Getting Started - Path of Exile for TOTAL Beginners

This a guide for TOTAL Beginners in Path of Exile, and will help you get started on the right foot, understand your options when creating a character, and help you get past the first major hurdle all players face when starting to play the game - not running in horror at the first sight of the passive skill tree. This video on Getting Started is more of a new player orientation video that focuses on basic information and general principles, rather than telling you exactly what to do step by step.

Subsequent guides in this 4-part series will cover additional information and mechanics to help you beat the main story campaign completely on your own without using any build guides, help you get unstuck if you hit a wall in your progressions, and help you transition into the post-campaign endgame. Feel free to skip around between the videos as needed; links to each part will be down below as they come out.

This video is up to date for the 3.23 Affliction League of Dec. 2023.

CONTENTS:
00:00 Introduction
01:05 Series Table of Contents
02:35 Development Cycle / Leagues
03:39 Challenge League Mechanics (Limited Time Only?)
04:05 Effect on Challenge League Characters
05:08 Standard or Challenge for New Players
06:42 (Standard Stash) Cleanup Needed on Aisle 13
07:39 Hardcore or Not? (Hint: Not)
08:12 Solo Self Found (Great - But Save it for Later)
09:08 Core Attributes
11:04 Passive Skill Tree Regions
12:29 Types of Passive Skills - Basic, Notable, and Keystone
13:31 Mastery Passive Skills
14:09 Jewels, Cluster Jewels, and Search Function
15:11 Character Classes - Introduction
17:00 Marauder Class - Juggernaut, Berserker, Chieftain
17:46 Templar Class - Inquisitor, Hierophant, Guardian
18:33 Witch Class - Necromancer, Elementalist, Occultist
19:30 Shadow Class - Assassin, Saboteur, Trickster
20:20 Ranger Class - Deadeye, Raider, Pathfinder
20:57 Duelist Class - Champion, Slayer, Gladiator
21:54 Scion Class - Ascendant
22:30 Getting Started - Make Your Own Build vs...
23:05 Follow a Build Guide
24:15 General Tip #1 - Reasonable Expectations
25:25 General Tip #2 - Read LOTS of Stuff
26:16 General Tip #3 - Enjoy the Story
27:00 Conclusion and Outro

Links to other guides in the series:

Links to Other Useful Information:

Enki's Lightning Conduit Elementalist (successor to his Arc build) - If after watching this video you want to follow a build guide, I recommend starting with this one. I'll list more beginner-friendly build guides in a pinned comment of the 4th video (once it comes out):

To use build guides or work on your own builds outside of the game, you'll need the Path of Building application, which I'll talk about more in the 4th video. Here's the link to get it:

* * * * * * * * * *

Path of Exile is a free-to-play* online ARPG developed by Grinding Gear Games, and is available on PC and certain consoles. Interested in trying it out? Check out these links:

Graphical assets, sound effects, and music used in this video are from Path of Exile, and are used consistent with the game's Terms of Use:

Nothing in this video is sponsored by Grinding Gear Games, and the commentary and information in this video do not represent the opinions or positions of any other entity whatsoever, unless they happen to agree with me, which is pretty likely.

* Although the game is technically free-to-play, there is a cash shop, and if you end up wanting to really get into the game, you're going to need to at least buy a couple of stash tabs. More on that in the 4th video.

Also, I really can't believe I was able to get the character name NewbieMcNewbSauce, who will return...

[THELONESAMURAI.X]

This guy needs a medal for best beginner introduction

[AniaGie-xt]

I remember when I 1st saw skill tree and my jaw dropped lmao

[Thepa]

Finally, after 1800 hours someone explained me all the ascendancies. Thank you very much for that one!

[magicschoolbus]

PLEASE make more of these salendrak. You are by far the MOST underrated YouTuber. You’re videos are clean, thorough, and informative. The amount of effort I see in these videos is the same as other YouTubers with millions of subs. You even got me to start playing PoE with this vid. Keep up the good work!

[Nyagro]

I've wanted to start PoE again after I dropped out around 2015 and looked up some beginner guides specifically aimed to explain the basics of starting the game but none were concise enough to what problems new players face when starting the game.
This one is the best by far, offering a reasonable entry point with enough information and a more "organic" approach to start playing a video game, having fun and not optimize the sht out of everything, which I really appreciate.

[evilsdemise]

I just wanted to drop a comment real quick saying THANK YOU for putting out the ONLY beginner's guide that's actually a beginner's guide. I spent hours searching for ANYthing that would explain the base stats in the game and the classes/sub-classes with no luck until this video. The devs of POE need to reward you for a portion of their business because I was literally about to abandon the game after trying it for the new league but after this video I want to play again and support the devs with actual money since the game is free to play. I don't like being a freeloader. This guide should be featured on the POE website front and center!! Thank you!

[LudoTechWorld]

I tried this game several times, and each time my experience was exactly what is described in the 15 first seconds of this video, so now I feel compelled to watch the rest of it!

[webknows]

I don't know, this guy must be a teacher or a coach IRL... what a clear and concise explanation of everything. 10/10.

[Biomirth]

As someone coming back after maybe 5 years away from the game this was awesome. You're so organized in your presentation it's just right for my refresher course.

[crashstarr]

I started the video thinking, 'maybe this game would be fun for my gaming group', and by the end, you had convinced me it would not. 'Ty it for the 10-20 hours some entire games last, then look into some actual new players guides to really get started' is possibly the most off-putting advice I've ever heard for a new player trying to get into a game. Not that the video was bad, it was quite informative. It just informed me that this game is not for me lol.

[Manzcar]

nicely done. I played back in 2015-2017 haven't played since but in this league. really loved how you did this guide.

[Jimlifts]

This is EXACTLY what I needed coming into this game. Thanks so much

[dajekotlyar]

Me, who never played PoE and never will: yeah, Sal, tell me more!

[ajilepanda]

As a total PoE n00b and someone who tends towards playing as a (clutches pearls) *casual, * this is the first beginners guide that actually approaches PoE play for us newbies. I’ve only watched the first video in the series but plan on keeping them all pinned to the top of my playlist for future - and frequent - reference. Thank you!

[FelipeDeLeo]

I have tried POE 3 times on different years and never got very far due to the confusion on everything. You did a very nice explanation. I got a nostalgia of ARPGs now while playing the launch of Diablo 4. I will try it again now thanks to your explanations and burnout/lack of content on D4.

[optionalboss]

absolute champion, first timer and this covers so much of what i was hunting for

[petersonpierre]

I just started playing PoE. This is a GREAT video for noobs: clear, thorough, and packed with info at a digestible pace. Thank you!

[martakeczek]

Wonderful work, I started playing few hours with my boyfriend and just from character creation
I felt like I did a big "oopsie" with those leagues....and then seeing how you do not unlock skills,
but you get them from crystals....this is so different I wanna play more, but it does overhelm
at the start. Your guide makes me feel more confident to try playing more and start doing
better choices! :D

[PlayVenture]

Excellent guide. Best one I've found. Idk how this guy doesn't have more subscribers, he deserves it!

[tristaosantana]

Best tutorial for a starter Ive watched. Congrats, tks.