HOW-TO: Make a LEVELING skill tree... for dummies.

HOW-TO: Make a LEVELING skill tree...
(that will NOT get you killed in Hardcore League because you took Mind Over Matter at lvl 30 which prevented you to use your escape when you needed it)
... for dummies

Introduction
Hello! I am Violet and I salute YOU, little-newbie-that-just-discovered-the-game. You see a lot of cool build in the Class section, but they lack leveling information and you have no idea what to do? This short-and-simple guide will help you!

What you will need :
- an End-Game Skill tree (you will find a lot of them in the Class Section. If you want to do it youserlf, I recommend that you read Firielis's "How to Make a build" guide https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/510084)
- 5 minutes of planning BEFORE creating your character (Will save you a lot more time during the leveling cause you won't be lost in the Skill Tree)
Speaking of experience, if you don't plan your skill tree BEFORE leveling your character, you will fail.
- common sense
(Also, PoE Offline Skill Tree Planner is really helpul, it allows you to save your build and shows a lot of usefull informations (for example the total passives attributes you got, etc)
It is of course not required)
link:



What you won't need:
- Lots of thinking
- Einstein's QI
- MIT's computer to maximise the efficiency "cause that damn skill forest is too f*****' big"
You won't need any of that, even 12 year old Jaden can do it.

Skill Gem choice
If the main skill of the build you want to make can be used in leveling, then you can just use it, but what if it is not the case?
You need to replace it with a skill that is efficient in leveling AND benefits from the skill tree of your build.
Let's take a look at the following example, you want to play Crit Arc Witch.
Problem: Arc sucks at low levels, it becomes good only around level 50-60 and with good cast speed and links.
Arc is a lightning spell, during leveling you could replace it with any good leveling spell. For example Firestorm
"But wait, it is not lightning?!" No problem! Just don't take lightning damage before you switch to arc. You can even take some damage nodes to boost your leveling spell and respec them later.

Here's a quick list of skills that are good to level with. (you can find more with a simple google research)
Spells:

Attacks:

Bow:


HOW-TO : Life-Based
For this example I will take a look at Vahu's Crit Ice Nova build.
Here's a beginner attempt to level up using it:
We can see a very common mistake that I used to do myself when I leveled my first characters. He proceed to take every cluster that the End-Game build takes, one by one. It results in a character level 39 with crit, additionnal curse, Zealoth's Oath, Mind Over Matter. This is of course not efficient. It doesn't not really matter in standard (even tho leveling will be more painful) but this little mistake resulted in this character death in Tempest League at level 39.

What can we learn from this example ? We shall see


1 - Open the Skill Tree and remove EVERING that is not defense nodes or pathing (You can keep "quality of life" nodes like: increased movement speed, Area of Effect, etc)
You're left with:

It's already much more clearer, isn't it ?


2 - Optimise the pathing
To achieve the leveling tree faster, take shorter path to connect it, you'll respec them later (the game gives you free respec points, use them!)
For this tree we would only win 2 pathing nodes, so it's not mandatory


3 - Useful leveling nodes
Search what could make your leveling easier:
It could be:
- Resistances nodes to help cap your resistances during leveling if you need it
- Flasks Nodes to improve your surviviability and speed (Quicksilvers Flasks) during leveling
- +30 Stats Nodes
If there are some of thoses nodes near your pathing, take them when needed.


4 - Plan your progression
Rule #1: Efficiency: take the most efficient clusters/nodes first
Rule #2: Prioritise defense: take defensive nodes first



LET'S BEGIN!
29 points:
We started the pathing and we took:
Life clusters: (Rule #2)
Amplify: Area damage is just too good with ICe Nova (Rule #1)
Elementalist: Efficient (Rule #1) and 12% elemental resist helps a lot in leveling


48 points
More life
Blast Radius Cluster, Deep Wisdom because and Practical Application: 20% increased raduis, 12% area damage, 40% to avoid stun while casting (can save your life!) +20 to Mana/ES/Intel/Strength/Dex for 7 points ? Man THAT's EFFICIENCY, I LIKE EFFICIENCY
We grabbed flasks nodes for the quality of life and extra surviviability
(we won't take efficient leveling tree pathing for this build because it only saves 2 nodes)


68 points:
We did not go for "Melding" cluster because "Written in Blood" cluster is more efficient and we finished our pathing (How many times will I use the term "efficient in this guide? Guess!)


We are now in merciless, lvl 60-ish, and now things starts getting interesting! Since the pathing is finished, we just have to complete the skill tree by taking:
- The "Melding" cluster if we feel like we need the addional life.
- Eldritch Battery/Zealot's Oath/Mind Over Matter
- "Whispers of Doom" for the additional curse when our gem setup allows it
- Crit nodes and Power Charge nodes
It s also the moment when you can start innovating since you start to have a better understanding of your character, you could for example take Sovereignty to boost your auras

The moment you will take those nodes is not set in stone and will depend of your character's situation.

I hope this will be helpful for knew players, if you have any question, want to add anything, have any comment, feel free. I will be happy to answer.
More is coming soon.

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