Abyss league is ending, and I wanted to make a new character, but not sure how.

Hello, I'm fairly new to the game, and after following a ranger build my friend made for me, I figured for the new league, I wanted to make a more ranged character to try out. However, the problem is I don't really know the first thing about making a character. I've read guides, but I have no idea how to path, what stuff goes together, etc. I tried looking up builds to alleviate this problem, but honestly I couldn't understand pretty much all of them, even the beginner friendly ones, and I was wanting to ask how other people decide what's good or bad for a build. I've also read a lot of "play the game first" responses, which sounds about right, but 3 acts in, and I'm not sure I really know any more than I did going in, even with a friend's build. Strangely enough, it feels like I've yet to learn how to learn such things.

Lack of specification on what type of ranger build you previously played. And then asking for more ranged? Where do I begin?

On a more serious note, you have the bountiful power of reading so go back to the forum index, to the classes/builds and check out each of the class build lists. Try to look for low budget builds. I honestly don't know how much you know so I'll put forward you need to look after your elemental resists(fire, cold, lightning) and raise them to max(75) as soon as you can.

Some example builds from the ranger build list 3.1:
Tornado Shot + Barrage PF T16, Shaper low and high budget https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1940495
Frost Blades Raid low budget https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1848749

Read about required uniques and plan ahead. Visit poe.trade to buy the uniques you need.
Its highly recommended you get a premium stash tab so you can use the in-game api through it to store/sell your goods. Good luck

That's what I'm saying, I went to that very forum and looked those very thigns up, and I still didn't know much of what to do for a lot of it, or what a lot of stuff is.

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Lack of specification on what type of ranger build you previously played. And then asking for more ranged? Where do I begin?

That's on me, I should've been more specific, the ranger build that was used was mostly a Frost Blades one. Wasn't that too interested in it, but it wasn't terribly boring like Sunder was.

You can get inspiration in character section (ranger) here

It seems you´re pretty new so don´t be in hurry. Just play the game, use wiki and learn from your mistakes.
All things take the time to really understand them.
Don´t get overwhelmed by information though.

some useful links:




Great YT videos for new players



When you get basic knowledge how to create your own build you can use this pretty good tool

You're further ahead than I was when I started playing. I just made a character and started playing it then got crushed around act 4. The thing I didn't understand about the guides at first is how they got all of their gear. I didn't know how to trade and realized if I didn't have the same gear they did then the build would not work.

I would suggest doing some research on trading, there's several Youtube and discussions on how to gain currency, trade, and buy and sell through poe.trade. This guy does pretty good with all his videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k241z8SVpc And take a look at this build https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1647240 it's probably the noobiest of noob friendly. There was an easy Maurader Sunder build posted but I think it's gone. I'd stay away from the Ranger or Shadow if you're a noob, you'll get crushed. A melee Duelist or Maruader build are the easiest, Witch or Templar I'd say are in between.

As soon as the new league starts you should start over with a new character in that league. When the Abyss league ends you'll be switched over to Standard league which I wouldn't recommend playing until later. Also, they are changing the skill tree in the new league so whatever build you look at now, may not work in another week. But you can try a new build in Abyss just to figure out how the mechanics of making a build works.

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0piate wrote:

And take a look at this build https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1647240 it's probably the noobiest of noob friendly.

That was one of them I looked up, I didn't really understand it still.

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0piate wrote:

As soon as the new league starts you should start over with a new character in that league. When the Abyss league ends you'll be switched over to Standard league which I wouldn't recommend playing until later. Also, they are changing the skill tree in the new league so whatever build you look at now, may not work in another week. But you can try a new build in Abyss just to figure out how the mechanics of making a build works.

Well, that's what I was already doing, or planning. That's why I made the post, to prepare for the new league.

What don't you understand about it? Just follow the tree and use the same gear that he has. Make sure everything fits, notice how he's doing a blocking build so he takes all the shield and blocking nodes on his tree. He's using an axe so he takes all the nearest axe skill nodes, he's not going to take a skill that buffs sword damage.

It gets more complex when you get into damage type conversions and optimizing your skills. Something which I don't think he does very good at. His Static Strike does nothing for his bleeding ability which his ascendancy is giving him. But the build is a good basic one to start.

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0piate wrote:

What don't you understand about it? Just follow the tree and use the same gear that he has. Make sure everything fits, notice how he's doing a blocking build so he takes all the shield and blocking nodes on his tree. He's using an axe so he takes all the nearest axe skill nodes, he's not going to take a skill that buffs sword damage.

Where to farm that gear, what to use while farming that gear, what to use while getting a gem, what not to use while getting either, where to get Flasks in general, which branch to get first, etc. No build seems to have much on what to do from the start, mostly on what to do when already set up. it seems to require at least some knowledge of the game going in.

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SmileOmega wrote:

Where to farm that gear

You buy it here https://www.pathofexile.com/trade/search/Standard

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what to use while farming that gear

When you're leveling you can just use whatever you find lying on the ground. Look for items with lots of life and lots of sockets and links. You can always alter them too with chromatic orbs, essences, etc. But I usually like to save my currency until I'm a level 70. By then I pretty much have what I need so I can balance out my elemental resists, life, damage, and craft all my gear the way I want.

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what to use while getting a gem, what not to use while getting either, where to get Flasks in general, which branch to get first, etc. No build seems to have much on what to do from the start, mostly on what to do when already set up. it seems to require at least some knowledge of the game going in.

The guides are usually geared around end game, past level 70. Most of them leave out how to level because it's easy, sorry if you're struggling. You can actually use whatever skill you want when you're leveling. You haven't allocated very many skill specific mods in your tree yet so any skill should kill the monsters just fine when you're starting. However, I would suggest using the skill you want for late game so your gem levels. If you play the Gladiator one, I would use Cleave for late game. So get the Cleave gem as early as you can and start leveling it.

As far as what to branch first, I try and go for 60% defensive skill nodes, 40% offensive when I'm leveling. Then when I'm around a level 75, if I think my damage is lacking I will start going for more offense. Most noobs make the mistake of getting too much damage, not enough defense early so they just die and can't even make it to maps.

I know that you said you were looking for Ranger, but it might be worth taking a look at this build guide: http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1147951

In addition to the build itself, the author includes a good deal of information on how to play through the game as a new player and there's a section on upgrading/buying gear.