Grinding Gear Games pulled a surprise announcement just hours before the Last of the Druids update went live. The Disciple of Varashta, a new Sorceress Ascendancy, made it into patch 0.4 after all.
Creative Director Jonathan Rogers told press last week that the team really wanted to get it in but didn't quite make it. He said it shouldn't be too far off. Turns out "not too far off" meant the same day as the patch.
Game Director Mark Roberts revealed the new Ascendancy in a YouTube preview video. GGG followed up with social media posts showing gameplay footage and skill interactions. The reveal went out on X (formerly Twitter) without appearing in the official patch notes first.
Command-Based Summoner with Three Djinn
The Disciple of Varashta gives Sorceress players a "build your own summoner" Ascendancy that controls up to three different djinn. Each djinn brings a distinct elemental power and combat role. Players can run all three at once or focus on one that fits their build direction.
Ruzhan, the Blazing Sword, handles fire damage with wide-area attacks. Kelari, the Tainted Sands, works as an assassin djinn with critical strike support. Navira, the Last Mirage, focuses on mana and energy shield recovery for resource management.
The djinn respond to command skills rather than passive AI. That makes this more active than traditional minion builds. Each djinn starts with one command skill, but players can spec into three more per djinn for a total of four abilities each.
Lore Ties to Maraketh and Trial of Sekhemas
Varashta was a legendary Maraketh leader who still commands djinn within the Trial of the Sekhemas. The djinn stay bound to their Barya until ordered to act. Sorceress players who prove themselves worthy during the trial can gain access to these djinn for their own use.
This creates a direct link between the trial mechanics and the summoner abilities. The Ascendancy works as a proving ground where earning Varashta's approval unlocks combat power.
Multiple Build Paths Available
Pure minion builds can fully unlock Ruzhan and Kelari together. That combination dishes out destruction through fire damage and critical strikes. The Sorceress becomes a commander directing djinn while providing spell or aura support.
Traditional caster builds can use Navira for mana and energy shield recovery without committing to minion damage. The djinn acts as a resource tool while the player focuses on spell damage. This opens the Ascendancy to players who prefer casting over summoning.
Critical-focused builds get support from Kelari's abilities that make it easier to land critical hits. The djinn buffs the player's own spell crits rather than replacing their damage. Both the Sorceress and Kelari contribute to the overall DPS.
Players can also mix djinn based on content type. Some might combine Navira's sustain with Ruzhan's damage, or adjust their setup for mapping versus boss encounters. Party composition can influence djinn selection in group play.
Screenshots Reveal Skill Trees and Effects
GGG posted four more screenshots on X after the initial video. These showed Varashta gameplay in combat situations and revealed more about how the command system works during actual fights.
The images displayed distinct visual effects for each djinn's elemental theme. They also gave a look at the skill tree structure and how players navigate specialization options for individual djinn.
Community Calls It League Start Option
The announcement grabbed immediate attention from minion and hybrid caster players. Summoner fans started discussing Varashta as a potential league start choice, which signals confidence in the power level and early-game accessibility.
The command system drew positive reactions for offering more control than classic minion builds. Players appreciated the active gameplay without abandoning the summoner archetype. The elemental themes and personalities of each djinn added to the appeal.
Launches With Last of the Druids Update
Patch 0.4 brings the Disciple of Varashta alongside the Last of the Druids update. This marks the second additional class added to Path of Exile 2 since early access launched one year ago. Sorceress players now have more Ascendancy options to choose from.
The update also kicks off the Fate of the Vaal League, which lets players build their own dungeons. A free weekend runs alongside the patch, giving new players a chance to try Path of Exile 2 with all the new content available.
What Makes This Ascendancy Different
Unlike standard minion builds that use generic summons, Varashta gives direct control over which djinn to unlock and how they function. The command system requires tactical deployment during combat instead of set-and-forget AI behavior.
The specialization trees let players invest heavily in one djinn for a complete toolkit, or spread points across all three for balanced options. Full investment creates highly specialized summons. Balanced investment provides broader tactical coverage.
The three djinn cover different roles without overlapping. Fire damage and area clear from Ruzhan. Single-target crits from Kelari. Resource sustain from Navira. Players pick what aligns with their preferred playstyle rather than being locked into one approach.
Minion damage, hybrid casting, or critical support all work within the same Ascendancy. That flexibility runs through the djinn selection, command skills, and build applications while keeping the Maraketh lore and Varashta's djinn tradition as the thematic core.
