Best Beginner Character? + Trying to Find a Comprehensive Beginner Build Guide

So here's another one. I'm for all intents and purposes a new player. I've been trying to find a build to start with to learn the game. With the builds I'm seeing, they often say things assuming I know what is being said. Beyond terminology and definitions. As in, they kind of skip mentioning the very basic steps. Not saying there's anything wrong with that, as I have to find these things out myself but I'm just trying to look for something that eases me into all this as smoothly as possible. So I have 2 questions.

1) So initially I wanted to play a build with a Shadow as I like the character or a Templar maybe and still would like to. But I've seen some people mention that the Shadow is not a beginner character. So I am just wondering is that true? Or are some characters better for beginners? Who do you recommend starting with?


2) This is the one build guide that I have found so far that really lays out all of the basic steps I need to know so I'm not tripping over myself. The thing is, I'd rather not play the Witch and would rather play a male character to start (I know that's a touchy subject). Are there any build guides that you know of that break things down to this level of detail but for other classes?

https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1147951

Another Question:

3) If I was to go with just a Witch to learn the game, how long does something like that take? Like going through all of the Acts or at least getting to a point where I understand the majority of it (to a point)? Like a week? Month? 3 months?

Enki's Arc Witch is the premier example of a new player guide. There is nothing quite like it. Although there are some guides that have solid leveling content for new players.

I'd say it could take you 20+ hours of play time to get through all 10 acts on your first character. Maybe less if you have a lot of prior experience with arpg's. Racers do it in 3. I still take at least 10 on a league start because I'm always playing with a new character and trying out the league content. And I enjoy taking it easy.

For a solid league starter that's new player oriented and has a male character, try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUF9ZsrVC68

Zizaran has a lot of other good videos, and Engineering Eternity is another source of info for new players.

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GreyLensman wrote:

Enki's Arc Witch is the premier example of a new player guide. There is nothing quite like it. Although there are some guides that have solid leveling content for new players.

I'd say it could take you 20+ hours of play time to get through all 10 acts on your first character. Maybe less if you have a lot of prior experience with arpg's. Racers do it in 3. I still take at least 10 on a league start because I'm always playing with a new character and trying out the league content. And I enjoy taking it easy.

For a solid league starter that's new player oriented and has a male character, try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUF9ZsrVC68

Zizaran has a lot of other good videos, and Engineering Eternity is another source of info for new players.

So I'm just looking over the notes in the PoB for the build you linked and just the very beginning of them have me scratching my head:

BANDITS - +2 Passives

Pantheons - Solaris + Shikari

LAB ORDER - (Norm/Cruel/Merc/Uber) Unflinching/Unyielding/Unrelenting/Unbreakable

Try to make sure you cap your resistances whenever possible (75, 75, 75) You can see this
from the defence Panel on your character screen
if you press the default key C. For everytime you kill Kitava your resistances will be reduced
by 30 for a maximum of 60 reduced resistancesafter you kill Kitava the second time.

--------Leveling---------

Ground Slam 1 - 7
Ground Slam - Act 1 - Nessa - Enemy at the Gate
Onslaught - Act 1 - Nessa - Mercy Mission (This can also be muled on a Scion)
Chance to Bleed - Act 1 - Nessa - Mercy Mission

I think this will show my level of ignorance here.

1) A Bandit is an enemy type one fights correct? And the +2 Passives means you have 2 passives for fighting them?

2) What is Lab Order and what does the Unflinching/Unyielding/Unrelenting/Unbreakable mean?

3) For the resistances, in what way should I raise them? If killing this Kitava reduces my resistances, should I not fight him/her?

4) For the first portion of the leveling, what does this all mean? To use Ground Slam from Level 1 to Level 7?

Bandits are a quest where you can choose to help any one of the three or kill all of them. The reward for kill all is +2 passives.

The Pantheon is a set of options for providing small bonuses. You get one major and one minor, and you can buff them further in maps. The story line eases you into that.

The lab provides big bonuses that really define your character. You will run it four times to get all your ascendancies. Those are the major nodes you will take each time, in order. You won't run it the first time until you are 33+ so nothing to worry about for a bit.

You have to kill Kitava twice. You improve your resistances mainly through gear, with some options in the passive tree as well. (And from jewels that can go in your tree.)

Yes, those are skill gems, and where/when you get them.

I ran maybe 5 characters to various levels just to get a feel for things before I even committed to completing the story.

The short answer to best beginner character is simply finding one you actually want to play.

Experience alone can be a great teacher, and that's what allowed me to grow into a 36-40 challenge player. Lessons learned on your own are more likely to stick then a random line you read.

That's not to say guides can't be useful, but as the game evolves even reliable staples can suddenly become outdated information.

Lastly, a lot of people, particularly the younger crowd tend to expect to enjoy the streamer experience without actually putting in the time and effort to get to that level. Setting expectations too high is a recipe for frustration and failure.

"

farmfowls wrote:

1) So initially I wanted to play a build with a Shadow as I like the character or a Templar maybe and still would like to. But I've seen some people mention that the Shadow is not a beginner character. So I am just wondering is that true? Or are some characters better for beginners? Who do you recommend starting with?

I think in those days it was harder to build him safely because of how far he was to scion life cluster, his lack of defenses, and the confusion with crit mechanics. But nowadays, you don't even think thrice to understand that when shadow-saboteurs or shadow-tricksters are better in certain things they do. With ghost shroud (trickster), blind aura (sabo), Elusive buff (assassin), they aren't exactly the squishiest builds anymore too.

The hardest char now for beginners should be scion. For me personally, I find ranger-pathfinder, templar-guardian confusing to build as well.

I concur try out Enki’s Arc Witch. It certainly isn’t the strongest build out there, and he made some massive changes this league so it’s overall strength is unknown to me. However, he answers all of your questions in the leveling section. He tells you what to look for in drops, etc.

A few things to keep in mind as a new player. Your fire, cold, and lightning resistances are extremely important. If you hit ‘C’ and look at your defenses, you want these reading 75% as soon as possible. This is more important than anything while leveling, especially for a new player.

I also agree expect about 20 hours to level. I’m quite slow myself; depending on the build it will take about 8-12 hours for a starter build (first character in league). Speed runners can do it in under 2 hours, though they skip a lot you would do if going into endgame,

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Aldonés wrote:

I concur try out Enki’s Arc Witch. It certainly isn’t the strongest build out there, and he made some massive changes this league so it’s overall strength is unknown to me. However, he answers all of your questions in the leveling section. He tells you what to look for in drops, etc.

A few things to keep in mind as a new player. Your fire, cold, and lightning resistances are extremely important. If you hit ‘C’ and look at your defenses, you want these reading 75% as soon as possible. This is more important than anything while leveling, especially for a new player.

I also agree expect about 20 hours to level. I’m quite slow myself; depending on the build it will take about 8-12 hours for a starter build (first character in league). Speed runners can do it in under 2 hours, though they skip a lot you would do if going into endgame,

Yeah I'm going to suck it up and Play the build. Quick question about the resistances. In what ways can I get these to 75%? Is this through armor and/or the passive tree?

Rings are great places for ele resist. Also belts and armour slots.
You can find a bit in the tree and on jewels, depending on the build, but this is secondary.