When I first started playing Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2), I got excited by big numbers. I saw a sword with “+300% Increased Physical Damage” and thought, “Yes! This is the one. My build is going to destroy everything.” I built my entire character around it. But very quickly, I realized I was dying. A lot. My damage didn’t feel strong, my defenses were weak, and I couldn’t figure out what went wrong. That’s when I learned the hard truth: tooltip DPS can lie.

In PoE 2, the tooltips on weapons or skills show a number that’s supposed to tell you how much damage you’re doing. But that number is not the whole story. It doesn’t tell you about how often you hit, how enemies resist damage, how important critical strikes are, or how much mana you're using just to survive. The tooltip can make one weapon look much stronger than another, even if in real fights it performs worse.

One of the best examples was when I bought a fancy two-handed axe that showed massive DPS. I traded two Chaos Orbs and one Regal Orb to buy PoE 2 items that matched the damage type—support gems, rings, even flasks. But during boss fights, I missed hits, couldn’t move fast, and ended up using too many Life Flasks. Later, I switched to a fast one-handed sword with attack speed mods and a shield. The tooltip showed lower DPS, but my clear speed and survival went way up. The real game-changer? Looking beyond the tooltip.

If you want to build a powerful character in PoE 2, here’s a simple but effective guide:

1. Always test your build in real fights, not just in town. The tooltip may say 50k DPS, but if you’re too slow or die quickly, it doesn’t help.

2. Focus on attack speed, critical strike chance, and elemental penetration. These don’t always show clearly in tooltips, but they have a huge effect.

3. Use PoE 2 items that support your build’s survivability. Look for armor with Life, Resistances, or Evasion. Don't ignore Defense.

4. When you buy PoE 2 items, pay attention to synergy. For example, if you’re building around Cold Damage, make sure your gloves, amulet, and support gems boost cold effectiveness. Buying high-end items with crafted mods using Exalted Orbs or Divine Orbs can really boost your build.

5. Use Path of Building or a PoE planner tool to simulate your build's real damage. That will give you a better picture than in-game tooltips.

Another tip: learn to read modifiers properly. “Adds 10 to 100 Lightning Damage” might look cool, but if your base attack is weak or too slow, it won’t matter. On the other hand, “Gain 1% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage” may seem small, but it scales massively in the right setup.

The truth is, no single item makes a build powerful. It’s how all your PoE 2 items work together—your skill gems, your gear, your flasks, and even your passive tree. Don’t let a shiny tooltip mislead you like it did me. Test your gear, think about your playstyle, and when in doubt, buy PoE 2 items that help you stay alive as much as they help you deal damage.

That’s how I fixed my broken build. Not by chasing the biggest number, but by understanding what really makes a character strong in PoE 2. Let the tooltip be a guide, not the final word.