- [Player scaled pets/caster] [1.2.1.6] The bloodbound hunter (Ralfhskx)
- Damage: Bleeding
- Active Skills: Curse of Frailty, bloody pox, ring of steel, pneumatic burst, blood of dreeg, disorder, blade barrier.
Greetings once again to the veterans and to everyone just joining the Grim Dawn community!
I believe this will be my last beginner guide before the release of the new DLC and the upcoming patch that will drastically change the game (I can’t wait to make new guides featuring the new mastery).
Once again, i’m bringing a class that i had never leveled from scratch before: the Witch Hunter. Many players consider it (and, to some extent, they’re right 
) to be a somewhat fragile character, but one capable of dealing potentially massive damage.
Since I already have several characters focused on Vitality, Cold, and Acid damage, I decided to build this one around bleeding damage.
As mentioned before, the character does tend to be a bit fragile, but it has several defensive layers that help keep you alive, decent health regeneration, good physical resistance, and, most importantly, very strong damage output for a beginner-friendly character with a relatively modest setup.
The gameplay is smooth and fairly straightforward: keep your buffs active (Pneumatic Burst and Blood of Dreeg), use Curse of Frailty and Bloody Pox to apply debuffs and deal significant damage to enemy hordes (the AoE damage of this build is extremely satisfying), and use Ring of Steel to deal even more damage while providing additional crowd control. Use blade barrier as your fail-safe skill (AKA the “OH SHIT” button).
However, the true stars of this character are our trusty Blade Spirits. What really gives this build its impressive damage potential and survivability is the ability to kite stronger enemies while applying your debuffs, Ring of Steel, and various procs, letting your Blade Spirits do the dirty work for you!
This character was leveled entirely from scratch. No leveling gear or item sets were used, and I didn’t use any Mandates or Merits either, I also planned it using only monster infrequent farmable items and faction gear, so you won:t rely on random drops, what makes me consider this an excellent choice for players who are just starting the game and don’t have access to gear or much experience with Grim Dawn yet.
With this build, you’ll be able to farm the endgame quickly and efficiently, and you’ll even be capable of tackling some of the toughest endgame challenges with a relatively modest setup.
But enough talking—let’s get to what really matters:
Lvl 1-10 Nightblade, Level 10 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
I started the game choosing the Nightblade mastery. Invest your first points into Amarasta’s Blade Burst (1 point) and the mastery bar (2 points) every time you level up.
Look for a two-handed ranged weapon (or buy one in devil’s crossing shop ), so you can wipe out enemies from a distance.
Lvl 10-20 Witch Hunter, Level 20 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
After defeating Krieg the Warden, head straight into the Forgotten Gods expansion! I allied with the Cult of Solael first, but feel free to join any of them.
The first item we’re going to farm is the Scarab Shell shield — you’ll find it from the scarabs near the Korvan Plateau riftgate and in the crawling nest.
If you still haven’t reached Blade Spirit in the Nightblade skill tree, respec your points out of Amarasta’s Blade Burst until you unlock it.
Put 1 point into Ring of Steel, 1 point into Ring of Frost, and 1 point into Circle of Slaughter.
Invest 1 point into the Occultist mastery.
From that point onward, each time you level up, invest:
1 point into Blade Spirit
1 point into Anatomy of Murder
1 point into Curse of Frailty
Keep doing that until those skills are maxed out.
Once you’ve restored the first 6 devotion shrines, spend 1 point in Eldritch (Crossroads) and complete Bat (attach the proc to Blade Spirit).
Lvl 20-30 Witch Hunter, Level 30 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Now you finally get to enjoy the intended gameplay. Once you reach Bloody Pox, invest at least one point into the skill. It’s a lot of fun watching hordes of enemies drop like flies with very little effort.
When you reach Astral Fields, close to finishing the Forgotten Gods DLC, you should farm two very useful items that we’ll use during leveling and in the endgame: the Gargoyle Visage helmet and the Gargoyle Waistguard belt. You’ll farm them from the gargoyles that appear in this area.
Start investing points into the Occultist mastery bar.
For devotions, spend one point in Chaos and one point in Primordial (Crossroads), complete Lizard, and then complete Behemoth.
Lvl 30-40 Witch Hunter, Level 40 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
After finishing the expansion, return to the vanilla campaign and, once you reach Mountain Deeps,
it’s time to farm the weapon we’ll be using in this build: the Boneblade. You’ll farm it from the Trog enemies that appear throughout the cave.
In the Pine Barrens area, you’ll farm the amulet we’ll use, Bloodbriar’s Thorn,
from the enemy of the same name that inhabits the cave bearing its name (the cave’s location is random and can appear at any of the question mark (?) locations on the map).
You’ll farm the medal from the boss Bloodfeast in Tyrant’s Hold.
Regarding these items: don’t worry too much about affixes for now. Just farm one of each and keep moving.
About ugdenbog and barrolholm: I allied with Barrolholm (we’ll use some of their gear and I wanted to fight Ravager too 
)
For devotions, remove Bat, spend one point in Order, complete Tortoise, complete Owl, and complete Huntress, (attach the proc to Curse of Frailty) complete the fox, start spending points in the harpy.
Lvl 40-50 Witch Hunter, Level 50 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Finish the vanilla campaign and the Ashes of Malmouth expansion. Two items that you can (and should) buy to make leveling easier are: Legion Cuirass and Legion Spaulders. Buy them from the Black Legion faction once you reach respected reputation.
I started Elite difficulty at around level 53.
Check your resistances and don’t forget to upgrade your gear! Activate monster totems — their loot is valuable!
As for devotions: complete Harpy, complete Toad, and complete Mogdrogen the Wolf (bind the proc to Ring of Steel).
Lvl 50-60 Witch Hunter, Level 60 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
At this level range, you should already be approaching or have already reached Honored reputation with some factions. Buy their Writs to speed up the process of becoming Revered with them.
It’s time to start investing points into Pneumatic Burst and Blood of Dreeg.
For devotions, complete Crane and spend your last 6 points on Unknown Soldier (bind the proc to Bloody Pox).
Lvl 60-70 Witch Hunter, Level 70 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
I finished Elite difficulty at around level 78. When starting Ultimate, remember to check your resistances and make further upgrades to your gear.
Don’t forget to activate monster totems and keep an eye on your reputation with the factions.
Lvl 70-80 Witch Hunter, Level 80 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Do your best to reach Revered status with the factions. Keep tearing through your enemies with ease as you replay the quests on Ultimate difficulty.
If you didn’t spend points on possession, it’s time to think about it, bcs some nice dmg absorb is very welcome, after all.
Lvl 80-90 Witch Hunter, Level 90 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Once you reach level 90, it’s time to start transitioning your build into its endgame version.
At this level, you can upgrade your chest armor to the Elite Legion Cuirass from The Black Legion faction vendor.
You’ll buy your endgame rings, the Malmouth Blade Seal from the Malmouth Resistance faction vendor.
I replaced my shoulder armor with the Elite Wendigo Tempered Pauldrons.
For gloves, you can buy fhe Elite Harvest Grips on the Homestead faction vendor until you get something better (my endgame plan was to use Mythical Grasp of Unchained Might.
Don’t forget to farm an endgame version of your weapon
and shield (look for affixes related to Bleeding Damage, such as “of Blood” , “of Butchery”, etc.).
Your helmet
and belt will be farmed in the Forgotten Gods expansion
(a good alternative is choosing the Cult of Dreeg on Ultimate, since they have a specific quest area where gargoyle mobs also appear). Regarding the helmet: Mythical Abyssal Mask is a great option — if you get its blueprint, feel free to craft and use it.
Another good endgame belt alternative is the Malmouth Bladed Girdle (it’s a shame it only has one affix).
For boots, I’m using the always reliable Elite Legion Greaves, but my original plan was to use Mythical Windshear Greaves.
Visit Bloodbriar and Bloodfeast again until you find strong endgame versions of the amulet
and medal.
(a way to speed up farming is restoring the bridge in Twin Falls.)
For pants, I eventually gave in and used the extremely popular Dreeg-Sect Legguards
, although Reaper’s
Legguards will serve you very well too (just farm it on the Shattered Realm, since we’ll be allied with Barrowholm).
This is what my character looked like upon reaching level 100:
Witch Hunter, Level 100 (GD 1.2.1.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
As soon as I hit this level, I ran a few tests using this setup, which is considered “budget”:
-
Witch Hunter vs Theodin Marcell
https://youtu.be/upwt07fKcK8?is=HTTqsBV6HHfco9aV -
Witch Hunter vs Korvaak
https://youtu.be/UyOdPNpdwsQ?is=6JpUi2F4_JAn8qJ7 -
Witch Hunter vs Rashalga
https://youtu.be/sT4FJuk-2dE?is=M9crcOITR9flOVYo -
Witch Hunter vs Kra’vall
https://youtu.be/5gE4ZDC7aaQ?is=XW92c9XqYdNTTNAS -
Witch Hunter vs SR26
https://youtu.be/jORW_5M6l04?is=kJEHjyEzw6JCxOvd
After those tests I wanted to test it on the skeleton key dungeons:
-Steps of torment
(Yeah, moosie’s a real asshole. Don’t try to tank him more than you should and you’ll be safe)
-Bastion of chaos
-Tomb of the Heretic
-Ancient Grove
-Port Valbury
(please don’t fall on Loxmere traps like me, almost costed my precious char life )
SR 26-27
Well, why not test it against lokarr and bourbon clones?
Lokarr
Bourbon Clones
Reaching the end of this guide: I tested the build against Ravager and Mogdrogen. Even in its budget version, the build was able to overcome these celestial challenges.
Witch hunter X mogdrogen
(used a storm shroud ointment just to be more safe)
Witch hunter X Ravager of flesh
(used a bleeding damage boost ointment to help a bit)
To take on Callagadra and Crate of Entertainment, I would recommend a few upgrades, such as adding some legendary items and replacing the relic with Serenity. (if you’re playing softcore, please try the budget setup against those bastards and share the results with us )
You can even try something different, blending more the vitality and bleeding damage, like using the Demonslayer’s armament set. I’m pretty sure we have some endgame builds around this class/set on grimtools.com
PS: You can include the blade trap on the skill rotation, it’s some more damage and some extra crowd control, but I wanted this build to be less “pianoish”, besides the fact that blade trap sucks against bosses.
As you can see, this bleeding freak can turn the endgame in something easy even without much investment (at least until next patch and the new DLC😂)
Thank you for reading this guide and I hope it can help you enjoy this great game.
Cheers!