Path of Exile 2: Ultimate Guide & Tips

Quick Links

• Getting Started & PoE 2 Beginner Tips

  • Game Information
  • Controls & Settings
  • Beginner Tips For PoE 2

• PoE 2 Game Mechanics & Systems

  • Character Stats & Skill Points
  • Gameplay Mechanics
  • Skills, Gems, Jewels, & Runes

• Classes, Ascendancies, & Builds

  • PoE 2 Class Guides
  • Ascendancies
  • PoE 2 Build Guides

• PoE 2 Currencies & Gear

  • Upgrades & Improvements
  • PoE 2 Currencies
  • Gear & Equipment

• Quest & Boss Walkthroughs

  • Act One
  • Act Two
  • Act Three

• PoE 2 Endgame Guides

  • Endgame Tips & Mechanics
  • Endgame Features & Leagues

• Advanced PoE 2 Tips & Other Guides

  • Advanced PoE 2 Guides

Path of Exile 2, developed and published by Grinding Gear Games, launched into Early Access on December 6, 2024. A sequel to the original Path of Exile, PoE 2 is a standalone title offering a revamped ARPG experience with evolved yet familiar mechanics and progression.

Path of Exile 2's complexity, particularly its extensive skill tree, can be daunting for newcomers to ARPGs or the Path of Exile series. This comprehensive guide hub provides complete coverage of Game Rant's PoE 2 guides, including pre-game information, game mechanic explanations (like Currencies), quest and boss walkthroughs, and much more.

This guide is a living document and will be continuously updated as Early Access progresses and the full game releases in 2025.

• Getting Started & PoE 2 Beginner Tips

  Before diving into Path of Exile 2, familiarize yourself with the game's meta, learn optimization strategies, and pick up helpful tips for a smoother start.

  These guides provide essential information about Path of Exile 2, such as max level, estimated completion time, microtransaction details, and answers to frequently asked questions. Beginner tips will help new players navigate the game effectively.

  This section also covers in-game options and settings, including optimal PC graphics settings, basic combat controls (dodging, movement), and other guides to enhance your gameplay experience.

  • Game Information

    • Burning Questions, Answered

    • All Early Access Supporter Packs & Rewards

    • How To Change Character Leagues

    • How To Get Points

    • Best Stash Tabs to Buy

    • How Long to Beat

    • Biggest Improvements Over The First Game

    • Max Level & Leveling Milestones

    • Is There Level Scaling

    • How to Claim Early Access Twitch Drops

  • Controls & Settings

    • Best PC Settings For Path of Exile 2

    • How To Dodge & Block

    • How To Change Weapons In Combat

    • How To Bind Skills

    • How to Change Movement Input

    • How To Link Items To Chat

    • How To Hide The Chat

    • How To Enable/Disable Crossplay

  • Beginner Tips For PoE 2

    • 10 Beginner Tips

    • Where To Buy Scrolls Of Wisdom

    • What To Do With Extra Loot

    • Best Classes For Beginners, Ranked

    • How to Get Gold Fast

    • How To Play With Friends

    • What To Spend Gold On First

• PoE 2 Game Mechanics & Systems

  Path of Exile 2's complexity stems from its numerous interconnected mechanics. While retaining familiar elements from the first game, PoE 2 introduces significant new mechanics, making it feel fresh and distinct.

  These guides detail your character's stats, core combat and non-combat mechanics, and the new Skills and Sockets systems.

  • Character Stats & Skill Points

    • Character Attributes, Explained

    • How To Get More Passive Skill Points

    • How To Respec Passive Skill Points

    • How To Use The Passive Skill Filter

    • Weapon Set Points, Explained

    • Spirit Resource, Explained

    • How To Increase Spirit

    • How To Increase Movement Speed

    • How To Raise Max Mana

    • Energy Shield Explained

    • What Does Accuracy Do

    • Best Resistances To Upgrade

  • Gameplay Mechanics

    • How To Fast Travel

    • How To Identify Items For Free

    • How to Trade

    • All Ailments Explained

    • What Are Instances

    • How To Stun Enemies

    • How To Aim Skills

    • Armour Break, Explained

    • All Crowd Control Effects

    • How To Create & Join Guilds

    • How Does Arcane Surge Work

    • How Do Power Charges Work?

    • Death Penalty, Explained

    • How Do Herald Of Ice And Thunder Work

  • Skills, Gems, Jewels, & Runes

    • How To Equip Support Gems

    • How To Get More Support Gems

    • How To Equip & Use Runes

    • Jewel Sockets, Explained

    • How To Get More Uncut Spirit Gems

    • How to Get Raging Spirits

• Classes, Ascendancies, & Builds

  Classes are foundational in PoE 2, influencing your build's direction. Each Class starts at a different point on the Passive Skill Tree, suggesting synergy with specific passive skills.

  While 12 Classes are planned, Early Access features six. The Ascendancy system provides each Class with powerful, permanent Skill Trees supplementing the Passive Skill Tree.

  These guides cover the six (and eventually twelve) Classes, the Ascendancy system, Ascendancy class-specific tips, and recommended builds.

  • PoE 2 Class Guides

    • Best Classes, Ranked

    • Best Solo Class

    • How To Swap Mercenary Ammo Types

    • How To Summon More Minions

    • How Does Aftershock Work?

    • How Does Rage Work

  • Ascendancies

    • All Class Ascendancies (& Ascendancy Nodes)

    • How To Unlock Ascension Classes

  • PoE 2 Build Guides

    • Monk Leveling Build Guide

    • Tempest Flurry Invoker Build

    • Mercenary Leveling Guide

    • Sorceress Leveling Build

    • Rolling Slam Warrior Leveling Build

    • Warrior Leveling Guide

    • Witch Leveling Guide

• PoE 2 Currencies & Gear

  Gear is paramount in PoE 2. While powerful gear drops from enemies, the crafting system, driven by Currencies, allows for significant upgrades.

  Currencies upgrade item rarity, add modifiers, reroll existing modifiers, and more. These guides explain the PoE 2 crafting and upgrade system, Currencies, gear farming strategies, and obtaining items like Charms.

  • Upgrades & Improvements

    • How To Upgrade Item Rarity

    • How To Upgrade & Refill Potions

    • How to Add Sockets to Gear

    • How To Upgrade Armor & Weapon Quality

    • How To Reroll Gear Modifiers

  • PoE 2 Currencies

    • All Currency Items & Effects

    • How To Unlock & Use Salvage Bench

    • How To Unlock & Use Currency Exchange

    • How To Find Out Current Path of Exile 2 Currency Exchange Rates

    • How To Unlock & Use Reforging Bench

    • How To Get Orb of Chance

    • How To Get Divine Orb

    • How to Get Greater Jeweller's Orb

  • Gear & Equipment

    • How to Farm Gear Early

    • How To Get Uniques

    • Charm System, Explained

    • How To Equip & Upgrade Charms

    • Stellar Amulets Explained

    • How to Get Ingenuity Utility Belt

    • How to Get Hand of Wisdom and Action

• Quest & Boss Walkthroughs

  The full release of Path of Exile 2 will include six Acts, with endgame content starting after Act 6. Early Access features three Acts, repeating on Cruel difficulty, leading to the endgame and Atlas map progression.

  These guides provide walkthroughs for quests and bosses encountered throughout the game.

  • All Main Quests and Acts

  • All Permanent Bonuses from the Campaign

  • Act One

    • Where To Find The Devourer (Treacherous Ground Quest)

    • Secrets In The Dark Quest Walkthrough

    • Where to Find Renly's Tools (Finding the Forge)

    • Where To Find Una’s Lute

    • How to Beat Draven, The Eternal Praetor

    • How to Beat Count Geonor, The Putrid Wolf

  • Act Two

    • Rathbreaker Boss Guide & Strategies

    • Ancient Vows Quest Guide

    • How to Beat Balbala

    • How to Beat The King in the Mists

    • What To Do With Golden Idols

    • Ascent To Power Walkthrough

    • Sisters of Garukhan Guide

  • Act Three

    • How to Use the Sacrificial Heart

    • Treasures of Utzaal Quest

    • How to Find and Beat Mighty Silverfist

    • What To Do With Mushrooms

    • The Slithering Dead Quest Guide

• PoE 2 Endgame Guides

  After completing the main campaign (and Cruel difficulty), players enter the endgame, unlocking new mechanics and activities.

  While Trials offer Ascendancy points, the endgame revolves around the Atlas system, allowing exploration of infinitely-generated maps of increasing difficulty.

  These guides detail endgame systems, including unlocking the Endgame, the Atlas, and other endgame activities.

  • Endgame Tips & Mechanics

    • How To Unlock Cruel Difficulty & Endgame

    • Advanced Tips For PoE 2 Endgame

    • How To Get & Upgrade Waystones

    • How to Sustain Waystones While Mapping

    • Best Atlas Skill Tree Setup

    • How to Unlock Hideout

    • How To Find More Citadels

  • Endgame Features & Leagues

    • Atlas Of Worlds Guide – Maps, Events, & More

    • Realmgate Explained

    • Breach Guide – Passives, Rewards, & Tips

    • Delirium Guide – Fog Mechanics, Passives, & Rewards

    • Ritual Guide – Passives, Tributes, And Favours

    • Expedition Guide – Passives, Artifacts, & Rewards

    • Burning Monolith Explained

    • Trial of Chaos Guide

    • Trial of the Sekhemas Guide

• Advanced PoE 2 Tips & Other Guides

  For players seeking to maximize their experience, these advanced tips and guides offer strategies for late-game and endgame optimization.

  These guides cover topics relevant to late and endgame, such as Loot Filters and advanced trading strategies.

  • Advanced PoE 2 Guides

    • How to Get XP Fast (Level Up Fast)

    • How to Use Loot Filters

    • How to Get Loot Filters on Console

    • Sidekick Features & Installation Guide

    • How to Use FilterBlade

    • Things You Should Not Buy From Merchants

    • Things You Should Not Sell To Merchants

    • How To Get More Character Slots