- [2H CD melee\caster] [1.3.0.8] The wight’s bane (Ralfhskz)
- Damage: Vitality, vitality decay, bleeding
- Active Skills: Blade arc, devouring swarm, storm totem, wendigo totem
Hey guys! This time I’m sharing this character that I leveled recently, and I really enjoyed the gameplay. Guaranteed fun!
This class is a classic “tank” in this game (Shaman + Soldier), and this one has very smooth gameplay that allows you to tackle everything from the game’s basic achievements to even some superbosses without too much trouble or danger.
The idea here is to use Storm Totems for AoE damage and Blade Arc to evaporate your enemies. You debuff enemies with Devouring Swarm and hit them with Blade Arc (preferably with a double tap). While the Vitality Decay damage slowly drains their HP, you can move around and dodge attacks with ease. You also have Wendigo Totem to recover your HP and further boost your Vitality/Life Leech damage.
This build has excellent health regeneration and several life leech mechanics (as is common with most Vitality-based builds), making it very safe if you want to play in HC.
The build doesn’t require random drops to perform well during leveling or endgame. I only used items that can be farmed from specific enemies, along with faction items.
As always, I didn’t use merits, mandates, or any other items that speed up leveling or reputation gain.
The leveling:
You can start the game by simply choosing Soldier and leveling in the classic way using Forcewave. However, as always, I prefer to start the game already following the damage theme and gameplay that we’ll be using in the endgame, so I started with the Shaman mastery:
Lvl 1-10 Shaman, Level 10 (GD 1.3.0.8) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Invest your first skill points into Devouring Swarm. This skill deals damage, debuffs enemy Vitality/bleeding resistances and even provides some Life Leech, which is very helpful early on.
I invested one point into the skill and two points into the mastery bar. It’s also a good idea to use the weapon that drops from the Aetherial Barrog before reaching the Lower Crossing Riftgate.
After equipping the weapon, put one or two points into Savagery. It provides some nice additional damage for this early stage of the game.
Lvl 10-20 Shaman, Level 20 (GD 1.3.0.8) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
As soon as you reach Burrwitch Outskirts, look for Narbalgal, a Groble located near the area where you find the NPC Ulgrim. He will drop the off-hand we’ll be using until we reach the FoA expansion, where we’ll farm our main weapon.
Once you reach Corrupted Storm on the Shaman mastery bar, reallocate all the points from Savagery into Storm Totem, and of course, put one point into Corrupted Storm. If you prefer, you can also invest one point into Wendigo Totem.
After restoring the first six shrines, spend one point in Eldritch (Crossroads) and complete Bat. For now, leave the proc attached to Storm Totem.
Lvl 20-30 Warder, Level 30 (GD 1.3.0.8) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
After maxing out Storm Totem, start investing all 3 points from each level-up into the Soldier mastery bar.
When you’re heading toward Old Arkovia, keep the medal that drops from the enemy Balthazar in Staunton mine, as we’ll be using it later in the build.
For Devotions, invest 1 point in Order (Crossroads) and complete Tortoise. Then invest 1 point in Primordial, 1 point in Eldritch, 1 point in chaos and start putting points into Behemoth.
Lvl 30-40
Damn… I messed up and completely forgot to upload the character to Grimtools. I only remembered when I was already close to level 50…
Anyway, to summarize: when going through Pine Barrens, don’t forget to keep the Mogara’s Fangs amulet from mogara in Jagged Waste.
As you pass through Homestead, farm one or two Gollus rings from gollus in the den of the lost while completing the Dermapteran Queen quest.
Once you reach Fort Ikon, head straight to the FoA DLC to farm the main item for this build, Wight death’s Edge. You can already farm it in Icebound Passage from the Wight enemies you’ll find there.
Once you get the weapon, invest 2 points into Blade Arc and 1 point into Laceration with each level-up until both skills are maxed out (don’t forget activating clean sweep too).
Spend 1 point in wind devil and 1 point in maelstrom.
After farming the weapon, I went back to Fort Ikon and continued on my way to finish the vanilla campaign before heading into the AoM DLC. (don’t forget equipping the medal and amulet now)
For Devotions, complete Behemoth, complete Panther, and then complete Wendigo. Attach its proc to Storm Totem, and attach the bat proc to Wind Devil.
Lvl 40-50 Warder, Level 50 (GD 1.3.0.8) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
As you pass through Ugdenbog, make sure to keep the belt that drops from Carraxus Foul. We’ll be using this belt in the build all the way into the endgame.
I completed the AoM DLC and then went back to FoA and finished it. Invest points into Field Command and the Soldier mastery bar until you reach Menhir’s Bulwark.
As for Devotions: remove Order, Primordial, Eldritch, and Chaos from the Crossroads. Complete Lotus, then complete Rattosh and attach its proc to Wind Devils. Finally, complete Jackal.
Lvl 50-60 Warder, Level 60 (GD 1.3.0.8) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
After finishing FoA, I went after the helmet we’ll be using all the way into the endgame. You’ll farm it in the Forgotten Gods DLC. (look for possessed armor mobs and heroes in temple of osyr, cairan docks, lost Oasis, tomb of the heretic and another temples and tombs around the Korvan map)
Here’s a tip: I decided to farm it on Elite, since the drop rate on Normal is absolutely ridiculous. I spent over two hours killing mobs without getting a single drop (I hope you have better luck than me and manage to drop one in normal).
Once you enter Elite difficulty, check your resistances and upgrade anything you feel is necessary at the moment. Remember that at this stage of the game, you don’t need to worry about affixes yet—just focus on maximizing your resistances for now.
For Devotions, complete Jackal, then complete Revenant and attach its proc to Blade Arc. Put 1 point into Chaos (Crossroads), remove Jackal, complete Scholar’s Light, then complete Raven. Finally, complete the right side of Abomination and attach its proc to Devouring Swarm.
Lvl 60-70 Warder, Level 70 (GD 1.3.0.8) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Check your reputation with the factions and buy the Writs from those where you’ve already reached Honored status. I went through the vanilla campaign and the expansions again, and this time I cleared everything very quickly.
Don’t forget to upgrade your gear so you don’t let the build’s damage fall off, and always keep your resistances capped.
Lvl 70-80 Warder, Level 80 (GD 1.3.0.8) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
At this level range, i was very close to finishing AoM and FoA on Elite. I quickly reached Revered status with the Malmouth Resistance faction (to buy Potions of Clarity) and with the Kurn (to gain access to the augment we’ll be using on the weapon).
A way to make this process easier and faster is by offering Aether Shards at the Altar of Ascension. Do some runs in Dreven Cole’s council in Malmouth and Ironeye’s Hideout in the Ruins of Utak Kunar.
Lvl 80-90 Warder, Level 90 (GD 1.3.0.8) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
I started Ultimate at around level 90. A good first tip here is to lie during the Lost Elder quest in Arkovian Foothills—the relic you receive as a reward is definitely worth it!
Once you reach level 90 and beyond, it’s time to start farming your endgame gear.
For the budget endgame setup, I started by farming a decent helmet and pair of shoulders. Luckily, they both drop from the same type of enemy.
Originally, I had planned to use a tormented bonecage for the budget version, but you can also use this Epic armor, which works really well as a substitute.
I went back to Elite to farm an acceptable version of the belt again from the infamous Carraxus.
For the pants, as always, I farmed the Guardian of Dreeg near Devil’s Crossing until I got a decent version of the item.
Farm at least a decent Balthazar medal. A good alternative is the Mark of Consumption, but I haven’t managed to get one to drop yet.
Grab another Mogara’s Fangs amulet as well.
After getting the Trollheart Waistguard blueprint, I crafted a few until I got a decent version.
I also farmed a decent level 94 version of the weapon to get started with this endgame setup.
Don’t forget to grab a pair of level 94 Gollus rings.
You can use the elite harvest grips for gloves until we farm the endgame gear. (buy it from homestead faction shop)
Until I got these beautiful boots from the Bastion of Chaos, I was using a very common but effective Mythical final march but you can also use a Elite Legion Greaves, which are a pretty solid option for early endgame farming. (buy it from the black legion faction shop)
Build when I reached Lvl94:
Well, to test and showcase how safe this build is and how quickly it can destroy enemies, I ran through the Skeleton Key dungeons and took on some tougher enemies, such as Rashalga and Kra’Vall, as I progressed through Ultimate.
Here are some videos to give you an idea of the gameplay:
Vitality warder - Steps of torment run
Vitality warder - Port Valbury run
Vitality warder x Rashalga
Vitality warder - Bastion of Chaos run
Vitality warder - Ancient Grove run
Vitality warder x Theodin Marcell
Vitality warder x Kra’vall
Vitality warder X Korvaak
Vitality warder - Tomb of the heretic run
Vitality warder X Beronath
Build after geting lvl100:
After finishing the DLCs, I started the quest to farm the Dark One set, which, as promised at the beginning of the guide, is completely target-farmable. I recorded a video showing the process and the first run. (You only need the chest armor, shoulders, and gloves, just destroy the rift claimed adherents until they drop)
The “dark one’s” quest
I also recorded a video showing that the build can defeat Lokarr and the Bourbon Clones before you have all three pieces of the set.
Vitality warder X Lokarr
Vitality warder X Bourbon Clones
Well, I took the SR26-27 challenge with budget setup too and the build proved to be a reliable farmer for this farming range
Vitality warder X SR26
After the SR challenge, I gone back to farm the three pieces of the dark one set and got them in about two hours of farming.
Before trying the build on some of the superbosses, I farmed a better version of the weapon, used the inventor of Kurnhold to change the suffix and FINALLY got LUCKY(just one roll and got a nice suffix 
)
Build actual spec:
Next thing i did was trying some superbosses
Vitality warder x Avatar of Mogdrogen
Vitality warder x Callagadra
Vitality warder x Ravager of flesh
In conclusion: I think this build can face even more challenging bosses, but it need some more neat tweaks first, i hope you enjoy this build and guide.
Thank you for reading!
. I’m hopping soon you’ll come with “something” . Thank you for the " as-usual- detailed -build " for us !
