The new one has some questions

I'm 58.... I remembered when I played games like Path of Exile and decided to try my hand at this game
Zanik I started the game, I read the forum, I watched videos on YT regarding gameplay and guides
Then I started reading about all the other aspects like gems and other equipment and to be honest I got a little lost
Yes, I already have that before I buy something or before I play something, I want to get to know the product that I will touch :)
It was beyond me
My question for help I have and only one
In every game like POE I played a mage and if possible I used electrical discharges to exterminate the enemy
I found a few builds on this forum and on other sites, and found many other builds as well
Keep in mind that I'm 58 years old, I understand the topic :) I'm also open to suggestions for other builds
So I'm asking what build with "electrics" do you recommend at the beginning to get used to the game
I come across builds where characters are equipped with equipment that I think falls on the end gamut, but they don't say what equipment to survive to engam :)

I can, of course, choose for myself ... as I wrote, I found pages with builds, including this forum, however, I am asking you as a POE community what can you recommend to the old man
I also decided that at first I will play on Standard and then when I get to know the mechanics of the game and keyboards, maybe I will try on some league
I also installed a filter (I wrote that I get it)
However, I don't know what filter to use, there are several options
I suppose the options are tailored to the character's power
That's it
I got an account from my son but I would like to play alone with a new character than use what I created myself
I hope to meet you in the game someday, good luck to everyone and it would be nice to read some answers and tips
Good luck and thanks in advance

Honestly it doesnt matter that much whether you are starting with or without a guide or which skill you pick.

You are expected to fail a couple of builds trying to grasp the basics of the game. As long as you are fine with that and willing to learn, the rest doesnt really matter all that much.


There is no guide or build out there that will lead to total success as in beating all content or reaching max lvl and stuff like that. You just wont be able to do so.
Thats the harsh truth.

Instead Id recommend to simply play the game, check out skills you might be interested in and then commit to one of those skills.
You might want to look up a build for that specific skill at that point or freestyle it, thats up to you.

It doesnt change the fact that you will hit a wall at some point anyways. Thats just the nature of this game.

Try following this guide: https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1147951

It's one of the best guides there is and exactly up your ally with electrical discharges. General advice, cap your resis at 75 starting from act 6 and try to get 300 life per act. Past campaign aim for 4-5k life. You won't be doing uber endgame content with just that but it's enough to get into mapping and get a general idea of the game.

The first skill that pops up in my mind if I read "electric discharges" is Arc. Since it's a somewhat popular skill, you should find a brunch of guides.


In general, PoE was never meant to be a game for the mainstream. It's complex, it's difficult and you will run into some walls sooner or later. If you're able to accept that a fine game awaits you, that can be played for years.

For filters, I usually use the neversink ones and start with the semi-strict filter. that helped me alot (especially with the different symbols and colors), while not hiding to much stuff that might be interesting, especially for a beginner.

Oh, another advice: for skills, items etc, read closely and pay attention to the wording. It is (at least in english) kinda precise and will safe you from alot of confusion if you read closely.
For example if a skillgem says that it supports a "hex curse", then the skills you want to use it with also needs both the tags "hex" and "curse" and not just one of them.

I write build guides for newbies.
Most build guides are not written with newbies in mind, and can be confusing to the new player.

Unfortunately, my current newbie build guide is for Skeleton Mage Necromancer, not for lightning caster type stuff.

Still, its worth checking out, as it has a lot of good info that might be helpful to you.
In the third post in the guide thread, there is a section "general information for newbies" that I HIGHLY recommend you read.

https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3351307

I like this one, electrical explosions,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiA8aV_5i9s


Focused on easy gearing, fast clear.

https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Lightning_damage

You can hover over the skill gems on that wiki page and maybe in the description of the skill you might find something that really sounds fun. If so you can bet that someone at some point has made a video about it, so you can search for that skill on youtube and see what it might look like to play it (or try it in game for yourself, after Act 6 of the campaign you can buy most skill gems from the vendor in town after clearing the nearby coast of zombies).

Then if it looks good and feels fun to you you can look up a proper guide for it or try to figure it out yourself. As others said there's a decent chance you will 'fail' your first character or two. What this looks like in practice is you 'hit a wall' of content that is at your level, but you can't kill things fast enough and they end up swarming and killing you right proper. At that point you will need to read the wiki, consult videos, maybe join a guild in game or ask questions here to figure out some tips on how to not die, and/or how to kill the baddies better.

"

Odif wrote:

I write build guides for newbies.
Most build guides are not written with newbies in mind, and can be confusing to the new player.

Unfortunately, my current newbie build guide is for Skeleton Mage Necromancer, not for lightning caster type stuff.

Still, its worth checking out, as it has a lot of good info that might be helpful to you.
In the third post in the guide thread, there is a section "general information for newbies" that I HIGHLY recommend you read.

https://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/3351307

Can u stop spamming your guides everywhere in the forum, even when he clearly states he does not want minions?

Best Build for Lightning is already posted by Baharoth, that build guide is solid. Only thing I´d say about it: Change it to Hierophant. Enki said it himself already, that right now his Build-Concept is not working to its full power in all the witch-ascendancies.

I would second that. Enki's Arc Witch Hierophant guide is excellent for new players since it has not only appropriate gear and upgrades but also explains the "why" and "how" of different things. So you'll probably not only end up with a usable character but also be able to use that knowledge for future characters and leagues.
Older gamers are used to a time when games were a bit more unforgiving and harder than most games nowadays, so I think you'll do fine if you find the fun in that.