Solasta 2 – Top 10 Beginners Mistakes (Early Access)

After 50 hours in Solasta 2, we’ve made every single mistake – this guide is for beginners starting Early Access for the first time. Save time and frustrating with our top 10 biggest mistakes to avoid.

If you’ve ever played Baldur’s Gate 3, Solasta 2 will feel familiar enough to get started, yet different enough to find some pain points. Both games are complex, and use DnD ruleset to guide gameplay, combat, dialogue, and exploration. However, BG3, used a 2014 version, and Solasta 2 uses the updated 2024.

Some of the same tricks from previous games, RPGs, and BG3 won’t work in Solasta 2. That isn’t to say it’s not a great game with tons of potential, just that it might be annoying at first until you learn the core mechanics. We put this guide together so you can skip the hours of painfully hitting reload after dying, selecting the wrong ancestry in character creation, and more.

After 50 hours of Early Access gameplay, these are the biggest mistakes new players make.

TLDR – Biggest Mistakes to Avoid in Solasta 2

Ignoring the Alt Key
The “Free Hand” Spellcasting Trap
Forgetting Languages Matter
Forgetting to Cast “Mage Armor”
Not Using Extra Companions
Ignoring Weapon Masteries
Not Checking Enemy Types
Neglecting “Passive” Persuasion
Not Managing Bonus Actions
Fighting Every Random Encounter

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1. Ignoring the Alt Key

As a beginner, make sure to always hold the ALT key while exploring. It highlights various items in the world, like a corpse that may not appear on your minimap. This allows you to visually detect loot, bags, and hidden items you might not often see.

Also, Solasta 2 has a variety of passive skill checks that each character participates in while you explore. Oftentimes you will find hidden bags or chest simply by walking around the edges of the maps or in towns. You’ll see a popup perception skill check, and if passed, a hidden bag with all sorts of good loot. Spend some extra time walking around wide open spaces, but at the edges or anywhere you suscept a developer would love to hide a bag of goodies.

Lastly, also look at your minimap while explore and also check the entire map. Some of the containers, bags, or interactable NPCs might not be so obvious in the environment and it lets you know if you’re missing any loot in the area.

2. The “Free Hand” Spellcasting Trap

With the new 2024 rulesets, your spells will require more than a spell slot. You can inspect each spell and make sure you know what it requires. Somatic spells means you need a free hand to cast. Thus, unless you have a specific feat or subclass perk, you won’t be able to cast a spell using one hand and shield.

A simple trick around this I found, which might be changed in the future, is the bar swap trick. Next to your spells you will see two weapon sets. You can swap seamlessly between the two, even in combat, without spending a resource. Therefore, put a one handed weapon like a Light Crossbow or Quarterstaff on your spellcasting bar, cast a spell, then swap to your one hand and shield for more AC. In the bottom left, you will see your AC increase once you are on the bar with a shield, and then want to make sure to end your turn.

Also be aware of any material cost for spells. Example would be the powerful level 1 spell Chromatic Orb. You will need 50g item which is nearly impossible to get at the start. While this spell is good, it’s super annoying you need a material, when you could just cast a Guiding Bolt every turn for maximum damage.

Again, make sure you look at the spell, its requirements, and just how annoying it’s going to be to farm materials to cast the spell.

3. Forgetting Languages Matter

Solasta 2 loves a variety of NPCs. Unlike other games, you will need to know their languages in order to interact with them. One example is reaching a certain quest chain only to discover a massive Ettin (Ogre) blocking the way. Only if you are able to understand and speech to this Etin, can you ally with it, essentially saving you a super hard battle.

Therefore, in character creation make sure your party has a diverse group of languages for NPC interactions. Also, when you pickup notes from around the environment, mouse over and look at what language is required to read it. Common everyone knows, but if its a specific species, pass it to that character who can read it to unlock it’s contents.

This situation will apply frequently to a various NPC, especially enemies. Oftentimes you can avoid or even ally with enemies making a huge difference in specific encounters. Try to set your party to have at least eight different languages unlocked. If you screw up, there is a Comprehend Language spell that can be super helpful early.

4. Forgetting to Cast “Mage Armor”

One of the best spells for spellcasters is Mage Armor. This boost your Armor Class to 13 when you don’t have armor or a shield. With a 16 DEX spellcaster, you can get another +3, making your total 16 as much as heavy armor. The downside is, you need to cast this after every short rest for it to apply.

Therefore, get in the habit of casting spells just after a long rest or before combat. The Divine Shield cantrip gives a 1d8 Temporary Hit Point boost and doesn’t cost a spell slot, you should cast this every time after a long rest. Then, just before combat, do a pre-buff ritual as long as you can maintain stealth. Cast any spell that last for over a minute long, like Expeditious Retreat which allows you to use a bonus action to dash and it last for 10 minutes.

Then, when you start a fight, you won’t be using actions to cast these critical buffs. Longstrider, Aid, and many other spells can be used this way. Remember, you can only hold concentration on one spell. Typically, the most important is the Cleric casting and holding concentration for Bless on three party members. Do this, just before attacking as it only last 1 minute.

5. Not Using Extra Companions

After you finish the tutorial and wrap up at the initiate town, you are greeted by Jebfa. She’s a companion, meaning a temporary party member until you complete her quest. She cannot die before completing her quest or the game will be over. What you need to do is the opposite of what the game wants. Do not finish her quest, and use her to explore!

Having an extra party member is incredibly helpful while exploring and during random encounters on the world map. There’s also another party member you can get to the north by completing dialogue. Stacking your team with six players allows you to complete any hard fight, and power level to 4 quickly using random encounters.

Realize that guest and companions can die permanently. You’ll always want to stabilize them if they are downed. Make sure that everyone has at least one potion on them and equipped so you can heal them and prevent perma-death. Revive scrolls and Aether Pearl also can help revive and prevent death if you make a mistake.

Just don’t rush to finish quest with an extra companion, they make a massive difference in beating hard fights.

6. Ignoring Weapon Masteries

During one of my playthroughs, I intended on using a Greatsword with my Paladin. I wanted to make a Divine Smite Two-Handed build. In character creation, I set my Weapon Mastery to Greatsword and Longbow assuming these would be the weapons I’d use.

However, after completing a random encounter, however, I gained a +1 Maul instead. I equipped that immediately and started smashing enemies. After about an hour or so, I realize the weapon mastery effect wasn’t taking place. Whoops, I was using the wrong weapon based on character creation.

The tip here is, you may encounter situations where your weapon combo at the start of the game, isn’t what you’re using now. In that event, take a long rest where you can change weapon masteries. Make sure the two weapons you’re using, are the proper weapon. If you’re confused, just highlight the weapon in your inventory and it will tell you which type. These masteries are super important and one the main benefits of using the chosen weapon. If you need a stun, use Topple, or a tank with a Longsword and Sap to impose disadvantage. Always make sure you have the equip mastery equipped.

7. Not Checking Enemy Types

Unlike Baldur’s Gate 3, Solasta 2 doesn’t have a full examine system. However, it does have a good User Interface popup when you highlight an enemy. This is important before launching into an attack. The system will reveal key details like:

creature type
resistances
immunities
movement per turn

An example would be to avoid using necrotic damage on an undead target. Another example would be to look at movement per turn. Sometimes you can disengage and run away from the target if you’re low HP. However, if you have 30 feet of movement, and they have 40 feet, there’s no point in running.

Also, use the enemies strengths to your advantage with the Resistance cantrip. Early on, martial melee users can nuke you with bludgeoning, or slashing damage. Halving that damage with a cantrip is critical, so see what type of damage the enemy does and then trying to avoid it. Check your logs if you’re confused after they strike a target.

8. Neglecting “Passive” Persuasion

In Solasta 2, you won’t have a “Face” character that does all the talking and skill checks. It’s a team sport! This means, your personality, skills, and ability score focus is critical to passing skill checks. Rogue with Dexterity, Charisma Paladin or Sorcerer, and Wisdom based Cleric are the most important.

Once you have a proper team setup, you do not want to skip any dialogue or end conversations quickly. Often you’re reward with additional faction reputation for investigating additional dialogue. Faction Reputation is needed to buy the best items in the shops, essentially gating you from getting the best gear. Therefore, make it a habit to use all the dialogue options before ending the conversation with the door icon on your choices.

Last tip here, make sure someone in your party has the Cantrip Guidance. It will work a bit different than BG3, and the easiest way to make sure its working is to pre-cast before speaking or exploring. This will help you dramatically with ability checks and the spell icon should appear in the bottom center when you can use it mid-speech.

9. Not Managing Bonus Actions

In the early game, most characters have little options in using their bonus action. Rogues have Cunning Actions which give them great bonus action utility, but each character should try to find a way to spend a bonus action each turn. The easiest way is to self-heal with a potion. You’ll need to equip it in your inventory before using and then select use device. Make sure the potions are identified, because sometimes you find them and need to ID before usage.

A universally good spell is Expeditious Retreat. It essentially mimics Cunning Dash, allowing you to use Dash with a bonus action rather than an action. The Sylvan Elf learns this spell automatically at level 3. Meaning, any character can learn this, and use it, giving you instant bonus action utility. Plus it last for 10 minutes, so you can cast just before a combat encounter.

As a spellcaster, look for any spell or cantrip that uses a bonus action rather than an action. An example would be Healing Word for the Cleric. This is a powerful bonus action heal, allowing the Cleric to double up their healing in one turn. Using Cleric Preserve Life and Healing Word combo is much better than just using an action and letting your bonus action go to waste.

Any type of utility, skill, or feat that uses a bonus action will be very helpful in the early levels of Solasta 2.

10. Fighting Every Random Encounter

You’re probably going to get annoyed with the random encounter world map system in Solasta 2. Combat lovers will enjoy this, but there will be a time you just want to reach a location only to be forced into another fight. In that event, you don’t have to fight but can leave the instance.

Try to get in stealth or hidden via dialogue options if possible. Once stealth, use the map to find the blue cube exit. Move all your characters to this cube and use the exit. Now you’ll be free to progress on the map once more.

Just realize these repetitive fights are often the fast way to level up, and the best way to get higher level gear. If you’re wanting to farm gear or EXP, just make sure to long rest before and after combat encounters. Sometimes there will be multiple encounters in each instance and you’ll want to have a face set of spellslots!

More Powerful Solasta 2 Builds!

Check out our complete list of powerful Solasta 2 builds to start your next adventure!

Solasta 2 – Top 10 Beginners Mistakes (Early Access)