User:Bloonpauper/New Player Guide: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:16, 15 August 2023

This is a guide on the subject of introducing new players to Path of Exile.

Last updated on WIP‎.

This is a guide for new players to Path of Exile. No previous experience in any game is required. This guide is intended to be read alongside playing the game - its contents are listed in chronological order of appearance. However, it is not a walkthrough. Seeking an exact guide is not necessary and may be harmful in some situations, but for those interested they may find a reliable content creator on youtube and follow their guides. Any questions not answered by this guide are best asked on the official Discord server.

League selection

The first choice for any new player is to choose their league. A league is effectively the world within the character operates - it is impossible to interact with players or items inbetween leagues, unless it is the character itself that is changing leagues.

It is recommended for first-time players to choose the current challenge league (Crucible at time of writing) and to not select the Solo Self-Found, Hardcore, or Ruthless optional gamemodes.

Solo Self-Found (known as "SSF"): Players in an SSF league cannot join parties with other players or trade with them. Due to the presence of trading in the game's balance, SSF is significantly harder than trade leagues, especially for inexperienced players.

Hardcore (known as "HC"): Players in an HC league will be migrated to their respective SC (Softcore) league on death.

Ruthless: All item drops are far scarcer, many items and passive skills are significantly weaker, and many mechanics are not available. Significantly harder than non-Ruthless. For those overwhelmed by the complexity of the base game, playing in Ruthless may be advisable. Choose at your own discretion.

A visualization of how challenge leagues interact with permanent leagues.

There are two types of leagues: permanent leagues, and challenge leagues. Standard League is the main permanent league; as the term "permanent" suggests, it has been running since the release of the game and will continue indefinitely. As a result of running for so long, it is plagued with vast wealth accumulation, balance issues and a stale economy.

Challenge leagues are introduced every 3-4 months. For those who exclusive play challenge leagues (the vast majority of the player base), they represent a total reset - everyone starts off with the same footing. Along with new unique items, monsters, areas, and balance changes, challenge leagues also introduce a "League Mechanic" exclusive to the league and not available in Standard. At the end of a challenge league's duration, all its characters and items will be moved to Standard.

Class selection

Unless you are following a specific guide, there is no wrong class to choose. Path of Exile offers an unrivalled level of character customization. As a result, there are very few class-specific skills, no class-specific items, and no class-specific playstyles. Any class can do whatever they want. It is recommended to choose whatever class you want - there is no wrong choice.

The Twilight Strand

The Twilight Strand is the very first area in the game. Much of this is covered by the in-game tutorial. However, it introduces several complicated mechanics that may need further explanation.

First, pick up the weapon on the ground next to you. Each class will encounter a different weapon.

Weapon base type

Maruader receives the Driftwood ClubDriftwood ClubOne Handed Mace
Physical Damage: 6-8
Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.45
Weapon Range: 1.1 metres10% reduced Enemy Stun Threshold. It is being used here as an example . The Duelist, Shadow, and Templar's Rusted SwordRusted SwordOne Handed Sword
Physical Damage: 4-9
Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.55
Weapon Range: 1.1 metres40% increased Global Accuracy Rating, Glass ShankGlass ShankDagger
Physical Damage: 6-10
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.50
Weapon Range: 1.0 metres30% increased Global Critical Strike Chance, and Driftwood SceptreDriftwood SceptreSceptre
Physical Damage: 8-11
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.20
Weapon Range: 1.1 metres10% increased Elemental Damage respectively are melee weapons. As such, their stats are mechanically identical to how they are presented here and can be compared as a one-to-one analogue.

Driftwood WandDriftwood WandWand
Physical Damage: 5-9
Critical Strike Chance: 7.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.40(8-12)% increased Spell Damage and Crude BowCrude BowBow
Physical Damage: 5-13
Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.40 are different - they are projectile-based weapons, not melee. Instead of their "Weapon Range" value applying to melee strike attacks, their weapon range values define the base maximum distance (in units) that projectiles fired from them can travel before disappearing.

Driftwood WandDriftwood WandWand
Physical Damage: 5-9
Critical Strike Chance: 7.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.40(8-12)% increased Spell Damage (and to an extent, Driftwood SceptreDriftwood SceptreSceptre
Physical Damage: 8-11
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.20
Weapon Range: 1.1 metres10% increased Elemental Damage) are not only attack weapons - they are also spellcaster weapons. (FireballFireballProjectile, Spell, AoE, Fire
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (6-25) Mana
Cast Time: 0.75 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 370%
Projectile Speed: 1040
AoE Radius: 9Unleashes a ball of fire towards a target which explodes, damaging nearby foes.Deals (9-1640) to (14-2460) Fire Damage
25% chance to Ignite enemies
Base radius is (0.9-1.4) metres

Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
Base radius is (0.01-0.2) metresPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. is a spell.) If you read their stats closely, you may find that the only stat on either item that actually affects spells is the implicit stat! Every other stat (Physical Damage, Critical Strike Chance, Attacks per Second, Weapon Range) is completely irrelevant to spellcasters, as they only affect attacks.

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 First, pick up the [[weapon]] on the ground next to you. Each [[class]] will encounter a different weapon.
-<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
+===Weapon base type===
-===Duelist===
+[[File:Weapon basetype graphic.png|thumb|1000px|left]]
-<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
+[[Maruader]] receives the {{il|Driftwood Club}}. It is being used here as an example . The [[Duelist]], [[Shadow]], and [[Templar]]'s {{il|Rusted Sword}}, {{il|Glass Shank}}, and {{il|Driftwood Sceptre}} respectively are [[melee]] [[weapon]]s. As such, their stats are mechanically identical to how they are presented here and can be compared as a one-to-one analogue.
-The Duelist can find a [[normal]] {{il|Rusted Sword}} lying the ground next to them. A complete breakdown of its stats can be found below.
-<div style='float:left;width:33%;'>
-'''Item name box''': the colour of this box signifies the rarity of the [[item]]. White = [[Normal]], Blue = [[Magic]], Yellow = [[Rare]], Orange = [[Unique]]. [[Rarity|Rarities]] are discussed later.
-----
-'''Base type''': this item’s base type is {{il|Rusted Sword}}. A weapon's item type determines its [[weapon]] type, base [[damage]], base [[critical strike chance]], base [[attack]] speed, base [[weapon range]], and [[implicit]](s).
-----
-'''Weapon type''': this item’s weapon is [[One-Handed Sword]]. An item’s weapon type determines it compatibility with certain [[skill gem]]s and [[support gem]]s, as long with its modifier pool.
-----
-'''Base damage''': this item's base damage is 4-9 [[physical damage]]. [[Attack]]s with this [[weapon]] will use this as their base damage. This is generally the most important stat for attack weapons.
-----
-'''Base critical strike chance''': this item’s base [[critical strike chance]] is 5.00%. [[Attack]]s with this weapon will use this as their base critical strike chance.
-</div>
-<div style=float:left;width:33%;'>
-[[File:Rusted Sword item box screenshot.png|400px]]
-</div>
-<div style=float:right;width:33%;'>
+* {{il|Driftwood Wand}} and {{il|Crude Bow}} are different - they are [[projectile]]-based weapons, not [[melee]]. Instead of their "Weapon Range" value applying to [[melee]] [[strike]] [[attack]]s, their weapon [[range]] values define the base maximum distance (in [[unit]]s) that projectiles fired from them can travel before disappearing.
-'''Base attack speed''': this item’s base [[attack speed]] is 1.55 attacks per second. [[Attacks]] with this weapon will use this as their base attack speed.
-----
+* {{il|Driftwood Wand}} (and to an extent, {{il|Driftwood Sceptre}}) are not only [[attack]] weapons - they are also [[spell]]caster weapons. ({{il|Fireball}} is a spell.) If you read their stats closely, you may find that the only stat on either item that actually affects spells is the implicit stat! Every other stat (Physical Damage, Critical Strike Chance, Attacks per Second, Weapon Range) is '''completely irrelevant''' to spellcasters, as they only affect attacks.
-'''Base weapon range''': this item’s base weapon [[range]] is 11 [[unit]]s of distance. [[Melee]] [[strike]] attacks with this weapon will use this as their base range.
-----
-'''Implicit modifier''': some base types have [[implicit]] [[modifier]]s inherent to them. In this case, {{il|Rusted Sword}} has increases your [[accuracy]]. Accuracy increased your chance to [[hit]] enemies with [[hit]]s.
-----
-'''Base type’s art''': all [[normal]], [[magic]], and [[rare]] [[item]]s of this base type will have the same art. [[Unique]] variants will have unique art.
-</div>
-</div>
-</div>