I tried to make an Infiltrator build with Blaze Herald dagger. Build is surprisingly tanky. I tried to add every possible Aether mod for Word of Pain (WoP), and got 460 Aether damage in total. But damage is downright terrible. I’m convinced that WoP is not useful as a main offensive skill, even when I combined it with NB’s Aether Blade Spirit or Inquisitor’s Aether Storm Box. Though no testing myself yet, I’m sure that Chaos WoP damage would be terrible as well.
Grimtools Link: Infiltrator, Level 100 (GD 1.2.1.3) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator
Video Demonstration: Crucible 150-170 (extra spawn, HP buff), would’ve taken at least 10 mins if I survived 170.
Not sure if Crate actually wanted WoP to be only good at debuffs, but here are a couple of my suggestions to improve WoP damage (not just Aether, but any other damage type):
- Huge increases in damage mods for WoP. Aether buff from Runic Whisper was nowhere near enough.
- Add more resist shred
- Make WoP tick faster, multiple times each second (though not sure if GD engine can implement this)
because it’s a debuff, that means it doesnt’ stack on same target, so it’s supplementary aoe dmg
1 Like
Even as supplementary damage, its damage is still far too low. Keep in mind, I also made a Saboteur build that invested everything in Thermite Mine, another skill primarily used for debuffing. When used alone, Thermite Mine damage is very pathetic, but when I use Blade Spirit in tandem, all of the damage I deal is massive, far surpassing WoP used with Blade Spirit.
Here’s the Saboteur build: Saboteur, Level 100 (GD 1.2.1.3) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator. At least this build got a lot of resist shred and and can spam a huge load of mines, which is why it can deal so much damage.
So the problem here is, WoP damage is pathetic even when I extensively invest in it and use it with other nukes, while I do the same for Thermite Mine (also a debuff skill like WoP), and it still shreds everything.
WoP is decent dmg, it’s even so great it’s been nerfed in the past for that very reason, because it’s screenwide assistance 
1 Like
If you have watched the video, you will see that the damage is downright pathetic. If you have any way to improve the WoP damage, feel free to tell me.
you don’t have other nukes there
i don’t know what you even think is a nuke? you have an unmodified nonmaxed HoG, non maxed non modified blade spirit, and you have shard of beronath with low wps and low flats
use it “right”, as a support skill… it doesnt’ need mechanics changing, you have a, sry to say, very poor example of a blaze herald setup, which emphasises how WoP works, a debuff, but you’re trying to have it carry as main skill, with poor support skill choices.
while then also trying to compare it with an unrelated debuff skill, that has dot stacking via pet mechanics…
1 Like
Alright, I will accept that WoP is useless at dealing damage, despite buffing attempts in 1.2.1.6. But still, the point here is Blaze Herald is underwhelming, not sure if it can make a viable build. I guess it’s not even useful for Infiltrator at all.
it is not useless is my point
it’s a super strong levelling skill, and it’s a decent supplementary aoe/screen dmg on end builds
(imo it’s so good leveling i personally thought buffing base WoP instead of modifiers was the poor choice, as it just made it that slightly more “OP” early game where it already exploded)
it’s useful, when you use it as a debuff, you can make an aether melee, key/focus then being melee, you can make aether PB etc
like i said, Blaze herald was nerfed in the past for a reason, it’s fine for its purpose - the trick is just to use it as a debuff and not a main skill
The whole thing Word of Pain from the start is to act as both additive damage to your main damage skill and a debuff on enemies. Not as a main damage source, outside of early game where it shines for levelling Inquisitor based builds.
Props for trying though 
1 Like
I’m aware that WoP is useful for leveling, yeah (makes it somewhat similar to Arcanist’s OFF). Concerning Blaze Herald, if you go for melee attack build, it’s may not be effective. Because I haven’t found there any Aether mods for Nightblade WPS. And you can’t max out Blade Spirit with Aether gears
SSF DW Aether Spellbreaker would like to have a word with you 
1 Like
Thanks, but have you found any viable Infiltrator build that uses Blaze Herald? I’m still thinking that Blaze Herald is weak on Infiltator.
Look, judging from this and your Belgothian Blademaster feedback you are heavily undercooking your builds that you are presenting for feedback. In other words specs you are showing are just really bad, no offense. That leads you drawing wrong conclusions.
Example:
This a THREE year old build that was doing buffed Crucible that fast.
It’s absolutely CRACKED. Again, I am sorry but you didn’t do your reasearch. Here is a build using it that is currently one of the strongest melees in the game.
3 Likes
Aether damage is weak in Infiltrator because both classes don’t get % Aether Damage, but you can totally adapt the Spellbreaker I sent as an Infiltrator. If you expect WoP to be dealing the damage you’ll be disappointed but you can get some good wps build using 2 of those for full pierce > aether conversion, or even 1 Blaze Herald and 1 Theodin scepter for the default attack replacer.
I think it’s your focus what’s holding you back; Blaze Herald gives tons of RR, great conversion, but is still a support item, and a great one at that. If you insist on going Infiltrator with it, I would suggest looking into adapting the Spellbreaker I sent earlier, but otherwise it can be used by lots of different builds: I can see aether EoR dervish dual wielding those, for another example.
you don’t “need” aether mods because NB wps/aa can coast on raw dmg and RR shred (and you have basically 100% converted wps on Blazeherald setups)
and while aether PB Reaper is obviously far superior (because actual aether class), aether PB infil was so decent it could be done before the Aether PB conduit even existed because of Blaze Heralds
TLDR, any change you make to WoP in attempt to boost it/to make it purely main skill viable; will carry over to every build not using it as main skill but its intended support function, and existing “right”/debuff builds will then get buffed
(and then we just end up getting stuff nerfed again 
)
if you want a dumb meme example here’s one i made not that long ago Infiltrator, Level 100 (GD 1.2.1.3) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator , after it was nerfed on the WoP side
edit. and ofc i replied to Lee instead 
1 Like
This a THREE year old build that was doing buffed Crucible that fast.
Thanks, I searched around Youtube, but never managed to find this vid.
Look, judging from this and your Belgothian Blademaster feedback you are heavily undercooking your builds that you are presenting for feedback. In other words specs you are showing are just really bad, no offense. That leads you drawing wrong conclusions.
I had to configure that Blademaster build so many times. This build is actually my best build when it comes to killing superboss, except Crate, couldn’t kill it. Though I’m not sure why it’s undercooked. Maybe damage is too low?
Suboptimal item choices (like not using Tyrant’s Slicer, using War Cry, very little flat, some suboptimal component choices etc.). Don’t wanna derail this thread (and again, didn’t mean no offense) but here is how it can perform in a more or less optimal (albeit budget) form: 51 seconds Ravager, 1:11 Calla.
2 Likes
Few melee builds have a chance against crate due to the mechanics of the fight.
