PoE Sanity

🔴[LIVE] PoE 2! Leveling Practice and Chill

By LolcoholWatch videoDuration: PT1H15M10S

Summary

  • Leveling Build: Focuses on a Ranger setup using grenades (Multi-Shot Explosive Grenade) and transitioning into Pounce.
  • Guide Reference: Utilizing the leveling strategies from Guy That Dies to optimize the early game.
  • Game Pacing: Observations on PoE 2 feeling “smoother” but lacking the movement skill speed of PoE 1, which can make it feel slower to veteran players.
  • Gear Progression: Prioritizing crossbow upgrades at levels 11 and 16, specifically looking for quality and “Tense” prefixes.
  • Attribute Management: Balancing Dexterity and Intelligence early to meet gem requirements for skills like Pounce.

Leveling Setup and Initial Strategy

The goal of this session is to get back into the rhythm of Path of Exile 2 leveling, specifically focusing on the Ranger. The initial setup utilizes Multi-Shot Explosive Grenade for clear.

One of the key early-game movements to incorporate is Pounce, which can be obtained from a Crowbell. However, utilizing Pounce requires managing attribute requirements, particularly Intelligence, which may necessitate specific passive point allocation or gear adjustments early on.

Act 1 Navigation and Boss Tactics

When navigating the Clearfell, the layout typically leads toward the west. Avoid dead ends by looking for specific environmental cues.

The early boss in this area is widely considered one of the most difficult in the game due to its small hitbox and ability to “juke” projectiles.

  • Use grenades carefully to time the explosion with the boss’s movements.
  • If the boss manages to dodge the grenades consistently, the run can become significantly slower.
  • Ensure tutorials are disabled in the settings to prevent UI pop-ups from disrupting combat flow.

Itemization and Crafting

The transition from a Makeshift Crossbow to a Sturdy Crossbow at level 11 is a significant power spike.

  1. Look for “Tense” prefixes on crossbows for increased damage.
  2. Prioritize items with quality, as base damage is critical for scaling grenade and projectile hits.
  3. Use Artificer Orbs on promising bases (like a Storm Rune) to improve gear during the transition between Act 1 and Act 2.

Comparison: PoE 2 vs. PoE 1

The current state of PoE 2 feels more deliberate than PoE 1. While some players perceive it as sluggish, the gameplay is arguably smoother because players are punished more for “yolo” running into packs without a plan.

  • Endgame: There is a concern regarding the “solved” nature of the PoE 1 endgame, where stripping back mechanics has led to less diversity for high-end players.
  • Crafting: Crafting in PoE 2 currently feels significantly more restrictive compared to the complex systems of PoE 1.
  • Movement: The lack of spammable movement skills in PoE 2 is the primary reason the game feels slower to the average player.

Transitioning to Act 2

Upon reaching Act 2, the focus shifts toward maintaining Mana and managing cooldowns.

  • Attribute Requirements: Ensure you have enough Intelligence (Int) to support utility gems. A single point on the passive tree can often solve early-game requirement issues.
  • Skill Synergies: Consider using War Banner for additional offensive utility.
  • Level Targets: Aim to hit level 16 before descending into the later parts of Act 2 to equip the next tier of crossbows and offensive gems.

Key References