The Shadow, a dagger and trap class built around a new Stealth system, joins Path of Exile 2 when the game launches in full on December 11, Grinding Gear Games announced during the ExileCon keynote. It becomes the second new class of the 1.0 release, alongside the previously announced Duelist.
Developer Grinding Gear describes the Shadow as a character who lurks unseen. It starts with two Ascendancy classes, the Assassin and the Infiltrator, according to the studio’s release post on Steam.
How does Stealth work?
Stealth is a new mechanic in Path of Exile 2. While you are in it, monsters cannot see you until you get within a short distance, and the Shadow’s dagger skills gain extra bonuses.
PC Gamer reported that stealth has a cooldown but resets on a kill, so you can chain quick kills from the dark and move on. PCGamesN, which watched a live demo at ExileCon 2026, adds that players can see enemy vision cones and circles, and striking from outside them gives powerful bonuses.
How do the traps work?
Traps are the Shadow’s second new weapon type, next to daggers. You prepare them while hidden, and they do not go off while you are in stealth. When you attack, they explode in the order you threw them.
PCGamesN says there are eight trap types in 1.0, and they combine in set sequences. Its examples:
- A Freeze Trap followed by a Concussive Trap shatters the frozen enemies.
- A Poison Gas Trap, spread by a Concussive Trap, then lit by a Fire Trap, detonates the cloud.
- Reverse the last pair, with the Concussive Trap after the Fire Trap, and it fans the flames on burning enemies.
What else does the Shadow bring?
Beyond traps, the demo showed several other tools:
- Ethereal Knives, thrown into monsters’ souls and detonated for a burst of Chaos damage, which PCGamesN says can pair with an Electrocution Trap to amplify shock on large targets.
- Blade Vortex, which pulls the thrown knives back and spins them around your character with their elemental buffs.
- A decoy shade left behind when you slip into the darkness. PCGamesN says it blinds enemies, and PC Gamer says it also copies your melee attacks.
- A Darkness resource. PCGamesN describes Blade of Night as a sort of anti-Rage that lets you farm enemies for Darkness, then spend it on other attacks, while Eclipse applies stealth buffs to all your attacks for a set time.
- Shadow Extraction, which turns enemies marked with Darkness into shades you can use.
PC Gamer notes that, as with earlier class additions, the Shadow also brings a new weapon type and a set of new skill gems and supports.
Which Ascendancy classes are available?
Two at launch: the returning Assassin and the new Infiltrator. PC Gamer points out that every Path of Exile 2 class is expected to have at least three Ascendancies eventually, and the studio has not said what the Shadow’s third will be.
Prices
Path of Exile 2 becomes free to play on December 11 (PST), so players do not need to buy the game to try the class. The sources list no separate price for the Shadow and no price in any currency for the base game. RPG Site reports that optional microtransactions cover cosmetics and additional stash tabs.
Who it suits
Dagger and rogue fans. The Shadow is a returning favorite from the original Path of Exile, and the dagger skills and stealth bonuses give it a clear identity.
Players who like combos. Traps that fire in the order thrown reward planning, and the eight trap types leave plenty of room to test sequences.
Players who enjoy quick, mobile fights. Stealth that resets on a kill favors chaining finishing blows over standing and trading hits.
Who should wait. If you want numbers on damage, stealth cooldowns or Ascendancy balance before you commit, wait for patch notes and early play reports after launch.
What is still unknown?
The studio has not published a full skill list, stealth cooldown figures or the details of the Infiltrator in the sources reviewed here, and it has not named the Shadow’s third Ascendancy. Watch the official Path of Exile 2 site and the Steam news page for the 1.0 patch notes before December 11 (PST).
