Path of Exile 2 has already reshaped the ARPG landscape with its Early Access launch, but all eyes are now locked on Patch 0.4, the highly anticipated December update. The developers have confirmed this will be the first endgame-focused patch of the beta cycle—and if the rapidly spreading datamined leaks are accurate, 0.4 may introduce some of the most transformative features POE2 has seen so far.
As someone who has been following every drip of information, parsing the GGPK files, and testing early builds day after day, I can firmly say: 0.4 looks enormous, not just for build diversity, but for the long-term shape of POE2’s systems, POE 2 Chaos Orbs, and class identity.
Let’s dive deep into what we know, what we suspect, and what may be coming sooner than anyone expected.
A New Shape-Shifting Era: Wyverns, Bears, Wolves, and More
One of the most exciting revelations comes straight from datamined animations, ability tags, and internal metadata entries. Hidden within the game files are numerous references to a mysterious “metadata monster wyvern”—and its purpose seems unmistakably linked to Druid shape-shifting.
The files include:
Wyvern speed modifiers
Backwards running animations
Turning animations
Take-hit flinches in all directions
Wyvern-specific skills, including:
Swipe
Empowered Swipe
Wing Blast
Flame Breath
Electric Spit
These are far too specific to be generic placeholders. They represent a complete animation and ability set—far beyond what a simple mob variant would require. In fact, the existence of running cycles, slow walks, backwards movement, attack chains, and death animations strongly suggests that players—yes, players—will be able to transform into a wyvern.
If true, PoE2’s Druid will be the most ambitious shape-shifting class ever implemented in an ARPG.
Bear and Wolf Forms Are Already Expected
From official teasers and early skill reveals, we know:
Bear form is essentially confirmed
Wolf form appears in the 0.4 teaser footage
Both are core fantasy pillars for any Druid archetype
But a wyvern form? That’s a step beyond anything fans were expecting. It hints at aerial combat, elemental breath attacks, and potentially hybridized caster-melee gameplay. And personally? I’ll be league-starting Druid no matter what—but if wyvern form is real, my first build is already decided.
Strange New Findings: Demon Magus, Ability Tags, and More
Wyvern isn’t the only oddity in the game files. Multiple references appear to a mysterious “Summon Demon Magus” skill.
There is:
A database entry for the skill
A “one-handed sword on-hit audio demon speed” tag
Indicators that it once had modified Intelligence requirements in Patch 0.2
Yet… this ability has:
No in-game presence
No teaser mentions
No currently known subclass to claim it
This raises questions:
Is Demon Magus a Druid spell?
A scrapped design?
A future Witch specialization?
A hidden endgame enemy?
No one knows. But every time something like this appeared in POE1’s files, it eventually became real. And that adds even more mystery to 0.4’s true scope.
Druid Class Expectations: Skills, Minions, Forms, and Themes
With all the incoming Druid buzz, let’s break down reasonable expectations based on datamining, past interviews, and GGG design patterns.
Starter Weapons
I expect the Druid to start with one of:
A Talisman, dedicated to transforming and empowering shape-shifts
A Voltaic Staff, if the early kit leans toward lightning and fire casting
The in-game tooltip for “Talisman” already references shape-shifting functionality. That alone is a strong hint.
Starting Skills
I would be surprised if the Druid’s early skill options did not include:
Volcano (we’ve seen early footage)
A base shape-shifting skill, if they choose Talisman as the starter
Minions: Wolves, Bears, and… Insects?
We already know wolves exist as confirmed Druid minions.
But a fully realized summoner archetype may also include:
Bear companion (similar to Infernalist’s Hellhound)
A poison/rot-based minion set, such as:
Scorpions
Spiders
Vine Creepers
This makes sense thematically, especially because the Druid in POE2 touches elemental, natural, and primal magic. A poison side-theme would round out the class identity significantly.
Ascendancies: Only Two at Launch
GGG has repeatedly said ascendancy classes in POE2 are broad, not specialized. That means Druid probably launches with:
One Shape-Shifting Ascendancy
One Caster/Primal Magic Ascendancy
I do not expect a dedicated Summoner ascendancy—not yet.
Massive Passive Tree Changes Incoming
Patch 0.4 is not just “add Druid and ship it.” The passive tree needs restructuring to support:
New shape-shift mechanics
New skill tags
New weapon-talisman interactions
New elemental/earth/physical Druid themes
I expect substantial updates to the northwest (Strength) side of the tree, adding:
Shape-shift clusters
Natural magic nodes
Beast/minion hybrid nodes
Earth and lightning interactions
POE2’s tree is bigger than POE1’s—but it still hasn’t accounted for an entirely new class until now.
An Endgame-Focused Patch Means Big Changes
GGG explicitly stated that 0.4 is an Endgame update. That alone carries huge implications.
1. Atlas Tree Overhaul
The current Atlas tree is functional, but shallow compared to POE1. If the game is serious about long-term retention, expect:
New mechanics
Stronger specializations
Reworked tower interactions
Better endgame scaling
The addition of Druid alone wouldn’t satisfy an endgame-focused patch—so structural Atlas changes make perfect sense.
2. New Endgame Bosses
New bosses are extremely likely. In fact, I’d argue:
We will get several new endgame bosses
Ubers are almost guaranteed
New boss-exclusive uniques may arrive alongside them
Boss arena variety is overdue
POE2 needs more aspirational content, and 0.4 is the perfect patch to deliver it.
When Will POE2 Officially Launch? My Prediction: December 2026
In my view, this is the clearest timeline:
Original Plan
GGG previously stated the Early Access beta would last about one year. That would have meant December 2025 for the full launch.
But that’s clearly not happening.
Why Not March/April 2026?
Several reasons:
The team said missing the December window increases likelihood of a March/April release—but only “if possible.”
March/April is historically a terrible month for major game launches.
Two more acts still need to be polished and tested.
The team has never launched a major POE title outside summer or winter.
Why Not August 2026?
POE1 content thrives in summer. POE2, being the flagship, will get the prestigious slot:
POE1 = Summer major releases
POE2 = Winter premier releases
GGG will not cannibalize their own audience by launching POE2’s biggest moment in August.
This leaves one ideal launch window:
→ December 2026
It is:
Market optimal
Historically consistent
Gives enough dev time
Aligns with their four-month league cycle
Lines up with Jonathan Rogers’ earlier comments
Unless something dramatic changes, December 2026 is the most logical full-release launch date.
Final Thoughts: Patch 0.4 Could Redefine POE2’s Future
Between:
New Druid class
Possible wyvern form
Datamined demon summons
Shape-shifting weapons
New endgame bosses
A revamped Atlas
Passive tree expansions
…it is hard to overstate just how impactful this patch could be, cheap POE 2 Chaos Orbs.
0.4 might be the patch where POE2 begins to truly separate itself from POE1—not just philosophically, but mechanically, tonally, and structurally.
And if everything discovered so far pans out, this December update will be remembered as the moment POE2’s identity finally crystallised.