For Path of Exile 2 (Patch 0.4, Last of the Druids), the most important league start tips revolve around understanding weapon upgrades, managing currency and gold wisely, and leveraging vendors for consistent progression. DPS comparisons via PoB, recognizing martial vs. caster weapon modifiers, and knowing when to gamble or invest are critical for a smooth start.
League starts in Path of Exile 2 are always intense, and Patch 0.4 (Last of the Druids) adds new mechanics, classes, and balance changes. To succeed, you need a strong grasp of damage scaling, weapon upgrades, and resource management. Below is a detailed breakdown covering every major point you asked for.
DPS Comparison
Raw DPS vs. Effective DPS:
Raw DPS is what your tooltip shows, but effective DPS considers enemy resistances, armor, and your penetration.
For martial builds (melee/ranged), attack speed often outweighs raw damage per hit.
For casters, scaling spell damage and penetration is more impactful than base spell DPS.
League Start Priority:
Focus on consistent DPS output rather than peak numbers.
Builds with smoother scaling (like minions or DoTs) often outperform burst builds early.
PoB DPS Comparison
Path of Building (PoB) remains the gold standard for comparing builds.
At league start, use PoB to:
Compare two weapons with different modifiers.
Test how much DPS you gain from upgrading weapon bases.
Simulate PoE 2 currency investment (e.g., adding quality, crafting mods).
Tip: Always import your current gear into PoB before buying or crafting upgrades. Many players overestimate DPS gains without accounting for attack speed or penetration.
Martial Weapon Modifiers to Look Out For
Key Prefixes:
% Increased Physical Damage
Flat Added Physical Damage
Attack Speed
Key Suffixes:
Critical Strike Chance
Critical Strike Multiplier
Accuracy Rating
League Start Strategy:
Prioritize attack speed early; it smooths leveling.
Flat added damage is extremely strong on low-level bases.
Caster Weapon Modifiers to Look Out For
Key Prefixes:
% Increased Spell Damage
Flat Added Elemental Damage to Spells
+ Levels to Spell Skill Gems
Key Suffixes:
Cast Speed
Critical Strike Chance for Spells
Mana Regeneration
League Start Strategy:
Gem level modifiers are king. A +1 to Fire/Cold/Lightning spells can outperform raw spell damage.
Cast speed is underrated; smoother casting equals faster clears.
Quality on Weapons
Weapon Quality increases base damage (martial) or spell damage scaling (caster).
At league start:
Use Blacksmith’s Whetstones on martial weapons.
Use Glassblower’s Baubles on caster weapons.
Tip: Don’t waste quality on bad bases. Save them for upgrades you’ll use for several acts.
How to Get Good Weapon Upgrades
Vendors:
Vendors sell magic/rare weapons that can be surprisingly strong.
Check vendors every level-up; they refresh inventory.
Crafting:
Use Essences early for guaranteed mods.
Use Orbs of Alteration to roll attack speed or spell damage.
Drops:
Don’t tunnel vision on uniques. A good rare weapon often outperforms early uniques.
Currency Management
Early Currency:
Save Chaos Orbs and Divine Orbs for trading.
Use Orbs of Alteration and Transmutation for crafting starter gear.
League Start Rule:
Never blow all your currency on one item. Incremental upgrades are safer.
Gold Management and When to Gamble
Gold in PoE 2:
Gold is new compared to PoE 1. It’s used for vendor purchases and gambling.
Gambling:
Vendors offer gamble options for unidentified rares.
Best used when you need a weapon upgrade and have excess gold.
Don’t gamble early unless desperate; save gold for guaranteed vendor upgrades.
Weapon Base Types
Martial Bases:
Faster bases (e.g., rapiers, bows) are better for scaling attack speed.
Slower bases (e.g., axes, maces) hit harder but feel clunky early.
Caster Bases:
Wands with cast speed are ideal.
Staves with +gem levels are strong for spellcasters.
League Start Tip:
Pick a base type that complements your build’s scaling. Don’t chase DPS numbers if the weapon feels clunky.
Vendors Are Super Important!
Vendors refresh every level.
They can sell:
Magic weapons with strong modifiers.
Bases you can craft on.
Currency recipes (e.g., selling PoE 2 items for orbs).
League Start Strategy:
Check vendors every act.
Use gold wisely; sometimes a vendor rare is better than farming for hours.
Risks & Challenges
Over-investing early: Spending all currency on one item can stall progression.
Ignoring vendors: Many players miss easy upgrades.
Chasing uniques: Rare weapons often outperform early uniques.
Summary
DPS Comparison: Focus on effective DPS, not just tool tip.
PoB DPS Comparison: Always test upgrades in PoB before committing.
Martial Weapon Modifiers: Attack speed, flat damage, and crit chance.
Caster Weapon Modifiers: Gem levels, spell damage, cast speed.
Quality on Weapons: Save quality for good bases.
Weapon Upgrades: Vendors, essences, and alteration crafting are your best friends.
Currency Management: Save chaos/divines, spend alterations wisely.
Gold Management: Gamble only when you can afford it; prioritize vendor purchases.
Weapon Base Types: Choose bases that fit your build’s scaling.
Vendors: Check them constantly; they’re critical for smooth progression.
