The Social Hierarchy of Wraeclast: An Analysis of Farmers, Warriors, Merchants, and Priests

The Social Hierarchy of Wraeclast: A Deep Dive

In the unforgiving world of Wraeclast, players are not equal. Based on their economic activities and social influence, the player base can be divided into four distinct classes: Farmers, Warriors, Merchants, and Priests.

While Wraeclast lacks a centralized currency issuance to be a true capitalist society, its economic structure operates on pure, ruthless Free Market Liberalism. Understanding which class you belong to—and how to move up—is the key to mastering Path of Exile 2.

Class 1: The Farmers (The Proletariat)

Population: ~70% of the player base.

Farmers form the backbone of the economy. They generate the raw materials (currency, bases, essences) that the entire market consumes.

• The Struggling Peasant (The Novice): These players lack game knowledge. Their "farming" is inefficient, and their income rarely covers the cost of their maps. They are often stuck in a cycle of poverty, unable to afford the upgrades needed to farm efficiently.
• The Yeoman (Self-Sufficient): These are the competent players. They utilize specific mechanics like Breach, Delirium, or Ritual to generate steady profit. They are self-sufficient but often one expensive upgrade away from being broke.
• Efficiency is Key: For the average farmer, wealth accumulation is a math problem: Clear Speed x Loot Quality.
  • Speed Farmers: Focus on clearing a map in 1-2 minutes.
  • Magic Finders (Quality): Sacrifice power for "Item Rarity/Quantity," making one map drop as much loot as ten normal ones.
• The Grey Zone (The "Illegal" Farmers): A shadow group operating in the grey or black market. This ranges from legitimate multi-boxing (one carry + 5 aura/MF bots) to TOS-breaking automated bots. While RMT (Real Money Trading) is a temptation for struggling beginners, it is the domain of professional studios and carries the risk of permanent bans.

Class 2: The Warriors (The Elite Force)

Population: A minority of elite players.

Warriors are evolved Farmers. Once a Farmer acquires high-end gear, they may transition into a Warrior. They specialize in high-difficulty, high-investment content that Farmers cannot touch.

• The Boss Killers: They farm Pinnacle content such as The Pinnacle of Flame, The Trial of Chaos, and Trial of the Sekhemas.
• Risk vs. Reward: Currently, the Sekhemas and Chaos trials offer the highest returns, while the Pinnacle of Flame is high-variance gambling.
• The Transition: Because entry costs (fragments) are high and build requirements are steep, only Farmers who have accumulated significant capital can promote themselves to Warriors to further maximize their income.

Class 3: The Merchants (The Oligarchs)

Population: ~10% of the player base, but they control the market.

Merchants do not "play" the game in the traditional sense; they play the market. They understand that Trading Profit >>> Farming Profit. A diligent Farmer's yearly income might not match what a top Merchant makes in a few days.

• The Flippers: They buy low and sell high. They exploit market inefficiencies.
  • The Early Bird Strategy: In the first week of a league, they buy Mirrors of Kalandra when nobody has currency (making them cheap). A few weeks later, when inflation hits, they sell them for massive profits.
  • Niche Flippers: Some specialize in high-end items (Headhunter, Mirrors), while others run "supermarkets" flipping bulk currency and fragments.
• The Crafters (The Artisans): Crafting is the true endgame of PoE2.
  • The Knowledge Gap: Most players do not understand the complex affix system. Crafters exploit this. They buy bases, apply their knowledge to craft "God-tier" items cheaply, and sell them for huge markups.
  • The "Fixers": They buy items with good stats but bad rolls, use Divine Orbs to fix them, and resell for double the price.
• The Amateur Merchant: Most wealthy players fall here. They farm, but they also dabble in flipping or crafting on the side to fund their builds.

Class 4: The Priests (The 1%)

Population: The top 1%. The Influencers.

Priests are the spiritual leaders of Wraeclast. They include top streamers, YouTubers, ladder pushers, and forum theory-crafters.

• The "Meta" Shapers: Their influence is tangible. If a Priest releases a build guide featuring a specific Unique item, the price of that item will skyrocket instantly. This is the "Streamer Effect."
• The Ultimate Wealth: While Merchants make money from items, Priests make money from Influence. They can monetize their community, sell knowledge, or simply have their followers shower them with gifts.
• Origins: Priests usually rise from the ranks of elite Warriors or knowledgeable Farmers. Merchants rarely become Priests because they prefer to operate in the shadows to avoid market competition.

Summary: Which Class Are You?

Wraeclast is a complex ecosystem.

• Farmers work hard for linear gains.
• Warriors take risks for exponential rewards.
• Merchants use knowledge to leverage capital.
• Priests use charisma to leverage the community.

You do not need to RMT (Real Money Trade) to succeed. With enough time, a Farmer can become a Warrior. With enough knowledge, anyone can become a Merchant. Understanding where you stand is the first step to conquering the economy of Path of Exile 2.