Introduction
The 🔰 Beginner Build Compendium - 126 guides for AoM & FG expansions lists currently four guides to level a Reapers (Nightblade + Necromancer), two Spam Casters, one Auto Attacker and one Shadow Strike build. As three of them are even rather recent, there exists not really a real reason for a new one. But, can there be to many guides? And do we have a spam Bone Harvest guide? No. And even more, a new category - DW Spam Caster - could be opened. 
Harvesting for a Living
After playing a bit the real game (grimtools), which lead to a fun hybrid damage (acid and vitality) spam Bone Harvest build, I decided to test the spam Bone Harvest route for leveling. Forcewave is considered as an easy to level skill and using spam Bone Harvest should be rather similar. Both are ranged area of effect skills. Also, the necessary weapon can be (Bonescythes) farmed relatively early and is even sold by one vendor (Benevald). While planing the build, a specific monster infrequent (Death’s Whisper Hood) was included, but because the item would require a specific early path - starting as Nightblade and joining Kymon’s Chosen before becoming a Reaper - it was dropped while leveling the character. I simply also wanted to test early Drain Essence leveling - and honestly, it was rather enjoyable in its current state.
The key item are two Bonescythes. Two are needed to reduce the cooldown of Bone Harvest to zero which allows to spam the skill. The number of attacks then depend on the casting speed. The weapon can be farmed in the Mountain Deeps, before reaching Homestead. Later, Benevald even sells the weapon in the Blood Groves. The leveling was rather easy in the beginning. The damage was there and the build moved without any real issue through the content. I did not spend attribute points until level 90 to increase the challenge slightly. This of course required a stronger focus on mastery bar points to increase the stats.
The low health pool became noticable in Ultimate and a bit more concentration while playing was necessary. Normal content was still not an issue, but ground effects or certain enemies can lead to a fast death. Moosilauke was a real nemesis so far and proved unkillable in his second phase (current counter 0:6). But nevertheless, playing the build was still fun. Running into Kubacabra after reaching Elite all the time, less.
Acid / Vitality damage hybrid
(The sheet damage is part of the fun, but obviously does not represent the real DPS)
Self Found?
Only self-found equipment and self-found crafting materials were used while levelling. Also, no mandates were transferred, writs were bought as soon as possible. However, all necessary blueprints were already found with earlier characters. The character was leveled in 1.2.1.6.
Current Character
[Bone Harvest, all permanent buffs, Soul Harvest, Lethal Assault, and Mortality]
Performance
The full campaign (softcore) with both expansions was finished in all three difficulties (Veteran, Elite, Ultimate). Monster totems were activated on sight - after cleaning the surrounding area. Early, deaths were rare - more regular deaths occured after reaching level 75. For quite some time (level 0 - 90) no attribute points were invested. The character is relatively safe and fun to play, but becomes a bit more squishy at the end.All challenge dungeons were finished in Ultimate with the final build. Shard 26/27 was completed in the Shattered Realm in Ultimate for the additional skill points (using a waystone, in time - no death). The following nemesis were slain in Ultimate: Kubacabra, Valdaran, Benn’Jahr, Grava’Thul and Kaisan. Moosilauke, well, was - as stated above - a different story.
Leveling / Skills
The character starts as Necromancer. I used Drain Essence at the beginning before switching to Bone Harvest at level 36. Start to increase Drain Essence and the Necromancer mastery bar equally, after reaching level 5 in the mastery bar, invest one point into Spectral Binding. Then invest slightly more in the mastery bar (2 points per level) and increase Spectral Binding and Drain Essence. After reaching level 10 in the mastery bar, add Hungering Reach. With character level 10, 7 points should be invested in Drain Essence, 2 in Hungering reach, 3 in Spectral Binding and 1 in Spectral Wrath. The next level ups are used to in increase the mastery bar and Spectral Binding. After reaching level 20, Drain Essence was at 8 points, Hungering Reeach at 4, Decomposition at 2, Spectral Binding at 12, and Spectral Wrath at 1. 31 points were invested in the Necromancer mastery bar. I found quite some gear (also while checking vendors) which increased Drain Essence (in total +6 to Drain Essence), so the points could be invested elsewhere as the damage was good enough. The next 10 level ups were used to further increase the mastery bar (to 46), maxing Spectral Wrath and adding a bit damage, Drain Essence was increased to 10, Hungering Reach to 7 and Composition to 3. Use a good Spectral War Shield to increase the power of Drain Essence.The next level ups were used to increase the mastery bar to 50 and starting maxing Harbinger of Souls. After reaching character level 36, and having two acceptable Bonescythes, the move from Drain Essence to Bone Harvest happened. All skill points from Drain Essence (including Hungering Reach and Decomposition) were removed, the points were used invest one point in the Nightblade mastery and one point in Dual Blades (to be able to dual wield Bonescythes), and in the Necromancer mastery to max Soul Harvest, bring Bone Harvest to 7 and Dread to 1. The next skill points were mainly invested in Dread, with one spare point invested in III Omen after getting a Gaze of Ungoliax. Dread increases the damage while not increasing the energy cost of Bone Harvest like increasing Bone Harvest itself.
Around character level 60/70, a Mortality (Relic), a Lunal’Valgoth’s Waistguard, and a Death-Watcher Pendant (Benevald shopping) should be available. Bonescythes are also sold from Benevald. A Mark of Plagius is used for the boni to Harbinger of Souls. As pant, a Dreeg-Sect Legguards is used because of the resistances and the health regen bonus. Fettan Mask is used for the skill points.
The next level ups were used to increase the Nightblade mastery bar (2 points) and Bone Harvest (1 point). After maxing all nodes of Bone Harvest, the Nightblade mastery bar should be high enough to invest in Anatomy of Murder. Increase the Nightblade mastery bar while maxing Anatomy of Murder. After the later is maxed, bring Veil of Shadow to 9/10. After the Nightblade mastery bar is at 40/50 and Veil of Shadow at 9/10, max Night Chill. Now invest in Pneumatic Burst (don’t forget Breath of Belgothian) and max both Penumatic Burst and Shadow Dance. The next skill is Amarasta’s Blade Burst, invest one point in the main node and max Lethal Assault. After Lethal Assault is maxed, increase III Omen to 6/10, Phantasmal Armor to 6/12, Dual Blades to 3/16 and invest one point in Mark of Torment.
After reaching the necessary character level and reputation with Barrowholm, the Death-Watcher Pendant was replaced by a Reaver’s Hunger. Beeing lucky, two Mythical Band of Wandering Souls were found and could be used (currently, 4 of these rings were found in total).
Factionwise, the character sided with Order of Death’s Vigil (Necromancer). Barrowholm was kept friendly because of the used equipment from the faction vendor. The decision regarding the cults is not the most important here, as in the end, all three should have reached maximal reputation.
The character would have a rather strong damage increase if instead of the Fettan Mask a Death’s Whisper Hood is used. However, this would require to join Kymon’s Chosen before becoming a Necromancer, which would have required a different starting skill. And lorewise, joining the Order is the “normal” choice for a Necromancer. It is however possible to farm a Death’s Whisper Hood in the Shattered Realm (the one the stash in the level 100 savegame is from the SR 26/27 run). Also, instead of Lethal Assault to increase the damage, it is also possible to invest the points into Dual Blades. The final damage will be lower, but the base damage would be higher and be available at max distance.
Character Snapshots
level 10: Necromancer, Level 10 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
level 20: Necromancer, Level 20 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
level 30: Necromancer, Level 30 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
level 36: Reaper, Level 36 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator (Drain Essence)
level 36: Reaper, Level 36 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator (Bone Harvest)
level 40: Reaper, Level 40 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
level 50: Reaper, Level 50 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
level 60: Reaper, Level 60 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
level 70: Reaper, Level 70 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
level 80: Reaper, Level 80 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
level 90: Reaper, Level 90 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
level 100: Reaper, Level 100 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator (reaching level 100)
level 100: Reaper, Level 100 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator (current status)
- savegame folder: _Binara.zip (1.4 MB)
Devotions
- Crossroads green
- Bat
- remove Crossroads green
- Crossroads yellow
- Panther
- Crane
- Scales of Ulcama
- remove Crossroads yellow
- Sailors Guide
- Jackal
- Fox
- Crossroads purple
- Empty Throne
- remove Crossroads purple
- Chariot of the Death
- Rattosh, the Veilwarden
- Affliction
The devotion map focused on Rattosh, Affliction, and Scales of Ulcama. Some nodes are taken to increase secondary resistances (Empty Throne and Chariot). Early, Bat is taken to increase sustain and damage, Panther and Crane are used to be able to take Scales of Ulcama rather early - for the resist reduction and sustain. While Sailor’s Guide is used to increase the slow resistance, Jackal and Fox are used to increase the affinities. Empty Throne and Chariot increase secondary resistances and bring the necessary affinities to take Rattosh and Affliction.
see Grimtools
Gear
Monster Infrequents:
Final Build
weapon: Bonescythes - key item, two are necessary to spam the skill
chest: Korvan Plating - damage conversion
medal: Mark of Plagius - bonuses to Harbinger of Souls
pants: Dreeg-Sect Legguards - health regeneration, resistances, Offensive Ability
girdle: Lunal’Valgoth’s Waistguard - +1 to all skills in Necromancer
Levelling
shield: Spectral War Shield - Drain Essence bonus
amulet: Death-Watcher Pendant - +1 to all skills in Necromancer
Faction Gear:
Final Build
shoulder: Elite Wendigo Vile Pauldrons - vitality damage faction gear with +3 to Bone Harvest
amulet: Reaver’s Hunger - +1 to all skills in Necromancer and to Bone Harvest
Epic / Legendary items
Final Build
head: Fettan Mask - +1 to all skills
gloves: Mythical Vilescorn Bracers - +2 to Lethal Assault
rings: Mythical Band of Wandering Souls - +2 to Soul Harvest and Dual Blades
Relic:
Mortality - +1 to all skills in Necromancer, damage boost skill
What Else / What Now
Go Farming and/or choose one end game Reaper of your choice
