Which cheap starter builds offer high DPS & easy progression for new players?

Navigating the Early Game: Essential Build Choices for Newcomers

Stepping into the vast and often intimidating world of modern Action RPGs or MMORPGs can be a daunting experience, especially when faced with an overwhelming array of character classes, skill trees, and gear choices. For new players, the goal is often simple: find a build that allows for smooth progression, deals enough damage to tackle content without struggling, and doesn’t require an exorbitant amount of in-game currency or rare items to get off the ground. This guide aims to demystify the early game by highlighting build archetypes that consistently deliver high damage per second (DPS) and ensure an easy, enjoyable journey for those just starting out.

Defining ‘Cheap,’ ‘High DPS,’ and ‘Easy Progression’

Before diving into specific recommendations, it’s crucial to understand what these terms mean in the context of a starter build. A ‘cheap’ build primarily relies on easily acquired gear, often found through normal gameplay, crafted with basic materials, or purchased for minimal in-game currency. It avoids reliance on specific, rare unique items or high-tier crafting bases that can be prohibitively expensive for a beginner.

‘High DPS’ doesn’t necessarily mean topping leaderboards, but rather having sufficient damage to clear packs of enemies efficiently, take down boss encounters in a reasonable time frame, and avoid prolonged, frustrating fights. This is often achieved through good area-of-effect (AoE) skills for clearing trash mobs and strong single-target options or scalable damage mechanics for bosses.

‘Easy Progression’ refers to a build that is forgiving. It might offer good inherent survivability, have straightforward mechanics that don’t require perfect execution, or scale naturally with character levels and easily accessible skill gems or talent points rather than complex gear interactions. This ensures a smooth leveling curve and minimizes frustration from repeated deaths or brick walls in content.

Top Archetypes for a Smooth Start

1. Minion/Summoner Builds

Minion builds are a perennial favorite for new players across many titles, and for good reason. They typically involve summoning various creatures or entities that fight on your behalf, effectively acting as a separate damage source and often as a frontline shield. This playstyle inherently offers a significant layer of safety, as your character can stay at a distance while your minions engage enemies.

Why they excel: Minions often scale strongly with skill gem levels, character levels, and generic minion-specific passive tree nodes, meaning they are less gear-dependent early on. Their damage can be surprisingly high with minimal investment, making early boss fights manageable. Furthermore, managing minions generally involves casting a few spells to summon them or buff them, making the rotation relatively simple. Games like Path of Exile with its Necromancer, Diablo with its Summoner Necromancer, or even games with pet classes, exemplify the power and ease of this archetype.

2. Damage-over-Time (DoT) Builds

DoT builds, which focus on applying debuffs that deal damage over a period, are incredibly effective for new players due to their hit-and-run potential and consistent damage output. Instead of burst damage, you apply a powerful bleed, poison, ignite, or other lingering effect and then focus on evasion and survival while the enemy’s health slowly ticks away. This allows for a very safe and strategic playstyle, particularly against dangerous bosses or large packs of monsters.

Why they excel: The core strength of DoT builds lies in their ability to deal damage while kiting. Once a powerful DoT is applied, you are free to reposition, avoid incoming attacks, or apply more debuffs to other targets. They scale well with generic damage increases, specific DoT modifiers, and often don’t require critical strike chance or high attack speed, simplifying gear choices. Popular examples include poison assassins, bleed gladiators, or ignite elementalists found in various ARPGs. These builds teach valuable lessons about positioning and evasion without punishing low burst damage.

3. Totem, Trap, or Mine Builds

Similar to minion builds in their indirect damage approach, totem, trap, and mine builds offer a unique blend of safety and potent damage. These archetypes involve deploying stationary objects (totems) or throwable devices (traps/mines) that then cast spells or explode, dealing damage to enemies. Your character acts as the deployer, not the direct damage dealer.

Why they excel: The primary advantage is safety; your character is often out of harm’s way while your deployed mechanisms do the work. This makes for incredibly safe boss encounters and allows you to pre-position damage before engaging. They also tend to scale very well with skill gem levels and generic spell damage or trap/mine specific modifiers, again reducing reliance on expensive gear. Builds like freezing pulse totems, lightning trap saboteurs, or pyroclast mines are renowned for their incredible clear speed and bossing potential on a budget, making them ideal for a beginner’s first foray into the endgame.

4. Simple Area-of-Effect (AoE) Spell Casters

While some spell casters can be complex, many simple AoE spell builds offer an exceptionally smooth and high-DPS experience for new players. These builds typically revolve around a core spell with a large area of effect and good base damage, allowing you to clear entire screens of enemies with a few casts. They often rely on elemental damage types, which are generally easy to scale.

Why they excel: Their strength lies in their ability to clear vast numbers of enemies quickly, leading to faster leveling and more loot. Simple spell casters usually scale well with generic spell damage, elemental damage, and cast speed, which are common modifiers found on early game gear. They are less mechanically intensive than some other builds, often requiring you to simply point and click. Classic examples include builds centered around Fireball, Arc, or Ice Nova in many fantasy RPGs. Focus on one or two strong AoE spells and build your character around maximizing their effectiveness and survivability.

General Tips for New Players & Progression

Beyond choosing a solid build, there are several universal principles that will greatly enhance a new player’s experience and progression, regardless of the game or specific build chosen:

• Prioritize Defenses Early On: While DPS is exciting, surviving hits is paramount. Ensure you cap your resistances (fire, cold, lightning, etc.) as soon as possible, especially when transitioning to higher difficulties. Look for life/energy shield/armor on your gear and in your passive tree.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Follow a Guide: For your first character, following a well-regarded community guide can save you immense frustration. These guides often provide step-by-step instructions for leveling, gear progression, and skill point allocation, removing much of the guesswork. Once you understand the game’s mechanics, feel free to experiment.
• Understand Core Mechanics: Take time to read skill descriptions, understand how different damage types interact, and what your defensive layers actually do. A little knowledge goes a long way in making informed decisions.
• Manage Your Inventory: Develop good habits for picking up loot, identifying what’s valuable, and selling/stashing the rest. This ensures a steady stream of currency for upgrades.
• Don’t Overcommit to Rare Items: Especially early on, don’t get fixated on finding specific rare unique items. Focus on upgrading your basic gear with good stats (resistances, life, damage modifiers) that are readily available. The builds suggested above thrive without specific rares.
• Learn to Identify Upgrade Paths: As you progress, consider what stats would provide the biggest upgrade for your current build. Is it more damage? More survivability? A new skill gem? Plan your next steps.

Conclusion: Empowering Your First Adventure

Choosing the right starter build is not just about raw power; it’s about setting yourself up for an enjoyable and educational experience. The minion, damage-over-time, totem/trap/mine, and simple AoE spellcaster archetypes consistently prove to be excellent choices for new players due to their affordability, high damage potential, and forgiving playstyles. By combining one of these robust build foundations with smart progression strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to overcome early challenges, learn the intricacies of your chosen game, and confidently progress into its deeper, more complex content. Happy adventuring!