Guide to Respec Passive Skill Points in Path of Exile 2

For both newcomers and seasoned players alike, the passive skill tree in Path of Exile 2 can often appear daunting. New players may feel overwhelmed by the multitude of skill point paths available, while veterans are likely to strategize and prepare for an expansive overhaul of their builds, especially knowing that adjustments come with a cost. Here’s a guide on how to efficiently refund your passive skill points in Path of Exile 2.

How to Refund Your Passive Skills in Path of Exile 2

Refunding passive skills in Path of Exile 2 — Image courtesy of Prima Games

As soon as you embark on the campaign, starting with Act 1, you gain the ability to refund passive skills, albeit at a cost. Located within the Clearfell Encampment—the primary hub in Act 1—you will meet “The Hooded One.” This enigmatic character not only plays a crucial role in the story but also serves as a non-player character (NPC) who helps you manage your passive points as well as identify items.

To refund passive skills, interact with The Hooded One and select the “Refund Passives” option. This action opens your passive skill tree, allowing you to begin unallocating points. Keep in mind that you will need to start by targeting the farthest passive skills first; they must be removed one by one.

As you respec a passive skill point, the corresponding cost will be displayed at the bottom of your screen alongside your current gold balance. Hovering over the passive skills will also reveal the respec cost. Notably, all points share the same cost structure.

If you’ve progressed to ascend your class and wish to respec your Ascendancy points, this option is available but at a heightened cost—five times that of the standard respec fees.

It’s important to remember that the cost of refunding passive points is directly related to your character level. Higher levels result in higher respec costs, which is balanced somewhat by the increased amount of gold you earn as you advance through the game. Therefore, while the respec system can be pricey overall, frequent refunds should be avoided to manage your resources effectively.

Is It Possible to Respec Your Ascendancy Class in Path of Exile 2?

Ascendancy class example in Path of Exile 2 — Image via Grinding Gear Games

While you can respec your Ascendancy points, changing your Ascendancy class is currently not an option in Path of Exile 2. This limitation may change in the future, particularly since Grinding Gear Games has a history of implementing such features, as seen in the previous game.

However, with the game still in early access and only two-thirds of the planned Ascendancies released so far, it’s possible that the developers are considering a respec system for Ascendancy classes. In the original Path of Exile, players could simply run through another Labyrinth to make these adjustments. In Path of Exile 2, the Labyrinth has been replaced with mechanics like the Trial of Chaos and the Trial of the Sekhemas, integrated within a Forbidden Sanctum framework. It remains to be seen if this will introduce a new method for respecing Ascendancy classes.

For now, players looking to switch their Ascendancy class will need to create a new character.

Source & Images