Introduction
Shieldbreaker (Oathkeeper+Demolitionist) is one of the new classes in the Forgotten Gods expansion. It’s excellent of supporting fire damage and to some level lightning. You can pick your options in term of style too, with caster being the best option but you can go Dual Wield melee, tank, or even ranged. In this topic will see how to create fire build around Eye of Reckoning skill, which is whirlwind type of attack.
- NOTE: The updated build is entirely made by Ulvar and that’s the better version. I will probably add updated end game build for farming, maybe SR set
You can see the original guide bellow.
Credits:
- @Ulvar1 for the new journey including leveling guide and budget build.
- @malawiglenn for the original idea
- @thejabrixone for idea how to level it
- @mad_lee for the end game build
◎ Spin2Win Shieldbreaker from scratch ◎
a build journal
“Final” build I made “budget” style https://www.grimtools.com/calc/0V00BdaV took me around 30h starting from scratch leveling and farming without any learned blueprints etc thereby simulation of a new player experience (although you might need double the time hehe).
Our goal is to make Nerys build, but with an important addition - we will dual wield axes instead of 2H mace. Reason is they hit faster and you can use them while leveling. Thing is, these axes had bugged drops when Nery made original guide - they did not drop at all 
But now drops have been fixed and this is a popular build and guide so I wanted to make effort to make it even more accessible.
The main skill is called “Eye of Reckoning” and is often shorted by “EoR”
Our main damage type will be fire
Video sample gameplay from Ultimate Steps of Torment (SoT) https://vimeo.com/496639262
Here is another “goal budget” build by @Nery https://www.grimtools.com/calc/xZyX47KV similar to mine, just another flavor (and maybe he found other items than me, does not matter that much).
Here is my build but with other devotions made by @salvor https://www.grimtools.com/calc/RZRPQBx2
Without ascension. The reader with magnifying class should see I am missing a scaled hide in the shoulder here, I forgot to put one in!
With ascension
Killed Lokarr with some kiting, very annoying because you have to re-start your spinning quite often when he stuns you… I also forgot fire res potion, we do not have enough fire res overcap actually (40% overcap is the target and in game its just 28% grim tools shows average rolls on gear).
Click on the text below to open a box to read what’s inside!
Important preparations
Our goal is to play as the goal build asap. In order to do that, we need two things:
- EoR (Eye of Reckoning) axes https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/12471 (note, they come in different levels etc) that drops in FG (Forgotten Gods) expansion. It is this base we need for the build.
- Relic Bladesworn Talisman that you buy blueprint from Devils Crossing faction vendor when you have at least respected status.
You need to do FG quests ASAP, select Solael faction to get their faction rings once I hit level 90 and to access area to farm weapons. Do this in all difficulties.
You can farm the weapons from this boss https://www.grimtools.com/monsterdb/2029
which spawns in area called Bloodied Wastes and you need to be sided with Solael to open it. Drop chance is like 85% so very good place to farm it. To access area, you need to have this quest https://grimdawn.fandom.com/wiki/The_Heart_of_Onarix
In order to dual wield, you need to be respected with Devils Crossing to buy blueprint for dual wield relic as mentioned above. You are usually respected once you kill cronley and maybe also kill some extra Cronley heroes (like do a couple of Cronley hideout runs or Hanneffy mines).
You might even have another char, that is respected with Devils Crossing? Then you buy and learn the blueprint - those are shared amongst your chars 
We will for the first 25-30 levels go with Blackwater cocktail (BWC) skill with its diagonal node active. This allow for good clear early on. We will also use fireblast skill from component https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/2869 and once you hit level 20, go to your blacksmith (there is one in devils crossing that you save and also one in conclave of the three) and craft this https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/2842 to give you a toggle skill that boosts your fire damage.
I managed to get to a point where I can dual wield EoR weapons in 2,5h Not that bad considering that we will play this char for +30h.
By the way, I mentioned the different levels of those EoR axes. Here they are 20, 40, 55, 70, 84 & 94. Around these levels, it is a good idea to go back to the boss https://www.grimtools.com/monsterdb/2029/skills and farm upgrades. In normal up you can even get the level 70 version and in Elite you can get all level tiers of this weapon.
Finally, do not try to copy exact what I did, it will be 100% impossible because there is no way you can get same items and with same affixes Use my snapshots as some kind of inspiration and to get ideas how to progress in terms of armor, resistances, skills and damage
Level 10 (normal)
Remember to change to “normal” in this grimtools link https://www.grimtools.com/calc/pZrkqK6N
Grab the free “Slith primal ring” from the rover quest you get in Wightmire.
I also use https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/7173 which is free item. Click on “map” to see where it can be found.
Level 21 (normal)
Remember to change to “normal” in this grimtools link https://www.grimtools.com/calc/d2jQ8g4N
Next: get blast shield and thermite mines.
In act 2, get the “Bone Talisman” relic by lying when you do the quest “Lost elder” for the rovers. Select “No, I did not find a talisman” and you get a relic with a nice dmg boost for boss fights.
Go to FG and side with Solael after you have gotten respected with Devils crossing (kill Cronley and hand in quest, perhaps you need to kill some more Cronleys to get reputation up, just make a new game and go back to Cronleys hideout)
In FG try just to run past everything you do not need to kill.
Grab “Eye of Ekur” from the chest in the room in “Temple of Osyr” and save and exit. No need to kill the priest 
(don’t try to play a hero hehe)
Get to “vanguard of the tree” and go into the rift on “Altar of abyd” (note you need the quest first). Then from the end boss in there, he has 85% drop chance for these wpns, just get 2 for starter. Get nice vit and chaos res before you farm them.
When you have two EoR weapons, and the relic, you can respec your char at a Spirit Guide and then you can farm for two others if you need. Look for attack speed affixes and fire/elemental damage +%. They always roll with some attack speed. Search in grim tools item database what your affixes you got and see if the are good. “Searing” and “of alacrity” are the easiest ones to get.
Because BWC deals fire dmg mostly, make sure to have around +200% fire dmg or more.
Level 27 (normal) - Eye of Reckoning transition time!
Remember to change to “normal” in this grimtools link https://www.grimtools.com/calc/1NXQgXk2
Took me 2h 30min to get here.
Next step will be to get “Vindictive flame” for speed, “Guardians” aura “celestial precense” and “Divine Mandate” exclusive skill.
Playtip: if you get stuck and can’t EoR, click “force attack” or “force move” button and you start spin again! Also make sure to have good CC-resistances (crowd control) like stun, slow and freeze.
Level 31 (normal)
Remember to change to “normal” in this grimtools link https://www.grimtools.com/calc/RZRPar02
Farmed some better wpns for EoR, trying to get Tip of Scales now for energy and good life steal ability (our weapons convert vitality to fire).
Changed to veteran for a while, is also very easy!
Level 40 (normal)
Remember to change to “normal” in this grimtools link https://www.grimtools.com/calc/bVA7Ya4N
Farmed some new level 40 weapons. Also picked up a Bolvar amulet for +1 oathkeeper skills https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/14014 from Bolvar the bloodbinder, has three possible spawn points in the bloodgrove area. Pretty nice, but later on we will use and farm another amulet.
Level 50 (normal)
Remember to change to “normal” in this grimtools link https://www.grimtools.com/calc/bVA7lE4N
Gonna farm gargoyle belt https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/12191 in “Astral Fields” and valaxteria chest https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/8341 now. Valaxteria spawns in the same place all the time in Crown Hill area in Ashes of Malmouth (AoM).
Just as with the EoR axes, these exists in different tiers and affixes. Get some and use those that solves your resistances best. Farm for upgrades when you need. Note, the valaxteria chest comes in two version, we want the one with lightning to fire damage conversion for soulfire.
Remember to have some attribute points unspent so you can wear rings etc that has spirit requirement. I try to have 5-10 attribute points unspent as buffer. Also you can use mastery bar to get some attribute points. There are potions you will get from quests later that you can use to change attributes (but use them wisely).
When we hit level 55, also gonna farm new axes!
Level 60 (elite)
Remember to change to “elite” in this grimtools link https://www.grimtools.com/calc/a2dQdxGV
Much gear upgrade, also changed devos a bit to get sailor and throne for CC res.
Came to vanguard of the three. Ready so we can farm level 70 weapons later (we can also do it in normal but more fun in elite).
In vanilla we just did cronley and the first rover quests.
Level 70 (elite)
Remember to change to “elite” in this grimtools link https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YVWv8W72
Gonna hit Ekket zhul, but first farm new level 70 EoR weapons in FG. We already made it to vanguard of the three and can access the area where that boss that drops them lives.
Preparations for ultimate:
- get exp pots
- get new valaxteria chest
- get some armor augments (Black legion and homestead)
- skip the last quests in FG in elite, we will go back and do them later.
Level 80 (ultimate)
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/q2MGB9lZ (almost 15h)
Things starts to hurt in Ultimate even with good resistances. It is because armor rating is very bad. Need to fix it somehow even if our damage takes a hit. EoR dps now is 125k
Around level 84 are gonna go back to elite and farm the EoR weapons again (and again at level 94) from the boss in bloodied wastes. Also need to go back and to Hidden Path quest in Elite.
Level 85 (ultimate)
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/d2jQlaqN
Managed to fix armor and resistances. Just came to Broken Hills rift gate. Made some small devo adjustments and started to use ascension on boss fights. EoR dps is 136k
Would be nice with some more health
We are now gonna start Hidden Path on Ultimate so we can farm Solael pants, also gonna farm totems in hope to get some epic items and finally farm demo amulet in Ancient grove (Elite though, just get amulet then quit game until we get a good one). This will eat many skeleton keys, so be sure you have the blueprint learned so you can craft them. You can buy it from the “secret” vendor in bloodgrove if you don’t know it. Otherwise you can also get it from the quest: https://grimdawn.fandom.com/wiki/Descent_into_Torment
Level 90 (ultimate)
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/Q2z8AJLZ
Made at least some upgrades. Grabbed the faction rings from solael, vendor farmed to get max OA roll (reset vendor by leaving the area and visit two other shops, then go back). Dps is now 181k
Next step will be to get to level 94, farm insane EoR weapons and try to get some blue gloves, legs and boots with phys res. We can also craft stome stoneplate greaves or use the Legion faction boots with high phys res roll. Also option is Solael pants. So after level 94, we are gonna do totem runs like crazy.
After that we will do some more quests etc to build up reputation to buy the end game augments. I think barrowholm will be important for weapon augments so we are gonna make them revered asap.
Rest of farming we will do monster totems over and over again until we get some good basic blue epic items, also farm new EoR axes until we have some good level 94 ones. Upgrade also Valaxteria chest.
Where to get items for budget end-game builds
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Helm: Fettan mask (also exists in level 75 version) https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/12319 drops in an urn in a hidden region in korvan sands. Click on “map” below the item description in grim tools and the location is shown (can be tricky to get there),
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Weapon: Riftclaw slicer https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/12471 as we have discussed in several places in the guide. I just got two “searing” “of alacrity” not super good but at least have the basics like extra fire dmg and attack speed. Just keep grinding! “of scourged runes” is a very good suffix, if you get it you are almost done
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Shoulders: Elite Coven Arcane Mantle shoulder from coven, also have level 65 version at respected. Good one. Also this is good Elite Coven Arcane Spaulders
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Chest armor: Valaxteria’s Arcane Robes from Valaxteria. Also this is good from dreeg faction Elite Dreeg Arcane Vestments farm until you get a couple of dope ones.
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Amulet: Vilgazor’s Heart drops from a boss https://www.grimtools.com/monsterdb/1598 in the last level of the Ancient grove dungeon. He can be hard to spot since he runs like a moron. Here we will “invest” some skeleton keys to grab some good ones. I still use a level 70 one that I got in elite. Do not bother with the final boss unless you are prepared to die or has a build similar to our end-game build.
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Rings Solael Stormfire Seal from Solael faction at honored status. This is also very good ring to use if you find one the skill disruption is very helpful! Mythical Eternal Band also give +2 soulfire.
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Gloves Mythical Obsidian Grasp I use because give damage, speed and good phys res! Also these two are good Mythical Embergrip Handguards & Mythical Runesinged Handguards these are random drops, do totems and random bosses/heros. Meanwhile you can use crafted default gloves yellows from blacksmith or these https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/11730 if you have the blueprint. Look for attack speed affixes, resistances and dmg.
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Boots Elite Legion Greaves good faction boots from Black legion revered. You can also craft boots the default yellow from blacksmith or Stoneplate Greaves if you have the blueprint.
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Belt Gargoyle Girdle already discussed, farm Astral Fields. Drops from the gargoyle monsters. You might need to do like 10 runs or so to get a good one. Farm in elite first if you can not access area yet in ultimate.
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Pants Mythical Legplates of Valor very very very good defensive pants. Also you can farm solael boss (2nd boss in the hidden path quest) Solael-Sect Legguards these are very good base pants and can be even better if you are lucky (or farm much) to get good affixes. Also you can craft pants the default yellow from blacksmith or Rimeguard Chausses or Stormguard Leggings if you have the blueprint.
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Medal Mark of Burning Shadows you can buy this blueprint from solael faction at revered. Very good! Also this is good medal https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/7803 which is random drop (but part of set so if you drop ring or belt you can transmute it at an inventor). Finally these are good MI (monster infrequent) options that you can farm meanwhile Martin’s Crest, Balthazar’s Crest & Kymon’s Badge simply because they always roll with some +%fire dmg.
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Relic Bladedancer’s Talisman a step-up from the basic dual-wield relic we had in the beginning. You can buy the blueprint from Hyram in steelclap once you save him (revisit him over and over again until he sells it).
Components: use to get 100% armor absorb, resistances, OA and DA. I used frozen hearts in ring for freeze res. Also some components gives speed. Arcane spark is good craftable amulet and medal component for OA and skill disruption resists, Black legion faction sells the blueprint.
Some you need find blueprint to craft like spellscourge plating, ugdenbog leather, living armor etc. In chest I use https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/2896 that you farm in the boss furthest down in the Arkovian undercity dungeon. It is not high drop-chance like 25% I think so be prepared to do some runs.
In helmet I use prismatic diamond, the vendor in Ancient Grove can sell it. And we will go there many times to farm amulet mentioned above. You can abuse the shop btw, go to the final part of ancient grove, stay there for 30 seconds in game, then go back and the vendor has updated his inventory! Boring but effective
How to get the final build devotion map
This is not 100% what I did in my journal, but here is a way to get devotions for my end-game build with focus to get tip of scales proc asap. First we will get bat.
Green crossroad
Bat (bind proc to BWC when you leveling, then you bind to EoR)
Refund green crossroad
Yellow crossroad
Lion
Lotus
Panther
Scales of ulcama (bind proc to a permanent toggle skill)
Refund panther
Viper
Solaels witchfire (bind proc to thermite mines)
Ghoul
Sailors guide
Spider
Hawk
Ulzuin torch (not the last node with burn dmg) bind proc to flashbang
3 nodes in Wendigo
one point left, I put mine in Magi for +40% fire dmg. Lots of freedom here. The 4th node in Wendigo is not bad, 10% less dmg from beasts is kinda neat.
Also make sure to check out the devotions in the alternative version by Salvor. I leave it as an excerisce to you to figure out how to make that map! Remember that devotions can sustain themselves by their own affinity bonus Bind Magis fissure proc to flashbang and Phoneix proc to EoR.
Tips and tricks
- In order to speed up leveling process, get revered with Malmouth resistance faction to buy experience potions. Once you hit honored, buy and apply writ.
- As soon as you hit honored with a faction, buy and apply writ!
- You can not have more than +10 to a skill. This wont show in game so upload your char to Grim Tools now and then to see what you actually have (will show in red). You therefore might need to refund skill points now and then.
- If you get stuck and can’t EoR, click “force attack” or “force move” button and you start spin again! Also make sure to have good CC-resistances (crowd control) like stun, slow and freeze.
Hope you will have just as much fun as I did with this build Good luck in making your own fidget spinner in Grim Dawn!
Original Guide 1.1.4.2
Main Build
- permanent buffs+Ascension , GT version is slightly different. DPS for EoR
GRIM TOOLS LINK 
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/JVl64KbN
That’s typical fire EoR Shieldbreaker. It’s really similar to Mad Lee’s Paladin.
Build can dual wield through the medal. DW Daggers can convert practically all the Eye of the Reckoning’s damage into pure fire. Justicar set is being used but helmet is better since it helps with the energy regen. Also boost Ascension and Flamed Touched. Relic is Serenity, great defensive choice, also +1 to all classes.
From skills, you need maxed EoR and Soulfire. Decided to put as many points as possible in RR sources.
Game-play:
Put Termite mines on ground, debuff with flashbang and Spin2Win!
Performance
Build can beat Gladiator 3 times, provide you don’t die. As whole most of the waves are easy, except 170 can be pain. Also be careful with ground damage and disruption pools! Times are from 7 minutes and above in my playing but I didn’t really test it out thoroughly.
Budget Build
- permanent buffs, DPS for EoR
GRIM TOOLS LINK https://www.grimtools.com/calc/q2m6aqDV
That’s the budget build of the fire EoR. It uses Blazerush 2h weapon, faction bought recipe. Also no random legendary items here. Everything can be farmed or bought from factions.
Skills
Basically EoR needs to be used all the time, with minimal interruption, it scales with attack speed. Main source of damage are it’s nodes+ % fire damage. Budget build don’t have the conversion of the DW build.
Vire’s might is for mobility, also procs well devotions. Flashbang is debuff skill, Mines for RR. Ascension is key defensively, it boosts quite the damage and absorb.
Gear
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Faction items are: Rings, Medal, Chest, Shoulders, Weapon(recipe), relic(blueprint)
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Random blues are gloves+boots. Gloves replacement is random crafted greens with attack speed. Boots can be crafted Stoneplate.
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MI greens: Pants and Belt. NOTE: If you don’t have stun resistance source, farm the Demolitionist green belt, with +1 skills and built in stun.
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Others; Blue is crafted low level item, mask is guaranteed drop in Ultimate.
If you click on item in Grim Tools, you can gather more information. In database there’s even info where MI items can drop. Ofc if you have better legendary item, use it!
Devotions
They are little different than the DW version, cause you need more stats, cause budget version lacks the amount of DA and OA you can get. Also for any 2h build, Kraken is must. Decided to go with Dying God. Path to devotions:
1.Green
2.Bat,remove green
3.Ghoul
4.Viper
5.Candle
6.Hawk
7.Solael’s Witchblade
8.Magi,remove Candle
9.Kraken
10.Sailor’s Guide
11.Tower
12.Revenant
13.Dying God to the proc
Here’s video with demo with the play style. Sorry about the lag
Dual Wield Melee version
GRIM TOOLS LINK https://www.grimtools.com/calc/xZyX47KV
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That’s fire Dual Wield melee version with Riftclaw weapons. You can wield two weapons with cheaper relics like Blade… Sworn or Dancer. Best option ofc is Korvaak brand medal, cause it have % fire damage and will free a relic slot as well.
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I will relevel it in future (maybe next patch) to avoid confusions.
Leveling Guide
My idea is to level the build with Stun Jacks with Quick Jacks modifier-Quick Jacks. It deal lot of damage both against single target and against multiple enemies in short distance. It scales with cast speed. I suggest not to rush with switching to EoR, since you will not have much gear with bonuses nor will have enough devotion points to take the much needed constellations. In progress 
1-20
GT for level 10 https://www.grimtools.com/calc/nZo6099V
GT for level 20 https://www.grimtools.com/calc/L2JpmE7Z
NOTE switch difficulty in upper left corner.
Start with Demo mastery. Put skill points until you can afford to take Stun jacks and transmutor-quick jacks. Put 1 point in the passive skills. Stun Jacks is energy hungry skill. You need off hand with energy regen. Later you have to use Presence of Virtue. Also components help with energy sustain, especially Ectoplasm. Normally you want points in physique, here you can put few in spirit. With iron you receive, buy energy potions .If you can’t control the energy, you can remove few points from the spirit guide. At level 10 select OK. Put points in Virtue and push the mastery up to Vire’s Might. It will help you with travelling faster and will get you out of tough situations. Investing more points in Stun Jacks will result in big damage. At level 15-20 you will start to feel the power. I killed Warden Krieg’s each form in 3-4 seconds 
Gear: Look for big aetherials eye enemies. They drop this beautiful off hand with Stun Jacks modifier. Also you can start putting components.
Devotions: Start with Bat, put it on Stun Jacks. Later start Quill.
20-40
GT for level 40 https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YVWOvk7V
Now push Demo mastery until you can reach termite mines. Put 10 points in it and few in Blast Shield, that’s top priority. If you can sustain Jacks, max them. Then put more points in OK mastery. Investing in mastery bar early levels is beneficiary since you get nice stats.
Gear: You can lie in Lost Elder quest to get free relic. Also you can craft greens with Angrim/Duncan. Also you can drop nice blues like my pants. More components are available to be used.
Devotions: Finish Quill, put purple point and take elemental storm, bind it to Mines. Storm is nice boost to your damage. Also provides RR.
40-60 and EoR transition
I decided to stick a little more with Stun Jacks, since they deal quite the single target damage. Slowly bring myself to the end of Oathkeeper mastery.
So When to switch?
I would say around 55-60, cause then you can max Celestial presence for - fire RR and also Divine mandate. Here’s my GT for level 50 with Stun jacks. https://www.grimtools.com/calc/q2MnjkbV
For 60 with EoR https://www.grimtools.com/calc/wV1mdQLV
As you see complete change of scenery. You can remove the skill points from Spirit guide, either in Devil’s Crossing or Coven. Then use the purple potion to reset devotions. You need fire ones, since without specific gear fire EoR is better. You can also use Shield+Board, but I decided to roll with 2h weapon. Since I didn’t have better, used Solar Sledge from Homestead reputation.
Skills: Put points in EoR and Soulfire, if you can’t sustain the energy, remove few. Next task to max Divine Mandate and Celestial Presence. If you are dying, put more points in Blast Shield, Ascension and similar stuff.
Devotions: Start more or less the budget build map. Solael for -fire RR, also Ghoul since this build have Weapon Damage. Also until one can get Revenant, usage of Elemental Storm for flat RR.
Note that my Attack Speed is low, that’s screwing my damage.
60-80
GT for 80 https://www.grimtools.com/calc/4VxlbPJV
Upgraded my weapon to Elite Solar Sledge. Also maxed blast shield and Ascension.
Devotions: Kraken for any 2h builds is God. Also took Magi. And start to work my way into Ulzuin. You can substitute at this point if you like Elemental Storm with Revenant.
80-100
Look the budget build for reference. You can start to equip the listed items. Hope if works for you! 
