You can refund Ascendancy points through the Ascendancy altar in your hideout, but the method depends on which version of Path of Exile you play and whether you want to reset one point or all of them at once.
Path of Exile lets you undo Ascendancy choices without losing the points themselves. You do this by visiting the Ascendancy altar, a special device that appears in your hideout after you complete the Ascendancy trial for the first time. The altar lets you reset your Ascendancy passive tree and redistribute your points however you want.
The process is free and instant — there is no cost, no cooldown, and no limit to how many times you can do it. This is different from refunding regular passive points on your main skill tree, which requires Orbs of Regret or special refund points from the game.
Key Takeaways
- The Ascendancy altar sits in your hideout and lets you reset all your Ascendancy points at no cost whenever you want.
- You can refund individual Ascendancy points or reset your entire Ascendancy tree in one action.
- In Path of Exile 2, the Ascendancy system works differently and uses a separate interface — check your character panel for Ascendancy options.
- Resetting Ascendancy points does not affect your regular passive skill tree or any items you have equipped.
- If you cannot find the Ascendancy altar in your hideout, you may need to complete the first Ascendancy trial on that character first.
Finding the Ascendancy altar in your hideout
The Ascendancy altar appears automatically in your hideout once you have completed at least one Ascendancy trial and entered your hideout afterward. It looks like a stone structure with a glowing center and sits in a fixed location — usually near the center or back of your hideout area.
If you do not see it, check that you have actually completed an Ascendancy trial in the Labyrinth. You must finish the trial and return to your hideout for the altar to spawn. If you are still missing it, try logging out and back in, or creating a new hideout instance.
The altar works for all classes and all Ascendancy choices. You do not need to be a specific class or have chosen a specific Ascendancy to use it — as long as you have unlocked Ascendancy for that character, the altar is available.
How to reset one Ascendancy point at a time
Click on the Ascendancy altar and select the option to view your Ascendancy tree. You will see your current Ascendancy passives highlighted. Click on any passive you have already chosen, and you will get the option to refund just that one point. Confirm the refund, and the point returns to your pool.
This method is useful if you want to swap out a single passive without resetting everything else. You keep all your other Ascendancy choices intact and only lose the one you clicked on. You can then spend that point on a different Ascendancy passive immediately, or leave it unspent for later.
There is no limit to how many individual points you can refund this way, and you can do it as many times as you want in a single session.
Resetting your entire Ascendancy tree at once
The Ascendancy altar also offers a full reset option. Select this, and all your Ascendancy points return to your pool at once. Your Ascendancy class choice (Berserker, Witch, Shadow, etc.) stays the same — only the individual passives you chose within that class are undone.
A full reset is faster than refunding points one at a time if you want to completely rebuild your Ascendancy setup. After the reset, you have all your points available to spend however you want, and you can assign them immediately or wait until you are ready.
This does not change your character's class or your Ascendancy class. It only clears the passives you have selected within your current Ascendancy.
Differences between Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2
In Path of Exile 1, the Ascendancy altar in your hideout is the standard way to refund Ascendancy points. It has been available this way since the Ascendancy system launched.
In Path of Exile 2, the Ascendancy system was redesigned. You may access Ascendancy refunds through a different interface — check your character panel or Ascendancy menu in-game for the refund option. The core idea is the same (free, instant resets), but the location and appearance of the interface differ from Path of Exile 1.
If you are unsure which version you are playing, check the main menu or your game launcher. Path of Exile 2 is a separate client from Path of Exile 1, so you will know which one you launched.
What happens to your items and regular passives when you refund Ascendancy points
Refunding Ascendancy points does not affect anything else on your character. Your equipped items stay equipped, your regular passive skill tree stays exactly as it was, and your skill gems do not change. Only the Ascendancy passives you selected are undone.
This means you can safely experiment with different Ascendancy builds without worrying about losing gear or having to rebuild your main passive tree. The refund is isolated to the Ascendancy system only.
Troubleshooting: Ascendancy altar not appearing or not working
If the Ascendancy altar is not in your hideout, the most common reason is that you have not completed an Ascendancy trial yet on that character. You must finish at least one trial in the Labyrinth, then return to your hideout. The altar should appear after that.
If you have completed a trial and the altar still is not there, try these steps: log out of the character, log back in, or create a new hideout instance. Sometimes the hideout needs to refresh to display the altar.
If the altar is present but the refund option is not working, make sure you are clicking directly on a passive you have already chosen (highlighted on the tree). You cannot refund passives you have not selected yet. Also check that you are not in a trial or dungeon — the altar only works in your hideout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does refunding Ascendancy points cost anything?
No. Refunding Ascendancy points is completely free. There is no cost in currency, items, or anything else. You can reset your Ascendancy as many times as you want without any penalty.
Can I refund Ascendancy points while I am in the Labyrinth?
No. The Ascendancy altar only works in your hideout. You must leave the Labyrinth and return to your hideout to refund points. Once you are there, you can reset and then go back into the Labyrinth if needed.
If I refund an Ascendancy point, can I spend it on a different passive right away?
Yes. After you refund a point, it returns to your available pool immediately. You can click on a different Ascendancy passive and spend the point right away, or leave it unspent for later.
Does refunding Ascendancy points change my character class or Ascendancy class?
No. Refunding only affects the individual passives you chose within your Ascendancy. Your character class and your Ascendancy class (like Berserker or Witch) stay the same. Only the specific passives are undone.
What if I want to change my Ascendancy class entirely, not just the passives?
Changing your Ascendancy class is a different process than refunding points. You would need to complete a different Ascendancy trial in the Labyrinth to unlock a different class. Refunding points only resets the passives within your current Ascendancy class.