Path of Exile 2 beginner guide: What to do first

Here are 6 tips to help you at the very beginning of PoE 2

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Grinding Gear Games

Looking for some tips and tricks for the start of Path of Exile 2? Grinding Gear Games’ Path of Exile 2 is an ARPG of big proportions, and considering that Early Access has only just begun, the game’s only going to get better in the upcoming months.

With a bevy of options available for customising Path of Exile 2’s various character classes, not to mention a truly gargantuan Passive Skill Tree and some tough-as-nails bosses, it can be tricky setting out on your first steps in the dark fantasy world of Wraeclast. In this guide we’re providing 6 handy tips on what to do first in Path of Exile 2 to help the starting journey become a little more approachable.

Experiment with each class

Path of Exile 2 starts with this grim scene of all the classes about to be hung. Undeniably dark, but also unique! |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Grinding Gear Games

As of Path of Exile 2’s Early Access release, there are six playable classes in the game - the Mercenary, the Monk, the Ranger, Sorceress, the Warrior, and the Witch. It’s worth experimenting with all of them, even if you’re just starting separate saves and dabbling with each in and around the town of Clearfall, which serves as the central hub of Act 1. You might only experience a fraction of their abilities, but it still helps to figure out what your tolerance is when it comes to certain squishy classes, considering that Path of Exile 2 is pretty hard as far as ARPGs go. Our Attributes and character sheet guide has details on which classes rely on Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence - the three foundational stats that hold up the game.

If you’re interested in more specific advice, our beginner’s class tier list has a complete ranking of the classes from a newbie’s perspective. In short, those who find themselves frequently dying may want to play as the Witch, who can summon skeletal minions to keep herself alive.

Familiarise yourself with the Passive Skill Tree

Yes, the skill tree is truly immense, and shared by all classes. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Grinding Gear Games

Newcomers who haven’t played Path of Exile 1 will probably be in awe of the Passive Skill Tree, which expands magnificently in all directions like a series of constellations. And even if you did play the first game, there are more skills on display here, with dozens of nodes to dip into to spec your character in every way imaginable.

There are a few critical things to note about the Passive Skill Tree - specifically, the rough location of nodes that correspond to the game’s three core Attributes of Strength, Dexterity, and Intelligence, as well as the different node types that exist. Oh, and did you know that you can actually select different sets of nodes that correspond to whatever weapon you’re carrying? Our Passive Skill Tree guide contains all the details on this flexible setup, plus a few other general thoughts on choosing the most effective node route for your character.

Don’t be afraid to respec

For the price of a few coins, the Hooded One gives you the ability to switch up your entire skill tree. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Grinding Gear Games

This tip goes hand-in-hand with the Passive Skill Tree advice above. Even if you find that the nodes you’ve chosen are insufficient, don’t despair - Path of Exile 2 allows you to respec your choices on the Passive Skill Tree as long as you progress far enough into Act 1 to save the Hooded One. (He’s the mysterious figure who meets an unfortunate fate in the game’s opening cinematic.)

Alas, respeccing is not free, and will cost gold, which can be tough to come by in Path of Exile 2’s early game. But the price varies depending on how far you’ve invested into a particular branch of the Passive Skill Tree, and you can generally expect to fork over around 247 gold per node respec at the start of the game, which is a fair price to pay for not being locked in forever.

Play with the crafting system

You might buy your first pieces of gear at a merchant like this blacksmith, but much better stuff awaits you if you delve into crafting. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Grinding Gear Games

Path of Exile 2’s crafting system is an involved beast, with multiple currencies called Orbs that you’ll steadily use to upgrade your weapons and armour in multiple tiers from Normal, to Magic, to Rare, to finally Unique. You’ll also have to wrap your head around Affixes, which refer to both Prefixes and Suffixes, AKA the different mods attached to a piece of equipment.

It all sounds like a grammar lesson, yes, but our crafting guide has more information to demystify the process. An easy way to figure out what weapons and armour work best for your character are to pay attention to your most important Attributes, and then equip gear that amplifies the stats associated with these Attributes. Items that boost Strength usually have Armour Affixes, for instance, while Dexterity-boosting items have Evasion Affixes and Intelligence-boosting items have Energy Shield Affixes.

Don’t ignore the campaign’s side quests

Take note of all the side quests I’ve yet to complete on the right side of the screen. No wonder I’m underleveled for this boss! |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Grinding Gear Games

Act 1 of Path of Exile 2 is relatively linear, but side quests do start opening up after you’ve reached the town of Clearfall. It’s recommended that you take the time to complete all of these for the handy experience, loot drops, and rewards. Skipping them will ensure that you’re underleveled for encounters with big foes who get increasingly harder and harder, which is what I initially faced when I reached the end of Act 1 and was only level 16. (Don’t be like me!)

Also, let’s be honest - Path of Exile 2 is made by a company called Grinding Gear Games, and grinding for rare drops is the bread and butter of this game. Since enemies respawn across Path of Exile 2’s maps, finishing side quests means that you’ll have more places to grind when you’re in need of spiffy gear and an extra level or three.

Learn boss attack patterns

The Devourer is one of the earliest bosses who’ll really get you used to attack patterns in Path of Exile 2. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Grinding Gear Games

There’s a viral social media post floating around out there that calls Path of Exile 2 the ’ Dark Souls ’ of ARPGs. This is obviously a cliché, but when it comes to boss fights, there are some similarities that can be drawn here. Expect to go up against antagonists who exhibit tricky patterns that you’ll need to commit to memory, or prepare to die over and over again.

The first such boss to probably test your mettle in this manner is the Devourer, a huge worm that lurks in the caves outside of Clearfall and is the lead subject of the ‘Treacherous Ground’ quest. The Devourer tunnels in and out of the ground in explosive bursts, lobbing globs of poison at you as it goes. This’ll be a tricky boss encounter if you’re used to mindlessly clicking your way through an encounter, and it’ll force you to become accustomed to the extreme mobility that Path of Exile 2 offers with its dodge mechanics. Bash that space bar to roll out of the way, drink Life and Mana flasks in between your rolls, and get used to this style of combat, as it only gets tougher from here on out.

With these tips, you’re now better prepared for all of the challenges that Path of Exile 2 has to offer. For more on Grinding Gear Games’ epic ARPG, keep your eyes on Rock Paper Shotgun in the upcoming weeks as we proceed to look at other aspects of this expansive game. And if you’re a little confused about Path of Exile 2’s unusual pre-order system, take a gander at our Early Access/Supporter Pack guide.

Path Of Exile 2

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All 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints and where to get them

These areas have the highest chance of giving you Blueprints

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Looking for more Arc Raiders Blueprints? It’s a special day when you find a Blueprint, as they’re among the most valuable items in Arc Raiders. If you find a Blueprint that you haven’t already found, then you must make sure you hold onto it at all costs, because Blueprints are the key to one of the most important and powerful systems of meta-progression in the game.

This guide aims to be the very best guide on Blueprints you can find, starting with a primer on what exactly they are and how they work in Arc Raiders, before delving into exactly where to get Blueprints and the very best farming spots for you to take in your search.

We’ll also go over how to get Blueprints from other unlikely activities, such as destroying Surveyors and completing specific quests. And you’ll also find the full list of all 75 Blueprints in Arc Raiders on this page (including the newest Blueprints added with the Cold Snap update , such as the Deadline Blueprint and Firework Box Blueprint), giving you all the information you need to expand your own crafting repertoire.

In this guide:

• What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?
• Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes
• Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders Blueprints obtained from quests Blueprints obtained from Trials Best Blueprint farming locations

What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?

Blueprints in Arc Raiders are special items which, if you manage to extract with them, you can expend to permanently unlock a new crafting recipe in your Workshop. If you manage to extract from a raid with an Anvil Blueprint, for example, you can unlock the ability to craft your very own Anvil Pistol, as many times as you like (as long as you have the crafting materials).

To use a Blueprint, simply open your Inventory while in the lobby, then right-click on the Blueprint and click “Learn And Consume” . This will permanently unlock the recipe for that item in your Workshop. As of the Stella Montis update, there are allegedly 75 different Blueprints to unlock - although only 68 are confirmed to be in the game so far. You can see all the Blueprints you’ve found and unlocked by going to the Workshop menu, and hitting “R” to bring up the Blueprint screen.

It’s possible to find duplicates of past Blueprints you’ve already unlocked. If you find these, then you can either sell them, or - if you like to play with friends - you can take it into a match and gift it to your friend so they can unlock that recipe for themselves. Another option is to keep hold of them until the time comes to donate them to the Expedition.

Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes

Below is the full list of all the Blueprints that are currently available to find in Arc Raiders, and the crafting recipe required for each item:

Note: The missing Blueprints in this list likely have not actually been added to the game at the time of writing, because none of the playerbase has managed to find any of them. As they are added to the game, I will update this page with the most relevant information so you know exactly how to get all 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints.

Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders

Below is a list of all containers, modifiers, and events which maximise your chances of finding Blueprints:

• Certain quests reward you with specific Blueprints .
• Completing Trials has a high chance of offering Blueprints as rewards.
• Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping Blueprints on death.
• High loot value areas tend to have a greater chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Night Raids and Storms may increase rare Blueprint spawn chances in containers.
• Containers with higher numbers of items may have a higher tendency to spawn Blueprints. As a result, Blue Gate (which has many “large” containers containing multiple items) may give you a higher chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Raider containers (Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, Medical Bags, Grenade Tubes) have increased Blueprint drop rates. As a result, the Uncovered Caches event gives you a high chance of finding Blueprints.
• Security Lockers have a higher than average chance of containing Blueprints.
• Certain Blueprints only seem to spawn under specific circumstances: Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid events. Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker events. Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester events.

Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, and other raider-oriented container types have a good chance of offering Blueprints. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints have a very low chance of spawning in any container in Arc Raiders, around 1-2% on average. However, there is a higher chance of finding Blueprints in particular container types. Specifically, you can find more Blueprints in Raider containers and security lockers.

Beyond this, if you’re looking for Blueprints you should focus on regions of the map which are marked as having particularly high-value loot. Areas such as the Control Tower in Dam Battlegrounds, the Arrival and Departure Buildings in Spaceport, and Pilgrim’s Peak in Blue Gate all have a better-than-average chance of spawning Blueprints somewhere amongst all their containers. Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm events also increase the drop chances of certain Blueprints .

In addition to these containers, you can often loot Blueprints from destroyed Surveyors - the largest of the rolling ball ARC. Surveyors are more commonly found on the later maps - Spaceport and Blue Gate - and if one spawns in your match, you’ll likely see it by the blue laser beam that it casts into the sky while “surveying”.

Surveyors are quite well-armoured and will very speedily run away from you once it notices you, but if you can take one down then make sure you loot all its parts for a chance of obtaining certain unusual Blueprints.

Blueprints obtained from quests

One way in which you can get Blueprints is by completing certain quests for the vendors in Speranza. Some quests will reward you with a specific item Blueprint upon completion, so as long as you work through all the quests in Arc Raiders, you are guaranteed those Blueprints.

Here is the full list of all Blueprints you can get from quest rewards:

• Trigger Nade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Sparks Fly”.
• Lure Grenade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Greasing Her Palms”.
• Burletta Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Industrial Espionage”.
• Hullcracker Blueprint (and Launcher Ammo Blueprint): Rewarded after completing “The Major’s Footlocker”.

Alas, that’s only 4 Blueprints out of a total of 75 to unlock, so for the vast majority you will need to find them yourself during a raid. If you’re intent on farming Blueprints, then it’s best to equip yourself with cheap gear in case you lose it, but don’t use a free loadout because then you won’t get a safe pocket to stash any new Blueprint you find. No pain in Arc Raiders is sharper than failing to extract with a new Blueprint you’ve been after for a dozen hours already.

One of the best ways to get Blueprints is by hitting three stars on all five Trials every week. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints obtained from Trials

One of the very best ways to get Blueprints is as rewards for completing Trials in Arc Raiders. Trials are unlocked from Level 15 onwards, and allow you to earn rewards by focusing on certain tasks over the course of several raids. For example, one Trial might task you with dealing damage to Hornets, while another might challenge you to loot Supply Drops.

Trials refresh on a weekly basis, with a new week bringing five new Trials. Each Trial can offer up to three rewards after passing certain score milestones, and it’s possible to receive very high level loot from these reward crates - including Blueprints. So if you want to unlock as many Blueprints as possible, you should make a point of completing as many Trials as possible each week.

Best Blueprint farming locations

The very best way to get Blueprints is to frequent specific areas of the maps which combine high-tier loot pools with the right types of containers to search. Here are my recommendations for where to find Blueprints on every map, so you can always keep the search going for new crafting recipes to unlock.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Dam Battlegrounds

The best places to farm Blueprints on Dam Battlegrounds are the Control Tower, Power Generation Complex, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments . The first two regions, despite only being marked on the map as mid-tier loot, contain a phenomenal number of containers to loot. The Control Tower can also contain a couple of high-tier Security Lockers - though of course, you’ll need to have unlocked the Security Breach skill at the end of the Survival tree.

There’s also a lot of reporting amongst the playerbase that the Residential areas in the top-left of the map - Pale Apartments and Ruby Residence - give you a comparatively strong chance of finding Blueprints. Considering their size, there’s a high density of containers to loot in both locations, and they also have the benefit of being fairly out of the way. So you’re more likely to have all the containers to yourself.

Buried City

The best Blueprint farming locations on Buried City are the Santa Maria Houses, Grandioso Apartments, Town Hall, and the various buildings of the New District . Grandioso Apartments has a lower number of containers than the rest, but a high chance of spawning weapon cases - which have good Blueprint drop rates. The others are high-tier loot areas, with plenty of lootable containers - including Security Lockers.

Spaceport

The best places to find Blueprints on Spaceport are the Arrival and Departure Buildings, as well as Control Tower A6 and the Launch Towers . All these areas are labelled as high-value loot regions, and many of them are also very handily connected to one another by the Spaceport wall, which you can use to quickly run from one area to the next. At the tops of most of these buildings you’ll find at least one Security Locker, so this is an excellent farming route for players looking to find Blueprints.

The downside to looting Blueprints on Spaceport is that all these areas are hotly contested, particularly in Duos and Squads. You’ll need to be very focused and fast in order to complete the full farming route.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blue Gate

Blue Gate tends to have a good chance of dropping Blueprints, potentially because it generally has a high number of containers which can hold lots of items; so there’s a higher chance of a Blueprint spawning in each container. In my experience, the best Blueprint farming spots on Blue Gate are Pilgrim’s Peak, Raider’s Refuge, the Ancient Fort, and the Underground Complex beneath the Warehouse .

All of these areas contain a wealth of containers to loot. Raider’s Refuge has less to loot, but the majority of the containers in and around the Refuge are raider containers, which have a high chance of containing Blueprints - particularly during major events.

Stella Montis

On the whole, Stella Montis seems to have a very low drop rate for Blueprints (though a high chance of dropping other high-tier loot). If you do want to try farming Blueprints on this map, the best places to find Blueprints in Stella Montis are Medical Research, Assembly Workshop, and the Business Center . These areas have the highest density of containers to loot on the map.

In addition to this, the Western Tunnel has a few different Security Lockers to loot, so while there’s very little to loot elsewhere in this area of the map, it’s worth hitting those Security Lockers if you spawn there at the start of a match.

That wraps up this primer on how to get all the Blueprints in Arc Raiders as quickly as possible. With the Expedition system constantly resetting a large number of players’ Blueprints, it’s more important than ever to have the most up-to-date information on where to find all these Blueprints.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our Arc Raiders best guns tier list , as well as our primers on the best skills to unlock and all the different Field Depot locations on every map.

ARC Raiders

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