Is It REALLY Duelist & Swords Next?
Summary
- Grinding Gear Games (GGG) considers the inclusion of swords essential for the official 1.0 release of Path of Exile 2.
- The full 1.0 release is currently expected to launch in December 2026.
- Developers acknowledge a significant community demand for more melee-focused archetypes and weapon variety.
- Data-mined information suggests swords may focus on elemental damage (fire, cold, and lightning) rather than physical or bleed damage.
- Swords are expected to occupy a mechanical middle ground between the heavy weight of maces and the high speed of spears.
Developer Intent and Release Timeline
Grinding Gear Games has explicitly stated that it would be “criminal” to omit swords from the eventual 1.0 release of Path of Exile 2. The game cannot go live without them, and with the 1.0 release expected in December of this year, their addition is a priority. Developers have mentioned multiple times that it is “ridiculous” for a fantasy ARPG to exist without usable swords.
The Need for Melee Variety
There is a massive desire within the community for more melee-based skills. While the game currently features maces, spear skills, quarterstaffs, and “punchy” unarmed combat alongside shapeshifting, swords evoke an entirely different gameplay feel. While the current anticipation for swords is driven largely by “vibes” and developer comments, their absence remains a notable gap in the current state of Path of Exile 2.
The Duelist and Sword Mechanics
The Duelist is the class most closely associated with swords, utilizing both one-handed and two-handed variants, including:
- Greatswords
- Longswords
Based on data-mined files, swords in Path of Exile 2 appear to be designed around elemental damage types—such as fire, cold, and lightning—or perhaps a mixture of elements. This contrasts with traditional expectations of physical or bleeding damage. Mechanically, swords will likely be less weighty than maces but not quite as fast as spears, carving out a unique niche in the melee combat system.