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Endless loot, a lot of enemies and never-ending customization, that’s Path of Exile 2 for you. For someone just starting to play the Path of Exile series, all these things can be overwhelming. However, we have good news for you. We created a beginner guide with the name “12 Path of Exile 2 Beginner Tips and Tricks” to master Path of Exile 2. These 12 tips in this guide will help beginners to understand how combat and gameplay work. With these tips, you can make your game more enjoyable and rewarding. These tips are important to master the game as well as survive the battles.
Let’s get started!
1. Activate Always Highlight Loot
The dense enemy mobs in Path of Exile 2 drop mountains of loot, much of which can be overlooked in the chaos.
- Go to the Options > Interface > Gameplay section and enable “Always Highlight Loot.”
This setting is ideal as every item dropped is automatically visible. It spares you from missing valuable skill gems or socketed items. Missing loot, especially uncut gems, can cost you valuable upgrades.
2. Enable Health and Mana Bars for Quick Monitoring
Tracking your health and mana mid-battle can be tricky.
- To simplify this, go to Options > Interface and enable “Show Mini Life Bar Above You” and “Mini Life Bar Above NPCs.”
You’ll see small health bars above enemies and your own character. This setup keeps you informed without diverting attention from the battlefield. When facing swarms of enemies, knowing which foe is about to fall can be the key to survival.
3. Hoard Socketed and Quality Gear
Loot with sockets is a cornerstone of Path of Exile 2’s build system. Gear with rune sockets can amplify your abilities. Always salvage socketed gear you don’t use at the town’s Salvage Bench to earn Artificer Shards. Accumulate 10 shards to craft Artificer Orbs, which add sockets to your chosen gear. Similarly, collect gear with any quality percentage. Breaking them down yields crafting items like Blacksmith’s Whetstones and Armor Scraps for improving your current gear’s quality. Every minor upgrade can significantly impact tough boss fights.
4. Check Vendors Before Leveling Up
Vendors in towns refresh their inventory every time you level up. If you’re close to a level-up, visit vendors in towns to grab socketed or quality gear that might otherwise disappear. Salvage these items for resources or use them directly for your builds. You need to maximize vendor inventory opportunities so that you never miss crafting materials or game-changing loot.
5. Hold ALT to Decipher Gear Descriptions
Confused about a stat or modifier? Hold ALT on the PC or press the right joystick on a controller to display detailed item descriptions. This feature reveals the meaning of keywords and stats, giving you clarity when planning your build. You need to understand modifiers and making better decisions to make your character progresses efficiently.
6. Organize Your Stash Early
An organized stash saves you time and frustration. Invest in premium tabs using the currency provided with early access if you can. Assign tab affinities, allowing items like orbs or shards to automatically sort into the correct tab when you use Ctrl + Left Click. Even without premium tabs, manually sorting your stash by item types helps maintain clarity. You’re always prepared for upgrades by keeping track of orbs, quality items, and crafting materials.
7. Trade Like a Pro
Trading is vital in Path of Exile 2. Visit the official trading website to connect with players globally. Use filters to find specific gear, rarity levels, or modifiers suited to your build. Not only can you buy essential items, but you can also list your own loot to earn valuable crafting materials in return. This marketplace is a goldmine for finding rare upgrades and unique gear.
8. Master Skill and Weapon Switching
Weapon sets offer unique flexibility. Assign skill points to your Passive Tree that only activate when specific weapons are equipped. Toggle between Weapon Set 1 and Weapon Set 2 at the top right of your Passive Tree to allocate points for specific setups. For example, you can have cold-damage enhancements with one staff and fire-damage skills with another. This is one of the most important Path of Exile 2 beginner tips, so make sure to remember it.
9. Identify Unfinished Boss Fights
World map icons provide crucial information about completed and pending boss fights. Gray icons mean the boss is defeated, while colored icons indicate incomplete encounters. Clearing these bosses often rewards unique loot, passive skill points, or permanent stat boosts. Even if it requires backtracking to earlier acts, defeating all bosses ensures you maximize your character potential. Never leave a boss unbeaten in Path of Exile 2.
10. Reset Areas for Efficient Farming
Areas can be reset for farming loot, XP, or crafting materials. Simply return to a Waypoint, hover over the desired area, and hold Ctrl (or the corresponding controller button) before selecting it. This action resets the area, allowing you to farm bosses, and mobs, and loot repeatedly. For example, Act 3’s Sandswept Marsh offers quick boss encounters with high-quality drops. Use resets to stockpile resources and level efficiently.
11. Don’t Limit Gem Customization
When cutting support gems, explore all possible configurations. By default, the game shows suggested combinations, but you can view every option by selecting “All Gems” in the gem-cutting menu. Filter by stat types (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence) or keywords to uncover hidden synergies. This approach is great for experimenting with unique skill combinations.
12. Save Valuable Orbs for Key Moments
Path of Exile 2 revolves around orbs, powerful currency items that enhance gear or reroll stats. Save Exalted Orbs and other rare items for critical situations. Use them to upgrade your gear when you face tough bosses or get stuck. Resisting the temptation to spend them early for challenging encounters that demand every advantage.
Bonus Tip: Experiment Is Key For Fun
While guides and tips provide structure, Path of Exile 2 is all about experimentation and exploration. Try unconventional builds, trade with others, and push the limits of your creativity. The depth and complexity of POE 2 reward curiosity, it’s designed that way.
The 12 Path of Exile 2 Beginner Tips and Tricks shared here focus on practical strategies to make your journey in the game a breeze. Since these tips are ideal for beginners so make sure you practice a lot to become a pro and understand the unforgiving world of Wraeclast.