- [Player scaled pets\caster] [1.3.0.5] Bleed4me- Beginner bleeding reaver - strong and fast option to start your FoA adventure! Leveling guide + endgame build (Ralfhskz)
- Damage: Bleeding
- Active Skills: Ring of steel, Leap, Bonechilling cry, pneumatic burst, rallying cry, blade barrier
Greetings to everyone in the Grim Dawn community! First of all, i want to congratulate Crate Entertainment, for this fantastic new DLC and for bringing so many new elements and innovations to this amazing game!
Well, one week before the official release of the FoA expansion, I received some news that I would have to travel for work exactly one day after the release, meaning I would have to spend an entire week away from home (and away from the game 
).
After going through all that time of withdrawal, I decided to share with you the first build I leveled to explore the new areas, challenges, and all the new features. 
The concept behind the build is quite simple, and I took inspiration from my Witch Hunter leveling guide, that I published here on the forum some time before the release of FoA and patch 1.3.
This character was created completely from scratch. All of my game data was deleted before downloading the new expansion, so I started from absolute zero: no mandates, merits, potions, or items to speed up the leveling process.
I havenât tested it against Celestials or the more difficult challenges yet, but I believe it should be able to handle most of the endgame without too many problems.
The build has a budget version that you can comfortably use to farm the endgame. The strategy is to kite the enemies while your Blade Spirits do most of the heavy lifting.
Use Leap to move around faster and proc the Mogdrogen the Wolf devotion. Then apply debuffs to the enemies using Bonechilling Cry, followed by Ring of Steel for some additional damage and to proc Living Shadow (use blade barrier as your SHIT! button)
This class has a huge advantage when it comes to leveling: excellent mobility using leap alongside anoher movement skill and very fast movement speed. (Keep Rallying Cry and Pneumatic Burst active at all times.)
I chose this as my first character for two main reasons: first was that, when I took a look at the new items, I really liked the awakened bloodmane set, especially because it is relatively easy to craft. I started playing on Monday (08/03/2026), and I already had the complete set four days later. (I mainly play at night, so I didnât spend an excessive number of hours farming for it). Talking about this subject: keep a very important information on your mind: YOU MUST OPEN EVERY CHEST, CHECK EVERY CORPSE, ROCK AND ACTIVATE ALL THE MONSTER TOTEMS on this gameplay, weâre gonna use a good amount of iron bits on the endgame, so be sure to pick up all items on your screen and selling your loot always.
The other reason is the nice sinergy of the two masteries in bleeding and crit damage!
I started my journey the way I imagine many of us did when downloading the new DLC: by choosing the new Berserker mastery to test out the new skills and gameplay.
Since our build is entirely based around Bleed damage, starting out with Werewolf is extremely fast and efficient for the first few levels:
lvl 1-10 Berserker, Level 10 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Invest your first points in the Werewolf skill, and with each level-up, put one point into the skill and two points into the Mastery bar. Invest points in Voracity, one point in Rallying Cry, and one point in Battle Surge. Use the Feral Claws ability to attack your enemies and Rip and Tear to move faster and wreak havoc!
Lvl 10-20 Reaver, Level 20 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Keep investing points into the Mastery bar and the Werewolf skill modifiers with each level-up. Invest one point in Amatokâs Pact, and itâs worth investing a few points in Bloodfrenzy to increase your damage.
After defeating Warden Krieg, I went straight to the Forgotten Gods DLC to farm one of the most important items for the build: the Scarab Shell. The easiest way to get it is by farming the mobs near the Korvan riftgate, in the crawling nest.
As soon as you obtain the shield, respec all of your berserker skill points and mastery bar points, and invest everything into the Nightblade mastery until you reach the Blade Spirit skill (you should be at least level 20). Invest points in Blade Spirit and Anatomy of Murder. Put one point into Ring of Steel and one point into Circle of Slaughter.
After restoring your first 6 shrines and unlocking the first 6 points, invest one point in Eldritch (Crossroads) and complete Bat (attach the proc to Blade Spirit).
Lvl 20-30 Reaver, Level 30 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Before finishing the DLC, donât make the same mistake I did and remember farming buildâs main belt, the
Gargoyle Waistguard on astral fields.
After finishing the DLC, return to the vanilla campaign and continue your normal journey. Youâll farm an important leveling item from Cronleyâs henchmen in the Old Arkovia, Arkovian Foothills, or Four Hills areas: the
Murdererâs Cowl.
While youâre at it, also farm the weapon weâll be using from Boris, Master of the Pit, in the small arena on the way to Four Hills. (Donât try to face-tank or stand toe-to-toe with these arena enemies; let the Blade Spirits do the work and dodge their attacks.)
After defeating Cronley, I recommend returning to the Burrwitch Outskirts area to farm the medal weâll use for leveling. Youâll farm it from from Gutworm in smugglerâs basin. The entrance can spawn in different locations.
Donât try to face-tank him for too long either, as he can apply dangerous debuffs and deal significant damage.
Skill points: With each level-up, invest one point in Blade Spirit, one point in Anatomy of Murder, and one point into the Berserker Mastery bar.
Devotions: Invest one point in Order (Crossroads), complete Tortoise, invest one point in Primordial and Chaos (Crossroads), and complete Behemoth. Remove Bat and put one point into Ascendant (Crossroads). Complete Owl. Remove the point from Ascendant. Start investing points into Huntress.
lvl 30-40 Reaver, Level 40 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
When you reach the Pine Barrens area, look for bloodbriarâs Lair in shaded basin (it has different spawn points, just like Smugglerâs Basin) and farm the amulet weâll be using from olâbloodbriar.
For skill points, after maxing out Anatomy of Murder and Blade Spirit, invest points into the Berserker Mastery bar. Spend one point on Leap and start investing points into Bonechilling Cry.
For devotions, complete Fox and Toad. Then start investing points into Harpy.
lvl 40-50 Reaver, Level 50 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
When you reach Fort Ikon, go straight ahead to check out the new FoA DLC. During the gameplay, I equipped an off-hand that will be fantastic for your leveling: Diremane Trophy. You can farm it from the diremane mobs in Icebound passage and several other places where they appear throughout the DLC.
Also, take the opportunity to farm the frostplume mantle that drops from the frost rocs throughout the DLC.
As for your skill points: with each level-up, put one point into Bonechilling Cry and two points into the Berserker mastery bar until you reach Bloodborne.
For your devotions, complete Harpy, put one point into Ascendant (Crossroads), and start completing Mogdrogen the Wolf.
Lvl 50-60 Reaver, Level 60 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
I finished the DLC and went back to our vanilla campaign. Finish the game to unlock the Elite and Ultimate difficulties.
Youâre selling your loot and checking every chest, corpse, and rock like I warned you about at the beginning of the guide, right?? Remember, we need to be loaded with cash (in this case, ironđ ) for the endgame!
Time to move on to Elite difficulty. Itâs time to start investing points into Pneumatic Burst and Rallying Cry. Keep putting points into them until both are at 12/12.
On the devotion screen, complete Mogdrogen the Wolf (bind the proc to Leap), put one point into Order, and complete Crane. Start investing points into Unknown Soldier.
Lvl 60-70 Reaver, Level 70 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
In Elite, take a look at your gear and upgrade anything you feel is necessary (always check your resistances â this is extremely important).
Remember to sell the loot you get and keep building up your stash of cash.
For your skills, invest points into Bloodfrenzy and Bloodborne. Start putting points into Battle Surge and Untamed Rage.
To finish up your devotions, complete Unknown Soldier and bind the proc to Ring of Steel.
Another reminder: check your status with the factions. If youâre honored, donât forget buying their writs to speed things up in getting revered with them.
Lvl 70-80 Reaver, Level 80 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Remember to keep upgrading your gear and weapons. I reached Revered status with the Malmouth faction at the end of Elite mode so I could buy their experience-boosting potions, making the journey to Level 100 faster in Ultimate.
Invest points into Shadow Dance and Impulse.
Lvl 80-90 Reaver, Level 90 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
In Ultimate, check your resistances and make any necessary upgrades. I went back to using the starting shield, but if youâre playing SC and want to keep using the off-hand, feel free to do so .
Donât forget to check your faction standings and work toward becoming Revered with them.
Lvl 90-100 Reaver, Level 100 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
After reaching Level 94, itâs time to start upgrading your gear for this final level bracket.
Iâm currently using a Dreeg-Sect Legguard, so itâs worth doing a few runs at the Dreegâs Guardian to get a decent version. For your boots, you can buy them from the Black Legion for now â very useful, cheap, and easy to obtain.
Iâm currently using the Elite Harvest Grips for my gloves, which you can buy from the Homestead faction vendor.
Look for Olâ Bloodbriar again to farm at least an okay version of your amulet. Donât spend too much time on this, though â the amulet I planned to use is the Awakened Locust Gem, but unfortunately, I didnât dropped any Mythical locust gem by the time I wrote this guide .
The rings youâll be using can be purchased from the Malmouth faction vendor. Donât forget to farm the Gargoyle mobs in Forgotten Gods again. I sided with the Cult of Dreeg in Ultimate, since this unlocks an exclusive area for one of their quests where Gargoyles spawn, meaning you wonât be restricted to the Astral Fields for farming.
As for your chest armor, helmet, shoulders, and medal, donât worry about spending too much time farming them â just get something that covers your resistances. I used an Elite Legion Cuirass from the Black Legion faction as a temporary piece while farming for our desired endgame set.
Stop by Cronleyâs henchmenâs pitiful arena to farm a decent version of your weapon, and visit the areas where the Scarabs spawn in Forgotten Gods to farm a solid version of your shield. Alternatively, you can go to Morgonethâs dungeon, like I did, for some âpower shoppingâ from the local vendor.
As for the epic set, you can get it from monster totems or even use the shop-reset trick on Benevald vendor in The Blood Grove. Eventually, itâll show up for you. (if you donât know how to do it, just talk to benevald and teleport to the nearest riftgate, then wait 15-20 seconds, go back and talk to him again)
Once you get the blueprint, ITâS TIME TO SPEND SOME MONEY. Craft four helmets at the blacksmith of your choice. I then went to the Crucible Inventor to transmute them and get all four pieces of the Bloodmane set.
Once thatâs done, you should start farming Ashes of Awakening, a new material in the game that weâll need to transform the pieces of this set into their Awakened versions. Youâll need 38 Ashes of Awakening.
A safe way to farm them if youâre playing HC is to go back to Elite difficulty and offer 4 Frozen Asters at the Ascension Altar. Then go around opening every chest, checking rocks, and searching corpses to trigger Chthonic Ambushes. These mobs drop Ashes of Awakening (Players from the latest versions of Grim League will remember this Ambush feeling 
).
Once you have all 38, head to Elderveil, a cave in a hidden area in the bottom-left part of the map, near the Guardianâs Sorrow riftgate. Talk to the elder Noktukari, then go to the purple Runed Orb to transform the Epic set into its Awakened version.
Build spec after obtaining the set: Reaver, Level 100 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
After obtaining the full set, I started taking on some endgame challenges. Since the build is still being tested, I recorded some videos of what Iâve done so far.
Bleeding reaver X Theodin marcell
Bleeding reaver X Korvaak
Bleeding reaver X Beronath
Bleeding reaver X Rashalga
Bleeding reaver X Kraâvall
After a few hours of farming materials, I made some upgrades to my components and got better augments as well.
build spec before harder engame and celestials test
Reaver, Level 100 (GD 1.3.0.5) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Iâll be bringing more videos and updates soon on the limits this character can reach in the current patch.
Thank you for reading this guide, and I hope it helps you unlock the minimum achievements in this game.
See you very soon, and greetings to everyone!
EDIT (09\08\2026): tested the build against some challenges and celestials
Bleeding reaver - ancient grove run
Bleeding reaver - Bastion of chaos
Bleeding reaver - Port Valbury
Bleeding reaver - Steps of torment
Bleeding reaver - Tomb of the heretic
Bleeding reaver x Lokarr
Bleeding reaver x BOurbon Clones
Bleeding reaver - SR 26-27
Bleeding reaver x The dread
Bleeding reaver x Mogdrogen
Bleeding reaver x Ravager of flesh
Bleeding reaver x Callagadra
EDIT 2: Thank you very much my friend Bruno (@silumgar) from the grim dawn brazilian group that reminded me about the form of the beast damage modifier! tested the build using the werewolf skill just to activate this buff and manged to beat calla and ravager about almost 1 minute faster, so i highly recommend you doing the same to speed things up, even more if youâre playing ascendant mode.
actual spec: Reaver, Level 100 (GD 1.3.0.6) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Bleeding reaver (werewolf) x Ravager
Bleeding reaver (werewolf) x Callagadra
I had the plan to but I was never good with bleed builds guess now I have no excuse!
Iâm very happy these guides are being useful, hope you enjoy the gameplay, this is a very fast and efficient cleaner