TL;DR
- Respec becomes available in Act 1 after completing The Mysterious Shade and Sorrow Among Stones quests
- The Hooded One NPC in Clearfell Encampment handles all passive skill refunds for gold
- Respec costs scale with character level – plan major changes before reaching high levels
- This system only affects passive skill tree, not active skill gems or character attributes
- Strategic respec planning can save thousands of gold compared to piecemeal changes
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Path of Exile 2 made its debut in Early Access on December 6, introducing players to enhanced character customization mechanics. Following the game’s initial release, numerous adventurers sought guidance on modifying their allocated talent points. Fortunately, the respec functionality becomes accessible relatively early in your journey, specifically during Act 1. This comprehensive walkthrough delivers actionable intelligence for mastering passive skill tree adjustments in PoE 2’s evolving ecosystem.
The respec mechanism represents one of the most crucial quality-of-life features for build experimentation. Unlike some RPGs that limit respec opportunities to specific story moments, PoE 2 provides consistent access once you’ve progressed beyond the introductory quests. This flexibility empowers players to refine their characters without restarting entire campaigns, though strategic planning remains essential for cost efficiency.
Character specialization reset procedures in PoE 2 closely mirror the established systems from the original game, though with refined user experience. Your initial objective involves locating a specific non-player character who manages these services. You must seek out The Hooded One within the Clearfell Encampment zone. This enigmatic figure becomes available for interaction only after you successfully conclude two critical campaign missions: The Mysterious Shade and Sorrow Among Stones.
These prerequisite quests typically require 45-60 minutes of gameplay to complete, depending on your familiarity with PoE mechanics and combat proficiency. The Clearfell Encampment serves as a central hub throughout Act 1, making The Hooded One conveniently accessible once unlocked. Many players overlook this NPC during their initial exploration, so ensure you thoroughly investigate all camp inhabitants after finishing the required objectives.

The Hooded One provides dual functionality: item identification services and passive skill point refund operations. Simply select the appropriate dialogue option when interacting with this vendor. Reclaiming each allocated point demands payment in gold currency, with pricing that escalates progressively as your character advances in levels.
The economic scaling means that a level 50 character pays substantially more per respec point than a level 20 character. This respec framework exclusively applies to the passive skill tree that develops through experience gain, not affecting active skill gems, weapon proficiencies, or character attributes directly. A single point refund at level 30 might cost 150 gold, while the same service at level 60 could exceed 500 gold per point.
Strategic respec planning becomes increasingly important in the endgame. Rather than making frequent minor adjustments, consider saving gold for comprehensive rebuilds that optimize your character’s performance against specific content. This approach mirrors strategic considerations in our Class Guide for optimizing loadouts in other games.

Seasoned players recommend accumulating respec points through campaign rewards and planning major revisions during natural progression pauses. Avoid the common mistake of constant minor tweaks, as the compounded costs will significantly drain your gold reserves. Instead, test potential builds using external planning tools before committing valuable currency to in-game changes.
For optimization, consider that complete tree overhauls become economically challenging beyond level 70, where respec costs can total 10,000+ gold for full revisions. This economic reality emphasizes the importance of foundational build planning, similar to the strategic approach outlined in our Complete Guide to resource management in tactical games.
Another pro tip: Always identify items before visiting The Hooded One, as combining services in single trips minimizes downtime. The respec system’s design encourages deliberate decision-making rather than impulsive changes, aligning with PoE 2’s broader philosophy of meaningful character development choices.
Action Checklist
- Complete The Mysterious Shade and Sorrow Among Stones quests in Act 1
- Locate The Hooded One in Clearfell Encampment after quest completion
- Assess current build and plan desired changes using external tools
- Calculate total gold cost based on your level and number of points to refund
- Execute respec in batches for major revisions rather than individual point changes
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