Path of Exile 2: Stormweaver Ascendancy Guide

Stormweaver is one of the two Ascendancies currently available for the Sorceress class in Path of Exile 2 Early Access. Sorceress is the de facto spellcaster in the current state of the Early Access (Invoker Monk is a close second), and Stormweaver effectively allows players to double down on the spellcaster fantasy.

Ascendancies or Ascension Classes are a part of the character progression in Path of Exile 2, where players can specialize in specific playstyles or thematic skills to become stronger.

In this guide, we will take a deeper look into the intricacies of Stormweaver, its unique passives, Notables, and more.

Path of Exile 2 Stormweaver Ascendancy: Ascension Skill Tree and Notables

Feel the power surge (Image via Grinding Gear Games)

The Stormweaver Ascendancy comes loaded with 10 unique Notable Passives and five different smaller Passive nodes. Here is a list of the Notables:

Scouring Winds

Exposure you inflict lowers the affected Resistance by an additional 20%.

Tempest Caller

Grants Skill: Elemental Storm
Trigger Elemental Storm on Critical Hit with Spells.

Rain Dancer

Elemental Storm has 150% more Cooldown Recovery Rate.

Heavy Snows

Targets can be affected by two of your Chills at the same time.
Your Chills can reduce Action Speed by up to a maximum of 35%.
25% less Magnitude of the Chill you inflict.

Shaper of Winter

All Damage from Hits Contributes to Chill Magnitude.

Strike Twice

Targets can be affected by two of your Shocks at the same time.
50% less Shock Duration.

Shaper of Storms

All Damage from Hits Contributes to Shock Chance.

Constant Gale

You have Arcane Surge.
Arcane Surge grants 10% more Cast Speed and 20% more Mana Regeneration Rate.

Force of Will

1% increased Effect of Arcane Surge on you per 15 maximum Mana.

Likewise, the smaller passive nodes are as follows. Keep in mind that the third, fourth, and fifth smaller nodes appear twice.

Even the smallest bonuses can have big effects (Image via Grinding Gear Games)

Elemental Resistances

+4% to all Elemental Resistances.

Elemental Damage

12% increased Elemental Damage.

Mana

4% increased Mana.

Shock Chance

20% increased chance to Shock.

Chill Duration

25% increased Chill Duration on Enemies.

Path of Exile 2 Stormweaver Ascendancy: How to play?

Cast lightning down on your foes or freeze them (Image via Grinding Gear Games)

A Stormweaver's basic gameplay revolves around inflicting as much Shock and Chill as possible. This can be leveraged via the many Notable passives on both the Ascension Tree and the Passive Skill Tree. For example, Shaper of Storms and Shaper of Winter Ascension Notables will apply Shock and Chill respectively, regardless of the spell's damage type.

This can be exploited early on in the game via the Notable passive — Exploit the Elements — for a massive 35% damage boost. Furthermore, the Stormbreaker Notable can amplify the damage even more, by another 15% per unique Elemental Ailment on the enemy.

For example, with both Ascension Notables active, any fire spell with a guaranteed Ignite chance will do 45% more damage per cast after the first hit.

Stormweaver can also leverage the magnitude of the Ailments applied. We've already covered all the Ailments in Path of Exile 2, so I'll explain briefly: Magnitude affects the effect of an Ailment on a target. So, any Shock and Ignite application becomes stronger with a higher magnitude.

Also Read: Path of Exile 2 Frost Sorceress guide: The easiest starter build in Early Access

The Breaking Point Notable on the Passive Skill Tree can increase the effect of non-damaging ailments, which can be leveraged by Shaper of Winter and its application of Chill.

Furthermore, the Archmage playstyle becomes exceptionally viable with Stormweaver as the Ascension Notables Constant Gale and Force of Will allow exceptionally strong casting times and mana sustain. Constant Gale enables a permanent Arcane Surge on Stormweavers and Force of Will boosts the effect of said Arcane Surge.

Force of Will is particularly strong for Mana-stackers. Simply put, the Notable passive adds a 1% increased effectiveness of Arcane Surge per 15 mana. Therefore, Stormweavers with 1500 mana — which is relatively easier to reach —can have a 30% increased Cast Speed and a 60% Increased Mana Regeneration Rate at all times.

Stormweaver can be seen as the best parts of the Elementalist and some parts of the Hierophant from Path of Exile smashed together. Until a better option comes around, Stormweaver is here to stay.

Check out our other Path of Exile 2 features and guides:

Path of Exile 2 gearing guide for beginners: When and how to modify gear
Path of Exile 2 Salvaging and Disenchantment guide
Path of Exile 2 Finding the Forge quest guide (Find Renly's tools)
Path of Exile 2: All Permanent stat bonuses you can get from the campaign
Path of Exile 2 Attributes guide: Should you take Strength, Dex, or Int?
A guide to Trading in Path of Exile 2: How to buy and sell items, and p2p trading etiquette