Path of Exile 2 is a complex and rewarding action RPG, but its depth can be overwhelming for new players. This guide breaks down the basics Part 1, which covers Character Creation, Classes and League Selection, Attributes, and User Interface!

Character Creation

The first step is creating your character. This involves selecting a class, naming your character, and choosing a league. Each decision impacts your gameplay experience, so let's break it down:  

Classes Selection

You can choose from six starting classes, choose a class that aligns with your preferred playstyle. Each class has unique strengths, but all are viable for beginners. 

League Selection

After selecting your class, you must choose a league. Leagues determine the rules and restrictions of your gameplay. 

Recommendation: Start with Standard League to familiarize yourself with the game's mechanics without added pressure.  

Note: In Hardcore modes, death is permanent within the league, so play cautiously if you choose this option.  

Movement and Combat Basics

Once your character is created and your league is selected, you'll enter the game world. 

• Recommended Movement Type: Use W+D movement (default for PC). It allows you to move while casting abilities, making combat smoother and more responsive.  
• Basic Attacks: Initially, you'll rely on simple attacks until you acquire skill gems to unlock abilities.  

Attributes

Attributes are basic values that determine the possibility of using certain skills, wearing different items and gaining extra rewards. Unlike some other ARPGs, attributes in POE 2 do not deal directly with damage but they are instead vital for character development.

1. Strength

Strength is a crucial attribute when it comes to equipping specific gear as well as skill gems. It also increases one’s life points thus determining their overall survivability.

Key Details:

• Gear/Gem Requirements: Some item and gem types need a specified amount of Strength to be able to use them or wear them.
• Bonus Effect: Every single point of Strength adds +2 Life.
• Importance: Boosting your Strength is the most effective way to increase HP pool in your character.

When to Focus on Strength?

1. If you need more survivability (higher HP).
2. If your build uses Strength-based gear or gems.

2. Dexterity

Dexterity ensures precision and enables you to employ specific arms or use individual jewels.

Key Details:

• Gear/Gem Prerequisites: Some items and gems necessitate a particular Dexterity value for equipping or usage.
• Bonus Effect: For every point of Dex, the character gains 5 points of accuracy rating.
• Importance: It is the ability killing your enemies all the time. When you often miss attacks on opponents this shows that your dexterity or accuracy stats are low.

When to Focus on Dexterity?

1. If you keep missing attacks a lot (especially for melee or bow builds).
2. If your build depends on gear or gems which require dexterity.

3. Intelligence

Intelligence is vital when it comes to energy shield-based gear and growing your mana pool.   

Key Details:

Equipment/Gem Demands: For some goods, as well as gems, a certain quantity of intelligence is mandatory for them to be worn or used respectively.   

Bonus Effect: Every single point of intelligence equips +2 Mana.  

When to Focus on Intelligence?

1. When you have spell-based characters or energy shield builds.  
2. Additional mana is necessary if your skill usage requires more of it.

User Interface

1. Health and Energy Shield

Your health bar is located on the left side of the screen.

• Health Bar: When it reaches zero, your character dies.  
• Energy Shield (Blue Gauge): 
  • Surrounds your health bar and absorbs damage before it affects your health.
  • Automatically refills a few seconds after leaving combat.  
  • The more energy shield you have, the more damage you can absorb before losing health.  

2. Active Blocking  

Active blocking allows you to mitigate incoming damage using your equipped shield. 

• Shield Gauge: Tracks how much your shield can block before your character gets stunned.  
• Mechanics:
  • Each enemy hit fills the gauge slightly.  
  • When the gauge is full, you'll be stunned and knocked back.  
  • Stop blocking to reset the gauge.  
• Health Regeneration: Slow unless using a health potion.  

3. Flasks (Potions)  

Flasks are essential for survival and resource management. 

• Types of Flasks:
  • Health Potion: Restores health.
  • Mana Potion: Restores mana.
• Flask Stats: Flask effectiveness depends on the stats applied to them. Higher-level mobs drop better flasks.  
• Upgrading Flasks: Always replace under-leveled flasks with better ones to ensure they heal faster than enemies can damage you.  

4. Charms

Charms provide permanent buffs and replace some of the functionality of flasks from Path of Exile 1. 

• Charm Slots: Located next to your flasks (three slots available).  
• Buff Mechanics: Each activation consumes charges, which refill as you kill enemies or interact with wells.  (Example: A charm granting freeze immunity activates automatically when frozen, lasting 3 seconds.  )

5. Menu and Microtransaction Shop

Navigating menus and understanding microtransactions can improve your experience:  

• Menu Access: Click the menu icon to view all available options if you forget hotkeys. 
• Microtransaction Shop: Offers cosmetic items and quality-of-life upgrades (e.g., stash tabs). No pay-to-win mechanics exist.  

6. Stash Management

The stash is where all your loot and resources are stored.

• Stash Overview: Accessible in towns or hubs via a small chest icon.  
• Currency Stash Tab: The most popular paid stash tab for organizing currency items efficiently. Features include:
  • Automatic sorting of items into appropriate tabs.  
  • Unlimited stacking of materials to prevent overflow.  
• Free Stash Tabs: If you don't purchase additional tabs, you'll need to manually organize items in standard tabs, which can become cluttered over time.

That's it for the full breakdown of Characters, Leagues, Attributes, and UI in Path of Exile 2. Stay tuned for PoE 2 Beginner's Guide Part 2!