As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must admit that diving into Path of Exile 2 has been quite the adventure! Having played numerous MMORPGs and ARPGs throughout the years, I found myself intrigued by the unique blend of action, strategy, and customization that PoE2 offers.
It’s worth noting that Path of Exile 2 has been released in early access for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC platforms. Despite the fact that around 82% of its 31K user reviews are positive, opinions among fans are varied. Some players are powering through the campaign, laying waste to everything they encounter, while others find themselves cornered by monsters, ultimately meeting their demise (a situation I’ve found myself in quite often). The consensus on loot seems to be split, with some players receiving a consistent supply of Exalts and Rare items throughout their journey, whereas others aren’t as fortunate.
There’s a lot to get through, and while I had fun with the game, there are things to keep in mind for those on the fence. Let’s go over 15 of them here.
This is NOT Path of Exile 1
It’s important to emphasize again that Path of Exile 2 isn’t just an update to the original Path of Exile 1. While they share similarities such as the Passive Skill tree, Skill and Support Gems, and so forth, the gameplay fundamentals like movement, combat, enemy design, and boss fights are significantly different. To thrive in this new version, you’ll need to grasp and utilize its novel mechanics effectively, rather than just dodging or relying on a single skill for survival and damage output.
Side Quests
As a dedicated fan, I’ve spent years mastering an efficient playthrough of the original game’s campaign, knowing which side quests were essential. But with Path of Exile 2, it’s time to toss that strategy aside! Make sure you complete every single side quest you can find this time around. Not only will you battle monsters for extra EXP, but you’ll also gain Skill Gems, Passive Skill Points, Gold, and even some new gear along the way.
Zone Bosses
As you traverse various areas within the game, you might stumble upon bosses that don’t necessarily tie into either the main or side missions. Some of these bosses can be incredibly challenging (like Blackjaw, who’s never given an inch), but the benefits often justify the effort. These rewards may include lasting increases to your resistance, health, mana, and a host of other advantages. You also have the option to re-engage these bosses for extra Gold (the concept of loot is something entirely separate).
Skills
In Path of Exile, even though some skills may seem familiar, there are changes in the way they’re acquired and equipped. At the start, an Uncut Gem offers a selection of four skills, but as your character levels up, more options become accessible (provided you meet the stat requirements to unlock them). Each skill comes with two initial sockets; Jeweler’s Orbs are necessary to add additional sockets. Additionally, higher-level Skill Gems with multiple sockets can potentially drop, so hold onto them instead of selling right away if you already have a level 14 or 15 skill. Unlike in the previous version of Path of Exile, upgrading a skill requires finding higher-level gems rather than simply using it and gaining experience from kills to level it up.
Support Gems
Support Gems have different levels, though they’re not nearly as high as Skill Gems. They provide differing effects, like cutting through a set amount of enemy resistance, more projectiles at the cost of damage, etc. While the game will recommend certain Support Skills, it’s best to click on the arrow below to see all the available options and find the one best suited for your playstyle.
Resistances
Resistances are important in Path of Exile 2, especially since you won’t get access to much in the starting Passive tree nodes. Find more on gear and jewellery as you go along since further story progress will apply negative modifiers to your current resistances (which only becomes more punishing in Cruel difficulty). Even if a piece of gear fits your current stat requirements, try to craft or purchase something superior for higher resistance. It may not make the greatest difference in endgame, but it’s better than nothing.
Dodging
In the game Path of Exile 2, there are several aspects that still need clarification, such as: How precisely does the dodge roll mechanism function? During intense monster encounters, one cannot dodge through them, and it doesn’t provide invincibility frames. At the onset of a dodge roll, it can evade numerous strikes and projectile attacks but not slam attacks and area-of-effect spells. To avoid such attacks effectively, it is advisable to move around normally first and then dodge once you are confident that you will be outside or away from the attack zone.
Melee Builds
While all classes can engage in melee combat to some degree, a majority of players tend to favor just two: the Warrior and the Invoker. The Warrior has been criticized for its awkward skills and its default attack dealing the highest damage. On the other hand, the Invoker has been excelling at content with abilities such as Glacial Cascade, Tempest Flurry, Tempest Bell (with many believing it may be bugged), and Charged Staff. Additionally, given that you’re focusing on elemental damage, you’ll benefit from freezing and shocking enemies.
Ranged Builds
After switching from a Sorceress to a Stormweaver in the game, using Frost Wall to create freeze conditions and Cast on Freeze to rain down Comets on enemies proved very effective. However, it seems that Deadeye Rangers are currently achieving greater success, particularly with Lightning Arrow or Gas Arrow combined with Flame Wall to set enemies alight (though this combo might be subject to a potential nerf). Remarkably, some builds leveraging the Mercenary’s grenades have opted for Deadeye instead, appreciating its additional projectiles and damage reduction through Wind Ward.
Ascendancies
In the game Path of Exile 2, your Ascendancies serve as sub-classes, providing extra bonuses and passives beyond the standard tree. However, unlocking them can be quite challenging – first, you need to complete the Trial of Sekhemas, followed by a careful choice because there’s no way to change it later. Once that’s done, you’ll face the Trial of Chaos, which demands the successful completion of four rounds of Ultimatum in order to accumulate more Ascendancy Points.
It’s suggested to engage in these tasks when you are beyond their standard level and equipped with quality gear, as they present a challenge. To obtain the remaining Ascendancy Points, you need to complete both activities on harder modes, but it’s evident that they have been over-adjusted. Seek out Djinn coins offering three trials and Inscribed Ultimatums providing seven trials. Overcome the Ultimatum and endure the Trial of Sekhemas for potential balance adjustments.
Crafting
As a fan, I’m thrilled about the shift from having a crafting bench and spending currency to specifically enhance resistances, life, or add three crafted modifiers on my gear. Now, it’s all about investing in items like Regal Orbs, Exalts, and so forth to apply modifiers. Here’s one approach: you could hunt for a Magic item with the stat you desire, then use an Orb of Augmentation to add a random modifier. To upgrade this item to Rare, you’d use a Regal Orb, and further enhance it with Exalts by adding more desirable modifiers.
Instead, if you come across a Rare item with an unwanted attribute, consider using a Chaos Orb to swap it out with a different one or an Orb of Annulment to get rid of it (but remember, both methods involve some risk). Continue to check vendors for new items and try to save Exalts for items you believe will last longer.
Reforging Bench
After acquiring the hammer designated for the Forgemaster in Act 3, you’ll be able to construct a Reforging Bench, however, it functions differently compared to the Recombinator from Sentinel League or the Settlers of Kalguur bench. To utilize this bench effectively, you’ll need three identical items sharing the same rarity and no corruption. These items will combine to create a new item with an item level equal to the lowest among the three. For now, it is advisable to exercise caution when using it, unless you’re specifically targeting certain types of loot and have surplus items available.
Selling vs. Disenchanting
When dealing with merchandise, it’s advisable to identify them first, often from the Hooded One for mass identification. This will help you sell them for more Gold. Additionally, you can disenchant these items, which means exchanging them for Orb shards. Deciding when to sell more versus disenchanting can be tricky. If you’re in the late game and have settled on your character build, sell the loot for Gold. Alternatively, consider keeping any high-quality gear or weapons if you plan to create other characters in the future.
Endgame
Although some players encounter challenges with Path of Exile 2, many find pleasure in its campaign. However, the endgame involving the Atlas of Worlds presents a distinct set of problems for most. This is largely due to the nature of loot drops, but other complications also exist. For example, be mindful when engaging nodes with Ritual, Delirium, Breach, and so on. Depending on your character’s build, it might be beneficial to use lower-tier Waystones featuring less harsh modifiers initially. If you perish on a map, the node remains accessible for another try with a different Waystone. Yet, keep in mind that endgame mechanics will no longer apply once you die.
This is a Challenging Game
In case you’ve overheard some individuals expressing concerns about the complexity of Path of Exile 2, or perhaps suggesting that others should just improve their skills, let me clarify something essential – this game is tough. Regardless of whether you’re not being overwhelmed by hordes of enemies without a chance to escape, it could still be Rares or bosses mercilessly crushing you beneath their feet.
It may not suit everyone, especially with how difficult it is to come across resistance passives early on in the passive tree, add more Support Gem slots to skills, and whatever is the deal with Trial of the Sekhemas and Ultimatum. And that’s perfectly fine. It wouldn’t be surprising if GGG heavily retuned the difficulty in the coming weeks, so waiting to see how early access pans out (especially since the full game will be free) isn’t a bad idea.
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2024-12-11 21:41