This is a beginner's guide on how to get started in Path of Exile 2. Check out our page for tips and tricks on how to progress efficiently, understand game mechanics better, and more!

Beginner's Guide

Game Modes and Leagues

When creating your first character, you’ll first have to choose a league and a game mode. Understanding these options is key to getting the most out of your experience.

Leagues are Comparable to Servers

The usual named Leagues are seasonal servers that tied to major content updates, such as Dawn of the Hunt. They include economy resets and will usually be the only way to access any new content.

In contrast, the Standard League is a permanent league where characters and items from past leagues are stored. It doesn’t reset, but the economy is inflated due to years of accumulated wealth and has fewer active players.

Game Modes Changes the Rules

Aside from the default softcore and trade mode, there are two optional modes: Solo Self-Found (SSF) and Hardcore (HC). SSF disables party play and trading while HC characters are removed from the league upon death.

You can combine these for the SSF HC mode, which is only for experienced players.

Recommended: Newest League, Default Mode

For new players, we recommend starting in the newest League (not Standard) without SSF or Hardcore. This ensures you're playing with the majority of players in a fresh economy with more active trading.

Character Creation Guide

Selecting a Class

While Path of Exile 2 lets you build any archetype regardless of class, your starting class affects ultimately how efficient your build can be due the available Ascendancy Classes and what you can access in the Passive Tree.

Classes Differ in Where They Start in the Passive Tree

All classes share the same Passive Tree, but each class starts in a different area. For example, Rangers and the Huntresses will have easier access to Movement Speed or Projectile Damage passive nodes as they start at the bottom-right side of the tree.

Classes Determine What Ascendancy Classes are Available

Each class can choose from up to three unique Ascendancy Classes during the campaign. These advanced specializations come with powerful, gameplay-defining passive skills that further shape your build.

Class Diagnosis: Which Should You Play?

Following a Build Guide (or Not)

The game expects you to make many decisions for your character, which can be overwhelming. While we recommend to follow a build guide to hopefully help you have a more focused learning experience with less things to worry about, you can also play and learn things at your own pace without a guide.

If you enjoy experimenting and learning through trial and error, feel free to explore without a guide. However, if you want a smoother experience and clearer direction, we recommend following a build guide to learn other mechanics efficiently. Both approaches are valid.

PoE 2 0.2 Best Builds

Skill and Support Gems

Skill Gems act as the “Active Skills” system of Path of Exile 2. They can be used by any class as long as attribute and weapon requirements are met. Support Gems can then be put into a Skill Gem's sockets to alter or enhance the skill's effects.

Both types of gems are slotted into your Skill menu and form the core of your character’s skill setup.

The Passive Tree

The Passive Tree is the most iconic and intimidating system in Path of Exile 2. However, as a beginner, you only need to focus on the passive nodes near your starting location, which already trims down your options by about 70%.

Remember that each class begins in a different section of the tree, and the node close to each starting point will usually be the most relevant for the class, so there's no need to worry about the nodes on the opposite side of the tree.

If you make a mistake or want to experiment with some passives, you can easily respec Passive Skills by speaking to the appropriate NPC and spending some Gold for each point you want to respec.

Passive Skill Tree Guide and List of Passives

Items and Equipment

There are an innumerable amount of item variety in Path of Exile 2, especially when it comes to equippable items. Each item type will have different base types of which can have different base stats and requirements which can then be further enhanced by affix modifiers.

Item Types and Base Types

All equipment items have item types and base types. Item type tell whether the item is an Amulet, a Spear, or a pair of Boots. Additionaly, base types determine if a piece of Body Armor is a Rusted Cuirass with 45 Armor, a Fur Plate with 60 Armor, or an Iron Cuirass with 96 Armour.

Implicit and Explicit Modifiers

Explicit Modifiers are the usual modifiers each item can have. A Normal or white item has none, a Magic or blue item has up to two, a Rare or yellow item can have up to six, while Unique items are a special case.

However, Implicit modifiers are the modifier that inherently comes with the base type and is usually found as the topmost modifier, separate from the explicit ones. For example, a the Gemini Bow base type will always have the “Bow Attacks fire and additional Arrow” implicit modifier regardless of rarity.

Local Modifiers

Keep in mind that some modifiers on items only affects the item itself and not your character. For example, the 100% increased Physical Damage modifier on Two-Handed Mace does not double your Physical Damage, instead it increases the base physical damage of the mace by 100%. Similar stats for Evasion, Energy Shield, and Armour apply the same way to the items and not your character.

Crafting Guide

Gold and Currency

Much like most ARPGs Gold is a currency you can use to trade with NPC Vendors and to Respec Passive Points. However, since its not tradeable between players, it is not the main trading currency between players. If you plan on trading items, you will usualy trade it for different Currency Items such as Exalted Orbs, Chaos Orbs, or Divine Orbs.

How to Farm Gold Fast

Life, Mana, and Spirit

Life, Mana, and Spirit are the three main resources for each character. Life determines the amount of damage you'll take before dying, Mana is the resource to use skills, while Spirit takes care of any Persistent buffs or skills you may have like permanents buffs or Minions.

These resources can be obtained from numerous sources such as the Passive Tree or from Gear, but most notably, you can obtain 100 base Spirit by defeating certain bosses in the campaign.

Defences and Resistances

Armor, Evasion, and Energy Shield are the three main Defences that helps you mitigate or reduce damage you take and is primarily obtained through your equipped armor. Resistances is also a crucial part of your character's defences. Always try to maximize survivability by getting as much Life, Defences, and Resistances as possbile.

Armor, Evasion, or Energy Shield? Best Defensive Stat

Essential Tips for Beginners

Essential Beginner Tips

Follow a Build Guide Equip Better Flasks Explore Each Area Extensively Utilize Weapon Specialization Spend Gold Wisely Focus on Getting the Relevant Modifiers Identify Items for Free at the Hooded One Create or Join a Guild Utilize the Trading Feature Salvage Gear that Have Sockets Use Town Portals to Sell or Store Gear Save Your Exalted Orbs Pick the Right Charms Farm Soul Cores in the Trial of Chaos Check Your DPS in the Skills Menu

Follow a Build Guide

Path of Exile 2 features a large passive tree and various skills to try which can be overwhelming for new players. This is why we recommend finding a build to follow as you progress so you do not have to worry about respecing too much and spending hours trying different skills.

List of All Builds

Equip Better Flasks

As you progress further, do not forget to upgrade your Flasks by equipping larger flasks and using your Currency Items to give them strong modifiers! You can get these flasks by either having enemies drop them or by purchasing them from vendors.

It's recommended to equip flasks with more flask charges and more recovery modifiers.

How to Refill Flasks

Explore Each Area Extensively

While you are progressing through the main quest, it should be in your best interest to fully explore the areas as there will be chests of varying rarity and points of interest. Who knows, you might get a Rare drops!

Furthermore, try to kill as many of the enemies you encounter so that leveling up will not be an issue later on!

Leveling Guide: How to Get XP Fast

Utilize Weapon Specialization

Players can swap between different weapons depending on the situation you find yourself in. This gives you more flexibility with your build without having to commit to just one type of damage.

Furthermore, you can get Weapon Set points for the Passive skill tree, allowing you to allot specific passives for your secondary weapon set. Having this ability can give players more variety and agency during the early game when testing out builds!

Weapon Specialization Guide: How to Swap Weapons

Spend Gold Wisely

Gold is a scarce resource that is hands-down the most important asset you can have in the game. It is important to plan out how you spend Gold throughout all of the Acts and Cruel Mode!

For example, it is recommended to gamble for Weapons during the early game to get great modifiers on your weapons early on. However, gambling is not recommended in the latter stages because of the price scaling. It would be better to save Gold to have the option of refunding skill points!

Best Ways to Farm and Spend Gold

Focus on Getting the Relevant Modifiers

During the early game, do not hyperfocus on equipping gear with the highest base stats and rarity. Rather, it would be best to use equipment that helps out your build, even if they are only of Magic rarity! For example, a Ranger should try and find modifiers that increase Attack Speed and Physical Damage.

Crafting Guide

Identify Items for Free at the Hooded One

The Hooded One offers to identify items in your inventory for free! You can unlock him after finishing the Mysterious Shade quest in Act 1.

How to Identify Items and Equipment

Create or Join a Guild

While you can play solo just fine in Path of Exile 2, having a guild can help you progress much more smoothly. Furthermore, when you and your guildmates have the funds, we recommend buying the Guilds Stash so loot can be shared amongst each other!

Guild Features and How to Join

Utilize the Trading Feature

If there was a moment when you just wanted that specific item or modifier essence to complete your build, give trading a try! With trading, building your inventory will be much more efficient and rewarding!

Trading Guide: How to Trade

Salvage Gear that Have Sockets

Salvaging unused gear with rune slots will get you Artificer's Orbs, which becomes an Artificer's Orb after obtaining a total of 10 shards. Artificer's Orbs can add rune sockets to your gear, further modifying them.

Additionally, you can buy gear with sockets at the shop. One socket is equivalent to one Artificer's Shard, and sometimes buying two pieces of gear with one socket each is cheaper than buying a single piece of gear with two sockets.

Sockets Explained

Use Town Portal to Sell or Store Gear

You can utilize the Town Portal button at the bottom right of the screen to summon a portal back to town. You can identify and sell or disenchant gear from your inventory or store them at your stash to free up space for the other items you'll be collecting.

Store the essential currency items for crafting to add modifications to your gear.

Save Your Exalted Orbs

Exalted Orbs are considered as the standard currency by the Path of Exile 2 community during trades. You can buy a good quality gear with just a single Exalted Orb! You can exchange your unused currency items for Exalted Orbs by utilizing the Currency Exchange feature, available after completing all 3 Acts and reaching Cruel difficulty.

If you have some rare-quality items stored in your stash, you can list them up for trade for an Exalted Orb. However, you'll be needing a Premium Stash Tab to sell items on the official trading site.

Currency Exchange Explained

Pick the Right Charms

Equipping the right charms during boss battles can help turn the tide of the battle by countering a boss's elemental damage! If you're facing a boss that deals lightning damage, equip a Topaz Charm to increase lightning resistance when hit.

Farm Soul Cores in the Trial of Chaos

Soul Cores are socketable items with modifiers that are more powerful than regular runes. Do multiple runs in the Trial of Chaos to farm Soul Cores, since these are exclusive to the Trial of Chaos.

Trial of Chaos Guide

Check Your DPS in the Skills Menu

Open your skills menu and check the DPS/DMG of your skills so you'll have an idea which weapon to equip or passives to unlock. You can press the arrow button next to the stat to open a new menu showing a comprehensive breakdown of the damage you'll be dealing.

Assign Weapon Sets to Automatically Switch per Skills

Press the arrow button next to the DPS/DMG number and you can see a check on both weapon sets by default. Only leave the weapon set you wish to assign the skill to checked.

All Path of Exile 2 Tips and Tricks

Beginner's Guide

Gameplay Mechanics

Character Creation Guide	Currency Exchange Explained
How to Ascend Classes	How to Block
How to Dodge	How to Fast Travel
How to Get and Use Sacred Water	How to Get Through the Red Walls
How to Refill Flasks	How to Show the Overlay Map
How to Trade	How to Unlock Pets
What is the Max Level?	What Happens When You Die?
How to Parry	How to Reset Instance
How to Bookmark Maps	How to Find and Use the Rotten Satchel Charge
What are Maraketh Shrines?	-

Game and Character Progression

Best Ways to Farm and Spend Gold	Endgame Guide: What to Do After the Campaign?
Hardcore Guide	Hideout Location and How to Unlock
How to Ascend Classes	How to Farm Uniques
How to Increase Damage	How to Increase Defense
How to Make a Good Build	How to Power Level Alts
Leveling Guide: How to Get XP Fast	List of Permanent Buffs from the Campaign
Missables and One-Time Events Guide	Chaos Statue Location
How to Respec Ascendancy	-

Gear and Crafting

Are There Vendor Recipes?	Crafting Guide
How to Always Show Items on Ground	How to Get Corrupted Items
How to Hide Your Helmet	How to Identify Items and Equipment
How to Increase Inventory Size	How to Use Corruption Altars
How to Use Reforging Benches	Item Rarity Explained
Sell, Salvage, or Disenchant Equipment?	Sockets Explained
Recombinator Guide	-

Stats and Skills Guides

Best Defensive Stat	How to Get and Use Persistent Buffs
How to Get Ascendancy Skill Points	How to Get More Skill Slots
How to Increase Charm Slots	How to Increase Support Gem Slots
How to Level Up Skills	How to Respec Passives
How to Use Jewel Sockets	Weapon Set Skill Points Explained
Weapon Specialization Guide: How to Swap Weapons	-

Settings and Multiplayer

Can You Adjust Game Difficulty?	Best PC Settings and Keyboard Bindings
Gateway Guide	Guild Features and How to Join
How to Change Your Character's Name	How to Change Voice and Text Language
How to Get Loot Filters on Console	How to Get More Character Slots
How to Link Items in Chat	How to Revive Party Members
How to Use and Customize Chat Box	List of All Chat Commands
Is There Controller Support?	Multiplayer Guide: How to Play Coop
Party Bonuses and Group Scaling Explained	Stash Tab Sale Schedule and Prices
Should You Choose Mouse or WASD?	-

Path of Exile 2 Related Guides

Path of Exile 2 Guides

Path of Exile 2 Wiki Contents
Builds	Classes
Tips and Tricks	Bosses
Walkthrough	Quests
Gems	Items
Weapons	Armors
Accessories	Passives
Skills	Ascension Trials
Glossary	Atlas of Worlds
Leagues	Characters
Cosmetics	Microtransactions
Spectres	Uniques
News and Updates	-

## List of Recommended Guides

How to Prepare for Dawn of the Hunt	Best Stash Tabs to Buy
Best Class Tier List	Best Stash Tabs to Buy
Which Class Should You Play?	Easiest Class to Play
Twilight Order Reliquary Guide and Sharing Board	How to Use Loot Filters
Diablo 4 Player's Guide to PoE 2	Best Minions to Summon
Best Ways to Farm Currency	Best Unique Equipment
Best Charms to Use	Best Spectres
Best Companions	List of Spectres
All Spirit Quests and Bosses	-