Guide to Choosing a Character Class in Path of Exile 2

When embarking on your journey in Path of Exile 2, one of the first decisions you'll face is choosing a character class. Unlike most other RPGs, where the class determines your skills and weapon choices, Path of Exile operates differently. While it's technically true that any class can use any skill, it's important to understand that each class has its own strengths and weaknesses. In this guide, we'll delve into the basics of the skill tree and attributes to help you make an informed decision about the best class for your playstyle.

Attributes in Path of Exile 2 play a crucial role in determining the weapons and skill gems you can use. They also provide additional benefits. The three attributes are strength, dexterity, and intelligence. Strength is concentrated in the bottom left of the skill tree, offering increased life and melee damage. Characters closer to this area excel at melee skills and have more life, favoring heavy two-handed weapons and armor. The Marauder class, situated in this region, is an excellent choice for a life-based tank.

Dexterity, found in the bottom right area of the skill tree, grants accuracy, evasion, and bonuses to bow skills and poison damage. The Ranger class, residing in this region, excels with bows. The Duelist class, positioned between strength and dexterity, is a hybrid character suitable for tanking and agility. They are well-suited for skills requiring red or green attributes in the early game.

Intelligence is located at the top of the skill tree and is associated with mana and energy shield. Characters with high intelligence have increased mana and energy shield values, which provide a protective layer for those with low life pools. The Witch class, situated in the intelligence region, benefits greatly from energy shield due to the scarcity of life nodes in that area. To the left of the Witch, you'll find the Templar, suited for spell casting and melee. To the right of the Witch, the Shadow class specializes in magic and agility, excelling with claws, daggers, traps, and mines.

While the information provided so far helps you understand the general strengths of each class, it's essential to note that each class has three unique ascendancies. Ascendancies grant powerful passive skills that can significantly impact your character's playstyle. Let's take a brief look at the ascendancies for each class:

Marauder: Juggernaut (tank), Chieftain (fire or totems), Berserker (Rage and damage).

Templar: Hierophant (totems or brands), Inquisitor (elemental offenses and defenses), Guardian (minions and curses).

Witch: Occultist (cold and chaos damage), Elementalist (elemental builds), Necromancer (minion builds).

Shadow: Assassin (critical strikes and poison), Trickster (energy shield defenses), Saboteur (traps and mines).

Ranger: Deadeye (projectiles), Pathfinder (poisons and flask bonuses), Raider (movement speed and elemental damage).

Duelist: Gladiator (bleeds and block), Champion (defense and impale), Slayer (leech and damage).

For beginners, the Witch class is often recommended due to its versatility and straightforward mechanics. However, if you're new to the game, following a build guide is highly recommended. A build guide will provide specific class and ascendancy recommendations, ensuring a smoother experience for beginners. Exploring different builds and mechanics is part of the game's depth, so don't hesitate to experiment once you're familiar with the basics. In addition, another thing that novice players should do is to go to MMOexp to buy POE currency and Path of Exile 2 currency, which can make the early game smoother for novice players.

Path of Exile 2 offers immense diversity, and each character class brings unique playstyles and strategies to the table. By understanding the skill tree, attributes, and ascendancies, you'll be better equipped to choose the class that aligns with your preferred playstyle. Enjoy your journey through the dark and treacherous world of Path of Exile 2!