- [Channeler] [1.2.1.2] Beginner Lightning AAR Templar (Ralfhskz)
- Damage: Lightning, Electrocute
- Active Skills: Albrecht’s Aether Ray, Aether Corruption, Mirror of Ereoctes, Ascension, Vire’s Might
Hey there GD community!
After some days of ZERO hours playing, i challenged myself making a leveling guide focused on a skill i personally used only a few times in this game: AAR.
And decided to make it on a class i almost never used too: TEMPLAR
This build uses few buttons, so if you’re looking for a lazy build, this one’s for you 
Tbh, i was surprised with the results, char was leveled on HC SSF, no merits, Xp bonus sets or potions were used.
Char current spec Templar, Level 100 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
I’ll show you how i leveled this char:
Lvl 1-10 Oathkeeper, Level 10 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Well… this class start is a bit slow… I started with Oathkeeper, put some points on righteous fervor and aegis of menhir, it should be enough to bash the trash mob, spend points on mastery bar until you get the Eye of Reckoning skill (don’t forget to spend 1 point on vire’s might for mobility)
Lvl 10-20 Oathkeeper, Level 20 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Max out Eye of Reckoning skill ASAP and continue to spend points on the Oathkeeper mastery bar. On devotions, complete the tortoise and viper.
Lvl 20-30 Templar, Level 32 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
At this point i had already reached homestead, so when i defeated The Amalgamation - Grim Dawn Monster Database and got our first build MI, the Pulsing Shard - Items - Grim Dawn Item Database i decided to already respec the char skill points from Eye of reckoning to the Arcanist’s mastery bar until you reach Albrecht’s Aether Ray then spent some points on the skill. If you didn’t reach homestead yet, don’t worry, you can continue using EoR skill until you get our first MI. On devotions, complete Behemoth.
A little tip for dealing with energy issues (AAR requires lots of energy) is maxing out mental alacrity quickly and putting some points early on the second node of maiven’s sphere of protection, CONVERSION. If you’re already respected with black legion, it’s a good idea buying the BP of Arcane Spark and crafting one)
Lvl 30-40 Templar, Level 40 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
I started spend points on Arcanist’s mastery bar until i got the AAR second node, Disintegration. Then i started spending points on Oathkeeper mastery bar until i got Summon guardian of empyrion and Celestial presence. When i got the first build’s mandatory MI, the pulsing shard, i started immediately the FG DLC (a tip: choose dreeg’s cult on normal and Bysmiel cult on elite or ultimate) to get our second mandatory MI, the Crimson's Arcane Scepter - Items - Grim Dawn Item Database from Sister Crimson, Vengeance of Kymon - Grim Dawn Monster Database
On devotions, complete the Widow (bind it’s proc to AAR) and Lizard.
After restoring all the corrupted shrines for devotion points on FG DLC, i finished the campaign and did most of AoM DLC quests.
Lvl 40-50 Templar, Level 50 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Started elite difficulty at lvl 50. Remember to upgrade your gear to cap resistances and to buy factions writs when you get honored with them to boost up your reputation gain. I maxed out AAR, disintegration and celestial presence, then started to spend points on Star Pact and maiven’s sphere of protection. You can spend a point on mirror of ereoctes for dealing with sire situations (tbh, we deal so much life leech on AAR that i didn’t had any trouble so far). On devotions, complete the Oklaine’s Lantern.
Lvl 50-60 Templar, Level 60 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Don’t forget to activate totems for upgrading gear / acquiring BP’s. Max out Star Pact. On devotions, complete the Tree of Life and Ultos, The Shepherd of Storms (bind its proc to your guardians).
Lvl 60-70 Templar, Level 70 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
At this point you should be honored with most factions, don’t forget to buy their faction boosters! Max out maiven’s sphere of protection and start spending points on Haven.
Lvl 70-80 Templar, Level 80 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Started Ultimate difficulty at lvl 70. Upgrade your gear, cap resistances! activate totems. Beware with physical hard hitters like Gulgoth and Voldrak while on the campaign, you can facetank a little and use mirror of ereoctes, but be careful with their massive powerful physical dmg.
Lvl 80-90 Templar, Level 90 (GD 1.2.1.2) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
At this point you should be already revered with most factions. When revered with Malmouth Resistance, buy some potion of clarity from them to speed up our way to LVL100.
After reaching lvl 90, buy the Aetherbolt Pendant - Items - Grim Dawn Item Database from the coven of ugdenbog faction. You can buy the Coven Sky Seal - Items - Grim Dawn Item Database from them too.
Buy your boots from Black Legion and your shoulderguards from Dreeg’s cult. Your armor can be farmed from Valaxteria on Crown Hill in malmouth.
Farm Dreeg’s guardian near devil’s crossing for your pants (if you want more life leech, you can farm a good solael-sect pants too)
Your medal can be bought from Bysmiel cult, and your helmet on the entrance of the maw of enath, on FG DLC.
You can farm your belt on port valbury, and your gloves on homestead.
You know where to farm a good version of our off-hand and our main weapon MI’s.
Here’s some video proof
(1.2.1.2) HC Beginner lightning AAR Templar x Rashalga
(1.2.1.2) HC Beginner lightning AAR Templar x Kra’Vall
(1.2.1.2) HC Beginner lightning AAR Templar x Gargabol
(1.2.1.2) HC Beginner lightning AAR Templar x Morgoneth
(1.2.1.2) HC Beginner lightning AAR Templar x Korvaak
(1.2.1.2) HC Beginner lightning AAR Templar x Theodin Marcell
As you can see, even without better quality components and without even reaching LVL100, this build was able to beat campaign bosses and farm skeleton dungeons and monster totems, facetanking most of the challenges.
Thank you for reading.