TL;DR

1. Preparation

  • Download this loot filter & save it to \Users\User\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile

  • Select the loot filter in the ‚Game‘ options menu

  • Activate ‚Always Show Sockets‘ in the ‚UI‘ options menu

  • Disable ‚Screen Shake‘ in the ‚UI‘ options menu
  • Activate ‚Show life/mana levels‘ in the ‚UI‘ options menu
  • Activate ‚Show Mini Life Bar on Enemies‘ in the ‚UI‘ options menu
  • Activate ‚Always Highlight‘ in the ‚UI‘ options menu

  • Follow this passive skill tree

2. Campaign

Act 1
  • Choose the league you want to play in
  • Create a Duelist as a new character
  • Keep the tutorials activated (if you are a new player)
  • Choose ‚Move only‘ as your default left click
  • Choose (G) Splitting Steel as a quest reward

  • Use (G) Splitting Steel instead of (G) Double Strike & link it with (R) Chance to Bleed Support

  • Activate ‘Always Attack Without Moving” for your skills
  • Get a 3-linked G-G-R item as soon as possible
  • Choose Quicksilver Flask as a quest reward
  • Choose (G) Momentum Support as a quest reward & link it with your existing setup, if possible

  • Choose (R) Ancestral Protector as a quest reward

  • Choose (G) Dash as a quest reward

  • Buy (R) War Banner from the vendor

  • Choose (R) Maim Support gem as a quest reward & link it with (R) Ancestral Protector

  • Choose (R) Vitality as a quest reward & use/activate it

  • Choose (G) Shattering Steel as a quest reward & use it instead of (G) Splitting Steel

  • Buy (R) Steelskin from the vendor & use it in dangerous situations

  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Lower Prison – optional
Act 2
  • Kill all bandits
  • Finish the quest ‘Intruders in Black’ as soon as possible

  • Get a mana flask with ‚Flask effect is not removed when Unreserved Mana is Filled‘ modifier – important!

  • Choose (R) Herald of Ash as a quest reward & use/activate it

  • Buy (R) Herald of Purity from the vendor & use/activate it

  • Get a Poleaxe and upgrade it by using this vendor recipe as soon as possible

  • Choose (G) Vicious Projectiles Support gem as a quest reward & level it in your second weapon set

  • Get a Double Axe and upgrade it by using this vendor recipe as soon as possible
  • Buy 2x (G) Toxic Rain from the vendor & level it in your second weapon set
  • Buy (G) Mirage Archer Support from the vendor & level it in your second weapon set
  • Buy (R) Ballista Totem Support from the vendor & level it in your second weapon set
  • Buy 2x (G) Faster Attacks Support from the vendor & level it in your second weapon set
  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Crypt – optional
  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Chamber of Sins Level 2 – optional
Act 3

  • DO NOT COMPLETE The Lord’s Labyrinth – you do this later

  • Complete the quest A Fixture of Fate in The Library as soon as possible

  • Keep your eyes open for a bow with 3 or 4 links & put it in your stash

  • Run The Docks until you’ve reached level 33

  • Craft your leveling bow by using this method

  • Kepp your eyes open for 3-linked G-G-R or a 4-linked G-G-G-R item
  • Switch to this Toxic Rain setup as soon as you have the bow and at least a G-G-R item

  • Buy (R) Determination from the vendor & use it as soon as you fulfill this requirement

  • Buy (R) Molten Shell from the vendor & use instead of (R) Steelkin once you use (R) Determination
  • Use a Granite Flask once you use (R) Determination – might only drop later
  • Reminder: Activate ‘Always Attack Without Moving” for your skills
  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Crematorium – optional
  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Catacombs – optional
  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Imperial Gardens – optional
Act 4

  • Try to cap your elemental resistances from here (75%)

  • Get a Life Flask with an ‚Instant Recovery‘ modifier as soon as possible
  • Get a Flask with ‚Grants Immunity to Bleeding for X Seconds if used while Bleeding‘ modifier as soon as possible

  • Buy (G) Withering Touch Support from the vendor

  • Buy (R) Multiple Totems Support from the vendor
  • Use (G) Withering Touch Support instead of (G) Void Manipulation Support in your Ballista Totem Setup

  • Use (R) Multiple Totems Support instead of (G) Faster Attacks Support in your Ballista Totem Setup

Act 5
  • Choose a Granite Flask as a quest reward
Act 6

  • You’ve just lost 30% elemental resistances so focus on capping elemental resistances even more now

  • Complete the quest ‚Fallen from Grace‘
  • Choose Soul of the Brine King as your first Pantheon
  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Prison – optional
Act 7
  • Choose Soul of Ralakesh as your second Pantheon
  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Crypt – important!
  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Chamber of Sins Level 2 – important!
  • Complete all Trials of Ascendancy in Act 1-7 (if not done yet) – important!
  • Enter The Lord’s Labyrinth via the Aspirants‘ Plaza
  • Complete the The Normal Labyrinth & choose the Champion Ascendancy class

  • Pick ‚Unstoppable Hero‘ on your Ascendancy class skill tree

  • Pick ‚Unstoppable Hero‘ on your Ascendancy class skill tree

  • Complete the The Cruel Labyrinth & pick ‚Fortitude‘ on your Ascendancy class skill tree
Act 8

  • Switch your Major Pantheon to ‚Soul of Arakaali‘

  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Bath House – optional
Act 9

  • Farm The Foothills in Act 9 until you have most of this early endgame setup

  • Make sure you have 105% of each elemental resistance (Fire, Cold and Lightning) as soon as possible
  • ‚+# to Maximum Life‘ and elemental resistances are the only important item modifiers for the time being

  • Add a Cast When Damage Taken setup to your Molten Shell by using this method

  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Tunnel – optional
  • Kill Garukhan, Queen of the Winds, in The Quarry and choose Soul of Garukhan as your new minor Pantheon
Act 10
  • Look out for a Thicket Bow with an itemlevel (ilvl) of 64 or higher

  • Craft your early-endgame bow by using this method once you have found a normal itemlevel 64+ Thicket Bow

  • Look out for an Eternal Mana Flask & craft it so it becomes an Enduring Eternal Mana Flask
  • Complete at least all quests which grant you skill points
  • Complete the Trial of Ascendancy in The Ossuary – important!
  • Complete all Trials of Ascendancy in Act 8-10 (if not done yet) – important!
  • Complete the The Merciless Labyrinth & pick ‚Inspirational‘ on your Ascendancy class skill tree
  • Buy (R) Defiance Banner from the vendor & use/activate it
  • Finish the campaign by completing Act 10
  • Talk to Lani in Oritah to receive your quest reward

3. Endgame Basics

4. Endgame Milestones