The Exile
A nameless wanderer cast into a cursed land to survive the wrath of gods and monsters.
The Exile is the silent protagonist and central figure of the Path of Exile narrative, a nameless wanderer cast out from their homeland to survive in the harsh, lawless continent of Wraeclast. The player starts the game waking up on the shores of Wraeclast, a continent that once was the center of a mighty empire but is now a cursed land which serves as a penal colony for criminals and other unwanted individuals from the nearby Island of Oriath. Regardless of the reasons for their exile, players must now face the unforgiving wilderness and its dangerous inhabitants amidst the crumbling ruins and bloody secrets of the Eternal Empire and the Vaal civilization that came before and band together with other exiles to survive.
- Role
- Protagonist / Survivor
- Origin
- Unknown Homeland (Exiled)
- Location
- Wraeclast
- Status
- Alive, Active
Lore & Background
High Templar Dominus exiles the player character, referred to as 'Exile,' from Oriath for some crime depending on which class the player chose. Exiles are sent to Wraeclast, a penal colony, where they kill various monsters and people who have been tormenting other exiles in Wraeclast. It is discovered that Dominus has been secretly working with his assistant Piety studying thaumaturgy and is the cause of many of the troubles in Wraeclast. The Exile finds and kills both of them. In the process, the Exile encounters a remnant of the Eternal Empire, a woman called Dialla who explains how a thaumaturgical 'Rapture Device' created by a man called Malachai is being used to awaken and release 'The Beast', the source of a Cataclysm that ravaged Wraeclast centuries prior. The Exile enters the Beast through the Dread Thicket and kills Malachai. Afterward, the Exile remains in Wraeclast and later travels to Oriath via the Karui fleet in Act 5. The successor to Dominus, High Templar Avarius, has been abusing his ordained power of divinity. The corrupt templars are exercising their power to wrest control of Oriath, oppressing and persecuting a race of people known as Karui. The Exile fights alongside the Karui rebels during their ongoing slave rebellion, killing Avarius and defeating the Templar god 'Innocence'. However, the templar order as a whole is not fully overthrown. After defeating Innocence, Sin returns and informs the Exile that by killing the Beast, the Exile has inadvertently caused the old gods of the world to reawaken. The formerly oppressed Karui, now empowered by their god Kitava, are running rampant in Oriath, destroying whatever they...
In Their Own Story
The Exile wakes up on the shores of Wraeclast, a penal colony for criminals and other unwanted individuals from the nearby Island of Oriath. High Templar Dominus exiled them for some crime depending on which class the player chose. The Exile kills various monsters and people who have been tormenting other exiles in Wraeclast, then discovers Dominus has been secretly working with his assistant Piety studying thaumaturgy. The Exile finds and kills both of them. The Exile encounters Dialla, a remnant of the Eternal Empire, who explains how a thaumaturgical 'Rapture Device' created by Malachai is being used to awaken and release 'The Beast', the source of a Cataclysm that ravaged Wraeclast centuries prior. The Exile travels to Highgate, enters the Beast, and kills Malachai. Returning to Oriath, the Exile finds High Templar Avarius abusing his power, enslaving the Karui people. The Exile takes advantage of the Karui slave rebellion, kills Avarius, and defeats the Templar god 'Innocence'. After defeating Innocence, his brother Sin returns and informs the Exile that by killing the Beast, the Exile has inadvertently caused the old gods of the world to reawaken. The formerly oppressed Karui, now empowered by their god Kitava, are running rampant in Oriath, destroying whatever they...
Reader's Guide
The Exile is defined by their lack of a fixed identity, serving as a vessel for player agency within the dark fantasy world of Wraeclast. Their role evolves from a desperate survivor seeking basic sustenance to a powerful force capable of challenging the very gods who cursed this land. Players can choose from seven available classes to play as: Duelist, Marauder, Ranger, Scion, Shadow, Templar and Witch. Each of these classes are aligned with one or two of the three core attributes: Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence. The exception is the Scion, formerly a locked prestige class released in 2013, which is aligned with all three attributes. The different classes are not restricted from investing into skills not aligned with their core attributes, but will have easier access to skills that are aligned with their core attributes. All classes share the same selection of 2,268 passive skills from which the player can choose one each time their character levels up, and as an occasional quest reward. As of the 3.0 Fall of Oriath Release, the maximum possible number of passive skill points on a non-Scion character was 123 (99 from levelling and 24 from quest rewards). Each class also has access to an Ascendancy class, which grants much stronger, specialized bonuses. Each class has three Ascendancy classes to choose from, except for the Scion, who only has two ascendancy classes; the Ascendant, that combines the elements of all other Ascendancy classes, and the Reliquarian, which integrates the effects of various unique items, with available options changing in each new challenge league. Up to 8 Ascendancy skill points can be assigned out of 12 or 14. As of patch 3.27.0 Keepers of the Flame, Bloodline Ascendancy classes were added which can be paired as a secondary class. The Exile's powers are not innate but forged through the collection of artifacts and the mastery of skill gems, which can be placed in gem sockets of armor, weapons and some types of jewellery, giving them an active skill. Active skills can be modified by items known as Support Gems. Given limits on the number of sockets, players must prioritize gem usage. Defining moments include the initial arrival on the shores of Wraeclast, the confrontation with Dominus and Piety, the killing of Malachai within the Beast, the return to Oriath to kill Avarius and defeat Innocence, and the revelation from Sin that the old gods have reawakened.
Did You Know?
- The Exile is referred to as 'Exile' in the game's dialogue, with High Templar Dominus exiling them from Oriath for some crime depending on which class the player chose.
- The Exile kills both High Templar Dominus and his assistant Piety after discovering they were studying thaumaturgy and causing troubles in Wraeclast.
- The Exile enters the Beast itself through the Dread Thicket to kill Malachai, who created the thaumaturgical 'Rapture Device' used to awaken the Beast.
- After killing the Beast, the Exile inadvertently causes the old gods of the world to reawaken, as revealed by Sin.
- The Exile fights alongside the Karui rebels during their slave rebellion, killing High Templar Avarius and defeating the Templar god Innocence, though the templar order is not fully overthrown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is The Exile?
They are the silent protagonist of Path of Exile, a nameless wanderer banished from their homeland to survive in Wraeclast. This character serves as an independent survivor with no defined affiliation or backstory prior to arrival.
What is The Exile's role in the story?
Acting as a blank slate, The Exile allows players to project their own narrative onto the struggles against Wraeclast's dark gods and corrupt factions. Their primary function is to survive the harsh environment while uncovering the continent's ancient secrets.
Where does The Exile come from?
The specific homeland remains unknown, as they were exiled without explanation into a cursed land filled with monsters. This mysterious origin reinforces their status as an outcast forced to rely solely on combat skills for survival.
Does The Exile have any powers or special abilities?
They possess no inherent divine powers but instead harness the dark energies and artifacts scattered across Wraeclast to fight back. Their strength is defined by their resilience and the tools they acquire rather than any birthright.
What is The Exile's current status?
The character remains alive and active throughout the game's narrative cycles, constantly returning to face new threats in the region. They continue to challenge the gods and monsters that plague the land without ever settling down permanently.
More in Characters & NPCs
Elsewhere in the Path of Exile universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record
