If the game is too difficult for you, here are some tips to succeed

[LemonRush7777]

First of all, don't choose Hardcore difficulty. That's permadeath.

Now, the starting classes will have different difficulty curves, with Ranger and Mercenary being apparently the easiest, Sorcerer a middle ground and the melee classes the hardest ones.

Is the game too hard with a melee class for you? Then switch to a ranged class.

While playing as a ranged class, keep stashed any equipment you see that will make your melee life easier on your other character. Once you have sufficient gear, things will be a lot easier for other starting characters (the stash and gold is shared).

if you absolutely MUST play a melee class, look for items with +HP , +Skill or more damage. Try to get flasks that immediately refill a % of your HP. Don't be afraid to use those orbs that transform normal items into magic items, and if you find a very good magic item, just use the one that transforms it into a rare if you lack a rare in that slot. I bet we will be showered with those in the end game. However, it would probably be ideal to use them on socketed items, despite myself having not found whatever jewel that goes in those slots so far, so don't sweat it too much.

Use WASD to move. It's so much better for evading and targeting, especially on a ranged class.

Remember mobs get resistant to specific status ailments once inflicted (relevant for bosses, mostly).

I'm playing Mercenary and it's been an adequate amount of difficulty. The game isn't a snoozefest, but I only died once so far (got surprised by a boss attack I wasn't expecting in the cemitery). Go for Merc if you want a good time.

If you insist on playing melee and its still too hard for you, look for a starting guide on maxroll, icyveins or mobalytics.

[Wizbiscuit]

Thanks for the tips, interesting you like the Merc, I might give that a go... tried the Monk and didn't really enjoy it and die a lot, Sorcerer got good when I started to get some gems, so have stuck with that so far.

[Thomas D.]

I found the Warrior not that much more difficult because of the shield and because of how sturdy it is.

The only class that really sucked at the beginning is the Monk, its squishy as a caster but has to be in melee range and didnt do enough damage to compensate for it.

[LemonRush7777]

Originally posted by Wizbiscuit:

Thanks for the tips, interesting you like the Merc, I might give that a go... tried the Monk and didn't really enjoy it and die a lot, Sorcerer got good when I started to get some gems, so have stuck with that so far.

I think you will like it, it really feels great to switch ammo rounds for combos, and the Crossbow sounds are as satisfying as a videogame shotgun.

[[Epic!]killy]

trash game, thank god they didn't remove POE1

[fooly]

monk vs bosses sucks balls, spend more time dodging and running away than attacking

[clckwrkrng]

Originally posted by author:

Use WASD to move. It's so much better for evading and targeting, especially on a ranged class.

YES, 100% this, made a night and day difference to me!

[Newgel]

♥♥♥♥ you guys suck at playing monk then. Only time I died as a monk was to a boss attack I didn't see coming

[LemonRush7777]

Originally posted by Newgel:

♥♥♥♥ you guys suck at playing monk then. Only time I died as a monk was to a boss attack I didn't see coming

I think the game just has a lot of systems interacting with each other from the get go, and if you choose poorly it can make it seem like your character is weaker than it should be.

I'll give an example. I chose poorly my support gems at the start. That wasn't much of a problem since Merc has a very strong start, but once I got theones to buff the Ice + Fragmentation combo, things started flowing a lot smoother.

The same can be said of the passives tree.

Nothing is character breaking, mind you, since gems will continue dropping and respec is an option, but it can lead to a feeling of dread at the start to some.

I imagine it's the same for other classes.

[['w']]

monk energy shield & evasion - lightning / stun / power charge
upgrading staff with lightning suffix and speed / stun support
works well for me, didn't die so far against a boss, but it was very close few times

trying to raise movement speed for obvious reasons

only lvl 7 so far haha

[Rappel]

Movement feels very sluggish or it is just the animation which is weird. Looks like you sliding on ice.
Act 1 end boss is very unforgiving when he does his eye of the storm thing.
And the hyena boss is nuts for minions ... getting swarmed by 15 hyenas wasnt fun.

[Old Man Gibb]

The game is clunky feels like i'm moving in quicksand. POE 1 felt alive and fluid. I'm playing the merc, Not a fan. prob going to switch up to something that can do damage. Drops are very rare. I just hit level 4 and have yet to gather enough loot to fill one inventory. The Skill gem mechanic sucks, Not a fan. they should have kept the POE 1 style of gems. IDK I'm going to try a diff class, if that's not good I'm going back to POE 1.

[Ace]

BROKE AFRICAN DUDE who wanna play with is 2 lucky friends

[JZilla]

Originally posted by LemonRush7777:

...

the bosses are way too hard in the cemetery, if the rest of the game is like this I should just get a refund now.

I don't play this to experience boss fights running in circles to avoid damage, i don't find that a fun way to spend my time.

[Snooze Juicer]

Originally posted by Epic!killy:

trash game, thank god they didn't remove POE1

its def pretty mid so far. i really dont understand the hype. it seems like the intricacy's of builds/ gems w/e in this are more important than gameplay to the fans cause the gameplay is super clunky and uninteresting

[LemonRush7777]

Originally posted by Old Man Gibb:

The game is clunky feels like i'm moving in quicksand. POE 1 felt alive and fluid. I'm playing the merc, Not a fan. prob going to switch up to something that can do damage. Drops are very rare. I just hit level 4 and have yet to gather enough loot to fill one inventory. The Skill gem mechanic sucks, Not a fan. they should have kept the POE 1 style of gems. IDK I'm going to try a diff class, if that's not good I'm going back to POE 1.

Merc's damage comes from a mix of banking hard on damage on passives + support gems and skill combos. It's an insane trash cleaner (at the start of the game, at least. Still doing the Hunting Grounds quests) and does pretty well on bosses.