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”) 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 POE 2 Exalted Orbs for sale 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, expensive items.

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.