What is Solo Self-Found in Path of Exile 2?

When starting a new character in PoE 2, you can put the new character in the standard or current league. When you choose those options, you still have to choose whether you want to play hardcore or solo self-found.

Hardcore is a permanent death league, but what exactly is a solo self-found character? Here’s a quick explanation.

What Does Solo Self-Found Mean in PoE2?

Solo self-found is a league setting where trade is not possible. That is where the “self-found” comes from. All item drops must be obtained naturally. On top of that restriction, you are also alone. 

You can’t group with anyone, making certain content harder to achieve depending on your build. Since everything is self-found, certain builds are “harder” to achieve.

Builds with semi-rare or extremely rare uniques become almost unplayable in solo self-found. 

Even common unique drops typically just cost a few Exalted Orbs, which could be hard to find. 

If you search for builds, you’ll start encountering terms like “hardcore viable” or “solo self-found” viable, which means the build should be okay when playing those options or settings. 

The game changes drastically when you choose these options. Even the best beginner or leaguestarter builds become “harder” if you don’t have access to trade. I highly suggest avoiding these options for beginners until you are more familiar with the game.

Related: Best New Unique Items in PoE 2 Dawn of the Hunt

What is the Point of Playing Solo Self-Found in PoE 2?

Some players like the challenge of completing the game alone. They could either decide if they want to finish the campaign and a few bosses or finish the highest difficulty of the endgame, such as max difficulty Arbiter of Ash or extremely juiced Waystones. Regardless of endgame goals, solo self-found aims to remove external factors.

The only way to do this is to remove the temptation of trade. You can get as many currency as you like, but they aren’t as valuable in solo self-found. For example, if you get Divine Orbs in solo self-found, it isn’t as valuable because you don’t have any item to use it on that would “create” a high value.

In trade, players can use Divine Orbs on Astramentis amulets, which could skyrocket the price by more than 20+ Divine Orbs if the attributes roll near the maximum. You’ll have to find one in solo self-found to get some value out of Divine Orbs

The trade market can also be extremely volatile, and players can even “farm” currency through trading. Solo self-found removes the fear of missing out on values if you are that type of player.

You don’t have to think, “Oh, I farmed for hours to buy HoWA gloves, but if I buy them now, the value could get halved in a few days.” You’ll keep thinking about whether you should buy it and end up wasting time as you hold on to your currency.

These examples may seem extreme, but they are extremely common in Path of Exile.