Prioritize Survivability Over Damage
In Hardcore and Path of Exile 2 Currency SSF, surviving is always more important than killing faster. While dealing high damage is essential for speeding up clear speed, it’s vital to focus on defensive layers to stay alive, particularly during early to mid-game.

Essential Survivability Tips:
Maximize Life and Energy Shield: In Hardcore, losing all your life means starting over. Ensure that your build has life scaling via passive tree nodes, gear, and ascendancy bonuses. For SSF, where trading isn’t an option, it’s especially important to find or craft gear with high life rolls.

Defensive Mods: Focus on getting resistances, armor, and evasion on your gear. Elemental resistances are crucial, especially since POE 2 is expected to feature increased difficulty and dangerous elemental bosses.

Leech and Regen: Life Leech, mana leech, and energy shield regeneration are vital for sustainability. These mechanics allow you to heal mid-fight, reducing your reliance on potions.

Movement Speed and Dodging: Increasing movement speed through flasks or passives will allow you to dodge heavy attacks or reposition when needed, ensuring you don't get cornered by enemies.

Always Have a Panic Button
In Hardcore, unexpected one-shot mechanics or overwhelming packs of enemies can end your playthrough in an instant. Therefore, having a “panic button” can save your life. Here are some essential tools:

Flasks: Always keep flasks for life recovery, stunning immunity, and curse removal. Granite and Stibnite Flasks offer great defensive properties, and a Quick Silver Flask for mobility can help you escape dangerous situations.

Mobility Skills: Skills like Leap Slam, Flame Dash, or Shield Charge give you the mobility to quickly escape tight spots. These are especially useful for avoiding large packs of monsters or boss mechanics that might otherwise catch you off guard.

Defensive Buffs: Invest in skills or items that provide damage reduction, status ailment removal, or temporary invulnerability. For example, Divine Blessing or Vaal Grace grants temporary invulnerability, perfect for POE2 Currency avoiding a fatal blow.