Atlas tree can be very intimidating! Since this is your first encounter with it, don’t try to “optimize it”. The design idea of the Atlas tree is to give you more rewards for doing the content you like the most. In general, it’s a bad idea to spread yourself thin because you will never have enough points. So you should try to focus on just a few of the categories. For a total newb, I’d recommend listening to this advice:

• Essences is always “profitable”, the problem is that it’s also quite hard even in low-level maps unless you already have a strong build capable of doing red maps. Stay away from it at first, but once you’re feeling strong, try it out!
• Kirac nodes will help you a lot to gradually build up your map pool. Great for Atlas beginners!
• Beasts are not too hard and they’re easier to understand what you’re supposed to do in the map. You also get master missions for it so it’s easy to run it often
• Expedition and Harvest are loved because they provide good returns and it’s easy to profit from them even if you know nothing because you can sell the Logbooks and harvest energy. You should probably choose one of these (or both if you end up liking them!)
• Delirium will be very not-fun until you have a really good build. Leave it for later
• Alva, Harbingers, Abyss, and Heist you should pick them if you like the gameplay they provide
• Delve is a wildcard… some people love it, some just ignore it. You don’t need to spec the Atlas for it to learn if you like it.
• Beyond (the tainted currency) is bait… don’t take it for now, there’s plenty of other content to enjoy!

So, summary: grab the Kirac nodes, choose one of expedition or harvest, and maybe one other mechanic. Then choose which altars you want to run (Searing for steady chaos drops, Eater for gambling on the big win that will never come)

🤼🏊🏿🙍🏽‍♂️👨‍🦯 emoji testing!

just FYI, the demo is available for Steam Next Fest this week, so you could be playing it right now!