Beginner roadmap: your first 10 hours

Hour 0–1: pick your starting trio

Only three heroes are free at launch: Knight (sword + shield, highest HP), Ranger (bow, highest crit chance) and Sorcerer (staff, AOE caster). Priest, Hunter and Slayer all require their respective DLC packs — don't plan an early-game build around them unless you've bought them.

Hour 1–3: open the Cube

The Cube is available from the start. Two functions are usable immediately: Synthesis (combine items into a higher-tier random one) and Alchemy (turn junk into gold). Crafting opens at Cube Lv 5, Decoration at 8, Extraction at 10. Level the Cube by feeding it items — every Synthesis grants Cube XP.

Hour 3–6: rune priority

Runes are permanent global upgrades. Aim your first gold at Rune of Exploration (more drops from normal chests) and Rune of Expansion (more inventory slots so loot keeps flowing while you're AFK). Skip pure combat runes until your gear plateaus — drops feed everything else.

Hour 6+: push into Act 2

Once you can clear 1-10 (Throne of Darkness) reliably, jump to Act 2. Stage 2-1 (Oasis Road) is the first big XP step. Farm 2-5 (Scorching Dunes) for Watcher kills — Giant Fly is 40% of spawns there, and 5,000 Watcher kills unlock the Watcher pet.