This wide appeal is reflected in POE2 Currency the ascendancy statistics: by Day 10 of the Dawn of the Hunt patch, the Lich had established itself in the top half of all ascendancy popularity rankings, second only to the Amazon in terms of performance and play rate.

Why the Lich Stands Alone

Among all the new ascendancies introduced in patch 0.2, the Lich is the only spell-based class to retain a strong foothold in the meta. This is partly due to external nerfs to competing archetypes, but mostly because the Lich is simply well-designed.

It avoids the pitfall of being a one-note ascendancy. Its strengths lie in the synergy between offense and defense, in its ability to sustain damage while dealing it, and in its flexibility to shift between Chaos DoT, minions, or even potential hybrid setups.

While it may not have the flashy one-shot potential of the Amazon or the blazing speed of a Deadeye, the Lich provides consistent, safe, and powerful gameplay—something sorely needed in an increasingly aggressive meta.

Looking Ahead: Will the Lich Stay on Top?

GGG has a habit of swinging the balance pendulum hard each patch, and it remains to be seen whether the Lich will maintain its spot in patch 0.3. It’s possible that Eternal Life or its passive Chaos scaling could see tuning if the ascendancy remains too dominant for too long.

Still, in the here and now, the Lich is thriving—and it’s doing so by offering a refreshing alternative to the attack-centric direction of most other popular ascendancies. Whether you're a long-time Witch fan or a player looking to branch into spellcasters or minions for Path of Exile 2 Currency the first time, the Lich offers a robust, rewarding, and enjoyable gameplay loop.