Last Epoch Build Planner

Just like other RPGs, equipping your character with the best possible skill sets and equipment is of paramount importance in Last Epoch. The game is undergoing rapid changes which can be attributed to the fact that it is still in early access. In our Last Epoch build planner, we’ll take a look at some essential things to keep in mind when deciding on a build, look at some of the previous builds we’ve covered, and introduce you to theorycrafting in Last Epoch. 

Previously covered builds

In our series of the best Last Epoch builds, we’ve covered-

1. Lich Build – Emphasis on stacking damage and eliminating volleys of enemies using Wandering Spirits.
2. Necromancer Build – Speedrunning through enemies while employing the use of stacked poison damage.
3. Beastmaster Build – A build that focuses on stacking the different skills used in the build itself.

How do builds work in Last Epoch?

Last Epoch features an intricately designed build mechanism that allows players to create characters that cater to their playstyle. The core aspects involved in creating builds include:

• Class – Currently, Last Epoch offers a total of 5 base and 15 master classes for players to choose from.

• Skills – These are the backbone of a build and arguably the most important aspect of it.

• Skill Nodes – These are used to enhance the selected skills.

• Passives – Passives are used to enhance character stats or add unique abilities to a build.

• Equipment – These improve character stats and unlock unique attributes in some cases. 

The skill-point distribution system in Last Epoch is such that players are better off concentrating on a singular type of damage. For example in our Necromancer Build, the focus was on stacking poison damage which resulted in almost all skill points being used to acquire skill nodes that increase poison damage. 

Useful Nuggets of Knowledge For Creating a Build

There are a plethora of things players need to keep in mind when creating a build and these are some tips that could prove useful when planning your Last Epoch builds.

1. Alt + right-clicking on a skill node will show additional information about it. It’s an important feature that helps with decision making before choosing a skill.
2. Unless you’re looking for ways to break the game, don’t neglect your defenses and defensive abilities.
3. To make the best of your defenses, make sure to spend ample amounts of points on protection, dodge, glancing blows, block, and ward.
4. For an attack heavy build, there should be a balance between flat damage and increased damage scaling.
5. Casters should equip a wand with the highest ‘+%base spell damage’ and high increased damage scaling. 
6. Two-handed weapons are useful only if you observe that you’re not using your shield often.
7. Equip as many ‘+hp’ passives as you can.

Class-specific building tips

 Sentinel

1. At lower levels, it’s recommended that players use +hp/+vit passives. It will prove useful when leveling up.
2. If you’re using shields, be sure to equip heal on block.
3. Take advantage of Void Knight and Paladin’s powerful utility spells.

Mage

1. Players who prefer Mage builds should equip as many +hp/mana passives as they can. The only exception to this should be when you plan to stack a lot of wards. 
2. Equip the +INT/elem nodes as well. 
3. Another good utility is Teleport. It is really useful in defense while generating ward. 
4. Spellblade and Iceward are both exceptional at blocking. Mana strike can be used to generate immense amounts of ward. 
5. Use Black Hole to decimate entire hordes of enemies when playing as Sorcerer.

Primalist

1. It’s always a good idea to pick up some nodes that increase minions’ hp. They can absorb quite a lot of the damage for you. 
2. Fury Leap is one of the most versatile skills you can have so be sure to equip it.
3. As a primalist, try to use two-handed weapons as much as possible.
4. No reason to equip shields as a primalist. 
5. If you’re not a summoner, the sabertooth cat is the meatiest of all pets.
6. Try to balance scaling strength and attunement as a summoner.

Acolyte

1. Intelligence is your best friend. Pour as many points into it as you can as it increases both your damage and defense.
2. ‘Mania of immortality’ will provide good ward generation while compensating for a low health pool.
3. Some good leveling skills include Hungering Souls and Harvest.
4. When not a summoner, Tank Golem is a viable option.

Rogue

1. The newest class in the game boasts some awesome survivability skills so be sure to explore and experiment.
2. If you’re a beginner, the Rogue Marksman combo with a bow or throwable weapons is an awesome way to start.
3. Use the high base stun chance on Flurry in tandem with Multishot to absolutely destroy enemies. 
4. While leveling, don’t prioritize equipment as it makes little to no difference. 

Theorycrafting in Last Epoch

A simple Google search will reveal that Last Epoch is not the most theorycrafting friendly game. But upon taking a closer look, the endless possibilities of combining various skills and skill nodes with different classes come to light. 

In a post on the official Last Epoch forum, Mike Weicker- a member of the dev team acknowledged that the game was lacking in the theorycrafting department. He also stated that they were planning to implement a system that would allow “hypothetical skill point allocation”.

Still, there isn’t a dearth of resources for people willing to theory-craft items. This spreadsheet allows players to calculate the effective stats of the item and its effectiveness. The instructions on how to use this spreadsheet are as follows:

1. Enter the base value in the cyan cell.
2. Select an affix level
3. Choose whether you want to use a glyph. 

The creator of this spreadsheet has recommended that players shouldn’t tinker with anything outside of the cyan cell unless they are really confident it will improve it. 

Note: To edit the spreadsheet, create a copy of it and add it to your Google account.

Conclusion

The article above is a general overview on things newer players should keep in mind when deciding on a build in Last Epoch. While these are not set in stone, players would do well to follow them and include them in their Last epoch builds. For further insight into what goes into creating a build take a look at our previous articles focusing on specific builds. Gamersden is also planning to take out a Last Epoch Mage Build, Druid Build, and Paladin Build.