Tips, Tricks, and Essential Knowledge Every New Exile Absolutely Needs
Path of Exile 2 is shaping up to be one of the deepest, most flexible, and most complex ARPGs ever created. Whether you're a veteran of the original POE or stepping into Wraeclast for the first time, the sequel throws a mountain of systems, mechanics, and choices at you the moment you start playing. And while the developers have added more tutorials than before, many of the game’s most important systems are still wildly unintuitive for new players.
This guide breaks down all the essential information you need—starting with the obvious fundamentals and gradually ramping into the more obscure lessons Path of Exile 2 Orbs never really explains. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation to play confidently, survive the brutal campaign, and start shaping your first real build.
1. Actually Read the Tutorial Messages
Let’s be honest: most players skip tutorials. But POE2’s introductory messages exist for a reason—because the game expects you to understand systems like skill gems, upgrades, socket linking, and Spirit reservation. Ignore these early tips and you’ll immediately fall behind.
While this guide covers everything in far more detail, don’t treat tutorial pop-ups as optional flavor text. They include a handful of mechanics the game builds on constantly.
2. Choose the Right Control Scheme
On PC, POE2 offers three distinct control schemes—each dramatically changing how the game feels.
Mouse + Keyboard (Point-and-Click):
Classic, reliable, and familiar for POE1 and Diablo players.
WASD Movement:
Surprisingly comfortable, though not immediately intuitive.
Controller:
Criminally underrated. Clean UI, smooth gameplay, and excellent feel.
Downside: inventory management is painful.
Finding the control setup that clicks with you is essential. It fundamentally changes how you move, attack, and respond to danger.
3. Classes and Ascendancies
Currently, POE2 features six base classes, each with two ascendancies (“Scions&rdquo
unlocked during the campaign. Upon full release, that expands to:
12 base classes
36 ascendancies
Zero traditional tank/healer/DPS roles
Every class is self-sufficient—meaning you cannot pick “wrong,” though some (looking at you, Warrior players) are harder for beginners.
4. Understanding Skill Gems (The Heart of POE2)
Skill gems are the single most intimidating part of POE2, and probably the biggest source of early confusion. Here’s the breakdown.
Types of Gems
Active Skill Gems – Attacks and spells you actively cast
Spirit Gems – Passive buffs that reserve Spirit
Support Gems – Modify active or Spirit gems to change behavior or increase power
Uncut Gems
All gems drop as uncut. Clicking one allows you to pick the exact skill you want. Higher-tier uncut gems unlock stronger skills or advanced versions.
How to Use Skills
Pick a skill via uncut gem
Move it into your skill panel
Assign it to a hotkey
Add support gems to enhance it
Upgrading Skill Levels
When you find a higher-level uncut gem of the same type, use it to upgrade your existing skill rather than replacing it outright.
Sockets and Supports
Every skill has a limited number of support sockets:
Starts with 2
Can increase up to 5 in endgame
Use Lesser Jeweler Orbs to add sockets early.
Spirit Reservation
Spirit is a separate resource used for buffs and minions.
Spirit gems reserve Spirit
Optional campaign bosses increase your Spirit capacity
If your Spirit reads 30/30, you forgot to activate your buffs
And yes—minion skills reserve Spirit too.
Cross-Class Skills
Skills are not class-locked.
If you meet attribute & weapon requirements, you can use any gem on any character.
5. Dodge Rolling Matters
Dodge roll doesn’t grant full immunity, but it absolutely saves your life. Bosses hit incredibly hard, and many attacks are telegraphed but lethal.
Use dodge roll to:
Avoid big boss slams
Escape when swarmed
Push small enemies aside
You cannot face-tank in POE2—not even close.
6. Use Checkpoints (Seriously)
Zones in POE2 are massive. Too massive.
Checkpoint pillars let you fast-travel within the zone to avoid tedious backtracking. Use them constantly.
Bonus: Resetting Zones
If you’re stuck on a boss:
Right-click the zone entrance on the map
Create a new instance
Farm previous content for EXP and gear
Retry the boss
You can even refarm old bosses for loot.
7. Optional Quests Are Mandatory
Optional quests in the campaign provide:
Permanent elemental resistance
More maximum Spirit
Extra passive skill points
These rewards are enormous power boosts.
Look at beige icons on the map. If they’re gray, you already completed the quest. If not—go get those bonuses.
8. Passive Skill Tree (Don’t Panic)
POE2’s passive tree looks terrifying. But early on, it's actually simple.
General Rules
Look at your skill’s tags (e.g., Lightning, AOE, Melee, Staff).
Take nodes that reference those tags.
Use the search bar on the passive tree to highlight fitting nodes.
Hold Shift while hovering a node to preview its effect on your skills.
Defensive Basics
Witch/Sorcerer → Energy Shield
Ranger → Evasion
Monk → Evasion + Energy Shield
Mercenary → Armor + Evasion
Warrior → Armor
Also aim for:
Life regeneration
Leech
Life gained on kill
These prevent your flasks from doing all the healing work.
You Can Respec
Talk to a town NPC. Respec costs gold. Don’t be afraid to adjust.
9. Flasks (Finally Simple!)
POE2 drastically simplified flasks.
Key tips:
Upgrade them whenever possible
Turn them into magic items with Orbs for extra bonuses
Refill at wells in town
There’s also a useful reward waiting in a witch’s hut in Act 1—don’t skip it.
10. Crafting 101
Crafting in POE2 is shockingly beginner-friendly.
Item Rarities
White (Normal) – no mods
Blue (Magic) – up to 2 mods
Yellow (Rare) – up to 6 mods
Unique – special effects, not always stronger
Basic Crafting Steps
Find a good base item
Use:
Orb of Transmutation → makes it Magic
Orb of Augmentation → adds another mod
Regal Orb → turns Magic into Rare
Don’t waste Regal Orbs early—they are uncommon.
Sockets & Runes
Use Artificer Orbs to add sockets.
Runes add additional custom bonuses.
If you lack Artificer Orbs, salvage socketed items after a certain Act 1 quest.
11. What Makes Gear “Good”?
Understanding good gear is essential.
Armor/Jewelry Priorities
Look for:
+Life
Elemental resistances
Your class’s preferred defense (Armor/Evasion/ES)
Movement speed on boots is non-negotiable.
Check vendors often until you find 10%+ boots.
Weapons
Depends on build:
Spellcasters: Staff/Wand
+Skill levels
Spell damage
Elemental damage conversion
Attack builds (Monk, Ranger, Mercenary, Warrior):
High physical OR elemental damage (not both early)
Minion builds:
Scepters with +Minion levels
Minion damage
Aura/ally bonuses
Always compare DPS using your skill panel before equipping.
12. Check Vendors Frequently
Vendors refresh their inventory every time you level. Many items they sell can be genuine upgrades—especially weapons and boots.
Sell your bad loot for gold or disenchant into crafting currency.
13. Loot Filters
Technically optional—but highly recommended.
A loot filter highlights important drops so you don’t drown in visual clutter. Many players use Neversink’s filter, which will eventually support full customization.
14. Stash Management
If you stay with the game long-term, you will buy stash tabs. POE is free but stash sales are how the game supports itself.
Tips:
Wait for tab sales (every three weekends)
Buy the Currency Tab first
Buy Premium Tabs to enable trading
Group tabs into folders
Assign affinities so items auto-sort
Ctrl-click to move items quickly
Shift-scroll to adjust item stack sizes
This saves hours of time.
15. Trading (Optional but Powerful)
Trading in POE2 is clunky, unintuitive, and controversial. But it’s easily the strongest way to accelerate your character.
If you choose to trade:
Exalted Orbs and Divine Orbs are the main currencies
Save them—don’t use them
Divine Orbs are extremely rare
Some players prefer playing their first campaign with zero trades. Others trade early and often. Both approaches are valid.
Warnings Every New Player Should Hear
1. The Game Is Hard
You will die—especially to bosses.
Act 2 is often the hardest part of the entire campaign.
Once you reach Cruel difficulty, the game shifts into a more traditional grind-heavy ARPG flow.
2. Build Guides Are Fine
Ignore elitists who insist “real players” make their own builds.
If you want to experiment, great.
If you want a stable beginner-friendly guide, also great.
Just avoid build guides that require rare, POE 2 Currency Orbs for sale.
3. Beware FOMO
POE’s community produces a nonstop firehose of:
Currency farming “tech”
“Best build of the week”
“Meta only!” strategies
Most of it is genuine enthusiasm—but it’s easy to get sucked into chasing trends rather than enjoying the game.
Remember: this is supposed to be fun.