Playing Path of Exile 2 for the first time is a bit like jumping into the deep end. With 6 different classes to choose from, a massive and daunting passive tree, and hundreds of possible skill combinations, choice anxiety can become your greatest enemy.
If you are a newbie to the ARPG genre, choosing the right profession is particularly important for you to successfully enter the dangerous world of Wraeclast. During the exploration process, you may need to adjust the direction of character growth, and skill point reset usually requires the consumption of Orb of Regret.
You need a class that is simple to learn, flexible, and provides a straightforward potential gameplay loop. Fortunately, most of the original six classes in POE 2 fit the bill, whether you want to wield devastating spells, command armies of the undead, or shoot arrows from a distance. Here is a list of the best classes for beginners and why they stand out.
4. Sorceress
For beginners, Sorceress is a no-brainer. With an arsenal of elemental spells, she has a full toolbox to play with, dealing devastating blows to enemies from a safe distance while staying out of harm’s way.
Early-game skill sets like Flame Wall and Spark are easy to use and provide excellent clearing, letting you breeze through hordes of enemies. Combine these skills with Energy Shield passives that absorb damage and recharge quickly, and you have the most forgiving classes.
Sorceress also offers a lot of room for players to grow. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock spells that let you mix and match elemental effects to deliver more devastating strikes, like chaining lightning bolts or freezing mobs in place.
While her health pool is noticeably weaker later in the game, her reliance on ranged combat minimizes risk. Managing mana and positioning are key factors, and once you master these, Sorceress is the perfect class for you to try and learn how to master Wraeclast.
3. Witch
Witch brings a unique, hands-off approach to gameplay, making her an interesting choice for new players who prefer to command others rather than fight directly. She has the necromantic ability to summon various skeletons and other minions to withstand damage and fight back.
Early skills such as Unearth allow you to build an army of undead, while curses and chaos spells allow you to choose damage and control more directly. If you like to sit back and let your minions do the heavy work, Witch is a good class.
However, Witch is not without its challenges. Minions in the early game can be fragile and require frequent re-summoning until you buy POE 2 Currency to invest in skills to enhance their survivability. In addition, her low health pool also makes positioning crucial, especially when the enemy breaks through your minion line.
Nevertheless, her unique gameplay and long-term potential make her an interesting strategic choice. Once you collect enough support gems, build your own horde, and watch the horde overwhelm everyone in a wave of the walking dead, you will find her particularly valuable.
2. Ranger
Similar to Monk, Ranger is also a great choice if you like to outwit your enemies. Unlike Monk, Ranger is easier to pick up because it avoids melee combat. This bow-wielding class focuses on high mobility, fast attacks, and evasion-based defense.
Early skills such as Escape Shot, Lightning Arrow, and Lightning Rod allow you to quickly move through groups of enemies and flee when they get too close. This reliance on evasion means you can focus less on dodging boss attacks and deal more damage.
Speaking of which, Ranger can deal excellent single-target damage, which makes her perfect for boss battles, although she has a bit of a hard time dealing with large monsters early on. Her elemental arrows are varied enough to create a variety of different builds.
For these new players, mastering Ranger’s fast movement and knowing when to commit to the attack are key. Once you get the rhythm of dodging and shooting down, Ranger will become a reliable and exciting choice for any new player.
1. Mercenary
While is a bit harder than other beginner-focused classes, it’s perfect for players who enjoy methodical, ranged combat. While his reload mechanic does feel a bit sluggish early on, if you’ve played top-down shooters, his gameplay will feel very familiar.
This class’s crossbow feels more like a gun and excels at dealing special damage through special ammo types. For example, combining Glacial Bolt and Fragmentation Rounds together creates a shotgun combo that can crush most enemies, not to mention your arsenal of grenades that can blow away hordes of monsters.
Compared to Sorceress or Witch, Mercenary’s potential is slightly more limited in the early game, as Mercenary relies more on positioning and clever ammo management than strength.
However, his ability to mix and match ammo types always makes combat fun and ultimately incredibly powerful. Mercenary is a beginner to intermediate difficulty choice. If you want to defeat monsters faster, you can buy POE 2 Chaos Orbs to upgrade your equipment, and eventually it will evolve into a deadly gunslinger.
The above is an introduction to the four classes. No matter which class you choose, you can find fun in the dark adventure.
