Path of Exile 2
Path of Exile 2

Early Access Information

Navigate Path of Exile 2 Beta early progression with this guide. Adapt to changes and gain essential strategies for your journey starting late 2024.

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Path of Exile 2 Beta: Essential Guide for Early Progression

Welcome, Exiles, to the thrilling, yet often challenging, world of Path of Exile 2! With the Beta planned for late 2024, this guide is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and actionable strategies to navigate the initial stages of your journey. Remember, the Beta is a dynamic environment, so expect changes and adapt your playstyle accordingly. Our aim is to provide a solid foundation for your first character, ensuring you can progress efficiently and effectively.

Character Creation and Initial Choices

Your journey begins with character creation. Path of Exile 2 will feature 12 distinct base classes, each with two unique Ascendancy specializations. While all classes are designed to be viable, some archetypes might offer a smoother early game experience due to their inherent strengths and access to powerful early skills. Choose a class that aligns with your preferred playstyle – whether you favor close-quarters combat, ranged attacks, or powerful spellcasting.

  • Class Archetype Selection: For a robust start, consider archetypes that excel in either melee or ranged combat, as these often have straightforward damage scaling early on.
    • Melee Archetypes (e.g., Warrior, Duelist): These characters excel with close-range damage and survivability, making early encounters manageable. Focus on skills that offer both offense and mobility.
    • Ranged Archetypes (e.g., Huntress, Ranger): These characters offer strong ranged damage and kiting potential. Prioritize skills for single-target damage and area-of-effect clearing.
  • Ascendancy Preview: While Ascendancy classes aren't immediately available, understanding their future benefits can influence your initial passive tree choices. Path of Exile 2 will feature 24 Ascendancy classes, each offering unique passive skills that significantly enhance your character. These can provide substantial defensive bonuses, offensive power spikes, or unique utility. Briefly review the planned Ascendancies for your chosen archetype on the Path of Exile 2 Wiki to anticipate future synergies and plan your passive tree accordingly.

Act 1: The Shores of Exile

The first act serves as your introduction to Wraeclast's harsh realities. Efficient progression here sets the tone for the rest of your playthrough. The official name for Act 1 is "The Shores of Exile".

The Beach and Lioneye's Watch

You'll awaken on the Shores of Exile, a desolate beach. Your immediate goal is to reach Lioneye's Watch, the first safe haven.

  • First Kill: Your first few kills will drop basic weapons and armor. Equip any Iron Sword, Crude Bow, or Driftwood Wand you find that suits your class.
  • Skill Gem Acquisition: Upon reaching Lioneye's Watch, talk to Tarkleigh. While his exact role in PoE2 Act 1 is subject to change, he is a traditional quest giver and vendor. He will offer you your first skill gem based on your class.
    • Melee Archetypes: Consider a strong single-target attack like Cleave or Vaal Cleave for early damage, or a mobility skill like Leap Slam.
    • Ranged Archetypes: Opt for a primary attack skill like Puncture or Rain of Arrows.
    • Link this skill to your weapon using an available socket.
  • Vendor Management: Sell any white (normal) items you don't need for scrolls of wisdom and portal scrolls. Keep an eye out for items with linked sockets, even if their stats are low, as these are crucial for skill gem setups. Prioritize items with life and elemental resistances.

The Coast and Tidal Island

Your first quest, "Enemy at the Gate," will lead you back to the Coast.

  • Quest Objective: Clear the path to the Tidal Island. Be wary of the unique monster, Hailrake, who guards the entrance.
  • Hailrake Strategy: Hailrake is an early test of your combat skills.
    • Melee Archetypes: Engage directly, using your health flasks strategically. If you have a mobility skill like Leap Slam, use it to close gaps or escape dangerous attacks. Stay close to avoid his ranged projectiles.
    • Ranged Archetypes: Keep your distance, kiting Hailrake around the environment. Use your primary attack skill to apply damage and any area-of-effect skills if other enemies are present. Prioritize dodging his icy projectiles.
  • Reward: After defeating Hailrake and returning to Tarkleigh, you'll receive a choice of support gems.
    • Melee Archetypes: Consider Melee Physical Damage Support to boost your primary attack, or Added Fire Damage Support for elemental scaling.
    • Ranged Archetypes: Lesser Multiple Projectiles Support is excellent for skills like Rain of Arrows, or Added Cold Damage Support for single-target attacks like Puncture.

The Mud Flats and Submerged Passage

The next area, the Mud Flats, introduces more varied enemy types and environmental hazards.

  • Waypoint Activation: Always activate waypoints as you encounter them. The waypoint in the Mud Flats is crucial for quick travel.
  • Quest Item: You'll need to find three Rhoa Nests and destroy them to retrieve the Rhoa Feathers for the "Mercy Mission" quest. These nests are typically spread across the map.
  • Submerged Passage Entrance: The exit to the Submerged Passage is usually found on the opposite side of the Mud Flats from the entrance.
  • Brutus's Prison: The Submerged Passage leads to The Flooded Depths and eventually The Labyrinthine Prison, where you'll face the first major boss, Brutus, Lord of the Prison.

Boss Strategy: Brutus, Lord of the Prison

Brutus is a formidable foe. Preparation is key. Ensure your gear is up to date and your flasks are fully charged.

  • Gear Check: Ensure your weapon is up-to-date. Look for a Spiked Club, Short Bow, or Wand with good physical or elemental damage. Prioritize items with life and resistances if possible. Aim for at least 75% increased damage from your weapon and passive tree.
  • Flask Management: Have at least 3-4 Small Life Flasks. Consider a Small Mana Flask if your skill costs are high. Use them proactively, not reactively, to avoid dying.
  • Brutus's Attacks:
    • Melee Slam: Brutus will telegraph a powerful ground slam with a visible red AoE indicator. Move out of this area immediately.
    • Hook Attack: He can pull you towards him with a chain. Be ready to move away immediately after being pulled, as he often follows up with a slam.
    • Spike Traps: Brutus will periodically summon spike traps on the ground. Avoid standing on these, as they deal continuous physical damage.
  • General Strategy:
    • Melee Archetypes: Engage, hit a few times, then move away from his slam. Use mobility skills (e.g., Leap Slam, Dash) to reposition or dodge. Keep your health flasks topped up and be prepared to disengage if your health drops too low.
    • Ranged Archetypes: Maintain maximum distance. Kite him around the arena, firing continuously. Use movement skills (e.g., Dash, Flicker Strike) to quickly reposition and avoid his slams and hooks. Focus on consistent damage application while staying safe.
  • Reward: Defeating Brutus allows you to proceed to the Prisoner's Gate and receive a new skill gem from Tarkleigh. Consider defensive options like Molten Shell or Steelskin, or powerful offensive skills like Vaal Smite for burst damage, or Barrage for single-target DPS.

Early Game Itemization and Currency

Understanding the value of items and currency is vital from the outset to build a strong foundation for your character.

  • Scrolls of Wisdom: Use these to identify rare (yellow) and magic (blue) items. Prioritize identifying rings, amulets, belts, and weapons first, as these often provide the most impactful stats.
  • Portal Scrolls: Always keep a few of these on hand for quick trips back to town to sell items, stash loot, or reset flask charges.
  • Orb of Transmutation: Upgrades a normal item to a magic item. Useful for creating early gear with desired stats, especially on items with good base types.
  • Orb of Alteration: Rerolls the modifiers on a magic item. Use this to try and get better stats on your early gear, such as increased life, resistances, or damage modifiers.
  • Chance Orbs: Can upgrade a normal item into a unique item of the same base type. Hold onto these for specific unique items you might want later in your build.
  • Vendor Recipes: Learn basic vendor recipes early to efficiently manage your inventory and acquire useful currency.
    • Scroll of Wisdom: Sell any unidentified magic, rare, or unique item. Also, selling three items of the same base type (e.g., three Iron Swords) yields a Scroll of Wisdom.
    • Orb of Alteration: Sell a magic item with a resistance modifier and an unidentified rare item.
    • Chromatic Orb: Sell an item with at least one red, one green, and one blue socket linked together.
    • Jeweller's Orb: Sell an item with three or more linked sockets.
  • Flasks: Upgrade your flasks regularly. Look for Greater Life Flasks and Greater Mana Flasks as you level up. Flasks with modifiers like "of Staunching" (removes bleed), "of Warding" (removes curses), or "of Heat" (removes freeze) are incredibly useful for survival.

Passive Skill Tree Fundamentals

The passive skill tree is vast and intimidating. Focus on core nodes that benefit your chosen damage type and survivability. Plan your path efficiently to minimize wasted points.

  • Life Nodes: Always prioritize taking life nodes. A good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 300 life per act to ensure you have enough survivability for upcoming challenges.
  • Damage Nodes: Specialize in your primary damage type (e.g., "Physical Damage with One-Handed Melee Weapons" for a Warrior, or "Projectile Damage" for a Huntress). Avoid spreading your points too thin across different damage types.
  • Resistances: While not immediately critical in Act 1, start looking for nodes that grant elemental resistances (Fire, Cold, Lightning) as you progress. Capped resistances (75%) are crucial for later acts.
  • Keystone Passives: Avoid taking Keystones in the early game unless you have a very specific build plan. They often come with significant downsides that can hinder early progression if not properly accounted for. Understand their implications fully before committing.
  • Attribute Requirements: Keep an eye on the Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence requirements for your skill gems and gear. Take attribute nodes on the passive tree as needed to meet these requirements.

By following these detailed steps and strategies, you'll be well-prepared to face the challenges of Path of Exile 2's Beta. Remember to explore, experiment with skills, and most importantly, have fun as you delve deeper into the dark world of Wraeclast!