Path of Exile 2 Early Access Checklist
06.12.2024 - 03:58:34
Game Guides , Path of Exile 2
Are you eager to play Path of Exile 2 Early Access? A lot of people in the community are hyped up and ready to get into the action. But, to ensure a smooth gameplay experience, you might want to read up first!
In this article, we will provide you with the things that you need to do so that your PoE 2 Early Access experience is going to be a great one!
PoE 2 Early Access Checklist
We will first discuss the things not specific to Path of Exile 2, but that we believe are important to tackle ahead of the Early Access launch on December 6. Let’s begin with some technical stuff and we’ll provide you with some gameplay tips later on.
Make Sure to Update Your GPU Drivers
Updating your graphics card drivers is always a good idea because Nvidia, AMD, and Intel deliver security and performance improvements regularly.
If you run into any graphical issues, such as weird glitches, visual artifacts, and overheating issues after the driver update, you can use the Display Driver Uninstaller, more popularly known as DDU.
DDU is best run in safe mode to ensure that every file that pertains to your graphics card driver is removed without a hitch. After the cleaning process, your PC should restart to the desktop, so download the previous driver updates for your graphics card until you find the most recent one that won’t break for you.
Check the System Requirements
The system requirements for Path of Exile 2 are pretty accessible to most people, with the recommended GPUs only being Nvidia RTX 2060 or the AMD Radeon RX5600XT. You can check out the full system specs necessary to run the game by heading to our PoE 2 Early Access FAQ.
Preload the Game
GGG allows you to download the standalone installer for Path of Exile 2 a whole day in advance. Before doing so, make sure that you have at least 100 GB of storage space (yes, the game is that huge). We also recommend that you install the game on an SSD for optimal performance.
Find a Friend to Play With
The hype is real for PoE’s highly anticipated sequel! If you do not want to explore Wraeclast alone, you could search for someone in your community or on the game’s forums and subreddit. There are plenty of people who are willing to enjoy Path of Exile 2 with you.
Or better yet, play the game in Couch Co-op mode. This feature allows you and another person to enjoy PoE2 on the same account. This is good, especially if you are inviting someone who does not have an Early Access key.
Choose the Right Class for You Based on Your Playstyle
Path of Exile 2 Early Access will have six playable classes to choose from at the beginning, with a couple more coming in the next few months.
That said, the right PoE 2 class for you really depends on your playstyle. For melee classes, you have the Warrior and the Monk. The former boasts incredible survivability and damage at the cost of slower attack speed, while the latter is quick and powerful but not as strong defensively.
If you want to cast destructive spells that completely demolish any monster you encounter, then there’s the Witch and Sorceress. The Witch is more of a summoner who can call forth undead minions to do her dirty work. How about the Sorceress? She harnesses the power of the elements to destroy her foes. Both are pretty strong, so it’s just a matter of preference.
Then, you have the ranged specialists: the Mercenary and the Ranger. The Mercenary is an entirely new class in the PoE franchise and is pretty exciting, especially if you want to change firing modes by equipping the right skills.
On the other hand, the Ranger should be quite familiar to you if you have played the first game. This is the quintessential ranged class in PoE 2 that utilizes the iconic bow and arrow to eliminate enemies from a distance.
Your Base Class Determines Your Path of Ascension
Path of Exile 2 ascendancy classes are subclasses that possess a unique set of abilities, with effects that you cannot find anywhere else.
The base class you choose is important because they only have a couple of ascendancy classes they can advance to.
Speaking of which, here is a rundown of the ascendancy classes that are available in PoE 2 Early Access:
Warrior
- Titan
- Warbringer
Ranger
- Pathfinder
- Deadeye
Witch
- Bloodmage
- Infernalist
Sorceress
- Chronomancer
- Stormweaver
Monk
- Acolyte of Chayula
- Invoker
Mercenary
- Witchhunter
- Gemling Legionnaire
Gameplay Tips
So you’ve finally downloaded the game and are ready to boot up, what should you do next? Well, it’s time for you to get in and conquer Wraeclast! Path of Exile 2 Early Access only has three acts, by the way. You have to finish them twice, with the second playthrough being set in “Cruel Difficulty.”
As you can tell, playing PoE 2 on that difficulty level is not a walk in the park. That’s why you need to learn these gameplay tips to ensure that you won’t die often, particularly when you are engaging with any of the endgame systems.
Use the ‘Dodge Roll’ Often
The Dodge Roll is one of the best new features in Path of Exile 2. This allows you to move out of harm’s way by performing a quick roll in a specified direction by pressing the spacebar. The initial frames of the Dodge Roll are important because they let you know whether you have successfully avoided the incoming attack or not.
In addition, the Dodge Roll can be used to cancel attack and skill animations. For instance, if your basic attacks allow you to swing your weapon five times in succession, you can use the Dodge Roll on the third hit to cancel the combo. This is pretty useful for the Warrior class due to his naturally slow attack speed compared to others.
Although there is no doubt that you’ll utilize the Dodge Roll frequently in the game, you must be aware of its limitations. For one, the distance it covers is the same as when you just run normally to the destination. More importantly, it only enables you to avoid attacks and projectiles; not spells and powerful slams.
You see, bosses in Path of Exile 2 have abilities that cannot be evaded with the Dodge Roll. Fortunately, most of those moves are highly telegraphed, which means that there are clear visual indicators to let you know when to move away as far as possible.
Experiment with Different Support Gems
It is common knowledge by now that Path of Exile 2 is vastly different from its predecessor. One area where this is evident is that you can only use a single copy of a support gem on your PoE 2 build. Because of this limitation, you have to think out of the box and come up with some crazy gem setups that work for you.
If you are new to the game and would like some assistance regarding this matter, the Gemcutting Menu has an option at the bottom of the UI that conveniently presents you with the most viable support gems for your active skills.
If you are confident about your knowledge of the game and you want to try different support gems that are not on the list, simply uncheck the option highlighted in red. Doing so will present you with all of the support gems that you’ve unlocked so far.
Movement Speed Mod on Boots is Important
No matter what stage you are in the game, always make it a point that your equipped boots have a movement speed modifier. Why is that important, you ask? As we have said earlier, there are some attacks that you simply cannot evade even with a perfectly timed Dodge Roll.
With a movement speed bonus, you can run faster and avoid being in the area of effect when the slam is about to hit the ground.
Always Upgrade Your Equipment Whenever You Can
Path of Exile 2 has mechanisms in place to help you explore and experiment with the new things that the game has to offer. In the first game, you’d have to be stingy about spending your PoE Currency because you only have a finite amount of resources early on. However, this is no longer an issue in the sequel.
GGG promised that there is plenty of currency to go around in PoE 2 Early Access. Gold, being one of the newest resources introduced in the franchise, can be spent to refund skill points and buy new equipment. Emphasis on the last part because we encourage you to spend gold whenever you visit a new town.
In addition, some vendors may put up some items that you can gamble for a price. These things are unidentified, so there is a chance that you get a crappy item that deserves to be disenchanted. However, there is also a possibility that you will acquire something that can be utilized well into the endgame.
Don’t Forget About Your Defenses
Oftentimes, players would just equip whatever weapon and item they can get their hands on, so long as they provide a huge damage boost. But don’t be like that because defenses in Path of Exile 2 are crucial for your survival.
The most important defensive layer that needs to be sorted out is your resistance. Aim to achieve at least 75% on all of your resistances, including fire, cold, lightning, and chaos. Elemental damage and chaos damage hit hard, so it is essential that you wear the necessary items to reach the soft cap.
Next is armor, evasion, and energy shield. While all classes in the game can wear anything as long as the attribute requirements are met, you have to choose the right type of gear that goes in line with your PoE 2 build.
For example, the Warrior class benefits from armor-based equipment because his position on the passive tree gives him easy access to nodes that boost armor in some capacity.
The Ranger, which starts at the right side of the passive tree, can get to evasion-boosting nodes without spending too many points. Therefore, you have to make them wear pieces of gear that have evasion as their main defensive layer.
For spellcasters, they begin at the top portion of the passive tree. This side of the tree is abundant in energy shield nodes, so it stands to reason that you equip them with ES-based gear for maximum results.
How about the hybrid classes like the Monk and Mercenary? Well, where they are situated on the passive tree should give you an idea of which gear is best suited for them.
Spend Crafting Currencies Without Fear
Unlike in the first game, Path of Exile 2 is going to have an abundance of certain PoE 2 Currency items, such as the Orb of Transmutation, Orb of Augmentation, Regal Orb, and Exalted Orb. These give you the ability to craft your starter pieces of gear.
What you need to do is get a suitable piece of gear to craft on. If you want to craft a helmet, for example, compare similar items and use the one that has the highest base defense. Make sure that this item has a Normal rarity, which is denoted by the white text on its description.
After that, use the first two orbs mentioned earlier to turn the original into a magic item with two random modifiers. The Regal Orb is next. This PoE2 currency transforms the previously crafted item into a Rare Item that can now have up to six different mods.
Of course, the Regal Orb only adds one modifier, so you finish the crafting project by spending a few Exalted Orbs. Take note that the item you have just crafted will come with random modifiers. That is why you need to craft several more times to get the right item for your build.
The Passive Tree is Easier to Navigate Than You Think
In case you’re unaware, PoE 2 has over 1,500 nodes on the passive tree. If you judge it simply by that amount, there’s no wonder why you’re intimidated by it. However, once you sit down and take the time to analyze the passive tree, you will discover that it is not really that difficult to understand.
GGG went far and beyond to make the game more accessible to a lot of players, new and veterans alike. You can see this by looking at the starting positions of each class on the passive tree. The path is pretty much laid out for you; all you need to think about is what nodes benefit your Path of Exile 2 build more than others.
If there comes a time when you get lost, use the search function and type the specific modifier or effect that you need. Doing this will highlight the appropriate nodes on the passive tree, so you can plot the best course without spending points needlessly.
Hunt the Bosses Down
If you haven’t heard already, bosses are no longer found on every single map in the endgame. Instead, there are dedicated areas specifically made for bosses. These boss maps are indicated by a skull icon when looking at the Atlas.
Why is it necessary to hunt and kill the bosses in Path of Exile 2? The answer is simple: they drop consumable items that grant permanent bonuses to your character, such as increased Spirit, additional weapon set passive skills, etc.
Before you wield your weapons, hone your abilities, and go pick a fight with the bosses, there are some important things to keep in mind. First and foremost, you have to do everything in your power to survive. That is because dying in maps, in general, will result in a loss.
With only one chance to be successful, what should you do if you find out mid-fight that you are not strong enough to defeat the boss yet? The good news is that there is an option that lets you go back to the last checkpoint. This is done by pressing the ESC key on the keyboard or the menu button when playing the game on consoles.
Once you’ve exited the boss map, you have to train, level up, and improve your gear so that the next time you fight them, the odds will be in your favor.
Buy Stash Tabs
There are just so many items in Path of Exile 2 that the default stash tabs you have at the start are not going to cut it. If you only have so much money in your pocket and you want to spend it on something worthwhile, then we highly recommend that you get additional stash tabs.
Now, there are regular stash tabs and there are premium stash tabs as well. Regular stash tabs are just your ordinary storage spaces that let you put items in. The premium stash tabs, on the other hand, enable you to put items up for sale, which other people can find on PoE Trade.
That said, purchase a couple of regular stash tabs and at least one premium stash tab to store all your valuable belongings.
Set Up a Loot Filter
According to the community, you can actually set up and use a custom loot filter as early as December 6, when Path of Exile 2 Early Access is launched.
For the uninitiated, a loot filter (aka item filter) essentially hides the most useless items from your view so that all you’re left with are the more valuable ones.
Aside from that, a loot filter can be customized to your liking. You can include new items, add lights/sounds, and even change the color of the item borders to make them more prominent.
While you are given the power to tweak your own item filter, it is a bit cumbersome to do it on your own. If you can wait a bit longer, the talented members of the PoE Community will create one for public consumption.
Final Thoughts
Path of Exile 2 Early Access is going to be a game-of-the-year contender for sure. GGG has packed a lot of content into its ARPG and it’s still in open beta!
Having said that, we hope that our PoE 2 Early Access Checklist has helped you get the most out of this awesome game.
Be sure to check out our website often for more Path of Exile 2 guides.