šŸ”° Beginner Build Compendium - 93 guides for AoM & FG expansions

Ulvar1 is the original author of this compendium.
He stopped using the forum unexpectedly.


ā–§ Beginner guides (with detailed leveling)

Link to thread damage type class author game version

sorted by classes and masteries

Soldier + X
HC tri-elemental arcane tank tactician Elemental Tactician S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC Fire War Cry Warlord Fire Warlord Cripptid 1.2.1.2
HC Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Physical Blade Arc S&B Warder - SR80, Ravager Physical Warder The_Coyote 1.1.9.8
DW ranged physical Warlord Physical Warlord Nery 1.1.9.8
Physical Ranged Dual-Wield Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Physical Eye of Reckoning Warlord Physical Warlord tqFan 1.1.9.7
Physical AAR Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
The Fakeuisher - Physical Skater Warlord Physical Warlord MysteryMeat 1.1.9.3
Aether Flames of Ignaffar Tactician Aether Tactician Evil_Baka 1.1.9.2
Forgotten Blademaster Pierce Blademaster Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Pure Soldier Forcewave 1-75 Leveling Guide Physical Soldier sp00ky 1.1.9.0
Physical Forcewave Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.8.0
2H melee Lucius Battlemage Aether Battlemage Nery
S&B Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote
Alkamosā€™ Scythe Cold Cadence Blademaster Cold Blademaster The_Coyote
Fire Blade Arc Commando Fire Commando teppieteptep
Apex Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Pre-Krieg Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Apostle Death Knight Pets Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Voldrakian Cadence Warder Physical Warder Ulvar1
Lightning Warder Lightning Warder Stupid_Dragon
HC Blitz Warlord Physical Warlord Ceno
Physical Cadence S&B Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote
Physical Two-Hand Blade Arc Witchblade Physical Witchblade Nery
Physical Cadence-Blitz S&B Witchblade Physical Witchblade The_Coyote
Demolitionist + X
Stun Jacks + Storm Totems Elementalist, Lokarr Lightning Elementalist HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
HC Chaos FoI Purifier Chaos Purifier Cripptid 1.2.1.2
HC Fire Pyromancer Fire Pyromancer teppieteptep 1.2.1.2
Shieldbreaker Skater / Lokarr, Ravager Fire Shieldbreaker HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
Mortar Trap Shieldbreaker Fire Shieldbreaker modal 1.2.1.2
Fire Gunslinger Purifier Fire Purifier Paikis 1.2.0.5
Dark Oneā€™s Elementalist Vitality Elementalist S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC RoK+Grenado Purifier Fire Purifier S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC Fire BwC+Grenado Sorcerer Fire Sorcerer S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
Physical S&B Melee Shieldbreaker Physical Shieldbreaker The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Pre-Gargabolā€™s Defiler Vitality Defiler thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.5
Sparky Elementalist Lightning Elementalist Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Storm Box + Stun Jacks Purifier Lightning Purifier teppieteptep 1.1.9.0
Cold DW melee Saboteur - the journey! Cold Saboteur Nery 1.1.8.1
Spin2win Shieldbreaker from A to Z Fire Shieldbreaker Nery & Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Ruinous Apostle - chaos caster Chaos Pyromancer Evil_Baka 1.1.7.1
Fire S&B Shieldbreaker - First char, SR50 Fire Shieldbreaker idontwannaknow0
Fire Blade Arc Commando Fire Commando teppieteptep
Lightning DW Ranged Purifier Lightning Purifier Nery
2H Ranged Desolator Fire Strike Purifier Fire Purifier The_Coyote
Occultist + X
HC Fire Pyromancer Fire Pyromancer teppieteptep 1.2.1.2
HC Acid AoM+DEE Sentinel Acid Sentinel S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Red Wisp - Walking Simulator Pet Cabalist Pets Cabalist Maya 1.1.9.8
Fire Pet Cabalist Pets Cabalist Paikis 1.1.9.8
Dark Rose - Lazy Dark Oneā€™s Set Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Maya 1.1.9.8
Acid Aegis Sentinel - Leveling Journal Acid Sentinel Brewshock84 1.1.9.7
Chaos DW Witch Hunter with Sigil Chaos Witch Hunter The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
HC Sigil of Consumption Sentinel | Ravager Vitality Sentinel mostmost 1.1.9.4
Acid Dreegā€™s Evil Eye Sentinel Acid Sentinel tqFan 1.1.9.3
Cold Trozanā€™s Sky Shards Warlock Cold Warlock Monceaux 1.1.9.2
Shield Caster Sentinel - SSF Vitality Sentinel thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.1
Ruinous Apostle - chaos caster Chaos Pyromancer Evil_Baka 1.1.7.1
Vitality RE Oppressor + Cabalist Vitality Oppressor/Cabalist Nery 1.1.6.2
Vitality caster Conjurer guide Vitality Conjurer Nery 1.1.6.2
Acid Sentinel Acid Sentinel Nery 1.1.2.5
Fire Pet Conjurer - 75-76 Farmer Pets Conjurer Skelemental
Petwalker - Walking Simulator Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Maya
Bleed & Chaos Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Ulvar1
Vitality Ignaffar Deceiver Vitality Deceiver Salvor 1.1.8.1
Chaos AAR / Sigil / DB Warlock Chaos Warlock Monceaux 1.1.8.1
Acid Shadow Strike Witch Hunter Guide Acid Witch Hunter Silent_N
Physical Two-Hand Blade Arc Witchblade Physical Witchblade Nery
Physical Cadence-Blitz S&B Witchblade Physical Witchblade The_Coyote
Nightblade + X
HC Cold Ring of Steel Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
DW Acid Dervish, SR65+/Lokarr Acid Dervish HonorabruSudoku 1.2.0.3
Cold Rune of Hagarrad Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator tqFan 1.1.9.7
Chaos DW Witch Hunter with Sigil Chaos Witch Hunter The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Phantasmal Blades Reaper Vitality Reaper Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.1
Forgotten Blademaster Pierce Blademaster Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Cold DW melee Saboteur - the journey! Cold Saboteur Nery 1.1.8.1
Virulent Dervish Acid Dervish Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.2
DW cold melee Trickster Cold Trickster Nery 1.1.3.0
Alkamosā€™ Scythe Cold Cadence Blademaster Cold Blademaster The_Coyote
Phantom Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator Stupid_Dragon
HC Cold Shadow Strike Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker JY_626
Acid Shadow Strike Witch Hunter Guide Acid Witch Hunter Silent_N
Arcanist + X
HC Callidorā€™s Tempest Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC Cold Ring of Steel Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC lightning AAR Templar Lightning Templar S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC Primal Strike Druid Lightning Druid S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
HC Fire BwC+Grenado Sorcerer Fire Sorcerer S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
Physical AAR Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
Albrechtā€™s Aether Ray Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Nery 1.1.9.3
Cold Trozanā€™s Sky Shards Warlock Cold Warlock Monceaux 1.1.9.2
Chaos AAR / Sigil / DB Warlock Chaos Warlock Monceaux 1.1.8.1
Scorching Ray Templar Fire Templar Stupid_Dragon 1.1.7.2
Nephrite Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.1
PRM Mage Hunter Elemental Mage Hunter Nery 1.1.3.0
2H melee Lucius Battlemage Aether Battlemage Nery
S&B Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote
HC Cold Shadow Strike Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker JY_626
Shaman + X
Stun Jacks + Storm Totems Elementalist, Lokarr Lightning Elementalist HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
Fire 2H melee Vindicator Fire Vindicator S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC Vitality Primal Strike Archon Vitality Archon S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Dark Oneā€™s Elementalist Vitality Elementalist S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Dark Rose - Lazy Dark Oneā€™s Set Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Maya 1.1.9.8
HC Primal Strike Druid Lightning Druid S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
Physical Blade Arc S&B Warder - SR80, Ravager Physical Warder The_Coyote 1.1.9.8
2H Ranged Lightning Savagery Vindicator Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.7
Ravenous Earth Ritualist Vitality Ritualist Nery 1.1.9.6
Lightning Vindicator (caster version) Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.1
Sparky Elementalist Lightning Elementalist Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Vitality caster Conjurer guide Vitality Conjurer Nery 1.1.6.2
DW cold melee Trickster Cold Trickster Nery 1.1.3.0
Physical 2H Melee Savagery Archon Physical Archon The_Coyote
Fire Pet Conjurer - 75-76 Farmer Pets Conjurer Skelemental
Petwalker - Walking Simulator Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Maya
Bleed & Chaos Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Ulvar1
Aether Pet Ritualist Pets Ritualist Uncle_Mac
Hecate - Lazy Dark Oneā€™s Set Pet Ritualist Pets Ritualist Maya
Lightning Vindicator (2H ranged version) Lightning Vindicator Nery
Voldrakian Cadence Warder Physical Warder Ulvar1
Lightning Warder Lightning Warder Stupid_Dragon
Inquisitor + X
HC Chaos FoI Purifier Chaos Purifier Cripptid 1.2.1.2
HC tri-elemental arcane tank tactician Elemental Tactician S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Fire 2H melee Vindicator Fire Vindicator S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Fire Gunslinger Purifier Fire Purifier Paikis 1.2.0.5
Lightning Rune of Kalastor Paladin Lightning Paladin Crab_Turtle_2112 1.2.0.3
HC RoK+Grenado Purifier Fire Purifier S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Cold Rune of Hagarrad Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator tqFan 1.1.9.7
2H Ranged Lightning Savagery Vindicator Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.7
Aether Flames of Ignaffar Tactician Aether Tactician Evil_Baka 1.1.9.2
Lightning Vindicator (caster version) Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.1
Storm Box + Stun Jacks Purifier Lightning Purifier teppieteptep 1.1.9.0
Drain Essense Apostate Aether Apostate Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Vitality Ignaffar Deceiver Vitality Deceiver Salvor 1.1.8.1
Fire Shield Throw Paladin build from scratch Fire Paladin Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
PRM Mage Hunter Elemental Mage Hunter Nery 1.1.3.0
Phantom Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator Stupid_Dragon
Dw ranged pierce Paladin Pierce Paladin The_Coyote
Lightning DW Ranged Purifier Lightning Purifier Nery
2H Ranged Desolator Fire Strike Purifier Fire Purifier The_Coyote
Lightning Vindicator (2H ranged version) Lightning Vindicator Nery
Necromancer + X
HC Callidorā€™s Tempest Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Red Wisp - Walking Simulator Pet Cabalist Pets Cabalist Maya 1.1.9.8
Fire Pet Cabalist Pets Cabalist Paikis 1.1.9.8
Ravenous Earth Ritualist Vitality Ritualist Nery 1.1.9.6
Pre-Gargabolā€™s Defiler Vitality Defiler thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.5
Physical Melee DW Oppressor Physical Oppressor The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
Albrechtā€™s Aether Ray Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Nery 1.1.9.3
Phantasmal Blades Reaper Vitality Reaper Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.1
Drain Essense Apostate Aether Apostate Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Vitality RE Oppressor + Cabalist Vitality Oppressor/Cabalist Nery 1.1.6.2
Nephrite Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.1
Apex Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Pre-Krieg Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Apostle Death Knight Pets Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Hecate - Lazy Dark Oneā€™s Set Pet Ritualist Pets Ritualist Maya
Aether Pet Ritualist Pets Ritualist Uncle_Mac
Oathkeeper + X
Shieldbreaker Skater / Lokarr, Ravager Fire Shieldbreaker HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
Mortar Trap Shieldbreaker Fire Shieldbreaker modal 1.2.1.2
HC lightning AAR Templar Lightning Templar S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC Fire War Cry Warlord Fire Warlord Cripptid 1.2.1.2
HC Vitality Primal Strike Archon Vitality Archon S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
DW Acid Dervish, SR65+/Lokarr Acid Dervish HonorabruSudoku 1.2.0.3
Lightning Rune of Kalastor Paladin Lightning Paladin Crab_Turtle_2112 1.2.0.3
HC Acid AoM+DEE Sentinel Acid Sentinel S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
DW ranged physical Warlord Physical Warlord Nery 1.1.9.8
Acid Aegis Sentinel - Leveling Journal Acid Sentinel Brewshock84 1.1.9.7
Physical S&B Melee Shieldbreaker Physical Shieldbreaker The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Physical Ranged Dual-Wield Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Physical Eye of Reckoning Warlord Physical Warlord tqFan 1.1.9.7
Physical Melee DW Oppressor Physical Oppressor The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
HC Sigil of Consumption Sentinel | Ravager Vitality Sentinel mostmost 1.1.9.4
Acid Dreegā€™s Evil Eye Sentinel Acid Sentinel tqFan 1.1.9.3
The Fakeuisher - Physical Skater Warlord Physical Warlord MysteryMeat 1.1.9.3
Shield Caster Sentinel - SSF Vitality Sentinel thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.1
Fire Shield Throw Paladin build from scratch Fire Paladin Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Spin2win Shieldbreaker from A to Z Fire Shieldbreaker Nery & Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Physical Forcewave Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.8.0
Scorching Ray Templar Fire Templar Stupid_Dragon 1.1.7.2
Vitality RE Oppressor + Cabalist Vitality Oppressor/Cabalist Nery 1.1.6.2
Virulent Dervish Acid Dervish Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.2
Acid Sentinel Acid Sentinel Nery 1.1.2.5
Fire S&B Shieldbreaker - First char, SR50 Fire Shieldbreaker idontwannaknow0
Physical 2H Melee Savagery Archon Physical Archon The_Coyote
Dw ranged pierce Paladin Pierce Paladin The_Coyote
HC Blitz Warlord Physical Warlord Ceno
Physical Cadence S&B Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote
Apostate (Inquisitor + Necromancer)
Drain Essense Apostate Aether Apostate Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Archon (Oathkeeper + Shaman)
HC Vitality Primal Strike Archon Vitality Archon S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Physical 2H Melee Savagery Archon Physical Archon The_Coyote
Battlemage (Arcanist + Soldier)
HC Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Physical AAR Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
2H melee Lucius Battlemage Aether Battlemage Nery
S&B Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote
Blademaster (Nightblade + Soldier)
Forgotten Blademaster Pierce Blademaster Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Alkamosā€™ Scythe Cold Cadence Blademaster Cold Blademaster The_Coyote
Cabalist (Necromancer + Occultist)
Red Wisp - Walking Simulator Pet Cabalist Pets Cabalist Maya 1.1.9.8
Fire Pet Cabalist Pets Cabalist Paikis 1.1.9.8
Vitality RE Oppressor + Cabalist Vitality Oppressor/Cabalist Nery 1.1.6.2
Commando (Demolitionist + Soldier)
Fire Blade Arc Commando Fire Commando teppieteptep
Conjurer (Occultist + Shaman)
Dark Rose - Lazy Dark Oneā€™s Set Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Maya 1.1.9.8
Vitality caster Conjurer guide Vitality Conjurer Nery 1.1.6.2
Fire Pet Conjurer - 75-76 Farmer Pets Conjurer Skelemental
Petwalker - Walking Simulator Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Maya
Bleed & Chaos Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Ulvar1
Death Knight (Necromancer + Soldier)
Apex Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Pre-Krieg Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Apostle Death Knight Pets Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Deceiver (Inquisitor + Occultist)
Vitality Ignaffar Deceiver Vitality Deceiver Salvor 1.1.8.1
Defiler (Demolitionist + Necromancer)
Pre-Gargabolā€™s Defiler Vitality Defiler thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.5
Dervish (Nightblade + Oathkeeper)
DW Acid Dervish, SR65+/Lokarr Acid Dervish HonorabruSudoku 1.2.0.3
Virulent Dervish Acid Dervish Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.2
Druid (Arcanist + Shaman)
HC Primal Strike Druid Lightning Druid S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
Elementalist (Demolitionist + Shaman)
Stun Jacks + Storm Totems Elementalist, Lokarr Lightning Elementalist HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
Dark Oneā€™s Elementalist Vitality Elementalist S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Sparky Elementalist Lightning Elementalist Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Infiltrator (Inquisitor + Nightblade)
Cold Rune of Hagarrad Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator tqFan 1.1.9.7
Phantom Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator Stupid_Dragon
Mage Hunter (Arcanist + Inquisitor)
PRM Mage Hunter Elemental Mage Hunter Nery 1.1.3.0
Oppressor (Necromancer + Oathkeeper)
Physical Melee DW Oppressor Physical Oppressor The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
Vitality RE Oppressor + Cabalist Vitality Oppressor/Cabalist Nery 1.1.6.2
Paladin (Inquisitor + Oathkeeper)
Lightning Rune of Kalastor Paladin Lightning Paladin Crab_Turtle_2112 1.2.0.3
Fire Shield Throw Paladin build from scratch Fire Paladin Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Dw ranged pierce Paladin Pierce Paladin The_Coyote
Purifier (Demolitionist + Inquisitor)
HC Chaos FoI Purifier Chaos Purifier Cripptid 1.2.1.2
Fire Gunslinger Purifier Fire Purifier Paikis 1.2.0.5
HC RoK+Grenado Purifier Fire Purifier S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Storm Box + Stun Jacks Purifier Lightning Purifier teppieteptep 1.1.9.0
Lightning DW Ranged Purifier Lightning Purifier Nery
2H Ranged Desolator Fire Strike Purifier Fire Purifier The_Coyote
Pyromancer (Demolitionist + Occultist)
HC Fire Pyromancer Fire Pyromancer teppieteptep 1.2.1.2
Ruinous Apostle - chaos caster Chaos Pyromancer Evil_Baka 1.1.7.1
Reaper (Necromancer + Nightblade)
Phantasmal Blades Reaper Vitality Reaper Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.1
Ritualist (Necromancer + Shaman)
Ravenous Earth Ritualist Vitality Ritualist Nery 1.1.9.6
Hecate - Lazy Dark Oneā€™s Set Pet Ritualist Pets Ritualist Maya
Aether Pet Ritualist Pets Ritualist Uncle_Mac
Saboteur (Demolitionist + Nightblade)
Cold DW melee Saboteur - the journey! Cold Saboteur Nery 1.1.8.1
Sentinel (Oathkeeper + Occultist)
HC Acid AoM+DEE Sentinel Acid Sentinel S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Acid Aegis Sentinel - Leveling Journal Acid Sentinel Brewshock84 1.1.9.7
HC Sigil of Consumption Sentinel | Ravager Vitality Sentinel mostmost 1.1.9.4
Acid Dreegā€™s Evil Eye Sentinel Acid Sentinel tqFan 1.1.9.3
Shield Caster Sentinel - SSF Vitality Sentinel thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.1
Acid Sentinel Acid Sentinel Nery 1.1.2.5
Shieldbreaker (Demolitionist + Oathkeeper)
Shieldbreaker Skater / Lokarr, Ravager Fire Shieldbreaker HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
Mortar Trap Shieldbreaker Fire Shieldbreaker modal 1.2.1.2
Physical S&B Melee Shieldbreaker Physical Shieldbreaker The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Spin2win Shieldbreaker from A to Z Fire Shieldbreaker Nery & Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Fire S&B Shieldbreaker - First char, SR50 Fire Shieldbreaker idontwannaknow0
Sorcerer (Arcanist + Demolitionist)
HC Fire BwC+Grenado Sorcerer Fire Sorcerer S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
Spellbinder (Arcanist + Necromancer)
HC Callidorā€™s Tempest Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Albrechtā€™s Aether Ray Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Nery 1.1.9.3
Nephrite Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.1
Spellbreaker (Arcanist + Nightblade)
HC Cold Ring of Steel Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC Cold Shadow Strike Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker JY_626
Tactician (Inquisitor + Soldier)
HC tri-elemental arcane tank tactician Elemental Tactician S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Aether Flames of Ignaffar Tactician Aether Tactician Evil_Baka 1.1.9.2
Templar (Arcanist + Oathkeeper)
HC lightning AAR Templar Lightning Templar S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Scorching Ray Templar Fire Templar Stupid_Dragon 1.1.7.2
Trickster (Nightblade + Shaman)
DW cold melee Trickster Cold Trickster Nery 1.1.3.0
Vindicator (Inquisitor + Shaman)
Fire 2H melee Vindicator Fire Vindicator S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
2H Ranged Lightning Savagery Vindicator Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.7
Lightning Vindicator (caster version) Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.1
Lightning Vindicator (2H ranged version) Lightning Vindicator Nery
Warder (Shaman + Soldier)
Physical Blade Arc S&B Warder - SR80, Ravager Physical Warder The_Coyote 1.1.9.8
Voldrakian Cadence Warder Physical Warder Ulvar1
Lightning Warder Lightning Warder Stupid_Dragon
Warlock (Arcanist + Occultist)
Cold Trozanā€™s Sky Shards Warlock Cold Warlock Monceaux 1.1.9.2
Chaos AAR / Sigil / DB Warlock Chaos Warlock Monceaux 1.1.8.1
Warlord (Oathkeeper + Soldier)
HC Fire War Cry Warlord Fire Warlord Cripptid 1.2.1.2
DW ranged physical Warlord Physical Warlord Nery 1.1.9.8
Physical Ranged Dual-Wield Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Physical Eye of Reckoning Warlord Physical Warlord tqFan 1.1.9.7
The Fakeuisher - Physical Skater Warlord Physical Warlord MysteryMeat 1.1.9.3
Physical Forcewave Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.8.0
HC Blitz Warlord Physical Warlord Ceno
Physical Cadence S&B Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote
Witchblade (Occultist + Soldier)
Physical Two-Hand Blade Arc Witchblade Physical Witchblade Nery
Physical Cadence-Blitz S&B Witchblade Physical Witchblade The_Coyote
Witch Hunter (Nightblade + Occultist)
Chaos DW Witch Hunter with Sigil Chaos Witch Hunter The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Acid Shadow Strike Witch Hunter Guide Acid Witch Hunter Silent_N

sorted by authors

Nery (16)
DW ranged physical Warlord Physical Warlord Nery 1.1.9.8
2H Ranged Lightning Savagery Vindicator Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.7
Ravenous Earth Ritualist Vitality Ritualist Nery 1.1.9.6
Lightning Vindicator (caster version) Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.1
Cold DW melee Saboteur - the journey! Cold Saboteur Nery 1.1.8.1
Spin2win Shieldbreaker from A to Z Fire Shieldbreaker Nery & Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Vitality RE Oppressor + Cabalist Vitality Oppressor/Cabalist Nery 1.1.6.2
Vitality caster Conjurer guide Vitality Conjurer Nery 1.1.6.2
PRM Mage Hunter Elemental Mage Hunter Nery 1.1.3.0
DW cold melee Trickster Cold Trickster Nery 1.1.3.0
Acid Sentinel Acid Sentinel Nery 1.1.2.5
Albrechtā€™s Aether Ray Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Nery 1.1.9.3
Physical Two-Hand Blade Arc Witchblade Physical Witchblade Nery
2H melee Lucius Battlemage Aether Battlemage Nery
Lightning DW Ranged Purifier Lightning Purifier Nery
Lightning Vindicator (2H ranged version) Lightning Vindicator Nery
The_Coyote (14)
Physical Blade Arc S&B Warder - SR80, Ravager Physical Warder The_Coyote 1.1.9.8
Physical S&B Melee Shieldbreaker Physical Shieldbreaker The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Physical Ranged Dual-Wield Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Chaos DW Witch Hunter with Sigil Chaos Witch Hunter The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Physical Melee DW Oppressor Physical Oppressor The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
Physical 2H Melee Savagery Archon Physical Archon The_Coyote
Physical Forcewave Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.8.0
Physical AAR Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
Dw ranged pierce Paladin Pierce Paladin The_Coyote
2H Ranged Desolator Fire Strike Purifier Fire Purifier The_Coyote
S&B Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote
Physical Cadence S&B Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote
Physical Cadence-Blitz S&B Witchblade Physical Witchblade The_Coyote
Alkamosā€™ Scythe Cold Cadence Blademaster Cold Blademaster The_Coyote
S.E.P_Ralf (12)
HC Callidorā€™s Tempest Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC Cold Ring of Steel Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC tri-elemental arcane tank tactician Elemental Tactician S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC lightning AAR Templar Lightning Templar S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Fire 2H melee Vindicator Fire Vindicator S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC Vitality Primal Strike Archon Vitality Archon S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Dark Oneā€™s Elementalist Vitality Elementalist S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC RoK+Grenado Purifier Fire Purifier S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC Acid AoM+DEE Sentinel Acid Sentinel S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC Primal Strike Druid Lightning Druid S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
HC Fire BwC+Grenado Sorcerer Fire Sorcerer S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
Stupid_Dragon (11)
Forgotten Blademaster Pierce Blademaster Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Sparky Elementalist Lightning Elementalist Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Virulent Dervish Acid Dervish Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.2
Nephrite Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.1
Phantasmal Blades Reaper Vitality Reaper Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.1
Scorching Ray Templar Fire Templar Stupid_Dragon 1.1.7.2
Phantom Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator Stupid_Dragon
Apex Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Apostle Death Knight Pets Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Pre-Krieg Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Lightning Warder Lightning Warder Stupid_Dragon
Ulvar1 (5)
Fire Shield Throw Paladin build from scratch Fire Paladin Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Spin2win Shieldbreaker from A to Z Fire Shieldbreaker Nery & Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Drain Essense Apostate Aether Apostate Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Voldrakian Cadence Warder Physical Warder Ulvar1
Bleed & Chaos Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Ulvar1
Maya (4)
HonorabruSudoku (3)
Stun Jacks + Storm Totems Elementalist, Lokarr Lightning Elementalist HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
Shieldbreaker Skater / Lokarr, Ravager Fire Shieldbreaker HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
DW Acid Dervish, SR65+/Lokarr Acid Dervish HonorabruSudoku 1.2.0.3
teppieteptep (3)
HC Fire Pyromancer Fire Pyromancer teppieteptep 1.2.1.2
Storm Box + Stun Jacks Purifier Lightning Purifier teppieteptep 1.1.9.0
Fire Blade Arc Commando Fire Commando teppieteptep
tqFan (3)
Cold Rune of Hagarrad Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator tqFan 1.1.9.7
Physical Eye of Reckoning Warlord Physical Warlord tqFan 1.1.9.7
Acid Dreegā€™s Evil Eye Sentinel Acid Sentinel tqFan 1.1.9.3
Cripptid (2)
HC Chaos FoI Purifier Chaos Purifier Cripptid 1.2.1.2
HC Fire War Cry Warlord Fire Warlord Cripptid 1.2.1.2
Evil_Baka (2)
Ruinous Apostle - chaos caster Chaos Pyromancer Evil_Baka 1.1.7.1
Aether Flames of Ignaffar Tactician Aether Tactician Evil_Baka 1.1.9.2
Monceaux (2)
Cold Trozanā€™s Sky Shards Warlock Cold Warlock Monceaux 1.1.9.2
Chaos AAR / Sigil / DB Warlock Chaos Warlock Monceaux 1.1.8.1
Paikis (2)
Fire Gunslinger Purifier Fire Purifier Paikis 1.2.0.5
Fire Pet Cabalist Pets Cabalist Paikis 1.1.9.8
thepowerofmediocrity (2)
Pre-Gargabolā€™s Defiler Vitality Defiler thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.5
Shield Caster Sentinel - SSF Vitality Sentinel thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.1
Brewshock84 (1)
Acid Aegis Sentinel - Leveling Journal Acid Sentinel Brewshock84 1.1.9.7
Ceno (1)
HC Blitz Warlord Physical Warlord Ceno
Crab_Turtle_2112 (1)
Lightning Rune of Kalastor Paladin Lightning Paladin Crab_Turtle_2112 1.2.0.3
idontwannaknow0 (1)
Fire S&B Shieldbreaker - First char, SR50 Fire Shieldbreaker idontwannaknow0
JY_626 (1)
HC Cold Shadow Strike Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker JY_626
modal (1)
Mortar Trap Shieldbreaker Fire Shieldbreaker modal 1.2.1.2
MysteryMeat (1)
The Fakeuisher - Physical Skater Warlord Physical Warlord MysteryMeat 1.1.9.3
Salvor (1)
Vitality Ignaffar Deceiver Vitality Deceiver Salvor 1.1.8.1
Silent_N (1)
Acid Shadow Strike Witch Hunter Guide Acid Witch Hunter Silent_N
Skelemental (1)
Fire Pet Conjurer - 75-76 Farmer Pets Conjurer Skelemental
sp00ky (1)
Pure Soldier Forcewave 1-75 Leveling Guide Physical Soldier sp00ky 1.1.9.0
Uncle_Mac (1)
Aether Pet Ritualist Pets Ritualist Uncle_Mac

sorted by playstyles

Casters (41)

Cooldown Caster (24)
(main spell has cooldown)

Off-hand
HC Fire Pyromancer Fire Pyromancer teppieteptep 1.2.1.2
Mortar Trap Shieldbreaker Fire Shieldbreaker modal 1.2.1.2
Dark Oneā€™s Elementalist Vitality Elementalist S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC Fire BwC+Grenado Sorcerer Fire Sorcerer S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
Ravenous Earth Ritualist Vitality Ritualist Nery 1.1.9.6
Cold Trozanā€™s Sky Shards Warlock Cold Warlock Monceaux 1.1.9.2
Lightning Vindicator (caster version) Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.1
Sparky Elementalist Lightning Elementalist Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Storm Box + Stun Jacks Purifier Lightning Purifier teppieteptep 1.1.9.0
Vitality RE Oppressor + Cabalist Vitality Oppressor/Cabalist Nery 1.1.6.2
Vitality caster Conjurer guide Vitality Conjurer Nery 1.1.6.2
Acid Sentinel Acid Sentinel Nery 1.1.2.5
Shield
Lightning Rune of Kalastor Paladin Lightning Paladin Crab_Turtle_2112 1.2.0.3
HC RoK+Grenado Purifier Fire Purifier S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC Acid AoM+DEE Sentinel Acid Sentinel S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
Acid Aegis Sentinel - Leveling Journal Acid Sentinel Brewshock84 1.1.9.7
HC Sigil of Consumption Sentinel | Ravager Vitality Sentinel mostmost 1.1.9.4
Shield Caster Sentinel - SSF Vitality Sentinel thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.1
Fire Shield Throw Paladin build from scratch Fire Paladin Ulvar1 1.1.8.1
Ruinous Apostle - chaos caster Chaos Pyromancer Evil_Baka 1.1.7.1
Dual Wield
HC Cold Ring of Steel Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Cold Rune of Hagarrad Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator tqFan 1.1.9.7
2H Weapon
HC Fire War Cry Warlord Fire Warlord Cripptid 1.2.1.2
Pre-Gargabolā€™s Defiler Vitality Defiler thepowerofmediocrity 1.1.9.5

Channeler (9)
(main spell is continuous)

Albrechtā€™s Aether Ray
HC lightning AAR Templar Lightning Templar S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Physical AAR Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
Albrechtā€™s Aether Ray Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Nery 1.1.9.3
Chaos AAR / Sigil / DB Warlock Chaos Warlock Monceaux 1.1.8.1
Scorching Ray Templar Fire Templar Stupid_Dragon 1.1.7.2
Flames of Ignaffar
HC Chaos FoI Purifier Chaos Purifier Cripptid 1.2.1.2
Aether Flames of Ignaffar Tactician Aether Tactician Evil_Baka 1.1.9.2
Vitality Ignaffar Deceiver Vitality Deceiver Salvor 1.1.8.1
Drain Essence
Drain Essense Apostate Aether Apostate Ulvar1 1.1.8.1

Spam Caster (8)
(main spell has no cooldown)

2H Weapon
HC Callidorā€™s Tempest Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Phantasmal Blades Reaper Vitality Reaper Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.1
Pure Soldier Forcewave 1-75 Leveling Guide Physical Soldier sp00ky 1.1.9.0
Physical Forcewave Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.8.0
1H & Off-hand
Stun Jacks + Storm Totems Elementalist, Lokarr Lightning Elementalist HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
Acid Dreegā€™s Evil Eye Sentinel Acid Sentinel tqFan 1.1.9.3
Nephrite Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.1
PRM Mage Hunter Elemental Mage Hunter Nery 1.1.3.0

Melee (33)

2H Melee (12)

HC tri-elemental arcane tank tactician Elemental Tactician S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
Fire 2H melee Vindicator Fire Vindicator S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.1.2
HC Vitality Primal Strike Archon Vitality Archon S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC Primal Strike Druid Lightning Druid S.E.P_Ralf 1.1.9.8
Apex Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Physical Two-Hand Blade Arc Witchblade Physical Witchblade Nery
2H melee Lucius Battlemage Aether Battlemage Nery
Lightning Warder Lightning Warder Stupid_Dragon
Fire Blade Arc Commando Fire Commando teppieteptep
Default Attacker
Physical 2H Melee Savagery Archon Physical Archon The_Coyote
Voldrakian Cadence Warder Physical Warder Ulvar1
Alkamosā€™ Scythe Cold Cadence Blademaster Cold Blademaster The_Coyote

DW Melee (10)

Default Attacker
DW Acid Dervish, SR65+/Lokarr Acid Dervish HonorabruSudoku 1.2.0.3
Chaos DW Witch Hunter with Sigil Chaos Witch Hunter The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Physical Melee DW Oppressor Physical Oppressor The_Coyote 1.1.9.4
Forgotten Blademaster Pierce Blademaster Stupid_Dragon 1.1.9.0
Cold DW melee Saboteur - the journey! Cold Saboteur Nery 1.1.8.1
Virulent Dervish Acid Dervish Stupid_Dragon 1.1.5.2
DW cold melee Trickster Cold Trickster Nery 1.1.3.0
Shadow Striker
Acid Shadow Strike Witch Hunter Guide Acid Witch Hunter Silent_N
Phantom Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator Stupid_Dragon
HC Cold Shadow Strike Spellbreaker Cold Spellbreaker JY_626

Shield Melee (9)

Blitz + Default Attack
HC Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage S.E.P_Ralf 1.2.0.3
HC Blitz Warlord Physical Warlord Ceno
S&B Physical Battlemage Physical Battlemage The_Coyote
Physical Cadence-Blitz S&B Witchblade Physical Witchblade The_Coyote
Default Attack
Physical S&B Melee Shieldbreaker Physical Shieldbreaker The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Fire S&B Shieldbreaker - First char, SR50 Fire Shieldbreaker idontwannaknow0
Pre-Krieg Death Knight Physical Death Knight Stupid_Dragon
Physical Cadence S&B Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote
Other
Physical Blade Arc S&B Warder - SR80, Ravager Physical Warder The_Coyote 1.1.9.8

Spin2Win (2)

Physical Eye of Reckoning Warlord Physical Warlord tqFan 1.1.9.7
Spin2win Shieldbreaker from A to Z Fire Shieldbreaker Nery & Ulvar1 1.1.8.1

Pets (9)

Pets
Red Wisp - Walking Simulator Pet Cabalist Pets Cabalist Maya 1.1.9.8
Fire Pet Cabalist Pets Cabalist Paikis 1.1.9.8
Dark Rose - Lazy Dark Oneā€™s Set Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Maya 1.1.9.8
Fire Pet Conjurer - 75-76 Farmer Pets Conjurer Skelemental
Petwalker - Walking Simulator Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Maya
Hecate - Lazy Dark Oneā€™s Set Pet Ritualist Pets Ritualist Maya
Bleed & Chaos Pet Conjurer Pets Conjurer Ulvar1
Aether Pet Ritualist Pets Ritualist Uncle_Mac
Apostle Death Knight Pets Death Knight Stupid_Dragon

Ranged (8)

DW Pistols
Fire Gunslinger Purifier Fire Purifier Paikis 1.2.0.5
DW ranged physical Warlord Physical Warlord Nery 1.1.9.8
Physical Ranged Dual-Wield Warlord Physical Warlord The_Coyote 1.1.9.7
Dw ranged pierce Paladin Pierce Paladin The_Coyote
Lightning DW Ranged Purifier Lightning Purifier Nery
2H Weapon
2H Ranged Lightning Savagery Vindicator Lightning Vindicator Nery 1.1.9.7
2H Ranged Desolator Fire Strike Purifier Fire Purifier The_Coyote
Lightning Vindicator (2H ranged version) Lightning Vindicator Nery

Skater (2)

Shieldbreaker Skater / Lokarr, Ravager Fire Shieldbreaker HonorabruSudoku 1.2.1.2
The Fakeuisher - Physical Skater Warlord Physical Warlord MysteryMeat 1.1.9.3

ā–§ Beginner setups (w/o detailed leveling)

56 Likes

ā–§ Beginner setups (w/o detailed leveling)

Link to thread damage type class author game version

sorted by authors

Nery (3)
Beginnerā€™s/budget DW pierce ranged Tactician Pierce Tactician Nery 1.1.9.3
Budget DW melee cold Infiltrator, Gladiator 150-170 Cold Infiltrator Nery 1.1.5.1
Budget cold DW melee Blademaster Cold Blademaster Nery 1.1.3.1
banana_peel (2)
American dream: from 0 to beating endgame Pierce Blademaster banana_peel 1.1.6.2
Beginnerā€™s Shadow Strike Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator banana_peel 1.1.6.2
Maya (2)
Nocturne ā€“ Lazy, Budget, Player scaled Pets Vitality Conjurer & Ritualist Maya 1.2.1.2
IceCream - Budget Forcewave Soldier Physical Soldier Maya 1.1.9.8
AlexGoldFish_322 (1)
Full Faction Gear Ritualist Vitality Ritualist AlexGoldFish_322 1.1.7.1
AlkamosHater (1)
Semi-beginner target-farmable Outcast Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder AlkamosHater 1.1.8.1
Dabuwa87 (1)
SSF shieldbreaker mortar trap blackwater cocktail Fire Shieldbreaker Dabuwa87 1.1.9.4
gargabolo (1)
Beginnerā€™s Hybrid Pet Warder - The Mogdrogen Cleaver Pets / Physical Warder gargabolo 1.1.9.1
mostmost (1)
How to play Sigil of Consumption - HC - Ravager Vitality Sentinel mostmost 1.1.9.4
supertolik (1)
Beginners Phantasmal blades Spite Blademaster Pierce Blademaster supertolik 1.1.7.2
Udars (1)
Xervous (1)
BYOB (Build Your Own Breaker) Cold Spellbreaker Xervous 1.1.6.2

sorted by game version

Nocturne ā€“ Lazy, Budget, Player scaled Pets Vitality Conjurer & Ritualist Maya 1.2.1.2
IceCream - Budget Forcewave Soldier Physical Soldier Maya 1.1.9.8
SSF shieldbreaker mortar trap blackwater cocktail Fire Shieldbreaker Dabuwa87 1.1.9.4
How to play Sigil of Consumption - HC - Ravager Vitality Sentinel mostmost 1.1.9.4
Beginnerā€™s/budget DW pierce ranged Tactician Pierce Tactician Nery 1.1.9.3
Beginnerā€™s Hybrid Pet Warder - The Mogdrogen Cleaver Pets / Physical Warder gargabolo 1.1.9.1
Semi-beginner target-farmable Outcast Spellbinder Aether Spellbinder AlkamosHater 1.1.8.1
Beginners Phantasmal blades Spite Blademaster Pierce Blademaster supertolik 1.1.7.2
Full Faction Gear Ritualist Vitality Ritualist AlexGoldFish_322 1.1.7.1
American dream: from 0 to beating endgame Pierce Blademaster banana_peel 1.1.6.2
Beginnerā€™s Shadow Strike Infiltrator Cold Infiltrator banana_peel 1.1.6.2
BYOB (Build Your Own Breaker) Cold Spellbreaker Xervous 1.1.6.2
Budget DW melee cold Infiltrator, Gladiator 150-170 Cold Infiltrator Nery 1.1.5.1
Budget cold DW melee Blademaster Cold Blademaster Nery 1.1.3.1
Vanquisher Fire Sentinel, semi-beginner and farmable Fire Sentinel Udars 1.1.3.0

Beginner builds ā€“ what are they?

Items are key for making good builds in Grim Dawn (GD). As a new player, you naturally have no items, so how to make a good build that can farm items? These builds and guides can help you with that, they are kind of ā€transitionā€ builds, something you can make even with terrible RNG luck. The builds are focused around faction items, ā€œtarget farmableā€ green Monster infrequent (MI) items with not too good rolls (target farmable means you can target a monster or area and you have high chance to get them compared to random drop legendary items). Also some blue items (epic) are used since they have much higher drop chance than legendaries.

Most of these builds also contain leveling advice, some have journals to show real life examples of builds in various stages of the progress.

Some of these builds also uses the target farmable legendary sets Kriegā€™s Armament and Dark Oneā€™s Gift.

But what about this or that build guide I saw on reddit / youtube?

I have limited myself to include the build guides that are posted here on this forum. The guides included have a dedicated thread and follow the ā€œphilosophiesā€ of beginner build like focuses on faction items and easy to get monster infrequents as described above.

Patches ā€“ is the build still viable?

Patches in Grim Dawn does not work the same way as in say Path of Exile. Even if a guide is 3-4 patches old, it is still 95%-100% accurate. Given that the purpose of these build guides are to help you get a char to start doing end-game, you should not care about it being ā€oldā€ or ā€outdatedā€. You can also just ask in the thread for that particular guide if there is some important item or skill change.

What is more relevant is if the endgame - Best in Slot (BiS) geared builds that are often presented last in these guides are updated and viable. But the leveling and budget gearing part is as mentioned 95%-100% accurate and relevant.

Build uses items with variable rolls ā€“ how can I even try to replicated those?

Green items can be very powerful and drop way more often than legendaries (purples). The presented builds are just examples, never try to get exactly those rolls of affixes. Instead, try to puzzling good greens that you have found to cover resistances and stats like offensive ability (OA) and defensive ability (DA).

A particular kind of green item type is ā€œMonster Infrequentā€ (MI) which very often give very nice skill bonuses. They drop from fixed monster sources so they are pretty easy to get. Mind though, a perfect roll might take forever to get, but a perfect roll is not needed for a build to ā€œworkā€. Get around 5 or so of each MI and save them in your stash. Then you combine them together with other items that you find and faction gear to cover resistances etc.

What builds are HC viable?

For me, HC success is about your own play style and playing skills. Also, I think most people start with softcore to learn about the game and builds first. Some authors here only play HC, like Stupid_Dragon so check out his builds maybe. But again, he is an experienced and good player and builder, just because he was able to pull if off will not mean that you necessarily will. Vitality casters are also a safe bet, mostly because the amount of life steal they have. Finally soldier based builds can also provide the extra defenses for HC if you are new.

Playstyles - what are they?

Personally I think the most important thing is to figure out what playstyle fit you most, what do you enjoy playing? In this compendium builds are sorted in playstyle so it will be easier for you to pinpoint what builds looks interesting for you to try out.

You can learn more about playstyles in this guide Builds types and styles in GD

  • [Caster] - a generic tag for casters. Here are some important sub-categories:

    • [Spam caster] - have its main spell(s) as skills that scales with casting speed and have essentially no cooldown.
    • [Cooldown caster] - have its main spell(s) as skills that have cooldown and thus make it ideal for kiting/ā€œhit and runā€.
    • [Channeler] - a build that has to ā€œchannelā€ a skill to do damage. Eye of Reckoning counts as one, even though it scales with attack speed instead of casting speed.
    • [2H Caster] : for any caster that uses a two-hander weapon. No cooldown Forcewave counts as one.
    • [Shield Caster] : for any caster that uses a shield for whatever reason, builds based around Aegis of Menhir and cooldown Forcewave automatically count as one.
  • [DW Melee] - a melee autoattack build that hits enemies with two weapons;

  • [2H Melee] - a melee autoattack build that hits enemies with a two-hander;

  • [Shield Melee] - a melee autoattack build that carries a shield;

  • [DW Ranged] - a ranged autoattack build that hits enemies with two weapons;

  • [2H Ranged] - a ranged autoattack build that hits enemies with a two-hander;

  • [Pets] - summoners and the kind; There are two kinds of pets, those that scale with pet bonuses and those that scales with player bonuses (pseudo-pets) often when we talk about pets in GD we refer to pets that scales with pet bonuses.

  • [Pets / Player] - builds which have pets scaling with pet bonuses and player scaled skills both dealing significant damage

  • [Skater] ā€“ Vire might skill, you skate back and forth dealing damage and activate procs. Fast movement means you can be quite efficient farming totems and materials for crafting.

I got stuck - what should I do?

You can read the other guides linked in the bottom of this page. You can also make a forum account and ask the author in the guide you are trying to follow. Also make sure to read all the comments in the guide thread, there might be others who have asked the same question.

You can also join the official discord Grim Dawn and ask there - try to be specific and explain what guide you are following and what you are trying to do and are having problems with.

Build collections

Some authors have made a compendium of their beginner builds with additional information and tips.

More Guides etc. (click me)
8 Likes

Great collection!

You also skip making your own thread and instead made topic with all builds. :slightly_smiling_face:

Sorted by play styles is also very cool! I find the lack of ranged builds disturbing. May do some 2H Purifier. Iā€™ve left the leveling process some time ago, due to not being enjoyable but itā€™s worth trying again, I guess.

Edit, you missed my Battlemage.

2 Likes

Hi nery, not sure what you mean here?

I also thought of that, I had sketch of 2H ranged ABB dervish that looked promising, like cheap version of this [1.1.5.0] Acid Ranged Dervish - 5:50 Crucible [g5][c+][vid]

yeah I did! I had this text in draft in a word file that I made like 1 week ago and forgot to add bottlemage!

1 Like

I mean Ulvarā€™s top beginners, ultimate farming beginner builds collection. :rofl:

Also Dervish is nice idea but the class already have great DW melee guide.

2 Likes

ah yes true I need to have more hype and advertisments like those You Tube builds :slight_smile: Perhaps add some commercials ā€œthis build is sponsored by coca colaā€

Yeah that is why I thought ā€œsword and boardā€ chaos blade arc witchblade would be redundant, also sword and board warlordā€¦there is forcwave :stuck_out_tongue:

Here is a gun and shield paladin I made https://www.grimtools.com/calc/D2p9gl1V

ABB 2H ranged dervish https://www.grimtools.com/calc/gZwl5blN

And this can be fun, COMMANDO https://www.grimtools.com/calc/dVbmqJ32 (yeah I know of Ba amulet but 8% OA is nice too)

1 Like

At this point, I can conclude that people just want their stuff spoonfed to them. Beginner builds is literally one of the first sections on the compendium and people still donā€™t find it.

But more places to find stuff is never bad. And I love how you formatted it by style! Noobs usually donā€™t know classes or damage types sorting by style is a good idea.

11 Likes

I can also add more clear what damage type and also class combo. Maybe also separate spam and cooldown casters

Sometimes I wonder if I should just delete the single class builds from Compendium and use the first post for budget builds instead.

2 Likes

Now if you want you can link to this thread perhaps

Looking good brother, a few ideas :

  • This isnā€™t too necessary right now as there arenā€™t many guides, but a summary linking to each playstyle section would be handy to navigate faster

  • Inspired from the end game compendium, a tag to indicate the guide has gameplay video(s), maybe other tags like ā€œhc viableā€ (if the builder considers it is), etc

  • Where are the links to Rektā€™s channel/guide compendium ? D:
    And perhaps other youtubers that do quality stuff

  • Iā€™d remove that little jab in the green spoiler, that does not feel very professionnal :thinking:

Good job on the disclaimers at the beginning, those questions come back often and theyā€™re answered well :ok_hand:

1 Like

Thanks for feedback. I can add some more tags. HC viable is for me play skills primarily.

I wanted to limit build guides that have dedicated thread on forum like dragons compendium so no YT guides.

True, though some builds do feel safer and fool-proof (looking at you, vitality casters) and HC enthusiasts may want to begin with a safer bet so indicating those would help
Rekt does have a compendium thread and a dedicated thread for each build so I think he qualifies for the criterion, given heā€™s the largest resource for HC gameplay, he makes a fine addition to the collection

One question, if someone wanted to add his guide from an external source like, Reddit for example, is that possible and would there be a form to fill ?

2 Likes

Thanks for the proposal, but Iā€™ll have to deny it. Long ago Iā€™ve beaten certain someone to Compendium management by volunteering myself, and time proven me right. Iā€™m fine with you doing a beatiful version of budget build section of Compendium, but mine has to remain as a backup.

1 Like

Yeah maybe but I think dividing into hc viable and not can be a bit missleading too. Also most ppl start in softcore to gain knowledge of game. I know dragon play hc exclusive so his builds are of course safe bet.

To be fair, all rekts builds do not have own thread and the vast majority of them are not ssf or geared with same philosophy as these other beginner/budget builds. I have watched some of this SSF stuff, and I see whenever he drops a good legendary he just equip it which would go against this beginner/budget build philosophy. Like my warder, I dropped two avanger set items but refrained of using them just to make a point that build works even without RNG luck so to say,

Format I guess just make a dedicated thread about build guide on the forum. I think 99% of content should be written format. So no thread with a link to yt or reddit only.

2 Likes

TBH I should remove Mayas pet builds for consistancy, because not even I can find themā€¦ linking to her compendium ā€œthe carnivalā€ should be enough.

1 Like

9 posts were split to a new topic: Reddit and builds discussion

A post was merged into an existing topic: Reddit and builds discussion

I made an account here literally just to tell you how much of a beautiful bastard you are. Been wanting something like this for ages, seeing as Iā€™m both new and awful at this game. Thanks a million.

3 Likes

Hot damn @Ulvar1! This is great! Glad to have you in the community, brother. Keep this stuff coming, man!

2 Likes