Path of Exile 2 is one of those games where you get confused and terrified fast without a guide. Just looking at the passive tree is enough to make you shake. But don't worry, on this Path of Exile 2 Game Guides page, we've put together all kinds of guides you need to succeed, from introducing every class to the best builds for each one, plus guides for different ACTs and boss fights.
Where to start with Path of Exile 2 Game Guides
| Your situation | Where to start |
|---|---|
| You just installed the game | Follow the "Starting Guides and Campaign" section further down this page. |
| You don't know which class to pick | Path of Exile 2 Class Guide |
| The Passive Tree confuses you | Dynamic Builds with the Path of Exile 2 Skill Tree |
| You want info on gems | Mastering Path of Exile 2 Support Gems: A Complete Guide |
| You finished the Campaign and want Currency | How to Make CURRENCY with Ritual in Path of Exile 2 |
Where do we start Path of Exile 2?
When you first enter the game, you gotta pick between League and Standard, but what's the difference? In Standard mode, characters are permanent and don't get deleted when you die. But in League mode, you connect to a separate server where everything—from the economy to items and rankings—is its own thing. In Challenge League, you have a 3 to 4 month window, and after that, everything starts from zero.
There are also two extra modes: Hardcore (HC) and Solo Self-Found (SSF).
- Hardcore (HC): On your first death, your character gets removed and moved to Standard.
- Solo Self-Found (SSF): In this mode, you can't trade or party up. You gotta keep going with only the items you find yourself.
How to pick a class in Path of Exile 2
The nice thing about this game is that you can pick any class from the start without paying extra. The skill tree is shared across all characters, though the path you take for each is totally different, which gives players a ton of freedom. Later on, you can pick three Ascendancies specific to each class. Also, each class uses different weapon types.
| Class | Playstyle | Tip for beginners |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger | Bow and Kiting | Lightning Arrow is great to start with |
| Witch | Summoner with Minions | You can attack and defend with minions |
| Sorceress | Elemental mage | High damage, but high vulnerability |
| Monk | Fast Quarterstaff | Flashy, a bit harder |
| Huntress | Spear and throwing | Agile and mobile |
| Mercenary | Crossbow and grenades | Fun with more buttons and higher complexity |
| Warrior | Heavy two-handed weapons | Tanky but slow |
| Druid | Shapeshifting | The busiest choice for beginners |
Which class is for beginners?
My suggestion for new players is the Ranger or Witch. Based on past ARPG experience, most people end up ditching their first character anyway.
Path of Exile 2 Game Guides: Gems
The next part of this Path of Exile 2 Game Guides is the gem system, which can really confuse you. In Path of Exile 2, your skills are gems, and using them lets you add different skills to your character. You have three types of skills:
- Skill Gem: These are skills you use directly.
- Support Gem: These gems affect how skill gems perform.
- Spirit Gem: These are permanent buffs like Auras, which reserve part of your Spirit bar.
Every skill starts with two empty sockets, and using Jeweller's Orbs you find during the game, you can upgrade them to 5 sockets.
Note: Always try to keep your main damage gem up to date.
Passive Tree
Anyone looking at the passive tree for the first time gets terrified by how huge it is. Each class starts from its own spot on the tree, though you can use other paths based on your strategy. There are three types of nodes:
- Small Passive
- Notable
- Keystone
Note: I suggest reading a Keystone's effect three times before picking it so you don't make a mistake.
Guide to choosing your path on the passive tree in Path of Exile 2 Game Guides
To avoid getting confused early on, I suggest you don't read the whole tree—start with nodes near you and pick ones that fit your class and strategy. If you can't find what you're looking for, you can search for a keyword like life to see those nodes on the map. If you pick wrong, don't worry—you can refund those passive points for a bit of GOLD with The Hooded One in ACT 1.
Item values in Path of Exile 2
Item rankings in the game are shown by color. White is the least valuable, and orange is the rarest and most valuable.
| Rarity | Color | Modifiers |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | White | None |
| Magic | Blue | Up to 2 |
| Rare | Yellow | Up to 6 |
| Unique | Orange | Fixed and special |
Keep in mind that Magic items and above have their info hidden at first, and you need a Scroll of Wisdom to reveal it.
Note: Just because an item is Unique doesn't mean it's better. Some items are only made to complete a specific set and aren't worth much on their own.
Upgrading items
Another thing to pay attention to in this Path of Exile 2 Game Guides is item upgrading. It's easy, but it can matter a lot.
| Item | Function |
|---|---|
| Orb of Transmutation | Turns a white item blue |
| Orb of Augmentation | Adds a second Modifier |
| Regal Orb | Makes an item Rare |
| Exalted Orb | Adds a new Modifier |
| Chaos Orb | Changes one of the Modifiers |
| Divine Orb | Rerolls the numbers |
Don't worry about using cheap ORBs, but be careful with Exalted and Divine—don't just use them on any item.
Note: You can only use GOLD for trading with NPCs. The main currency for trading with other players is these ORBs.
How to stay alive in Path of Exile 2
A lot of players die fast early on because their elemental Resistances (Fire, Cold, and Lightning) are low. You should try to keep these maxed out at all times.
Note: The game has a mechanic where your Resistances get reduced after you move to a higher ACT. Always check your Resistances at the start of each ACT.
You also have three types of Defense that you should upgrade based on your class:
- Armour (Strength): Reduces physical damage.
- Evasion (Dexterity): Chance to dodge hits.
- Energy Shield (Intelligence): Shows as a shield above your life bar.
You can also use two types of Flasks—one that refills your health and one that refills your mana.
Common mistakes among players
The last part of this Path of Exile 2 Game Guides covers the mistakes new players make that you should avoid:
- Putting off upgrading your Resistances
- Not using cheap ORBs and hoarding them
- Trying to kill every MOB and clear the whole map
- Skipping optional quests and not killing bosses that give you Passive Points and Resistances
- Not reading Skill and Modifier info
Summary of Path of Exile 2 Game Guides
The complexity and size of Path of Exile 2 mean that no matter your skill level, you'll eventually need to look up a game guide somewhere. But overall, always keep a few things in mind: first, keep your Resistances high, and second, read the info and descriptions before using any GEM. The rest you'll learn by playing a few times.
