Guide:Diablo Player's Guide to Path of Exile

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This is a guide on the subject of getting started in Path of Exile from a Diablo player's perspective.

Last updated on August 16, 2023‎.

For those familiar with Diablo 4, Diablo 3, and/or Diablo 2/LOD (or any other ARPG), here's a guide that will get you playing Path of Exile in no time!

Cost & Monetization

Path of Exile is a free free-to-play game supported by:

  • Microtransactions:
    • Available in the store and are either cosmetic or provide additional/utility stash tabs and character/guild slots.
    • Additional stash tabs cannot be earned in-game and must be purchased through microtransactions.
  • Supporter packs:
    • Supporter packs can be considered similar to Kickstarter backer tiers, with various tiers offering different rewards. They come with microtransaction points and a variety of cosmetic items.
    • League Packs are released with each new league.
    • Core Packs are released each year. The highest tier Core supporter packs includes the ability to create user-submitted items for the game.
  • The Kirac's Vault Pass:
    • A battle-pass system with a free and paid/premium track.
    • All premium items are cosmetic.

Tip: For higher levels of play, some amount of stash tab purchases are considered mandatory due to the amount of items the player has to manage.

Game Modes

When you create a new character, you specify what league you want them to join, which is essentially the game type.

League Types

Path of Exile is split into two main league types: standard leagues and challenge leagues.

Challenge leagues are seasonal leagues that introduce a new, unique game mechanic on top of the main game. Each challenge league starts with a fresh economy and runs for approximately 3-4 months. Challenge leagues come with a list of challenges that reward you with in-game cosmetics for completing a certain amount of them. All characters - and items in their inventory and stash - are moved to their respective "base" leagues when the challenge league ends.

League Modifiers

Each leagues also come with three optional modifiers:

  • Hardcore: On death, your character is moved to the Standard league (dying in a Hardcore challenge league moves you to Standard, not the Challenge league).
  • Solo Self Found (SSF): Prevents trading and partying with other players. Players can choose to move a SSF character into their base league.
  • Ruthless: An extra-hard game mode that introduces extreme item scarcity and other gameplay modifiers to slow progression and increase difficulty. Hardcore Ruthless characters are moved to the Void league on death.

Characters can be moved between leagues (usually towards the Standard league) when certain events happen. Usually, at the end of a ladder race/reset, characters are moved back to Standard so they can keep being played after the event. There are prizes for events, usually cosmetic microtransactions items.

Timed Events

The game occasionally holds events near the end of PoE league seasons. These events are short-term leagues with special gameplay modifiers, usually lasting 1-2 weeks. They require creating a new character and most of these events do not let the character carry over to Standard.

Ladder

Each league has it's own ladder for the first players to reach level 100 or the highest level character.

Multiplayer

Main page: partying

Parties allow up to six people to play together. Players can create or join public parties and private parties. Monsters receive buffs and more loot is dropped which is instanced to each player. Experience is shared with the party. There is no level scaling in the game.

PvP

While supported in the game, PvP is not emphasized much in POE. The main way players can experience PvP is by selecting another player and requesting a duel.

Tip: It is generally recommended that players start in the Challenge League without any modifiers. This provides the latest content and the most active player base.

Classes

Main page: character class

There are currently seven base classes to choose from. Skills are not tied to classes. Your class selection has three major impacts:

  • The skills you are given during the campaign. But ultimately you can purchase any skill in the game later on.
  • Your position in the passive skill tree and ascendancy class. This will have an effect on which builds are best for the character.
  • How your character looks in-game.

Due to the amount of skill customization, there is little guidance on the "best" way to play a class. Many skills are good for each class. And for a particular build, multiple classes might make viable variations of the build.

The available classes are:

Each level up gives a passive skill point, and a bonus to Life, Accuracy and Mana.

The level cap is 100, but a maximum of 123 Passive skill points can be obtained through completing side quests.

Tip: It is generally recommended that players pick whichever class they find most interesting. Every class has a viable end-game build.

Ascendancy Class

The most exclusive difference between the classes is their choice of Ascendancy class. In later acts, completing The Labyrinth will allow you to choose one of three Ascendancy sub-classes. Each of these classes grant access to powerful and unique passives to ultimately specialize your characters. While the choices in each Ascendancy are still versatile enough for any build to take advantage of, it's advisable to take a look at them first if you have a certain type of build in mind. Unlike base class, it is possible to switch Ascendancies, although it takes a fair amount of refund points.

Passives

The official website provides an overview of the skill tree.

Characters use their passive skill points to select nodes containing statistical bonuses. However, these nodes are organized into a large sequential tree. The tree may seem a little intimidating at first, but it may make things easier with the following tips.

There are no full respecs in Path of Exile. Respec points are available through completing quests and spending Orb of RegretOrb of RegretStack Size: 40Grants a passive skill refund pointRight click on this item to use it. currency items, but these are pricey. If you find yourself built in a corner, it can sometimes be quicker and easier to just reroll (start over).

Tip: Due to the high cost of respecing, pre-planning is necessary. Many new players have found build guides to be invaluable at ensuring their first character remains viable until later in the game.

Starting Area

Every class has a specific starting area on the skill tree. Starting at the top and working clockwise, there's the Witch, the Shadow, the Ranger, the Duelist, the Marauder, the Templar, and finally the Scion at the center. Most characters usually spread themselves out from one area to another, depending on the nodes available and the bonuses relevant to that player and the skills they have chosen to play with.

Clusters

Most nodes are grouped together in clusters, on a carved stony disc. All the nodes on the disc share a common theme, sometimes indicated with a central icon.

  • All clusters also have a notable passive, a special node rimmed in gold that is more powerful than normal nodes. Due to these powerful bonuses, they are important targets of a character build. Together with the other passives leading up to them, they can become quite powerful.
  • Once you take a notable passive, you can allocate a point into a mastery passive from the category based on what stat the cluster grants. Mastery passives are generally more desirable for their more unique properties than a raw stat boost, making them powerful when built around.

Pathing

Approximately 30% of the skill tree is composed of nodes that grant +10 to one of the three base stats. These nodes are relatively low power, so efficient paths around the tree are needed to create powerful builds. Any savings on pathing will help put more points into the other types of nodes. Even if this makes the initial route to some groupings somewhat circuitous, every single passive point counts.

Keystones

A Keystones node appears as a very large node in the tree. They are special and very powerful nodes that change a game mechanic for your character. These nodes are generally a trade-off which will synergizes with parts of your build. For example:

Jewels

There are some nodes in the passive tree that can socket Jewels once allocated. Jewels are small passive skill trees as items. They generally won't be a major part of your build early on. Non-unique jewels can be crafted to provide a wide range of bonuses, making them very flexible. Some unique jewels affect or are affected by nearby passive nodes within a specified radius, and some may grant an effect to certain skills. The outermost jewel sockets can support cluster jewels, which grant an entire cluster of passives.

Skills

Main page: skill gem

Skills in Path of Exile take the form of gems to be socketed into items. Gems are either active skill gems or support gems. Active skill gems represent skills you actively use, while support gems augment those active skill gems when linked. Most support gems raise the mana cost or mana reservation of the active skill(s) they are linked with. A subset of skills have a cooldown, but most are restricted by their resource cost.

There is no restrictions on how skills are organized on your skill bar.

Some examples of active skill gems augmented with support gems:

  • 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: 9
    Unleashes 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) metres
    Place into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
    linked with Lesser Multiple Projectiles SupportLesser Multiple Projectiles SupportSupport, Projectile
    Icon: l
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%
    Requires Level 8Supports projectile skills.Supported Skills deal (15-6)% less Projectile Damage
    Supported Skills fire 2 additional Projectiles

    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    Supported Skills deal (0.5-10)% increased Projectile Damage
    This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
    and Increased Area of Effect SupportIncreased Area of Effect SupportSupport, AoE
    Icon: E
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%
    Requires Level 38Supports any skill with an area of effect.Supported Skills have (30-49)% increased Area of Effect

    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    Supported Skills deal (0.5-10)% increased Area Damage
    This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
    fires multiple fireballs that explode in a larger than normal AoE.
  • Link Life Gain on Hit SupportLife Gain on Hit SupportAttack, Support
    Icon: h
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%
    Requires Level 8Supports attack skills.(6-44) Life gained per Enemy Hit with Supported Attacks

    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    (0.5-10) Life gained per Enemy Hit with Supported Attacks
    This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
    to CleaveCleaveAttack, AoE, Physical, Melee
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost: 6 Mana
    Attack Speed: 80% of base
    Attack Damage: (125-237)% of base
    Effectiveness of Added Damage: (125-237)%
    AoE Radius: 20
    The character swings their weapon (or both weapons if dual wielding) in an arc, damaging monsters in an area in front of them. Only works with Axes and Swords.When Dual Wielding, Deals 60% Damage from each Weapon combined
    (2-75) to (3-113) Added Attack Physical Damage
    +(0-1) metre to radius

    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    +0.1 metres to radius per Nearby Enemy, up to a maximum of +1 metre
    Place into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
    gem to regain life for every enemy hit by Cleave.
  • Combine Detonate DeadDetonate DeadSpell, AoE, Fire
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost: (5-20) Mana
    Cast Time: 0.60 sec
    Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
    Effectiveness of Added Damage: 160%
    AoE Radius: 22
    Requires Level 4Targets a corpse, and deals spell damage to enemies around the corpse, as well as causing the corpse to explode, dealing fire damage. The explosion is not affected by modifiers to spell damage and cannot be reflected.Deals (15-798) to (22-1197) Fire Damage
    Explosion deals base Fire Damage equal to (6-7.9)% of the corpse's Maximum Life
    Base radius is (2.2-2.6) metres

    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    (0.75-15)% chance to detonate an additional corpse
    Place into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
    with Spell Totem SupportSpell Totem SupportSupport, Spell, Totem
    Icon: T
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 200%
    Requires Level 8Supports spell skills that are not triggered. Instead of casting that spell, you will summon a totem that casts the spell for you.Supported Skills deal (49-40)% less Damage
    Supported Skills will summon a Totem which uses that Skill
    Totem lasts 8 seconds
    Supported Skills have 40% less Cast Speed

    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    Supported Skills have (0.5-10)% increased Totem Placement speed
    This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
    to have a totem which casts the spell for you so you can focus on other things.
  • Link Ice SpearIce SpearCritical, Spell, Projectile, Cold
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost: (8-23) Mana
    Cast Time: 0.70 sec
    Critical Strike Chance: 7.00%
    Effectiveness of Added Damage: 130%
    Projectile Speed: 1000
    Requires Level 12Launches shards of ice in rapid succession. After travelling a short distance they change to a second form, which moves much faster and pierces through enemies.Deals (22-568) to (33-852) Cold Damage
    Fires 2 Projectiles
    Second form has 600% increased Critical Strike Chance
    Second form has +(30-49)% to Critical Strike Multiplier
    Second form has 300% more Projectile Speed

    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    Second form has +(2-40)% to Critical Strike Multiplier
    Place into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
    with Greater Multiple Projectiles SupportGreater Multiple Projectiles SupportSupport, Projectile
    Icon: P
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 150%
    Requires Level 38Supports projectile skills.Supported Skills deal (35-26)% less Projectile Damage
    Supported Skills fire 4 additional Projectiles

    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    Supported Skills deal (0.5-10)% increased Projectile Damage
    This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
    and Elemental Proliferation SupportElemental Proliferation SupportCold, Fire, Lightning, Support, AoE
    Icon: S
    Level: (1-20)
    Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 110%
    Supports any skill that hits enemies, or could otherwise apply elemental ailments.(0-19)% increased Duration of Elemental Ailments on Enemies
    Elemental Ailments inflicted by Supported Skills spread to other enemies within (1.2-1.5) metres
    Supported Skills have 20% chance to Freeze, Shock and Ignite

    Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
    (0.5-10)% increased Duration of Elemental Ailments on Enemies
    This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
    to fire multiple ice projectiles which freeze enemies and have the freeze effect spread to nearby foes.

Attack skills generally take weapon base damage into consideration. Spells, traps, spell-casting totems, and mine skills usually do not (like Diablo 2).

Early on, you'll mainly get active skill gems as quest rewards or as purchases through the accessories vendor (sell page 2) after completing certain quests. You'll also find them as a normal item drop. Even though any class can use any gem, the selection of gems offered to you as a reward or for purchase will depend on your chosen class.

The maximum number of possible linked sockets is six. This means one active skill gem can usually be supported by a maximum of five support gems. Six-linked items are expensive and hard to come by.

Tip: High-level, synergistic, 6-linked skill gems are one of the most powerful tools for a successful build.

Skill Requirements

Each support gem has a set of conditions associated with it. When you mouse over it, these conditions are listed in the green text of the gem's description. You can use these to determine which support gems can affect which active skill gems. For example, Fire Penetration SupportFire Penetration SupportFire, Support
Icon: V
Level: (1-20)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%
Requires Level 31Supports any skill that hits enemies, making those hits penetrate enemy fire resistance.Supported Skills Penetrate (20-34)% Fire Resistance

Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
Supported Skills deal (0.5-10)% increased Fire Damage
This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
supports any skill that hits enemies and causes those skills to penetrate enemy resistances. 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: 9
Unleashes 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) metres
Place into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.
deals fire damage by hitting enemies. This means that the Fire Penetration support gem will affect the active skill Fireball and improve Fireball's fire damage. Support gems do not directly affect other support gems.

Additionally, skills in PoE aren't class-specific but have required attributes needed to equip them. A skill gem must be socketed into an equipped item with the particular socket color to use that skill.

There are three overarching categories, represented by colors, of active skill and support gems:

  • Red colored gems, which require mostly strength.
  • Green colored gems, which require mostly dexterity.
  • Blue colored gems, which require mostly intelligence.

Leveling Gems

As you fight, both active skill gems and support gems gain experience and can be leveled up to increase the gem's potency. Gems stop gaining experience at level 20, and pushing them higher will require more exceptional means, like Vaal Orbs or Empower SupportEmpower SupportExceptional, Support
Icon: +
Level: (1-3)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%
Supports any skill gem. Once this gem reaches level 2 or above, will raise the level of supported gems. Cannot support skills that don't come from gems.+(0-2) to Level of Supported Skill Gems

Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality:
This Gem gains (5-100)% increased Experience
This is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket.
. Gems must be socketed into an equipped item for them to gain experience when you fight. Gems socketed to equipment in on your weapon swap slot also gain experience.

As the gems level up, their respective attribute requirement amounts will increase as well.

You may also choose not to level up a gem in some cases:

  • You are not yet able to satisfy the increased stat requirements of the higher gem level.
  • You cannot yet support the increased mana cost of the higher gem level.
  • The active skill gem has a linked support gem with a max supportable gem level requirement.
  • You want to pass it on to another character which might be lower level.

Campaign

There are currently 10 acts in the game. Acts are split into two parts, with Part II revisiting Wraeclast in a changed environment.

There is no level scaling in Path of Exile. Each zone you load into will have an indication of the expected monster level. This will go up as you progress through the campaign.

Completion of Act 5/Part I and again in Act 10/Part II of the campaign will result in a permanent penalty to player resistances which will need to be accounted for in a player's build.

Speed

There is no way to skip the campaign, but it generally takes a lot less time to finish than the Diablo 4 campaign. The fastest POE racers finish the Campaign in under 4 hrs. Most players can expect to clear the campaign within the first week of a new league with casual play.

There are no mounts in POE. However, player movement speed is an attribute which most players invest in and can become quite fast. There are also a number of movement abilities which will increase the players ability to move.

Choices During the Campaign

Special mention should go to the Deal with the Bandits quest in Act 2. For this questline, there are four possible rewards, depending on which bandit to help or if you decide to kill them all. This quest reward is particularly important as it gives your character a permanent stat boost or two skill points. Generally speaking, if you don't know which reward is the best, kill all the bandits for the skill points. Helping Alira is an option if your build relies on critical strikes and mana regen for sustaining skill use, but the extra skill points offers more flexibility.

The choice is not permanent, as it is possible to change the reward from this quest later on.

Extra Campaign Content

There is a significant amount of content that can be encountered as the campaign progresses. This content is typically from a previous league which has been modified and added to the base game. All of this content is optional. This takes the form of:

Gear

Like most ARPGs, Path of Exile's progression is heavily tied to your gear, but the game also places great emphasis on crafting your own gear as much as finding them. Every non-unique item can be modified, becoming better or worse in the process. Almost all of Path of Exile's crafting is non-deterministic and involves some luck or uncertainty in achieving a desired outcome.

Magic items can have one prefix and suffix mod, and Rare items can have up to three of each. Certain item bases also have an implicit mod, which are separate bonuses from affixes. While some Unique Items can be powerful in their own right or when built around, a well-rolled Rare item can outperform them in general cases. This is similar to Uniques in Diablo.

You can view an item's detailed stats by holding 'Alt' (by default) over the item. It will list detailed stats on the item, including the list of affixes and what each of them provide.

There is no salvaging of items in PoE. There is no durability of items in PoE.

Tip: The best builds are composed of rare items with attributes (implicits, prefixes and suffixes) that synergize with their build, and selective use of Unique items which are generally weaker than rare items but provide a powerful and unique effect.

Quality

Items have Quality up to a maximum of 20% without special modification. Quality effects are as follows:

  • Weapons - Increases their base physical damage
  • Armors - Increases their base defense values
  • Flasks - Increases the amount recovered or increases their duration
  • Gems - Enhances the skill in various ways

Currency

Main page: Currency

There's no gold in PoE. Items are bought and sold for a variety of currency items. The two most common currency items used by players are Chaos OrbChaos OrbStack Size: 20Reforges a rare item with new random modifiersRight click this item then left click a rare item to apply it. (commonly referred to as "c" or "100c") and the higher value Divine OrbDivine OrbStack Size: 20Randomises the values of the random modifiers on an itemRight click this item then left click a magic, rare or unique item to apply it. (commonly referred to as "d" or "1.5d").

Any loot you find can be sold to a vendor or traded to another player (with some minor exceptions). Vendors will trade you Scroll FragmentsScroll FragmentStack Size: 5A stack of 5 fragments becomes a Scroll of Wisdom., Transmutation ShardsTransmutation ShardStack Size: 20A stack of 20 shards becomes an Orb of Transmutation., Alteration ShardsAlteration ShardStack Size: 20A stack of 20 shards becomes an Orb of Alteration. or Alchemy ShardsAlchemy ShardStack Size: 20A stack of 20 shards becomes an Orb of Alchemy. for it, depending on the rarity of the sold loot. These shards and fragments are of low value, but can be combined into orbs and scrolls that can be helpful in progressing through the campaign. See the vendor recipe system for more information.

These are the most important currency items for beginners to know about:

Scroll of WisdomScroll of WisdomStack Size: 40Identifies an itemRight click this item then left click an unidentified item to apply it. Identifies an unidentified item
Portal ScrollPortal ScrollStack Size: 40Creates a portal to townRight click on this item to use it. Opens a portal to town
Orb of TransmutationOrb of TransmutationStack Size: 40Upgrades a normal item to a magic itemRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. Upgrades a normal item to a magic item
Orb of AlterationOrb of AlterationStack Size: 20Reforges a magic item with new random modifiersRight click this item then left click a magic item to apply it. Changes all the affixes of a magic item randomly
Orb of AugmentationOrb of AugmentationStack Size: 30Augments a magic item with a new random modifierRight click this item then left click a magic item to apply it. Magic items can have up to two random modifiers. Adds a random affix to a magic item without a prefix or suffix
Orb of AlchemyOrb of AlchemyStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. Upgrades a normal item to a rare item
Orb of ChanceOrb of ChanceStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a random rarityRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. Upgrades a normal item to a random rarity (magic, rare, or unique)
Chromatic OrbChromatic OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the colour of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. Changes the color of sockets randomly
Jeweller's OrbJeweller's OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the number of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more sockets. Changes the number of sockets randomly
Orb of FusingOrb of FusingStack Size: 20Reforges the links between sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more links. Changes the links between the current sockets randomly
Orb of BindingOrb of BindingStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a rare item with up to four linked socketsRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. Upgrades a normal item to a rare item with up to four links

See the currency page for a full list of items. It is advised not use any currency until you know its value, since the more valuable currencies can be traded to other players in exchange for items. A common tool for looking at the value of currency is to use an unofficial currency website .

The most valuable/rare piece of currency in the game is a Mirror of KalandraMirror of KalandraStack Size: 10Creates a mirrored copy of an itemRight click this item then left click an equipable non-unique item to apply it. Mirrored copies cannot be modified..

Trading

Main page: Trading

Trading is very active in the game. Mechanically it is done via a player-to-player interaction and by listing items for sale in your stash tab (the player needs a premium tab to list items). Most players use the official Trading website to buy items.

Crafting

Main page: Crafting

Though crafting the best gear possible is a very expensive and luck-dependent endeavor, it helps to familiarize with how crafting works to help you better understand what makes an item good and what to look for in the market.

Here is a list of common currencies used for crafting:

Orb of TransmutationOrb of TransmutationStack Size: 40Upgrades a normal item to a magic itemRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. Upgrades a normal item to a magic item
Orb of AlterationOrb of AlterationStack Size: 20Reforges a magic item with new random modifiersRight click this item then left click a magic item to apply it. Changes all the affixes of a magic item randomly
Orb of AugmentationOrb of AugmentationStack Size: 30Augments a magic item with a new random modifierRight click this item then left click a magic item to apply it. Magic items can have up to two random modifiers. Adds a random affix to a magic item without a prefix or suffix
Orb of AlchemyOrb of AlchemyStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. Upgrades a normal item to a rare item
Orb of BindingOrb of BindingStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a rare item with up to four linked socketsRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. Upgrades a normal item to a rare item with up to four links
Regal OrbRegal OrbStack Size: 20Upgrades a magic item to a rare itemRight click this item then left click a magic item to apply it. Current modifiers are retained and a new one is added. Upgrades a magic item to a rare item
Orb of ChanceOrb of ChanceStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a random rarityRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it. Upgrades a normal item to a random rarity (magic, rare, or unique)
Chaos OrbChaos OrbStack Size: 20Reforges a rare item with new random modifiersRight click this item then left click a rare item to apply it. Changes all the affixes of a rare item randomly
Exalted OrbExalted OrbStack Size: 20Augments a rare item with a new random modifierRight click this item then left click a rare item to apply it. Rare items can have up to six random modifiers. Adds a random affix to a rare item with an open prefix or suffix
Orb of AnnulmentOrb of AnnulmentStack Size: 20Removes a random modifier from an itemRight click this item then left click on a magic or rare item to apply it. Removes a random affix from an item
Orb of ScouringOrb of ScouringStack Size: 30Removes all modifiers from an itemRight click this item then left click on a magic or rare item to apply it. Removes all mods from a magic or rare item, turning it into a normal item
Blessed OrbBlessed OrbStack Size: 20Randomises the values of the implicit modifiers of an itemRight click this item then left click another item to apply it. Rerolls the values of implicit mods
Divine OrbDivine OrbStack Size: 20Randomises the values of the random modifiers on an itemRight click this item then left click a magic, rare or unique item to apply it. Rerolls the values of explicit mods
Blacksmith's WhetstoneBlacksmith's WhetstoneStack Size: 20Improves the quality of a weaponRight click this item then left click a weapon to apply it. Has greater effect on lower-rarity weapons. The maximum quality is 20%. Adds Quality to a weapon
Armourer's ScrapArmourer's ScrapStack Size: 40Improves the quality of an armourRight click this item then left click an armour to apply it. Has greater effect on lower-rarity armours. The maximum quality is 20%. Adds Quality to an armour
Glassblower's BaubleGlassblower's BaubleStack Size: 20Improves the quality of a flaskRight click this item then left click a flask to apply it. Has greater effect on lower-rarity flasks. The maximum quality is 20%. Adds Quality to a flask
Gemcutter's PrismGemcutter's PrismStack Size: 20Improves the quality of a gemRight click this item then left click a gem to apply it. The maximum quality is 20%. Adds Quality to a gem

What mods that can be rolled on an item are dependent on the item's item level. Generally speaking, the higher the item level, the higher values you can potentially roll for a mod. Regular jewels are the only item base where item level doesn't matter.

Crafting Bench

Instead of using currency to affect an item, you can use crafting recipes in your crafting bench. These recipes are found as you explore Acts and Maps, as well as unveiling items with Jun. While crafted mods aren't the strongest, the fact you can choose the mod you want makes them very versatile. You can have one crafted mod on an item, as long as there is an open affix for them. You can't craft mods from the same group onto an item (Ex. You can't craft Adds x to y Physical Damage on an item if it already has one).

There are crafting methods provided by Extra Content that will give you better odds of rolling the mods you want:

  • Essences reroll item mods while guaranteeing a listed mod appears in it.
  • Fossils can give you better odds of finding specific types of modifiers or prevent a type of modifier from being rolled.
  • There are many Harvest recipes that let you reroll, add, or exchange mods of all kinds.
  • Fractured items have one modifier permanently locked. This can help you roll certain combinations of mods more reliably.
  • Certain Beastcrafting recipes are useful for higher-level crafting.
  • Some Immortal Syndicate members have crafting benches in their Safehouse that can modify items.

Corrupting

Corrupting an item with a Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 20Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again. is a one-time deal that modifies an item in unpredictable ways. In most cases, corrupting is done to add a powerful corrupted implicit mod to an item. However, once an item is Corrupted, it stays Corrupted. It is impossible to un-corrupt an item. Corrupted items also cannot be modified any further, with the exception of certain crafting options such as modifying sockets and links via the Crafting Bench, albeit at a steeper price, and Tainted Currency items. Furthermore, corrupting an item can have negative, unintended consequences, such as turning it into a completely different item. Note that some items can only ever drop Corrupted.

Gems can also be corrupted, but have far less catastrophic negative outcomes, though this should only be done after maxing out its Level and Quality.

Certain rooms in the Temple of Atzoatl provide even more powerful Corruption outcomes, but are even riskier, with results ranging from adding two corrupted implicit mods to completely destroying the item.

Resource Management

Main page: Flask

Flasks are idiosyncratic to Path of Exile. While they resemble refillable potions with multiple doses, that wouldn't explain the differing way they are used in this game. Flasks mainly refill when each enemy is killed, unlike the purchased stacks of potions in Diablo 2, the cooldown in Diablo 3, or the dropped charges from monsters in Diablo 4. Flasks work over time and can be used in combat. This means it is possible to sustain flask usage if enough monsters are killed quickly enough.

Flasks can replenish life and mana over time, as to be expected, but certain flasks provide offensive, defensive, or speed bonuses for a period of time instead. As Flasks store multiple doses there is some flexibility in the timing of their use.

Finally, as Flasks are permanent items, they can be modified to with special bonus modifiers like other equipment and gear. For example, you can expand their storage, give a life potion the ability to heal instantly, or add other bonuses such as removing and gaining immunity to ailments while they're active - one of the easiest way to combat them. They can also be modified to be automatically used when a certain condition is met or enhance their effect at the cost of preventing them from gaining charges during the flask effect.

Tip: Treat your flasks as gear, and be sure to be choosing, upgrading, and crafting your flasks as you go.

Recovery

Each character starts with Regenerate 1.8% of Mana per second and no life regeneration.

Life and mana leech have a maximum rate cap, which prevents healing more than 20% of your maximum life/mana per second without upgrades.

There is also energy shields that act as a health buffer that regenerates after not taking damage for a short time. Chaos damage will bypass energy shields, however.

Attributes and Stats

Attributes (STR, INT, DEX) are gained only from item affixes and passive nodes. Leveling up gives no attribute bonuses.

Each additional 10 attribute points give:

10 strength = +5 Life, +2% Melee Physical Dmg
10 intelligence = +5 Mana, +2% Energy Shield
10 dexterity = +20 Accuracy, +2% Evasion

There are five damage types:

Physical damage, which is mitigated by armour if dealt from hits
Fire damage, which can apply ignite
Cold damage, which can apply chill and freeze
Lightning damage, which can apply shock and has a larger damage range
Chaos damage, which pierces energy shield

The defensive stats are:

Life
Armour, which mitigates incoming physical damage from a damaging hit, proportional to how much Armour you have compared to damage taken.
Evasion, which is a chance to avoid a damaging hit from attacks, it is entropy-based to avoid streaky results. It is also affected by accuracy.
Energy shield, which grants extra hit points that rapidly regenerate after not taking any damage for a short time.
Resistances, which mitigates incoming elemental and chaos damage.
Block, which is a chance to block a damaging hit.
Spell Suppression, which has a chance to halve spell damage hits.

The offensive stats are:

Accuracy, which is a measure of your chance-to-hit your target(s) with attacks.
Damage, which indicates how much damage you will inflict with each attack/spell, on your target(s), if your attack/spell is successful.
Attack speed, which is how quickly you can repeat each attack.
Cast Speed, which is how quickly you can repeat each spell cast.
Critical strike chance, which is how high your chance is to perform a critical strike
Critical strike multiplier, which is how much more damage your critical strikes do

Body armour and shields can have movement penalties (typically the heavier ones).

Dual wielding grants:

Maximum block chance is normally capped at 75%, but this cap can be overcome to a certain extent, with certain items. If you would've been stunned, there's a blocking animation, otherwise the block is "free". Only Attacks can be blocked or evaded, unless you have Spell Block from passives or an item - for example, Saffell's FrameSaffell's Frame
Branded Kite Shield
Chance to Block: 24%
Armour: (186-208)
Energy Shield: (38-43)
Movement Speed: -3%
Requires Level 59, 76 Str, 76 Int+4% to all Elemental Resistances(20-30)% Chance to Block Spell Damage
(20-30)% increased Spell Damage
+(20-30)% to all Elemental Resistances
+4% to all maximum Resistances
Cannot Block Attack Damage
A swift mind solves problems before they occur.
.

Other notable stats include:

Mana, which is spent to use most skills
Movement speed
Penetration, which causes hits to ignore a certain percentage of the enemy's resistances
Overwhelm, which works like penetration but for physical hits
Double damage, which grants a chance for hits to deal double the damage
Leech, which recovers life, mana, or energy shield proportional to damage dealt with hits, at a capped rate
Damage conversion, which causes a percentage of damage to be dealt as a different damage type
Damage taken as, which converts a percentage of damage taken as another damage type
Reservation, which takes away a percentage of your mana or life to activate a persistent effect, like auras

Buffs & Debuffs

There are various types of status effects in Path of Exile:

Charges

Charges grant stackable bonuses. By default, a character can have three of each charge, but the maximum number of charges can be increased. There are also certain skills that consume charges and skills that gain additional bonuses to charges.

Ailments

Ailments are a secondary effect applied on hit and have its effect scale with the type of damage associated. Damaging ailments have a separate damage modifier and critical strike multiplier. They scale off the base damage of the hit.

Fire, cold, and lightning damage each have an element ailment associated with them. The non-damaging ailments have their effect proportional to the percentage of enemy ailment threshold the elemental damage did. Some passives and items grant a chance to apply and increase these effects.

Critical Strikes always apply elemental ailments.

  • Ignite - Deals a damage over time that deals 360% of Fire damage dealt from the hit that applied it over 4 seconds. Applied with Fire damage.
  • Chill - Slows down animation speed. Chill is always applied with Cold damage.
  • Frozen - Effectively a stun. Frozen enemies shatter when they die, leaving no corpse behind. Applied with Cold damage.
  • Shock - Target takes increased damage. Applied with Lightning damage.

These ailments aren't automatically applied on critical strikes. Only certain skills and item bonuses will apply these.

  • Bleed - Deals damage over time equal to 350% of the Physical damage dealt from the attack that applied it per second over 5 seconds. While moving, bleed deals triple the damage per second.
  • Poison - Deals 30% of the damage dealt from Physical and Chaos damage that applied it over 2 seconds in Chaos Damage. Poison can stack multiple times, and each stack has a separate 2 second timer.

Curses

Curses are powerful debuffs with varying effects, such as reduced elemental resistances, granting the attacker life and mana leech, and so on. Normally only one Curse can be applied at a time, but this can be increased through a notable passive and some unique items.

Curses are split into two categories: Hexes, which are applied in an area and gain increased effect when manually cast, and Marks, which can only affect one target at a time.

Stuns

Stuns are handled differently from other ARPGs. Instead of applying it for a set time, its length depends on the stun duration modifier.

When you play you’ll notice that your attacks interrupt enemies (or vice versa), which is actually considered a stun; the default duration is 350 ms.

Check out the stun page for more information.

Instances

All areas in Path of Exile are instanced. When you enter an area, a new instance is created. Once you leave the area, the instance will remain in its current state for 15 minutes for main areas - if 15 minutes passes with no players entering the instance, it will be closed. Entering the same area again will create a new instance with a new randomly generated map. Areas without side areas attached (any area with two or fewer exits) has a shorter timer and will only last 8 minutes while empty.

Instances you create are private and cannot be entered by other players unless they join your party. However, once a player has entered an instance, that instance remains associated with the player even if they leave the party. So it is possible to share an instance with non-party members in some circumstances. The exception to this is towns, which are always public, and cut-throat leagues, where all instances are public - meaning anyone can enter your instances at any time.

Those 15m/8m timers are subject to technical limitations. Those times may be lower on open weekends when the servers are rushed by more players than usual.

You can force the creation of a new instance by Ctrl+clicking on the entrance, or map waypoint, while interacting with a waypoint.

Endgame-Mapping

Main page: Endgame

Towards the end of the game, you will find maps. Maps are used in a Map Device to open randomly generated high-level areas. Maps can also be crafted like any other item in PoE, making it more difficult and rewarding. These are similar to Nightmare Dungeons in Diablo 4.

Once you complete the quest after Act 10, you will be able to obtain your own map device. The Atlas visualizes the player's progress through the map content, with paths indicating what new maps can be discovered.

Players are encouraged to explore the Atlas as each map you complete adds an atlas passive point (if you complete the bonus requirements), allowing you to enhance master missions and Extra Content to make them more rewarding.

The Maven

In addition, by progressing through the Atlas, you will obtain the Maven's Beacon. With the Beacon activated, the Maven will witness the map boss fight and empower them, adding it to her collection when you defeat it. Once the Maven has witnessed enough unique bosses, you will obtain a Maven's Invitation, which takes you to an arena where you must fight all the previous bosses at once. Once you are victorious, you will obtain an atlas passive point for the first time you complete each Invitation.

The Maven has special Invitations that require her to witness special boss fights. Endgame Maven-witnessed bosses and Invitations also drop Awakened Support Gems, which are stronger versions of regular support gems, and Crescent Splinters, which can be collected to challenge the Maven herself.

Eldritch Horrors

You also gain two different beacons that call upon the Eldritch Horrors, the Eater of Worlds and the Searing Exarch. Activating them draw their influence, adding invading monster packs to your map. They have a chance to spawn an Eldritch Altar which adds a dangerous modifier but also adds additional rewards. At first, you will need to simply use the beacons in increasingly higher tier maps to progress the questline, obtaining Invitations to challenge the bosses. After defeating them for the first time, you receive an Invitation every 14th and 28th map you complete with an Eldritch influence.

Eldritch mobs can drop stronger Eldritch currency that adds an implicit modifier to armor bases. You can have both a Searing Exarch and an Eater of World eldritch implicit modifier on one non-unique item.

Uber Labyrinth

There is also the fourth difficulty of the Lord's Labyrinth. Unlike the first three Labyrinths, the trials are optional and solely done to obtain a Offering to the Goddess which grants you one admission to the Eternal Labyrinth, with a tougher and deadlier layout and an even stronger Izaro. Completing this version of the Labyrinth grants two additional Ascendancy skill points, as well as a chance to gain even more valuable rewards.

Voidstones

Voidstones can be socketed into the Atlas to increase the base tier of all future map drops. With all four Voidstones, every map in the Atlas will drop as a Tier 16 base. They can also be enchanted with sextants to add additional modifiers to maps. You can obtain one from defeating the Searing Exarch, the Eater of Worlds, the Maven, and Uber Elder for the first time.

Endgame-Delve

Delve is an alternative endgame where players progress through the Azurite Mine to unlock more and more powerful and rewarding challenges and they dive endlessly lower into the mines.

Endgame-Heist

Heist is another alternative endgame where players go on more and more dangerous missions to steal valuable loot to fund a Grand Heist to obtain valuable rewards.

Endgame-Sanctum

Forbidden TomeForbidden TomeArea Level: (68-83)Mundus noster cecidit. Daemones ubique sunt. Librum
hunc in sacrarium conicio, ut forte alius viam inveniat...
Take this item to the Relic Altar in the Forbidden Sanctum to enter.
s drop randomly and are used to enter the Forbidden Sanctum, a roguelike-inspired alternate endgame where the player must progress through a dungeon while avoiding enemies and traps that damage their life and Resolve. Each run can give random boons and afflictions, and you can obtain relics that make future Sanctum runs easier. Throughout a Sanctum run, you will be offered currency rewards that you can receive immediately or at the end of the floor or Sanctum.

Endgame-Bosses

Exploring corrupted zones or maps could let you find map pieces that open a realm to Queen Atziri, an optional, challenging boss. Defeating Atziri opens up a chance to obtain fragments used to face an even tougher version of Atziri. There are a few unique items that exclusively drop from Atziri, with the Uber version even more powerful exclusive unique items.

Occasionally at the highest tier maps, you can find maps that are affected by an influence, containing an extra boss. These include the Guardians of the Void, Elder Guardians, and the Conquerors. These bosses drop fragments that can be used to open portals to boss fights with the Shaper, the Elder, and Sirus, respectively. The Shaper and the Elder also drop additional fragments that are use to challenge both of them at once. Influenced maps and enemies can drop influenced item bases, which can roll special modifiers on them.

Many other endgame challenges from previous challenge leagues and expansions can be pursued as well, such as the hidden bosses in the Azurite Mine, the Syndicate Mastermind, the Breachlord's domains, a 4 or 5-way battle between the Legions in the Domain of Timeless Conflict, Blight-ravaged maps, Enriched Eternal Labyrinths, Simulacrum, and Synthesis bosses.

Hotkeys and GUI tips

Ctrl+click to move an item into the selling window or stash.
Ctrl+Alt+click to post an item into chat. (Open chat window by pressing enter to mouse over linked items)
Shift+click on a stack of items to open the split stack interface.
Get a minimap in the options menu. (map transparency adjustable)
Shift+enter or a “#” for global chat.
Ctrl+enter for a whisper reply.
Ctrl+Shift+enter or a “%” for party chat.
“@” followed by a character name for whisper.
"$" for trade chat.
"&" for guild chat.
You can hide global, trade or guild chat by unchecking the corresponding option box at the top of the chat window.
/help displays a complete list of commands and a short description of each one.
/itemlevel will show the item level of the item you’re holding in your mouse pointer.
/oos will make the client try to resyncronise with the server (use when you are desynced).
/remaining displays a message on how many monsters remain in the current instance.
/hideout will take you to your hideout, provided that you are in a city instance and you already gained a hideout.
/passives will display all skill points acquired on the current character and where/how they were acquired.
Holding Control and clicking on an instance will give you the option to reset the zone. Use this sparingly as it increases the server load.
Holding Alt while mousing over an item in chat will display its corresponding item level.
Hold shift to attack in place.
Press X to switch between two weapon presets.
Press Z to show/hide item labels.
/afk [message] Autoreply to whispers that you are AFK with the text [message]. Performing any action, including chatting, will cancel AFK mode.
/dnd [message] Autoreply to whispers that you are DND with the text [message] and ignore all incoming messages.

See also