Best class for a total PoE 1 - PoE 2 playthrough?

[Brian]

I'm nearly done with my first total playthrough of both games with a rogue (multiclassed to swashbuckler in 2). Oddly enough, I picked a pirate character in the first game before even realizing the second game was going to be all pirate themed.

But now I'm already thinking about my next playthrough. I'm thinking something mostly in terms of roleplay feel (though different gameplay is always a plus). Chanter, Paladin, maybe even Priest. What are your guys' thoughts?

[Timbermaw]

Well it's up to you, what you want to play as. Cipher and chanter are the most unique classes in this series, though personally I think rogue is the most fun but you already played that. You can go monk which can deal sort of comparable damage to a rogue while being able to tank damage.

You can even try a full ranger party with pets as tanks. Give some of them the lore skill and put them on scroll duty when needed.

[CHAO$$$]

Druid is the strongest pure caster in both PoE1 and PoE2.
Cipher is unique and one of the best classes in PoE2 period.
Skaen priest is interesting - pretty good in PoE1 and a top tier multiclass in PoE2. If you feel like being evil.

Id highly recommend multiclassing in PoE2 (especially into weapon class hybrids. Its really the best thing they added.

PoE2 is a huge step down from the difficulty of PoE1 tho so it doesnt really matter...

If id have to pick a single class for PoE1+2 id pick cipher.

[psychotron666]

Originally posted by CHAO$$$:

Druid is the strongest pure caster in both PoE1 and PoE2.
Cipher is unique and one of the best classes in PoE2 period.
Skaen priest is interesting - pretty good in PoE1 and a top tier multiclass in PoE2. If you feel like being evil.

Id highly recommend multiclassing in PoE2 (especially into weapon class hybrids. Its really the best thing they added.

PoE2 is a huge step down from the difficulty of PoE1 tho so it doesnt really matter...

If id have to pick a single class for PoE1+2 id pick cipher.

I agree about druids in the first game, but now after multiple play throughs I think a wizard is far more powerful than a Druid, at least for Poe 2. Druids don't have anything on par with minolettas missiles (the 9th level spell), meteor storm, prismatic wall, wilting wind, or the insanely op shadowflame.

Imo druids are better at crowd control now while a wizard is better at straight up damaging the most amount of people for the most damage.

And while I consider cipher one of the best classes in Poe 1, I'd put it down as one of the lower tier classes for Poe 2, except for the soul blade which is insanely op (but not because of the cipher powers, but because of the soul blade move).

Worst class imo is easily the ranger.

I too recommend multi classing, unless you wanna do caster, then you can't go wrong with a straight wizard or druid

[Brian]

Regarding the cipher, I really want to like this class. I played a pretty sizable portion of PoE 1 as a cipher (because I figured it fit best with the story). But it's soooo micro-manage-y. Also, in PoE 2, I really want to like Serafen (I wanted as many pirates on my team as possible). And his personality is fine but he's by far my least useful character in combat. Maybe if I was directly controlling him he'd be better, but he just isn't adding much. I'm afraid if I commit to cipher all the way through, by PoE 2, I'll be the weakest member of my team.

Druid, is sounding cool now too. Maybe chanter druid by PoE 2? Hmmmm.....

[CHAO$$$]

Yea the super high end wizard spells are pretty good. With blood mage the class is almost tolerable.

Overall though id say id pick the raw damage aoe dots (the numbers on every single on of their AOE dots is basically as good as high level wizard spells - but its raw! and they use way lower spellslots) + the druids incredible healing over wizard anytime.

Like with druid you get a best in slot spell that scales super well into the lategame almost every spellrank.
L1: Touch of rot (doesnt scale well due to base pen but insane early)
L2: Moonlight / Insect swarm / Autumns decay
L3: Natures Balm / Infestation of maggots
L4: Moonwell / Wicked briars
L5: Plague of insects
L6: Garden of Life / Venombloom
L7: Natures bounty / Call to the primordials
L8: Kinda crap - free rez is okay - summon is okay
L9: Pollen patch Maelstrom Galawain

All these spells are so nutty. As good as missile salvo, arcane dampener slicken etc are - i just think druid is better.

[CHAO$$$]

Originally posted by Brian:

Regarding the cipher, I really want to like this class. I played a pretty sizable portion of PoE 1 as a cipher (because I figured it fit best with the story). But it's soooo micro-manage-y. Also, in PoE 2, I really want to like Serafen (I wanted as many pirates on my team as possible). And his personality is fine but he's by far my least useful character in combat. Maybe if I was directly controlling him he'd be better, but he just isn't adding much. I'm afraid if I commit to cipher all the way through, by PoE 2, I'll be the weakest member of my team.

OK cipher spells you want in PoE2 and why 1 sec:

SSS-tier: Ancestors memory - gives brilliant for 12 seconds
Best spell in the game in a party - allows for insanely broken strategies. (E.g. Kind wayfarer paladin + their flame weapon thing = infinite "small range" aoe heals + aoe burn weapon buff + great damage)

S-tier: Secret horrors: You use this on paladins and rogues to stop them from using their very very powerful active abilities (and anyone else who you want to stop from using abilities - does not work on casters! spells =/= abilities!). This is a gamechanging ability if used correctly.

Nice to have:
Eyestrike - cheap long aoe blind - if you get decent hit chance -> always worth using

Ectopsychic echo - cast this on Ishiza for optimal results 100 damage base over 10 seconds in a line with no friendly fire - only downside is it rolls against reflex - very cheap as well

Pain block - long single target robust, great single target heal, cheap, never runs out, removes weakened

Cipher has a handful of other pretty good/situationally gamechanging spells but those^ are the ones i cast the most.

Stats: Max perception, high int, dump resolve

Weapon: Essence interrupter (bow) - rolls against shock +1pen from cipher very good
You should have 2 adra ban after leaving the first island -> enchant it with "peaceful summons" or whatever its called.
Skills: Metaphysics for Essence interrupter
(Any other ranged weapon will work - melee sucks)

Lategame cipher multiclasses (any weaponclass, rogue/monk esp.) are better since the last 2 spelllevels for cipher are terrible.
However the best cipher spell - Ancestors memory - is rank 7 so you only get it very very late into the game if you multi.

[psychotron666]

Originally posted by Brian:

Regarding the cipher, I really want to like this class. I played a pretty sizable portion of PoE 1 as a cipher (because I figured it fit best with the story). But it's soooo micro-manage-y. Also, in PoE 2, I really want to like Serafen (I wanted as many pirates on my team as possible). And his personality is fine but he's by far my least useful character in combat. Maybe if I was directly controlling him he'd be better, but he just isn't adding much. I'm afraid if I commit to cipher all the way through, by PoE 2, I'll be the weakest member of my team.

Druid, is sounding cool now too. Maybe chanter druid by PoE 2? Hmmmm.....

Serafen just sucks because of his wild magic ability. Sometimes it does good effects, but more often than not it does something really bad for you at the worst possible time.

I've lost boss battles because serafen turned them invisible and untargetable for awhile, or gives an entire aoe of enemies the brilliant inspiration (the best inspiration in the game)

[CHAO$$$]

Originally posted by psychotron666:

Originally posted by Brian:

Regarding the cipher, I really want to like this class. I played a pretty sizable portion of PoE 1 as a cipher (because I figured it fit best with the story). But it's soooo micro-manage-y. Also, in PoE 2, I really want to like Serafen (I wanted as many pirates on my team as possible). And his personality is fine but he's by far my least useful character in combat. Maybe if I was directly controlling him he'd be better, but he just isn't adding much. I'm afraid if I commit to cipher all the way through, by PoE 2, I'll be the weakest member of my team.

Druid, is sounding cool now too. Maybe chanter druid by PoE 2? Hmmmm.....

Serafen just sucks because of his wild magic ability. Sometimes it does good effects, but more often than not it does something really bad for you at the worst possible time.

I've lost boss battles because serafen turned them invisible and untargetable for awhile, or gives an entire aoe of enemies the brilliant inspiration (the best inspiration in the game)

Did they remove wild minds chance to blow up your entire party with silly aoe damage? Havent seen that in a while - was it patched out?

[psychotron666]

Originally posted by CHAO$$$:

Originally posted by psychotron666:

Serafen just sucks because of his wild magic ability. Sometimes it does good effects, but more often than not it does something really bad for you at the worst possible time.

I've lost boss battles because serafen turned them invisible and untargetable for awhile, or gives an entire aoe of enemies the brilliant inspiration (the best inspiration in the game)

Did they remove wild minds chance to blow up your entire party with silly aoe damage? Havent seen that in a while - was it patched out?

Possibly, I haven't had it happen in over a year, but I also rarely use serafen now. Wouldn't be surprised because it was pretty ridiculous

[DocCovington]

Originally posted by CHAO$$$:

PoE2 is a huge step down from the difficulty of PoE1 tho so it doesnt really matter...

The only thing that made PoE1 more difficult was the terrible AI (of both, your team and the enemy). The AI was so dumb they couldn't even find their way to their target a lot of the time. It was painful to watch and painful to play, although you could often use the dumb hostile AI to your advantage.

Back on topic: I'm recommending a Paladin.

[Fendelphi]

Originally posted by psychotron666:

Originally posted by CHAO$$$:

Did they remove wild minds chance to blow up your entire party with silly aoe damage? Havent seen that in a while - was it patched out?

Possibly, I haven't had it happen in over a year, but I also rarely use serafen now. Wouldn't be surprised because it was pretty ridiculous

His Wild Mind is roughly 50/50 in my experience. We just tend to remember the bad cases more clearly.
Last time, I used him as a barb/cipher, which helps him generate a lot of focus and then use it on debuffs for enemies(borrowed instincts and Ring Leader are very good) and buffs for allies as needed, rather than raw damage(that, he can generate from his Barb stuff). This keeps his "accidents" to a minimum, while keeping his contribution fairly high.

Further on topic(for inspiration):
So far I have played a pure Fighter(Devoted) and a Shadowdancer(using Shattered Pillar and Trickster) for my main character. Of the 2, SD was definately the most fun(the number of attacks you can generate when you crit or enemies miss you is insane).
For my next one, I will probably go for a pure Ancient Druid and bring allies that either have pets of their own or can generate buffs to them(or both). So that would probably mean Maia(Geomancer), Tekehu(Theurge) and Pallegina(Herald), and probably Eder(because he is a nice cornerstone with high strength).
This offers various buffs and debuffs, a lot of targets to block and engage enemies, access to most damage types, as well as fairly steady early game(The Spine of Thicket Green is easy to get early).

[Brian]

Alright, I guess I'm going with a cipher (ranged this time though, before I was trying to do melee) or paladin. I really wish there were more male aumaua portraits to choose from. Can't even find many on the internet :/

[JODEGAFUN]

Originally posted by psychotron666:

Originally posted by CHAO$$$:

Druid is the strongest pure caster in both PoE1 and PoE2.
Cipher is unique and one of the best classes in PoE2 period.
Skaen priest is interesting - pretty good in PoE1 and a top tier multiclass in PoE2. If you feel like being evil.

Id highly recommend multiclassing in PoE2 (especially into weapon class hybrids. Its really the best thing they added.

PoE2 is a huge step down from the difficulty of PoE1 tho so it doesnt really matter...

If id have to pick a single class for PoE1+2 id pick cipher.

I agree about druids in the first game, but now after multiple play throughs I think a wizard is far more powerful than a Druid, at least for Poe 2. Druids don't have anything on par with minolettas missiles (the 9th level spell), meteor storm, prismatic wall, wilting wind, or the insanely op shadowflame.

Imo druids are better at crowd control now while a wizard is better at straight up damaging the most amount of people for the most damage.

And while I consider cipher one of the best classes in Poe 1, I'd put it down as one of the lower tier classes for Poe 2, except for the soul blade which is insanely op (but not because of the cipher powers, but because of the soul blade move).

Worst class imo is easily the ranger.

I too recommend multi classing, unless you wanna do caster, then you can't go wrong with a straight wizard or druid

Yea minoletta is crazy, you can kill each normal fight instant with it, exspecially if your are this class which can double the cast and are lucky.

[Babbles]

I played through both on the highest difficult (Path of the Damned or whatever it is) - Paladin in POE1, Paladin/Chanter in POE2.

The Paladin/Chanter was really fun to play, could ramp up some pretty impressive party wide healing.