Path of Exile 2: The Last of the Druids - Gameplay Speculation Breakdown

1. The Druid Class or Shapeshifting Archetype

The biggest speculation centers on the hooded figure partially transforming into a beast. This could imply:

A new class: The Druid

Likely based around Nature-attuned Strength/Intelligence scaling

Access to animal transformation skills

A blend of melee, DoT, and summon abilities

Thematic focus on storms, vines, and animal spirits

Shapeshifting Skill System

Even if it's not a full class, PoE2 could add:

Transformative skills like Bear Form, Wolf Aspect, or Raptor Frenzy

A resource system similar to Rage but tied to Primal Might or Wild Essence

Form-dependent skill changes. Example:

Bear: slower, tankier, high-cleave

Wolf: fast, bleeding-focused

Hawk: ranged mobility

Given PoE2's commitment to class-unique mechanics, the Druid would fit naturally alongside the Sorceress, Monk, and Ranger 2.0 archetypes.

2. Nature-Based Skill Gems

The teaser's visuals-roots grabbing enemies, spirits emerging from trees-suggest new skill gem categories such as:

Vine Control / Root Manipulation

Grasping Thicket: vines immobilize enemies in an AoE

Bramble Surge: a wave of piercing thorns

Heartroot Totem: buff/debuff aura based on druidic nature symbols

Spiritual Summons

Instead of zombies or skeletal minions, think:

Forest Wards (stationary spirit guardians)

Wild Aspect Wolves (summons that scale with transformation skills)

Ancestor Grove Spirits (temporary phantom summons)

This offers a middle ground between Witch minions and Ranger beasts.

Storms and Weather

We see lightning striking an ancient stone circle-hinting at:

Tempest Calls

Storm of Leaves / Razorwind Burst

PoE2 already leans into environmental magic, so weather-based skills look likely.

3. A New "Nature Attunement" Resource

One of the narrator's lines mentions "the covenant broken," which could hint at managing some sort of bond meter between the druid and the spirit world.

Possible mechanics:

Attunement Meter: fills through kills or channeling, allowing transformations or powerful nature abilities

Spirit Favor: builds through ritual actions, used like Vaal Souls to unleash primal skills

Wild Instinct: a mechanic causing you to become more beast-like the longer you remain in combat

PoE2 is heavily leaning into identity-defining resource systems, so a druid-like archetype almost demands one.

4. Ritual-Style Combat Encounters

The teaser shows stone circles, ritual pillars, and ancient runes-implying that combat might involve:

Rune Activation Boss Fights

Fight bosses inside ritual arenas

Stand in glowing runes to weaken bosses

Avoid "corrupted circles" that empower them

Spirit Realms

PoE2 might introduce:

Short transitions to a Spirit World layer

Temporary arenas where primal spirits attack

Boss phases that alternate between physical and spectral forms

This matches the visual of specters emerging from misty groves.

5. New Boss Types and Affixes

The enemies shown hint at a new family of foes:

Bark-armored sentinels

Elk-horned ghost druids

Bramble beasts

Ancient tree guardians

Possible new monster affixes:

Rootbind - immobilizes or slows

Spirit Echo - enemies leave behind dangerous phantoms on death

Nature's Reprisal - reflects a portion of physical damage as bleed

Primal Overgrowth - seeds an area that blooms into hazards

Expect the biome itself to fight you.

6. A New Region or Side-Act

The lush forest zone doesn't resemble any known region in PoE1 or PoE2 Act 1. This could be:

A new side-act like the Azmeri Highlands

A Druid homeland region accessed later in the campaign

Or an endgame side-realm unlocked through druidic rituals in maps

Given the focus on handcrafted environments, this zone could introduce:

Fog-of-war-style navigation

Ambush encounters from camouflaged spirits

Dynamic weather hazards affecting combat

7. Crafting: Nature-Infused Gear

The teaser's emphasis on wood, bone, and stone suggests:

Primal-crafted uniques

Engravings instead of standard enchantments

Bestial aspect modifiers tied to beast forms

Spirit-infused gear for minion or transformation builds

One possibility is a new crafting currency:

"Druidic Glyphs"

used to activate wild magic or carve talisman-like upgrades onto gear.

8. How This Might Affect the Meta

If shapeshifting is real:

Melee builds could see a huge rise in viability due to form-based tankiness

Hybrid caster/melee archetypes might become popular

Summoner druids might offer buy POE2 Currency more active, less passive minion playstyles

Weather/storm spells could redefine DoT spellcasting