With Path of Exile 2 on the horizon, fans are already delving into the intricate web of the passive tree, trying to decipher the changes and anticipate how they will impact gameplay. Today, we’ll focus on the left side of the tree, particularly the changes around the Druid starting area, new clusters, and Oracle-exclusive nodes. While some of this is speculative, thanks to leaks, trailers, and tools like Zopug’s slider on Reddit, we can paint a reasonably detailed picture of what PoE2 players might expect.

Passive Tree Changes Overview

Before diving into the Druid-specific section, it’s essential to acknowledge that the passive tree has undergone major structural shifts across multiple areas, not just the left side. Several notable updates include:

New AoE clusters on the right side: These clusters add four new notable passives, expanding the possibilities for AoE-focused builds.

Power charge wheel relocation for the Monk class: Previously on the right, this wheel has been moved to the left side, signaling more synergy opportunities with other left-side nodes.

Fire clusters and hybrid damage nodes: New fire-themed clusters, including a Splitshot projectile node with fork and chain effects, hint at a “surpass projectile” mechanic. Though initially suggested to be bow-centric, these nodes may also benefit crossbows or even certain spell builds.

Hybrid Poison/Ignite cluster: Located at the bottom of the tree, this cluster indicates a combination of poison and POE2 Currency, expanding elemental versatility for hybrid builds.

Cold-related nodes: A new cold node resembling classic chill and freeze icons has appeared, indicating additional options for cold-based builds.

Minor structural changes: Miscellaneous spell clusters, fire notables, and unusual connections (like in the Warrior area with a Rage three-pointer) further diversify the tree.

These changes set the stage for the left side of the tree to become a hub for Druid progression and, potentially, other hybrid playstyles.

Druid Starting Area

The Druid starting area, positioned on the left side of the tree, has seen several noteworthy changes. One of the most immediate observations is that some AoE nodes have been swapped with life-related regions, and a node potentially related to skill effect duration has appeared. While we cannot say definitively, the combination hints at early survivability support combined with utility.

However, the starting area is somewhat awkward, particularly for early-level scaling, as many of the early nodes do not prioritize raw damage. For most builds, especially in the first 20 levels, players typically want increased damage to clear content efficiently. Unfortunately, the early Druid nodes mix regen, crit, aura, and minion-related stats, which might force early diversions away from pure damage scaling.

Notable points in the Druid starting area include:

Cold-related node: Likely affects chill or freeze effects, potentially opening options for hybrid elemental Druid builds.

Attack vs. Spell cluster choice: Immediately after the starting area, players face a decision between an attack-oriented cluster and a spell-oriented cluster. This mirrors the classic PE1 design philosophy, allowing early specialization.

Form-specific notable cluster: A large, four-notable cluster resembling a talisman contains one general notable and three dedicated to different Druid forms—wolf, bear, or wyvern. Each player can focus on their preferred form for unique benefits.

Additionally, projectile-based medium clusters, like “Follow Through,” have been positioned in somewhat surprising areas. While their function isn’t entirely clear yet, these nodes may synergize with volcanic or magma-themed abilities.

Rage and Resource Management Nodes

Rage, a core Druid resource mechanic, has been significantly emphasized in the new tree. A huge rage cluster with numerous small nodes indicates that PoE2 intends to reward players who actively manage rage for both offensive and defensive play.

Other resource nodes include:

Mana clusters: Moved and repositioned across the left side, potentially supporting mana recovery, mana leech, or hybrid resource generation.

Endurance charge clusters: Two new endurance charge clusters have appeared, complementing the rage mechanic for forms and other hybrid builds.

Power charge clusters: Similarly, power charge clusters support attack-heavy or hybrid Druid setups.

This focus on resource management suggests that early and mid-game survivability and damage output will hinge on proper engagement with these mechanics, particularly for form-based and hybrid builds.

Notable Hybrid and Totem Clusters

The left side of the tree now houses several clusters that suggest hybrid playstyles:

Spell-to-tem and ballista clusters: These clusters, likely spell-based, indicate that Totems will continue to be a central feature for certain Druid builds.

Flail and placeholder clusters: Some clusters are clearly placeholders for weapons or mechanics not yet implemented. Their presence allows early tree visualization while leaving room for final adjustments.

Other minor clusters provide AoE support, attack damage scaling, or presence aura effects, though their exact numbers and bonuses remain speculative. These clusters help shape the left side into a versatile area for experimentation, bridging attack, spell, minion, and resource mechanics.

Paths Not Taken: Oracle Nodes

One of the most exciting additions to PoE2 is the Oracle-exclusive node “Paths Not Taken”, which introduces a set of extra passives unique to Oracle characters. These nodes are scattered throughout the tree and are highly variable in theme and effect.

From current observations, the Oracle nodes include:

Armor, bleed, lightning, life, mana, and poison notables: Broad defensive and offensive support, potentially useful for many different playstyles.

Minion clusters: Six notable minion nodes indicate massive potential for minion builds. If these nodes are strong, Oracle could become a dominant choice for minion-focused players.

Totem clusters: Two new totem nodes suggest unique ways to integrate summon mechanics or utility structures into Oracle builds.

Miscellaneous nodes: A sprint-related node, an elemental-themed node, and several question-mark nodes hint at creative mechanics, possibly tied to chance effects or unique Oracle abilities.

The randomness of Oracle node placement and function makes speculation challenging but exciting, offering opportunities for highly specialized builds or hybrid combinations. The Paths Not Taken feature essentially allows Oracle players to carve out entirely new strategies not available to other classes.

Strategic Implications for Druid and Oracle

Early-game progression for the Druid may be challenging but rewarding, as players navigate nodes that prioritize utility and hybrid mechanics over raw damage. Key strategic points include:

Early node selection: Players must carefully decide between attack-focused or spell-focused clusters, depending on their preferred form or playstyle.

Form specialization: Wolf, bear, and wyvern forms all have dedicated notable nodes, encouraging experimentation to discover optimal synergies.

Resource management: Rage, endurance, and power charge clusters provide multiple paths for managing offensive and defensive resources, rewarding strategic engagement.

For Oracle players, the Paths Not Taken nodes suggest a high ceiling for creativity, particularly for minion-heavy builds. Observant players who can identify the best notables early will have a significant advantage in mid- and late-game progression.

Additionally, the combination of totem support, hybrid elemental nodes, and miscellaneous question-mark clusters hints that Oracle may not only be a minion powerhouse but could also explore unconventional strategies like exploding totems, chance-based defenses, or hybrid attack-spell combinations.

Remaining Unknowns

While a lot of information has been gleaned from tools like Zopug’s slider and in-game observations, there remain several unknowns:

Exact numbers and bonuses for many nodes: Several clusters are still speculative, and the impact of small nodes on overall gameplay remains unclear.

Keystone functionality: Two new keystones have appeared in the left-side Druid area, one possibly resembling Divine Shield from PE1. Until these keystones are fully revealed, their strategic implications are difficult to assess.

Weapon and skill placeholders: Many clusters are clearly intended for mechanics not yet implemented, such as flails, traps, or unknown weapon types. How these will integrate with existing nodes remains a mystery.

Despite these uncertainties, the structural changes and node variety suggest PoE2’s passive tree will allow for significantly more customization and experimentation than in PE1.

Conclusion

The left side of the Path of Exile 2 Currency passive tree is shaping up to be a dynamic hub for Druid and Oracle players, blending traditional mechanics like form-specific nodes and rage with new opportunities for hybrid, minion, and totem-focused builds. The early-game starting area may present challenges, particularly for raw damage scaling, but it also introduces interesting utility and resource management choices.

Oracle-exclusive nodes, accessible through Paths Not Taken, promise exciting new strategies, particularly for minion builds, and highlight PoE2’s focus on player agency and build diversity. Between new AoE clusters, power/endurance charge wheels, and hybrid notables, both Druid and Oracle players have an abundance of options to experiment with and master.

As the full game release approaches, further details will solidify the role of each cluster and node. However, based on current observations, the left side of the passive tree is poised to offer deep, strategic, and highly customizable gameplay, rewarding players who engage thoughtfully with its design.

For those looking to dive in early, tools like Zopug’s slider provide a valuable glimpse into the changes, and keeping an eye on minion clusters and form-specific nodes will be particularly important for optimizing both Druid and Oracle builds.

Ultimately, PoE2’s passive tree redesign is a bold step toward more flexibility, deeper mechanics, and greater synergy opportunities, setting the stage for a compelling new chapter in the Path of Exile saga.