Newcomer's Guide to Path of Exile: Greetings from Wraeclast - New Exiles, Begin Your Journey Here

It’s wonderful to witness you embarking on your journey in Path of Exile (PoE). This game is known for its significant depth and potential intricacies, making it a challenging experience for newcomers. However, we’re here to assist you in making your adventure more enjoyable and manageable right from the beginning.

Alongside comprehensive guides detailing the various mechanics of Path of Exile, we offer a wide-ranging selection of character builds for you to discover as you navigate the game.

Builds labeled as League Starter are guides designed to assist you during the initial moments of the game and to support you throughout your adventure beyond the campaign.

Using a build guide is the most effective way to ensure a successful initial playthrough, allowing you to concentrate on the gameplay, naturally grasp the fundamental mechanics, and, most importantly, have fun.

For tips on rapidly and effectively progressing through the zones in Path of Exile, check out our Fast Leveling Guide.

Prior to exploring any of our guides, we highly advise you to thoroughly review this page and consult the detailed sections listed above that pertain to your inquiries. Path of Exile presents a challenging experience, even for those who are seasoned players of other ARPGs, including titles from the Diablo, Torchlight, or Titan Quest series. The game features a variety of intricate and interconnected systems, and understanding how to navigate them can significantly enhance your gameplay experience.

This guide is designed to help you navigate the essential systems and strategies you should know as you embark on your leveling journey for the first time. It will also address a variety of common questions that new players often have. In Path of Exile, many systems are interconnected, making it challenging to grasp the complete functionality of one without referencing others. If you come across any unfamiliar terms or ideas, you can be confident that we will explain everything you need to understand right here.

Prior to commencing

Given the intricate nature of the systems in Path of Exile, we rely on external tools to enhance our experience. One such tool is Path of Building, a robust, open-source build planner maintained by the community. It enables players to evaluate the effectiveness of various passive tree nodes, equipment, and gems, and is the preferred tool for our guide authors. While we will delve into the Passive Skill Tree in more detail later, we recommend that you acquire this tool, particularly if you play on PC. You can find a straightforward installation guide for Path of Building here.

Leveling Builds Compared to Build Guides

Many players, both newcomers and veterans, frequently wonder how to align their end-game builds with their leveling journey. Each of our build guides marked with the League Starter label includes a leveling section designed to lead you to the end-game. This part of the guides is intended to assist you during the initial phases of your adventure.

Initiating the game for the very first time.

Upon launching Path of Exile for the first time and clicking the “Create” button, you’ll need to choose a game mode. There are three available options, which we will outline below. The majority of players tend to engage with the Temporary Challenge League, and our guides are primarily tailored for this mode.

Regular League

The Standard League is a lasting game mode that remains accessible at all times, regardless of the introduction of new seasons. It serves as the destination for characters at the conclusion of a season, as well as for those who have perished in the Hardcore mode of the Season League. Unlike the latest leagues, Standard League does not feature the newest content, and the chances for wealth accumulation are restricted within its established economic framework.

• Softcore, also known as the standard game mode, allows you to simply choose your preferred league and click “OK.”
• Hardcore mode (Upon death, you transition to the Standard League gameplay).
• Solo Self-Found, often abbreviated as “SSF,” means you cannot engage in trading or team up with other players.
• Merciless (An extremely challenging mode featuring reduced loot and fewer items available)

Challenge League

Challenge Leagues are short-term leagues or seasons that typically run for approximately 3 to 4 months. Characters developed within these leagues, along with their inventories, begin anew, allowing players to engage with the latest league mechanics and balance adjustments. Once the league concludes, these characters will seamlessly transition to the Standard League.

• Softcore or standard League mode (simply choose a league and click “OK”)
• SSF, or Solo Self-Found, means you won’t have the option to trade with other players.
• Merciless (An extremely challenging mode featuring reduced loot and fewer items available)

Hardcore Challenge League

Identical to the standard temporary Challenge League mentioned earlier, the only difference is that upon death, players will be moved to the Standard League and removed from the Hardcore Challenge League Ladder, which ranks characters based on the experience they have accumulated.

• Hardcore mode or the standard League mode (simply choose a league and click “OK”).
• SSF, or Solo Self-Found, means you won’t have the option to trade with other players.
• Merciless (An extremely challenging mode featuring reduced loot and fewer items available)

Character Classes and Fundamental Attributes

The initial departure from the typical video game structure you’ll notice in Path of Exile is the approach to class design. When selecting a class, the impact is primarily on your starting position within the Passive Skill tree, rather than on the specific abilities your character can utilize. Some classes are better equipped to utilize particular abilities, as they can access passives on the Passive Tree that complement their build with a lower investment of skill points. However, no items, skills, or playstyles are strictly restricted to any class, allowing for a wide range of RPG experiences to fulfill your gaming aspirations.

Path of Exile features three fundamental attributes, each linked to a specific color, which plays a significant role in various other mechanics throughout the game.

The fundamental characteristics include:

When we conceptualize the passive tree as a pie chart divided into three segments, each segment contains numerous nodes that correspond to one of the fundamental attributes and their related archetypes. Although this isn’t a strict guideline, it provides a useful perspective on the functionality of the Passive Tree.

Every combat skill and item comes with specific attribute prerequisites. For instance, equipping the Farrul’s Fur chest piece necessitates at least 95 Strength and 116 Dexterity. Additionally, each attribute provides distinct advantages for every 10 points accumulated. These benefits are as follows:

These characteristics are linked to the various classes in Path of Exile, along with the Passive Skill Tree itself. Path of Exile features seven distinct classes, each commencing at a unique location on the Passive Skill Tree depicted earlier. The initial regions of the main classes resemble “wheels” on the tree. For instance, a low-level Marauder is shown allocating points from his initial wheel.

Whenever you advance a level, you receive a slight increase in your maximum health and mana, along with a skill point to allocate within your skill tree. However, you must always stay linked to the initial wheel of your class. The seven primary classes include:

The Scion is a unique class that begins at the heart of the skill tree. New players cannot access her until they have saved her as part of the main quest. This restriction is due to the high level of customization available and her notably weak performance in the early stages of the game, which can be challenging for newcomers.

It’s important to note that in Path of Exile, there isn’t a definitive “best” class. Unlike conventional role-playing games or MMORPGs, where classes are closely linked to particular playstyles and content, selecting a class in Path of Exile is one of the less critical choices. This is because each class offers a virtually limitless array of build options.

The primary distinctions among the classes lie in their Ascendancy choices, which will be explored in depth in a subsequent section. Ascendancies serve as “sub-classes” or specializations, enhancing the variety of gameplay styles. Every class offers three Ascendancy options, with the exception of the Scion, which has just one.

Gems – The Skills in Path of Exile

Path of Exile offers a distinctive approach to skills and abilities. At the beginning of the game, all players begin without any skills, except for a basic auto attack. However, it doesn’t take long before you obtain a weapon and a skill gem.

Skill Gems represent the abilities within Path of Exile and align with the developers’ philosophy that “anything that can be an item, is an item.” When a skill gem is inserted into a socket, the player can utilize the associated ability, provided they meet the necessary prerequisites. The gem’s color indicates the primary attribute needed. To be inserted, the gem’s color must correspond with that of the socket. As players use gems to defeat enemies, they accumulate experience, and leveling up these gems enhances their strength and efficiency, while also raising their attribute requirements and mana costs.

For additional details about Skill gems and Sockets, please visit this page.

Competitive Play

Most players of Path of Exile prefer to engage in the Temporary Challenge Leagues, which generally run for approximately three months. These Leagues can be likened to seasonal or quarterly resets of the game, each introducing a unique element that enhances the gameplay experience. For instance, in the Beyond League, defeating clusters of monsters in a certain area could trigger the emergence of creatures from the “Beyond” that would then assault the player. This introduces fresh dynamics to the game every few months, which many players eagerly embrace and explore.

One of the major advantages of League play is the fresh economic reset it offers. Every player starts with the same opportunities, preventing the economy from becoming stagnant. This enhances the thrill of item farming, as the items hold much greater value compared to the permanent “Standard” league, where the same items are abundantly available. Moreover, the economic landscape is more advantageous for newcomers, who can also acquire cosmetic items and achievements by completing the league’s challenges, which typically require engaging with new mechanics or achieving specific farming objectives within the league.

Ultimately, Challenge Leagues provide seasoned players with the opportunity to compete. Whether it’s being the first to defeat a newly introduced boss or the first to attain the highest level, there is always a goal that top players strive to achieve ahead of the competition.

Hardcore

Hardcore leagues function similarly to their “softcore” versions, but with the crucial difference that players have only one life. Should a character perish, it is transferred to the permanent Standard league.

Solo Self-Found

Every league features a variant called “Solo Self-Found,” often abbreviated as “SSF.” In SSF leagues, players cannot interact with others, meaning they cannot join parties or trade items. As the term suggests, all items and resources must be obtained solely by the SSF player.

SSF leagues are generally not advisable for beginners, as they involve particular strategies that facilitate the acquisition of essential items. Unlike the standard “trade leagues,” which are more commonly known, SSF leagues do not offer any advantages. The distinction lies solely in the preferred style of play. It’s important to remember that if you are utilizing any of our build guides, you should possess a certain level of understanding of the build, as the items needed for some builds can be significantly more challenging to locate in SSF leagues compared to trade leagues, and they are often crucial for the build’s success.

Ruthless

Ruthless mode, often referred to as Hard Mode, is a character creation option that greatly enhances the game’s difficulty and alters the gameplay experience by introducing severe item scarcity and a range of other modifications.

Inspired by the notorious Ruthless difficulty from the Closed Beta, this mode incorporates limited item availability and fluctuating item values to recreate the early Path of Exile experience (minus the desynchronization issues). It is designed to be intentionally punishing, making the progression to higher acts a notable accomplishment, and transforming typically underwhelming items into prized possessions. For instance, a player might struggle to equip a complete set of gear by Act 4. The majority of items discovered will be of normal rarity, and crafting materials will be exceedingly scarce.

Ruthless mode was conceived as a personal initiative by Chris Wilson and a team of senior developers over a span of 18 months. The elements of this mode are designed to minimally affect the main gameplay of the overall game. It serves as a platform for bold modifications and experimental features, including mid-league adjustments to buffs and nerfs. Alterations made in Ruthless do not imply that similar adjustments will be implemented in the standard game. This mode is a true test of endurance in gaming and is not suited for the easily discouraged.

Construct Selection

Having grasped the fundamental mechanics of the game, it’s time to select a build and craft your initial exile. We suggest exploring our guides to find a build that resonates with you, particularly those labeled as budget-friendly or suitable for league starters. League starters are designed to perform effectively with minimal currency or item investment. Many seasoned players opt for these builds for their first character in a league, allowing them to accumulate resources before pursuing a more complex and costly build in the future.

New players frequently fall into the trap of selecting a build that promises “incredible damage” or claims to be “suitable for all content.” This can lead to a challenging experience. Such builds often prove to be hard to level up, demand a significant amount of resources to be effective, or require complex gameplay mechanics. Many newcomers to the game have opted for these builds, only to struggle during the leveling process and end up having a frustrating experience. There’s a common misconception that if they stick with it long enough, they will eventually gather the resources needed to make the build work. However, this is a misconception, as new players typically lack the experience to efficiently gather wealth and recognize valuable items.

Some character classes have a simpler leveling process compared to others. Take the Marauder, for instance; he begins close to numerous Life nodes on the passive skill tree, which inherently makes him more resilient than other classes at the start. As a result, players are less prone to dying due to errors or inexperience. Conversely, the Witch tends to be more vulnerable in the early stages, and unless players rely on minion skills for protection, they must exercise caution and skill to progress without facing death.

Beginning Your Journey in Path of Exile

Choose your desired League and class, give your character a name, and step into the perilous realm of Wraeclast. Right away, you’ll encounter your initial foe and receive a weapon to take it down. The weapon will be equipped automatically, and all you need to do is press and hold the left mouse button to unleash a continuous attack until your enemy is vanquished.

Collect the skill gem that it will drop, and insert it into your weapon to obtain your initial skill. By default, this skill will be mapped to the right mouse button, but you can change this by selecting any of the skill icons. Typically, you can move by clicking the left mouse button and engage enemies by clicking the right mouse button.

At this stage, it’s advisable to set your auto-attack (default binding: left mouse button) to “move only.” In Path of Exile, the standard auto-attack is rarely utilized since all damage is dealt through skills provided by gems or items. Configuring your left mouse button to “move only” facilitates smoother movement, preventing accidental clicks on enemies that could disrupt your movement with an auto-attack.

To modify this, just click on the auto attack binding located in the bottom right corner of the screen, and choose the option for move only.

As you stroll along the shoreline, you’ll find your initial support gem hidden in a chest. Insert it into the second socket of your weapon to enhance the skill gem you’ve already obtained. Keep progressing along the beach until you face Hillock, the game’s first Unique enemy. Unique enemies are marked by their orange names, indicating that they are either a boss or a foe with distinct mechanics, often tied to the rich lore of the game.

Conquer Hillock, as he is unlikely to be a significant obstacle. If you find yourself in need of additional Life or Mana during the fight, feel free to utilize your Flasks, which are typically assigned to the 1-5 number keys and can be replenished by defeating enemies or visiting safe zones. If this is your initial character, you’ll probably want to collect the items Hillock drops and equip them if you can. Once you have triumphed over Hillock, the entrance to the game’s first camp will be unlocked, leading you to Lioneye’s Watch.

Encampments

In Path of Exile, every Act features its own encampment, serving as a refuge and a central point for travel, facilitating swift navigation throughout the game. Quest givers are consistently found in these areas and frequently also act as vendors, allowing you to sell your loot or purchase essential items.

Each encampment features a Waypoint, serving as a fast travel option across the realm of Wraeclast. As you explore the game, you will come across dormant waypoints that can be activated with a left click. Once you activate a waypoint, it remains permanently accessible for your character, allowing for swift travel between other waypoints that you have already unlocked.

Characters that have quests available are marked with exclamation points above their heads. Engaging in conversation with these characters will instantly accept the quest. It’s important to note that quests can be completed without formally accepting them, as they will be recorded in your log once you perform an action tied to the quest. For newcomers, manually accepting quests can be beneficial, as it adds them to a quest tracker on the right side of the screen. This feature simplifies navigation through different areas and helps maintain a smooth progression in the storyline.

By default, pressing “U” will bring up the Quest Log and World Map, displaying any linked regions and waypoints. You can change your active quest by left-clicking on it, but this feature is primarily useful for navigation.

From this moment on, you can choose to either stick to your quest log or utilize our detailed leveling guide available here.

Dominance and the Maze

Ascending plays a crucial role in Path of Exile, enabling players to transform their primary class into a more focused sub-class tailored to their build. For instance, a Witch aiming to enhance their Fire, Cold, or Lightning Damage might opt for the Elementalist Ascendancy, whereas a Marauder looking to improve their Regeneration and defenses would select the Juggernaut.

To achieve Ascendancy, players need to navigate the Lord’s Labyrinth without facing death. The Labyrinth features four distinct difficulty levels, each granting 2 Ascendancy points upon first completion. Before attempting the Labyrinth, players must first finish the associated Ascendancy Trials, which become progressively harder. This requirement is only necessary to fulfill once per league, and the completion of Trials is applicable to all characters.

To succeed in The Labyrinth, players need to conquer the boss Izaro on three separate occasions. During each battle, they must inflict damage equal to 33% of his total health to achieve victory. Izaro appears in various forms, each time accompanied by his bodyguards or enhancements. The arrangements, much like the Labyrinth’s design, are altered on a daily basis.

The site poelab.com is an invaluable resource for identifying the latest layouts, affixes, puzzle solutions, and additional information.

The Significance of Resistance Levels

In Path of Exile, damage is categorized into five main types: physical, Chaos, and the three types of Elemental damage, which include Cold, Lightning, and Fire. Both players and monsters can possess Resistance to these damage types, significantly diminishing the damage they receive.

Elemental resistances play a crucial role in ensuring your character’s survival.

The maximum resistance for each element is limited to 75%. Consequently, even if your total Fire Resistance reaches 150%, only 75% will be effective in mitigating Fire damage. However, if your character is afflicted with a curse that lowers Fire resistance, the additional resistance will serve as a safeguard, ensuring that you still maintain the capped resistance level despite the negative effect.

To view your character’s Resistances, access the Character Pane by pressing C and then select the defense tab.

The figures enclosed in brackets represent the total or “Uncapped” resistances, whereas the value to the left indicates the capped Resistance value applied for mitigating damage. It is possible to increase Resistance caps beyond their standard limits through various methods, including specific skills likePurity of Fire gem, along with various elemental resistance auras and specific items likeLoreweave orSaffell’s Frame. Additionally, the Passive Tree features various skill nodes that can enhance maximum Resistances.

Maintaining a resistance level of 75% against Cold, Fire, and Lightning is crucial whenever feasible. You can typically find resistance on various items, and there are also numerous Passive Skill tree nodes that can provide extra resistance.

Throughout the game, the penalties associated with Resistances escalate. At the beginning of Act I, the standard Resistance level is set at 0%. As you advance, you will encounter increasing penalties to Resistances, but your equipment will also improve to help mitigate these effects.

In simple terms, having 75% Cold Resistance during Acts I-V translates to 45% in Act VI, and it drops to just 15% when you enter the Epilogue. To mitigate this decline, it’s essential to consistently enhance your gear as you advance and level up in the game.

For additional details about Resistance, please visit this page.

The Significance of Flasks

Flasks represent a crucial and distinctive element that influences your character’s success in Path of Exile, often proving to be the most vital in various scenarios. An effective flask configuration can significantly facilitate the leveling experience, especially during Act V and the subsequent stages.

Life and Mana flasks are the basic flasks that all players begin with, and many newcomers stick with them until they progress to the end-game. Nevertheless, some flasks can prove to be incredibly beneficial during the leveling process because of their disproportionate effectiveness at lower levels.

The Quicksilver Flask is essential for leveling up effectively. In the early stages of the game, possessing two of these flasks can significantly reduce the number of monsters you need to defeat, enabling you to progress through the lower-level Acts much more swiftly. It’s worth noting that the optimal suffix for Quicksilver Flasks, known as “of Adrenaline,” can only be found on flasks with an Item Level of 5 or higher. The Quicksilver Flask you receive from the “Medicine Chest” quest (given by Nessa in Act I) has an Item Level of 3, which means it cannot have this desirable suffix. Quicksilver Flasks are relatively common drops, so stay alert, and you are likely to come across a few more by the time you reach Act III.

The Granite Flask grants a substantial +1500 Armour to your character for a limited time, with the potential for even greater enhancement through the “of the Iron Skin” suffix. Available for use starting at Level 27, it serves as a powerful option for character progression. Engaging a group of enemies in Act IV or Act V with +1500 Armour or greater allows your character to withstand nearly all Physical damage, providing a significant advantage for delicate builds that may face challenges at this stage of the game.

If your character is designed around the right side of the Passive Tree with an emphasis on evasion, you may find the Jade Flask to be a suitable choice, offering 1500 evasion and becoming available at the same level as the Granite Flask, which is level 27.

The Diamond Flask greatly enhances the likelihood of landing Critical Strikes, making it an excellent choice for characters that depend on them. As achieving a steady Critical Strike chance can be challenging during the leveling process, this flask can significantly ease that journey.

The Silver Flask is versatile for various builds during leveling, granting the Onslaught buff for its active period. This buff enhances attack speed, cast speed, and movement speed by 20%, making it beneficial for both increasing damage output and improving mobility.

In Path of Exile, there is a wide range of flasks