diverse shapeshifting ARPG class ever made.

Ascendancies may also add unique forms—possibly Beastmaster for Huntress, and something special for the Druid’s own subclasses.

Patch 0.4: The Last of the Druids — What the Title Might Mean

The patch name is evocative. The Last of the Druids hints at themes of extinction, suppression, and cultural erasure. This strongly mirrors real-world history—and PoE’s own lore.

Many players speculate that the Templar Order (PoE’s Roman-inspired faction) may have tried to wipe out or assimilate the druids, just as Rome did to Celtic cultures. The connection is too similar to ignore.

Could Patch 0.4 expand this lore?

Could Act 5 appear? (Unlikely, but players can dream.)

Could this tie into Oriath’s religious dominance?

Whatever direction GGG takes, the theming is rich and promising.

Community Concerns — And Why They’re Mostly Misplaced

Players, being players, have concerns. Two main ones keep popping up:

Concern 1: “The druid looks too slow.”

Every piece of druid gameplay we’ve seen is from 2023, and recorded by developers intentionally moving slowly to showcase mechanics.

Actual player gameplay is dramatically faster.

Actual forms now have updated animations.

Actual PoE2 speed has increased patch-to-patch.

This concern is based on outdated footage. It’s not representative.

Concern 2: “Shapeshifting, spells, summons—it all sounds mid.”

Some players hoped the Druid patch would include additional weapon types or even another class. Data miner discussions—and a direct comment from a skills developer—suggest otherwise. The druid likely is the main feature of 0.4, alongside the promised endgame rework.

But this isn’t a bad thing.

If shapeshifting, spells, and summons are polished, deep, and flexible, they may become the most creative build space in the game.

Why 0.4 Could Redefine PoE2’s Meta

Here’s what many players (myself included) expect:

Shapeshifting will flip combat pacing on its head.

Elemental spells will fill the gaps left by weaker magic builds in 0.1–0.3.

Summons will be extremely strong at launch (as summoners usually are).

If even one of these expectations hits the mark, druids could become top-tier meta—not just hype fodder.

The Final Countdown — December 12

At the time of writing, we’re less than two weeks away from the full reveal. The official druid key art shows:

glowing green eyes

a muscular, imposing frame

a wolf companion

an aura of primal power

And most importantly: a class that feels like it finally fits the PoE2 world.

Whether the druid runs on all fours, stands like a D2 werewolf, or switches depending on the form, one thing is certain:

This is the class many players will be rolling on day one.

As one developer joked in a livestream chat, “Eighty-eight percent of players on day one will be druids.” And honestly? He might not be wrong.

Conclusion: A Six-Year Journey Reaches Its Climax

From the first werewolf sprint in 2019 to today’s 0.4 teaser, the Druid has gone through more mystery and transformation than any other PoE class. We’ve seen prototypes, redesigns, delays, leaks, and lore hints. And now, after years of anticipation, the class is finally here, buy Path of Exile 2 Orbs.

Whether you’re excited for:

shapeshifting power fantasies

elemental destruction

pet-focused builds

lore expansions

or simply a fresh class to main

Patch 0.4 is shaping up to be the biggest moment Path of Exile 2 has had since launch.

I know I’ll be rolling a druid on day one.

And I’m willing to bet—you will too.