Starter Builds

[Mad Marduk]

So what passive tracks are you guys having the most success with early on? What control scheme is working for you? I'm thinking of grabbing EA on the PS5 so the kids can play too but controller input would have to be solid.

[Pinard]

All life and energy shield and every boss is far, far easier. Before I had it in mostly minion and spell damage. Controller input is decent but I'm unsure how you do some moves with it, such as targeting minions to go somewhere.

[Stockwerk 13]

for sorceress there is only 1 viable build

go lightning earlyand switch into frost at lvl ~40ish

everything else sucks big time

[Shepherd]

I prefer mouse + keyboard WASD controls, but the controller feels really good for a a game like this since they built the movement with WASD in mind. Can definitely recommend it for console players.

Pathfinder Poison Ranger build will make the game easy mode and is a lot of fun. I think it would work well on controller since you're mostly shooting out large AOE blobs of poison while keeping your distance.

In the passive tree, search Projectile Damage, Posison, and just go for the nodes that sound good. Grab some Evasion nodes as well for defence. The skills are pretty simple, shoot a Gas Arrow followed by a Vine Arrow, then delete them with Toxic Growth. I run Escape Shot and play around with a few others. Use the Evasion passive skill Wind Dancer and Herald of Plague. Stack Evasion on armor, look for + Projectile Skills on Bow and Quiver.

Keep your bow up to date (every 5 levels or so get a new one, vendors, crafting) and you will cruise through both difficulties.

[OPX Sanji]

Originally posted by Mad Marduk:

So what passive tracks are you guys having the most success with early on? What control scheme is working for you? I'm thinking of grabbing EA on the PS5 so the kids can play too but controller input would have to be solid.

Controller input is actually pretty well done this time around (dual stick aim) right stick will allow you to aim projectiles and target enemies with minions, So it is a good option there.

As for builds, it is still early access...right now it is all trial and error so a lot of what will be possible is still unknown, I have already seen people of each class destroy enemies very quickly and i only have a few hours as of right now, but going the route a tank usually would seems best (life/shield as stated above), though i imagine it can make some fights much slower without the attack boosts, so it is all personal preference.

[Draknalor]

Originally posted by Mad Marduk:

So what passive tracks are you guys having the most success with early on? What control scheme is working for you? I'm thinking of grabbing EA on the PS5 so the kids can play too but controller input would have to be solid.

Minions go pew pew

https://maxroll.gg/poe2/build-guides/minion-army-infernalist-leveling-guide

[prusswan]

Minions but they die between cycles so you need to pay attention. If only there is decrepify to deal with the haste mobs

[Mad Marduk]

Sounds like so far people are preferring ranged damage and survival stats over damage early to make bosses more manageable.

[Cachorra Fêmea]

Hello buddy, check my build for Poison Ranger made for new players, If you have any doubts add me on Steam

https://mobalytics.gg/poe-2/profile/9ee67bfd-2eec-4e82-80c6-e248d9e67203/builds/ae5ba605-2ce5-4861-8a61-7a99439dadce

Quick demo video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_DGZlS_Ao4

[Valandryl]

I always take the dps nodes at first. Poe2, at least until endgame, is all about having the strongest dps you can. Burning down bosses in less than 30s is infinitely better than going for armor or shield, especially when some bosses one-shot you even with 70% résistances or 60% armor. Defensive stats are terrible on this game, especially in the beginning, whereas a very high dps is absolutely necessary. Dodge roll is enough.

I heard it changes in endgame, but there's plenty of time to get there and lots of bosses to do first.

[Overeagerdragon]

For your kids:
1) Controller is fine if they wanna play casually and just have some fun. Ranged builds like Merc and ranger function perfectly fine and I'm having a lot of fun playing stuff like Merc, Ranger, Monk and Warrior on controller. It gets finicky when you need Proactive targetting like on sorc or witch though... there's a target lock which usually favours the enmy closest to you so stuff like Ice bomb (which you usually cast infront of mobs so they walk into the blast) is impossible...
2) If your kids pick up each and every offensive node then they'll have fun for quite a while if you help them a bit with how to properly gear... they'll start struggling once they reach bosses or cruel but without telling us how old your kids are they're more likely to pick something else up before they reach that point.

For you and expecting you want to go deep (otherwise you can follow the above):
1) You'll pretty soon see that some classes work better on controller than others do. Facetanking the first mob in line as a warrior is fun and all but you would REALLY like to land IN THE MIDDLE of the group of mobs instead of the packleader to do optimal damage for the ability used... same with sorc; sometimes you want to put that firewall infront of you and not over the mobs so you can shoot through it in anticipation of mobs who'll end up in it anyways... no such possibility on controller I'm afraid... Pinpoint targetting with witch if you're NOT running a minion build is likewise a hassle but (again) for most ranged classes it plays fine
2) Build in anticipation is my general tip... if you feel squishy then pickup some defensive nodes. If you lack damage then look where the tree has hidden all those juicy damage synergy nodes. There's a button you can press to show you how each node contributes to your build (I think it's pressing the right stick but don't quote me on that). PoE and PoE2 are way more indepth than a game like diablo.... ideally you want to build BEFORE you need it wheras in diablo you can usually live with picking up what you need some 4 or 5 levels after you notice you're lacking...if you do that in PoE2 "yer gonna have a bad time hmmkay"..
3) Gear smart.... every area has a "theme".. enemies in act 3 will use a lot of moves that will try and push you out of position whilst wailing on you with ranged attacks... or swarm you with small critters that inflict poison... tune your gear around it. You don't want to build 1 tuned (that's why you see so many people struggle on Act 1/Act 2's boss... they likely tunnelvisioned on SOME stats... horribly neglecting others and are now paying the price

Hope it helps

[Mad Marduk]

Originally posted by Overeagerdragon:

For your kids:
1) Controller is fine if they wanna play casually and just have some fun. Ranged builds like Merc and ranger function perfectly fine and I'm having a lot of fun playing stuff like Merc, Ranger, Monk and Warrior on controller. It gets finicky when you need Proactive targetting like on sorc or witch though... there's a target lock which usually favours the enmy closest to you so stuff like Ice bomb (which you usually cast infront of mobs so they walk into the blast) is impossible...
2) If your kids pick up each and every offensive node then they'll have fun for quite a while if you help them a bit with how to properly gear... they'll start struggling once they reach bosses or cruel but without telling us how old your kids are they're more likely to pick something else up before they reach that point.

For you and expecting you want to go deep (otherwise you can follow the above):
1) You'll pretty soon see that some classes work better on controller than others do. Facetanking the first mob in line as a warrior is fun and all but you would REALLY like to land IN THE MIDDLE of the group of mobs instead of the packleader to do optimal damage for the ability used... same with sorc; sometimes you want to put that firewall infront of you and not over the mobs so you can shoot through it in anticipation of mobs who'll end up in it anyways... no such possibility on controller I'm afraid... Pinpoint targetting with witch if you're NOT running a minion build is likewise a hassle but (again) for most ranged classes it plays fine
2) Build in anticipation is my general tip... if you feel squishy then pickup some defensive nodes. If you lack damage then look where the tree has hidden all those juicy damage synergy nodes. There's a button you can press to show you how each node contributes to your build (I think it's pressing the right stick but don't quote me on that). PoE and PoE2 are way more indepth than a game like diablo.... ideally you want to build BEFORE you need it wheras in diablo you can usually live with picking up what you need some 4 or 5 levels after you notice you're lacking...if you do that in PoE2 "yer gonna have a bad time hmmkay"..
3) Gear smart.... every area has a "theme".. enemies in act 3 will use a lot of moves that will try and push you out of position whilst wailing on you with ranged attacks... or swarm you with small critters that inflict poison... tune your gear around it. You don't want to build 1 tuned (that's why you see so many people struggle on Act 1/Act 2's boss... they likely tunnelvisioned on SOME stats... horribly neglecting others and are now paying the price

Hope it helps

For the most part controller has been good. The aiming needs a couple of very simple (and obvious) improvements though. There needs to be an actual toggleable TARGET LOCK on L3 to make it stick to the enemy you have highlighted and a toggled aim at feet on R3. It would solve 90% of targeting issues with controller. Currently I can have an enemy highlighted and even be holding right stick in their direction and when I attack my dude will literally spin 180 and aim it at a random BS mob behind me that is barely on screen.

[JiggleBill]

Not sure but i can tell you not to start with minions. Much like PoE 1 trying to level with minions from the start of the game is PAIN.

[EvilHare]

My experience

Warrior- 1H and shield, armor, resists, block, HP regen, and HP. Use totems for aggro.

Ranger- Evasion is your friend. ELectric arrow, dual string bow, ailment buffs are beneficial.

Minions master- stack spirit, get ranger poison arrow support skill for your archers, and make everything meaty. I only use poison cloud as a skill most times.

Sorcerer- spark mc sparky. High MP, High ES, capped resistance, fast MP regen. 360 Raiden ...basically

I have not played Merc or Monk yet

[The Storyteller]

I play on PC and on PS5; I use my PS5 controller when I play on PC.
Controller is faster and straight forward for me; I use 3 or 4 attacks and use R2+ the same keys for additional skills.

It is because I started playing on PS5 and got used to it; I think it is better for children and teenagers to start with controllers.

In my case, I used Witch with minions but late game bosses one-shot all my minions and I'm left alone with a non-close combat ready Witch...

Now, I'm playing with a Witch again but I only use Ice spells; I put skill modifiers crystals and it is working for me.

My Ice Witch is freezing monsters all around.