How do you guys determine which items are good and which are bad?

ghoultek · September 11, 2026, 4:14am

I ask this because the gear/stats can be a bit overwhelming and I lack an understanding of what is good vs what is bad. This goes beyond just looking for gear for my char’s current build because I’m interested in multiple builds.

For example, I’m interested in dual wield pistols and 2h ranged builds. However, I’m unsure which weapons are worth picking up. I found a green 2h rifle (not a MI) with:

flat Aether damage
% fire damage
% burn damage with increased duration
% chance for physical damage converted to Acid damage
flat offensive ability
I believe the level requirement was 42 or 46

I have no idea if this would be good for a 2h fire build for Inquisitor, Demolitionist, or any other class. The above weapon would not be for the build of the char that I was playing.

To be clear, I pickup and keep:

items with double and triple resists
MI items
blue and purple items
components and consumables
items with + to skills
items with damage conversion (ex: cold to fire)

I’ve been leaving behind items with just raw attributes and either a single damage or resist stat such as:

- physique, cunning, spirit
- flat armor
% chaos resist

The above example is for leveling gear. I also leave yellow/white items on the ground after the very early single digit levels.

Unsanity · September 11, 2026, 5:06pm

I guess it depends on what I am looking for in an item. Usually, for leveling in normal, I pick whatever givse me the most damage. In elite or ultimate, I try to get my resists to 80%, so I often sacrifice damage for defense. Once I have 80% resists, then I focus improving my damage again.

For me, I know it’d not optimal, but I like to hit the mobs fast and hard vs. whittling them down over time. The tooltip on a weapon isn’t for chunk damage, it’s for dps. Still, I will equip the weapon if I think there is a chance it might be an upgrade. If not, then I sell it, or save it if I think a future character could use it.

Another thing to think about are proc’d skills on items. Sometimes I will take a hit on damage and/or defense if I like the skill. 15% chance to do ____________ on attack is great, especially with really fast weapons. It can happen a lot. Extra damage, life steal, etc. 20% to ___________ when getting hit or blocking can be very beneficial. Same thing. Could actually be a better boost to damage or utility. Stunning, freezing, confusing, fearing enemies is great.

For leveling, I wouldn’t worry about it too much until you get into the 70’s. There are some decent level 72 blue sets and level 75 blue and purple items that can really make a build pop. Then next would be level 82 for blues, 84 for purples, then level 94 for everything.

I usually focus on melee builds, even though my first character was a fire damage rifle commando (I died so many times lol), so I can’t really offer any insight on range weapons, but there are some builds on this sight or GrimTools that could help out a bit. A lot of this game will be trial and error, but this forum is great for build advice. I have learned a ton.

Edit.

Hopefully this will be a decent example down below.

Right now, I am leveling a Primal Strike Archon. I got the Falcon’s Claw first, but I am using the Wildcaller’s Decapitator atm. It’s a bit slower and doesn’t have the high end damage, but it has better low end damage. I notice that I am killing trash mobs in 1 hit vs. 2 hits. My guess is, it’s rolling better low end damage. I am on my way to kill Cronley, so that will be the real test. I have the Falcon’s Claw on weapon swap too. So, I may have to swap it for faster hits. There is the trial and error in this game. For me? It’s all part of the fun.

Edit.

I just found another Wildcaller’s Decapitator. It has 3-28 lightning damage vs. 4-25, +46% lightning vs. +50% lightning damage, but it has 50% physical damage to lightning damage vs 38%. That’s the kicker right there. Last difference is 132 health vs 144.

That’s another thing to look for on items, damage type conversions.

gargabolo · September 11, 2026, 9:12pm

First decide what your main dmg skill is for example for lets say for your ranged build it is firestrike

then use grimtools > advanced search
under item properties > skill modifier select the skill you want to use
and then first look for a green item (since those can be target farmed easily at any character level, sometimes they can be best possible but many have a legendary upgrade option)

for example firestrike returned this weapon:

Sir_Mac · September 11, 2026, 10:10pm

I understand your woe. Sometimes the items look more like shopping list than items for an RPG game.

for your current build, on normal, grab anything with better stats and your desired damage type
for your current build, on normal, if the item doesn’t support your damage type, gear it if it has decent resists (3 different types of resists, attack speed, attack damage converted to health, etc.)
for your current build, on normal, use components a lot, to compensate resistances or making your char stronger
for your current build, on normal, don’t be afraid to destroy item for saving the component or vice versa
for your other builds - don’t keep generic (green) items, you will find those in dozens on the respective playthrough of those builds
blues and purples (and sets), you can store them within your other build stashes, or store them externally (or create chars exclusive as mules, horses)

And now three and half quick examples of green items:
A) = I am glad I found something, and the respective slot is no more empty or occupied by a yellow item! Francis’ Gun
B) = This green is not worth picking, nor equipping! Skinner’s Torch
C1) = This green is worth picking and it is worth waiting for better prefix or suffix which suits needs of the char! Eldritch Blaze Emitter
C2) = This green is not only worth picking, but also has affixes, which suits needs of the char!

Sometimes - green item (MI or not) is the best you can get for certain slot of certain builds. And sometimes you have a lot of “candidates” (greens or blues or purples) for certain slot. And in this case you need to think about “broader” picture, for example - “Does the item have the attribute I am lacking or missing the most right now or in general?”

Gnomish_Inquisition · September 12, 2026, 1:01pm

levelling and end keep is very different.
Endgame i don’t care, hoard everything with infinite storage tool, ez gg, “no brain required”++

For levelling it’s kinda “simple”
Does the item gives me stats i care about, are those stats higher than current item. - if i don’t use an item i sell it
(epics or legends might get banked in infinite storage for the lulz, don’t actually care about them unless it’s like legend with specific conversion for future meme levelling use)
If i’m not doing infinite stash, and if i refuse to use mules, just sells anything from 1-80 (if i care about endgame then only 82+ items are worth “keeping”). For levelling my mindset has been characters can obtain what they want or need on their own (sans prior mentioned unique conversion memes perhaps)

stats i universally care about is resist > dmg > HP > speed > OA/DA
*if i’m levelling a regen approach i toss certain specific regen affixes in there, Mending, but they only exist on specific slots (accessory) so are easier to keep track of
If an armour or accessory piece does not have resist, it needs something massive for me to take it, or i need my resist already solved without it.
Ex can be MI medals/amulets/helmets with build modifiers. Or gloves with huge speed (if i scale speed)
Weapon slots are ofc freebie, not meant for defense stats so pure dmg focus there is acceptable.

Does the weapon boost by current char and build, if so pick up and use/save for later level requirement. MI > Legend in many cases, you wont find me wearing epic weapons if my character has an MI weap existing, Epic weapon basically a fallback state and means no better alternatives exist in itempool for X build (which does happen at some stages)
If the skill/build scales speed, speed is a priority on the weapon. Otherwise fitting dmg type and conversion ofc. Skill points is a nice bonus but not always a must(check if dmg goes up/down on equip).
Modifiers trumps most stuff tho. (which is why MI weaps tend to end up so good).

not used for the char current on; i sell
conflicting stats, (aether/fire/acid) - we mono dmg focus out of simplicity (not because it’s actually best during levelling); i sell
no speed - does it have a caster skill bonus or modifier then? no, since not MI/just regular green; i sell

there is nothing here that would ever make me consider this useable because it has no inherent overlap “on itself”. It’s an aether/fire dmg weapon with acid dmg, and no speed to use for pew pew - i can just go pick up a double aether or double fire or double acid yellow/green from the merchant or other drops then.
So if i’m making a 2h fire inquis/demo, i’d want a “pure” fire weapon, that doesnt’ split its dmg/dmg stats with 2 others/offbrand conversion.
*note that the mixed aether/fire dmg is likely from the suffix, and acid dmg is from the prefix, so prefix is kinda the wasted on here, “technically” the suffix could be useable on either fire or aether build still, acid prefix nukes it from considering either.

So for me something as even a super generic, like searing of alacrity/warped of alacrity, would likely be preferable on an actual fire or aether build. Because atleast the parts are entirely leaning towards my dmg and not taking up unused affix slots.
*being able to “identify” affixes/names ofc makes that way easier, so if you don’t know what belogs to what you might have to look on grimtools, but for most commons/non MIs or legends there normally shouldn’t be multi mixed dmg type stats or conversion away
Again certain green affixes supports 2 dmg types, so that’s not an issue, it’s whether the whole fits ofc, so if you have a vit+aether dmg suffix you can still use that as long as you got a vit or aether prefix too, but having an acid prefix/3rd unused just detracts from it (and no attack speed if scaling attack speed is then a huge detractor even if it does give relevant bonus dmg, ie if we find a similar weap with aether% and relevant speed we likely take that)

ghoultek · September 13, 2026, 5:45am

This is part of the reason why I posted. Right now I’m playing a cold Evoker (Berserker-Arcanist) based on the beginner guide by GIJW ( [FoA 1.3.0.3] Beginner build guide Cold Caster Evoker with the Awakened Eastern Set ). The build is setup to use a 1h scepter and an off-hand item during the leveling phase in normal. If I come a cross rifle or x-bow equipping it won’t help me determine if the item is worth picking up. I’ve come across many non-MI rifles/x-bows with % fire damage. If we assume that it is on the high end of fire damage based on level requirement, (I’ve seen some level 35 non-MI weapons with higher damage than level 38 non-MI weapons) then the other stats might or should land it below or above a theoretical threshold. I’m going by the logic of, if it lands above a theoretical threshold then keep it, otherwise sell it or leave it on the ground. What I’m grappling with is what is that theoretical threshold? The question in regard to items is not limited to just weapons/off-hands/shields but also armor/jewelry. I’m starting to think that GD (and GD Stash) needs a more sophisticated loot filter like the one in Last Epoch, where one can show, hide, and recolor/relabel items for greater visual clarity. However, a more sophisticated loot filter would create its own challenges and complicate matters because in a way it becomes like a programming language of its own that requires maintenance/upkeep and modernization over time. So, as of right now I’m NOT advocating for a major loot filter change, because I lack a nuanced understanding of the game.

What setting or mod are you using to show the damage/DPS delta for your skill in the top right corner of the tooltip?

You made statements but never explained the reasoning behind the statements. For example, why is the Skinner’s Torch not worth picking up or equipping? Why is the level 92 pistol not worth picking up? Is the level 92 pistol not worth picking up because its damage bonuses are spread across so many damage types making it mediocre? It looks like it is all over the place or a jack of nearly all trades with a lack of concentration in any one damage type.

@Gnomish_Inquisition:
Thank you for explaining why the example I used would be a bad or not worth picking up.

@gargabolo:
Thank you for dropping the detailed advanced search example.

Sir_Mac · September 13, 2026, 9:50am

A) It is a green item you get right away after the start of the game and if you are (going to be) gunner, you take this basic green gun and you wait until you find a better one. That’s the reasoning behind A).
B) Imagine you find the item around lvl 70, for which is designed, and you see the item is too much basic green, it has no skill bonuses, no favorable skill modifiers, no core bonuses. It is a weaker green item compared to all others on lvl 70, even the greens from faction vendors are better. That’s the reasoning behind B).
C1) If you are a fire Demolitionist or Fire Elementalist (Demo+Sham) and you do want to play DW ranged, this item is (for now) BiS (best in slot). It boosts your core damaging skill (Fire Strike), it boosts elemental RR done by Wind Devil through Raging Tempest. So you pick this weapon, no matter which prefix and suffix it has. That’s reasoning behind C1).
C2) You have your C1 weapon, but you farm for perfect prefix and suffix, which I stated as C2). That’s reasoning behind C2).

Unsanity · September 13, 2026, 4:46pm

Since you are playing a caster, I really wouldn’t worry about any range weapons. Well, unless you really need one to pull mobs, but Grim Dawn really isn’t that type of game.

I am not much of a ‘caster’ type of player, but that is one hell of an Evoker you got there, even if you are following a guide. Looking at all the different combo classes with the Berserker, I was thinking about an Evoker. Seems like it would be a ton of fun. However, I still haven’t made up my mind if I want to go Wereraven route or not. GrimTools is awesome, so many ways to theorycraft a character. I use it a lot.

Yeah, the levels can be a bit weird. I have kept a mid to high level 30 green item well into my 80’s because it was better than anything else I found, even purples. HUH? HOW? Is that stat buff really that good? Well, I guess so. Okay. I will set that blue or purple aside for now. Maybe it will work on another character. if not, I vendor it. No sense in blowing up the item at the inventor, you find mats in this game like crazy, and they are shared with all your characters.

I have been playing this game, off and on, since Covid and I am still surprised every once in a while. I look at items, especially purple sets, and do a compare and contrast and think that I have picked the right combo, only to be dead wrong. HUH? But it’s the better set. It’s the better item. Why am I worse off? This doesn’t make any sense at all. After a while, I just gave up and put trust in the game. If I am steamrolling mobs and not dying, then I keep at it. Once I notice diminishing returns, mobs taking more whacks before the die, I am more mobile than I was, my life is rubberbanding like crazy, etc., then I start doing the trial and error of tweaking my character for the better.

I guess the theoretical threshold would depend on the character. That’s why I compared chunk damage vs. damage over time. For me, I prefer chunk damage. Hit them hard and hit them fast. I guess the threshold would be how many times does it take to whack a mob before it dies? For me, trash mobs 1-2 times, tough (tanky, heroes, elites) mobs 2-3 times, and mini-bosses 4-6 times. Of course, if I can kill them in less whacks, then even better. Now major bosses? I guess that depends. If I am lacking in defense, then I tend to take the hit and run approach. If my defenses are good or great, then I face tank. Besides Beronath, if it takes less than 30 seconds or less for each phase, then I am happy.

Loot filter? Yeah, I wish it was a little more customizable. Mayber there is a mod out there that does that, I don’t know. But, at least the game has one, so that’s good. It the later levels, 80+, I use it a lot, especially when I am feeling lazy No need for me to pick up every item, even blue or purple, if it doesn’t benefit my character at all. GrimStash? I really haven’t dinked around with that too much. I should tho, then I can get rid of most of my loot mules.

No mod or setting, tho that would be nice. I just did a sreenshot (well several) and some cut and paste in windows paint. I guess I should have added in my post that I did that so there wouldn’t be any confusion. Sorry bout that. Sometimes I get the cart ahead of the horse, then forget the horse altogether.

Sir_Mac · September 13, 2026, 9:52pm

And since you wrote about pistols and rifles - Gun and rifle friendly skills - Grim Dawn / Classes, Skills and Builds - Crate Entertainment Forum

There are also examples, under the skill compendium, at the end of the thread!

ghoultek · September 15, 2026, 3:35am

@Unsanity:
Thank you. I agree there isn’t much of a point to using a piston/gun/x-bow unless it gave me insane caster stats given that I’m playing a caster build.

@Sir_Mac:
Thanks. I’ll take a look at the post you linked.