Best Tips for Starting Class in PoE 2: Dawn of the Hunt for Beginners (New League 0.2.0 Update)

Path of Exile 2's new league, Dawn of the Hunt, is just around the corner, and if you want a smooth early progression, you've come to the right place. Here are 20 essential tips that will help you optimize your leveling experience and make the best choices for your starting class in PoE 2 Dawn of the Hunt (New League 0.2.0 Update). Let’s dive in!

1. Use an Appropriate Loot Filter

Many players use loot filters designed for the endgame, which can hide important early-game items.

Before diving into Dawn of the Hunt, ensure you have a leveling-friendly filter.

• Use NeverSink’s filter (updated for the new league).

• Make sure basic currency and useful low-level items are visible.

• Update your filter regularly so new uniques aren’t hidden.

2. Don’t Fear Early Rerolling

Not sure about your build? No problem!

• If a skill combo you’re familiar with feels comfortable, go for it.

• Rerolling is easier than ever—experiment with passive skill allocations early.

• Just don’t spend all your gold on frequent respecs, as gold is crucial at the start.

3. Upgrade and Swap/Change Your Weapons Frequently

Sticking with outdated weapons will slow your progress significantly.

• Check vendors and dropped rares often for upgrades.

• For attack-based classes, look for implicit bonuses like Bow Attacks Fire an Additional Arrow (found in Act 2).

• Spellcasters should seek better staves and wands to increase damage output.

4. Optimize Vendor Searches with Rejection Filters

Searching vendors manually is slow. Instead, use Rejection Filters to speed up item searches:

• Add keywords like speed (for movement speed boots), cold/fire/lightning (for elemental bonuses), or life (for survivability).

• Too many filters can clutter results—stick to what you need at the moment.

5. Use Movement Skills Effectively

Fast movement equals faster leveling.

• Use Shield Charge or Leap Slam early if you have enough Stamina.

• At higher levels, get Spirit Blink (unlocked at Level 58) for even faster mobility.

• Set a second weapon set with a movement skill for quick traversal.

6. Take Advantage of Checkpoints

Checkpoints make backtracking and recovery easier.

• Pick up every checkpoint you come across.

• Some key early checkpoints include Grelwood, Mud Burrow, and so on.

7. Unlock the Salvage Bench Early

The Salvage Bench is a game-changer for crafting and item upgrades.

• Unlock it by completing Finding the Forge (Act 1) and handing Smithing Tools to Renly.

• Salvage socketed gear to get Artificial Shards, which combine into Artificial Orbs.

• Martial weapon users benefit greatly from these for bonus rune sockets.

8. Farm Artificial Orbs Smartly

• Teleport back to early acts and buy cheap socketed gear from vendors.

• Each socketed item salvaged grants Artificial Shards, which lead to more orbs.

• Buy wisely—check costs before mass-buying socketed items.

9. Check Vendors After Leveling Up

• Vendor inventories reset each time you level up.

• Always check for better weapons, movement speed boots, or socketed gear.

10. Use Runes Early, Don’t Hoard Them

• Low-tier runes will be replaced later, so use them freely for early boosts.

• Attacking runes like Storm Rune offer big damage boosts.

11. Spend Currency to Improve Gear

• GGG increased early currency drops, so don’t hoard everything.

• Use Transmutations, Augmentations, and Regals to improve good bases.

• Save Divine and Exalted Orbs, but use other currencies freely.

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12. Use Currency Exchange for Efficient Trading

• Once unlocked, the Currency Exchange allows quick trades.

• Keep an eye on Jeweler’s Orbs and Exalted Orbs, as their prices fluctuate.

13. Get Jewelry Through Gambling Vendors

• Early vendors rarely sell good rings or amulets.

• If you’re missing a slot, try gambling for jewelry.

14. Manage Gold Wisely

• Gambling can be useful but is risky—don’t overspend.

• Save gold for respecs and key items later.

15. Collect Permanent Buffs

• Throughout the campaign, defeat bosses with a ‘+’ next to their skull icon.

• Some key ones include Beara, Spirit from King of the Mist, and Ogne Manor bosses.

16. Don’t Rush Hard Bosses

Some bosses in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt can feel like brick walls—especially in the new 0.2.0 League where enemy tuning has been tweaked.

But here’s a pro tip: you don’t need to slam your head against them right away.

If you hit a boss that feels overtuned or impossible, don’t force it.

Instead:

• Push ahead through other zones, level up a bit more, and upgrade your gear.

• Even being 3 to 4 levels higher can turn a painful wipe-fest into a smooth, clean victory.

• Remember that rare gear upgrades, gem levels, and passive points can make a huge difference in survivability and damage.

Bosses scale with your area level, but not always in a fair way—some fights are just mechanically harder or designed with stronger skills in mind.

There’s no shame in backing off and returning later when you’re better prepared.

Pro Tip: Use the time to improve your flask setup, respec weaker passive points, or grab a few resist-heavy items to give yourself the edge when you come back.

17. Be Cautious with Wisps

Wisps might look cool and mysterious in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt, but don’t let the shiny bait fool you—they come with a deadly catch.

These new Wisp mechanics add significant buffs to monsters, making them much tougher and sometimes even giving them new abilities.

While they do increase loot drops and rarity, they can easily turn a regular enemy pack into a nightmare if you’re not ready.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Avoid chasing Wisps early on—especially if your build is still coming together or your gear isn’t great yet.

• Wisps supercharge enemies with things like increased damage, extra elemental effects, or more health, which makes clearing them way more dangerous during the leveling phase.

• Only target Wisps if you’re:

  • Confident in your defenses and DPS.

  • Farming for specific loot or crafting bases tied to Wisp-empowered enemies.

  • Running a party where enemies can be burst down fast.

If you're trying to push through the campaign efficiently, skip the risk and come back later.

Once you unlock Waystones and endgame maps, that's the perfect time to go full Wisp-hunting with a proper setup.

18. Keep Flasks Up to Date

Don’t sleep on your flasks—they’re just as important as your gear, especially in the early and mid-game of Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt.

If you’re running around at Level 10 with a Level 1 flask, you’re basically asking to get clapped by a pack of elites.

As you level up, the amount of Life and Mana your flask restores becomes outdated fast.

This means slower recovery in clutch moments, and that can be the difference between surviving and starting over.

Here’s how to stay ahead:

• Always keep your flasks 3–4 levels below your character level. If you’re Level 10, you should have at least Level 6 or higher flasks equipped.

• Visit vendors in towns regularly—they update their flask stock as you progress.

• Look out for magic (blue) flasks with helpful affixes like “of Staunching” (Bleed removal) or “of Heat” (Freeze removal).

• Consider crafting better flasks using Transmutation Orbs and Alterations to improve utility.

Flasks are your panic button and your sustain tool. Keep them upgraded, and they’ll carry you through a lot of close calls.

19. Play Around Stamina Management

Stamina plays a huge role in Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt, especially with the new emphasis on action-heavy gameplay and mobility.

A lot of popular builds, especially melee and tanky ones, rely heavily on Stamina-consuming skills like Shield Charge, Leap Slam, or Endurance-based defenses.

If you’re constantly running out of Stamina mid-fight, it can leave you vulnerable and unable to reposition when things get messy.

To keep your momentum going:

• Look for gear mods that increase Stamina regeneration or give you bonus max Stamina.

• Prioritize passive nodes that improve resource recovery if they fit your build.

• Consider using Flasks or Support Gems that reduce Stamina costs or give regeneration over time.

• Don’t spam movement skills—use them strategically to avoid drain.

Mastering your Stamina economy is key to smoother combat, better survivability, and more consistent DPS uptime.

20. Stay Flexible with Your Build

With the Dawn of the Hunt update shaking up the balance, it’s more important than ever to stay open-minded with your build choices.

Sometimes, the build you planned might not perform as expected due to recent nerfs or buffs. Don’t feel locked into one strategy—be ready to pivot based on how your skills and passives are actually performing in-game.

If your damage feels underwhelming or you’re dying too often, it's a sign to tweak your skill gems, swap gear, or reassign passive points.

• Check patch notes regularly to understand what’s changed.

• Experiment with different support gems to enhance your main skills.

• Use Orbs of Regret to easily respec passives if needed.

• Don’t forget to test alternate skill combos—some underrated setups might surprise you!

Staying adaptable not only makes the game more enjoyable but can also help you climb the league ladder faster with fewer setbacks.

Final Thoughts

By following these 20 essential tips for starting class in PoE 2 Dawn of the Hunt (New League 0.2.0 Update), you’ll have a much easier time progressing through the campaign in Dawn of the Hunt. Whether you're playing a caster, melee fighter, or ranged attacker, these strategies will ensure smooth leveling and a strong start for your PoE 2 journey. Don't forget to buy from PoE2Currency, and give a read to our PoE Currency Buying Guide.