Titan Quest 2 launched a couple of days ago in early access, and players keep discovering a ton of hidden mechanics that the game doesn’t really tell you. From hidden difficulty mechanics to how potions really work, here is a breakdown of all the useful systems and secrets to help you build a strong character, stay alive, and have fun doing it!
Yes, There Are Different Difficulty Modes
When you start the game, you can pick between three different difficulties. Here are some more information about each, to help you pick better. Keep in mind that you can also increase the difficulty later on:
- Neophyte
- 50% less damage taken
- Faster HP regeneration
- If this is your first ARPG, or you are a beginner in the Titan Quest series, this mode is perfect for you. It allows you to learn each mechanics without the stress of struggling to go through content.
- Normal
- The classic experience
- No modifiers
- Perfect if you already know Titan Quest, and if you are used to playing ARPGs.
- Hardcore
- This mode is apart from the other two.
- You have one life, no second chances. If you die, your character wipes.
- This mode is only recommended for ARPG veterans, or if you really want a good challenge.
If you are unsure, start in Neophyte and switch later. There is no penalty for doing so, and no shame!
Once you reach the city of Pyrgos you can use the shrine to increase or decrease the enemy difficulty:
- Increase or Decrease the difficulty
- This option allows you to increase or lower the enemy difficulty overall.
- If you struggle a bit or if it feels too easy, don’t hesitate to use this option.
- Elevate enemy levels in previous areas
- Useful if you want to go back to older areas after leveling. You can raise their level, allowing you to grind older zones again for better XP and rewards.
- It will level enemies closer to your current level.
- Respawn Enemies in the Area
- You can use this if you are farming a specific zone and want to respawn all the enemies over and over again.
- We don’t recommend you to use this, as restarting the game lets you respawn all enemies for free instead.
Attributes Matter More Than You Think
You will earn stat points as you level up, but what you invest in directly affects your gear, damage, and survivability. You do not want to spread them too much into everything! Here are few hints that will help you pick the right stats:
- Main Attributes:
- Might: For heavy melee weapons and armor
- Agility: For daggers, bows, and light armor
- Knowledge: For magic damage and robes
- Vigor: Boosts your base HP
- Secondary Attributes (auto-calculated from your stats):
- Fitness: Boosts Strike & Pierce damage
- Resolve: Boosts Fire & Cold
- Cunning: Boosts Poison & Lightning
Focus on what you need depending on your build. If you spread too widely, it will weaken you instead of making you stronger.
Masteries: Choose Wisely, You Can’t Change Them
Early in the prologue, you will have to pick two Masteries at Divine Altars. This basically defines your class, and once chosen, you are locked in. For now, there is no possibility to respec your Mastery.
- Available Masteries in Early Access:
- Earth: Fire and stone magic
- Storm: Ice and lightning
- Rogue: Poison, traps, evasion
- Warfare: Melee & physical combat
Try out several mastery combos in the early game. The prologue is fast, and you can preview all skill trees before committing. So we recommend you try some stuff out, and if you do not like it, start over. Do this before committing to any mastery, this way you are sure that you will like what you play in Endgame.
Skills, Modifiers, and Respecs
Each skill tree has different parts you can level up:
- Active Skills: The skills you equip on your bar and that you cast or trigger in combat
- Passive Skills: Those are additional bonuses that are always active, or activate under certain specific conditions, but are not equipped on your skill bar
- Modifiers: Add things like AoE, status effects, or bonus damage
As you start, you may want to spec into a ton of different skills, but here are a few tips on how to progress smartly:
- Focus on 1-2 key skills early and max those out
- Modifiers can drastically improve damage or survivability, so do not be afraid to use them
- Respecs are allowed, so do not be afraid to change things around. However, it does cost a high amount of gold, so just be aware of that
Tips Most Players Miss
- Potions Are Not What You Think
- Potions have charges, not cooldowns
- You recharge health potions by dealing damage
- Energy potions recharge slowly over time
- Pro tip: Be aggressive! Dealing more damage means you get more healing.
- Dodge to Survive
- You get 2 dodge charges, with cooldown
- Upgrade Dodge in the Core skill tree to reduce cooldown and add buffs to it
- Lighter armor means faster dodge recovery
- Side Quests Are More Than Filler
- Side quests can reward:
- XP and gold
- Attribute or skill points
- Permanent HP and Energy boosts
- Divinity and crafting items
- Some quests involve secret items or puzzles. Keep those items because they often lead to big rewards later.
- Side quests can reward:
- Inventory & Looting Tips
- Ornate Chests drop tons of gear, so don’t miss them! By ton we mean, a TON. The first time it may even make you feel like it is a bug!
- Use the Sort button in your inventory to auto-organize
- Sell old gear often. Gold is essential for respecs, shrines, and more.
- Keep rare items in your stash. You may want to do an ALT character later on, and may need those.
- Fast Travel & Portals
- Waypoints: Standard fast travel
- Rebirth Shrines: Also serve as checkpoints
- Personal Portal (press L): Create a custom portal anywhere
- Death Portal: Appears where you died so you can return quickly
- Quick Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t ignore your core attribute. Gear won’t equip otherwise. You need a certain amount of points.
- Don’t hoard skill points. There is no reason for you to not use your skill points, so spend early and increase your power!
- Don’t skip Ritual Shrines. Increase your enemy levels from time to time. If you run over everything, you will earn less XP and rewards.
- Don’t forget Divinity. It is the key to unlocking top-tier builds!
- Don’t overlook Dodge upgrades. They can be life-saving during tough boss fights!
Titan Quest 2 hides a lot under the surface, especially if you think the game is like in other ARPGs. Explore, experiment, try different things out, and do not be afraid to change your build or difficulty if needed! The game has a lot of features you can test and try out, so get going!
