Path of Exile: How to Undo Your Passive Skill Choices
In this guide, we'll explore every method available to reset skill points in Path of Exile, when you should consider doing so, and how to do it efficiently. Whether you're a new exile still finding your way or a veteran refining your endgame build, this article will help you make the most of your passive skill tree respec options and how to get Path of exile currency.
Why You Might Need to Reset Skill Points
There are several scenarios where you might find yourself wanting to reset skill points:
You made mistakes while leveling or accidentally took inefficient passive nodes.
Patch changes altered the viability of your build.
You want to try a new playstyle but retain your current character.
You've acquired better gear that changes your stat requirements or play direction.
You're transitioning from a leveling build to a final endgame setup.
Regardless of the reason, it's crucial to know your options.
Can You Fully Reset the Passive Skill Tree?
Before diving into the methods, it's important to clarify something: Path of Exile does not allow you to fully reset the passive skill tree at will, like some other RPGs. Instead, it uses a more limited respec system that allows you to refund specific passive points using respec points or Orbs of Regret.
That means you can't switch from one class to another or completely start over without creating a new character. However, substantial changes are still possible using the methods below.
Method 1: Using Respec Points (Passive Respec Points)
As you progress through the main story, certain quests reward you with Passive Respec Points. These are essentially free refunds that allow you to remove and reassign skill points.
How to Get Respec Points:
Each Act in the campaign contains one or more quests that grant respec points. Here's a breakdown:
Act 1 - "The Dweller of the Deep": +1 Respec Point
Act 2 - "Deal with the Bandits" (if you kill all bandits): +2 Respec Points
Act 3 - "Victario's Secrets": +2 Respec Points
Act 4 - "An Indomitable Spirit": +2 Respec Points
Act 5 - "Kitava's Torments": +2 Respec Points
Act 6 - "Fallen from Grace": +2 Respec Points
Act 7 - "Kishara's Star": +2 Respec Points
Act 8 - "Love is Dead": +2 Respec Points
Act 9 - "Queen of the Sands": +2 Respec Points
Act 10 - "An End to Hunger": +2 Respec Points
That totals around 20 free respec points. They are automatically awarded to your character once you complete the corresponding quests.
Pros:
Free to use
Earned naturally through gameplay
Cons:
Limited in number
Not renewable without rolling a new character
Method 2: Using Orbs of Regret
When your free respec points run out, your next option is Orbs of Regret, a currency item that grants one refund point each.
How to Get Orbs of Regret:
Trade with other players using trade websites or in-game chat.
Loot them from monsters, chests, and strongboxes in maps.
Complete specific league mechanics such as Delve, Heist, or Ritual which can reward them.
Vendor recipes (rarely used for this) - selling a Book of Skill to a vendor gives you 2 Orbs of Regret.
Using Orbs of Regret:
Open your passive skill tree, right-click the orb in your inventory, and click on a passive node you want to remove. This will grant you one refund point.
Pros:
Widely available through gameplay or trading
Allows for as many refunds as needed if you have enough orbs
Cons:
Can be expensive in large quantities
Still requires you to refund nodes one at a time, which is time-consuming for big overhauls
How Much Does It Cost to Reset Your Entire Tree?
Fully respeccing a character can be costly. Let's say you're level 90 with ~100 skill points allocated. That would require 100 Orbs of Regret, which could cost dozens of Chaos Orbs depending on the league economy.
In many cases, if you're looking at refunding more than 60-70 points, it's more efficient to just create a new character using shared stash gear and twink leveling items to power level.
Method 3: Major Patch Full Respecs
On rare occasions, Grinding Gear Games (GGG) will reset all passive skill points on a character due to a major balance patch that alters the tree significantly.
When this happens:
You'll receive a notification in-game.
All passive points will be refunded for free.
You can reassign them however you want.
This usually happens around major league launches or expansions.
Pros:
Complete respec for free
Good opportunity to try a comly new build
Cons:
Unpredictable; depends on GGG's schedule
Not something you can control or trigger yourself
Method 4: Changing Ascendancy Class (Regretful but Possible)
If your regret runs deeper than just skill points and you want to change your Ascendancy class, there is a way-but it's not easy.
Steps to Change Your Ascendancy:
Refund all Ascendancy skill points using Orbs of Regret.
Go back to the Ascendancy Labyrinth (via the Aspirants' Plaza).
Run the Labyrinth again and choose a new Ascendancy class.
Note: You can only switch to other options within your core class. For example, a Witch can switch from Necromancer to Elementalist, but not to Duelist or Marauder.
Tips for Respeccing Efficiently
Plan ahead: Use tools like Path of Building to prototype builds before spending respec points.
Prioritize keystones and major nodes: Refund the points that have the biggest impact first.
Use leveling items if starting over: Tabula Rasa, Wanderlust, Goldrim, and Lifesprig can drastically speed up a new character's leveling.
Track your respec points: Use the command in chat to see how many passive and respec points you've earned and spent.
Be mindful of dependencies: You can't refund a node if it's a connection to other allocated nodes-refund from the outer edge inward.
When Should You Just Make a New Character?
Sometimes, the most efficient solution is starting fresh. Consider rolling a new character if:
You need to refund more than 70-80 passive points.
Your gear and playstyle require a different starting class.
You're early in a league and don't have many Orbs of Regret.
You want to follow a new meta build from scratch.
You want to buy Path of exile currency.
Creating a new character can actually be fun and faster than grinding orbs, especially with experience and leveling tools.
Conclusion
While Path of Exile doesn't offer a simple "Reset All" button for your passive tree, it provides several flexible options to reset skill points through respec points, Orbs of Regret, and occasional full resets from GGG. The system encourages planning and experimentation but doesn't punish players too harshly for changing their minds.
Whether you're tweaking your build, reacting to balance changes, or shifting your endgame focus, knowing how to reset your skill points is key to mastering the complexity that makes Path of Exile so compelling.