Path of Exile 2 continues the tradition of its predecessors by incorporating complex systems that can capture players for countless hours, including interactive NPC mechanics. Following the success of its initial early access release, new players may feel overwhelmed by these intricate systems, especially given the minimal tutorials available in Path of Exile 2. An early-game example is the NPCs, whose beneficial options remain somewhat unclear.
The fresh design approach in Path of Exile 2 has resulted in notably fewer loot drops from defeated enemies. Players are encouraged to leverage various NPCs and crafting mechanics to mitigate this change. NPC features become accessible throughout Act 1, with each character contributing in unique ways to enhance a player’s abilities and improve quality-of-life aspects that newcomers might overlook.
When to Disenchant, Sell, or Scavenge
What to Do with Unused Gear
Upon reaching the first settlement in PoE 2, known as the Clearfell Encampment, the easiest method to handle surplus gear is to sell it. Each vendor offers this fundamental service by allowing players to drag unwanted items into their inventory. As players advance through Act 1, more options arise, albeit without clear guidance. For instance, the NPC Una can disenchant gear for shards used in crafting, while players will soon come across the scavenging bench, which salvages gear with sockets or quality modifiers.
The three methods of handling your gear all have their merits. Common gear should typically be sold to vendors, as these cannot be disenchanted. Magic and rare items should nearly always be disenchanted, since disenchanting ten items of a specific rarity rewards players with materials that can enhance the rarity of other gear. Finally, any equipment with a quality modifier or socket ought to be scavenged, regardless of its overall quality. Similar to disenchanting, scavenging ten items with these features will yield rewards that allow players to add those desired properties to their gear.
How to Use The Hooded One
Major Quality of Life Features
The Hooded One, an NPC available early in Act One, offers two extremely helpful capabilities. The first is a significant timesaver: rather than identifying items one by one using scrolls of wisdom, The Hooded One can automatically identify all items in a player’s inventory. This feature is completely free and unlimited, making it particularly beneficial for players engaged in PoE 2‘s multiplayer mode by reducing downtime spent in town.
If you need gold quickly and plan to sell gear, remember to first identify the items with The Hooded One, as this will enhance their resale value.
The Hooded One also allows players to refund allocated passive skill points. Unlike quickly identifying items, refunding points does require some gold. The exact cost to refund points increases as players level up. For example, it may cost around 124 gold per point at level 12, increasing to 181 gold at level 15. While revamping an entire skill tree in Path of Exile 2 can be pricey, the cost is manageable enough to facilitate build adjustments in the early and middle stages of the game.
How to Use NPC Shops
Effective Shop Usage Can Boost Power Levels
NPC shops can provide invaluable loot, especially in conjunction with crafting. Each shop features unique offerings: Una has a range of magic items and flasks, Renly specializes in weapons and armor, and Finn introduces a gambling mechanic. Each shop’s inventory scales with player level, completely refreshing when a player levels up. It’s wise to check the shops once per character level to fill any gear gaps.
Be sure to look for gear with strong starting modifiers, as these can be easily upgraded to rare quality and are likely at an appropriate level. For example, purchasing a rare quarterstaff from Renly for approximately 2,000 gold can triple a character’s DPS in Act One. Such upgrades are crucial for handling the game’s significantly higher difficulty levels.
Gambling involves buying a base item from Finn, which gets randomly transformed into a new item. Consider gambling if you’re missing a specific piece of gear or need an upgrade that isn’t available from the standard vendors. While there’s an inherent risk in gambling, hitting a rare item can be a substantial cost-saver, as the gamble typically costs about one-third of the price of a magic item sold by Renly or Una. Using NPCs efficiently is one of the best ways to enhance character power in Path of Exile 2.
