Piercing: Infiltrator or Blademaster?

Grim Dawn Classes, Skills and Builds
1

i’ve been looking at which masteries seem better to build a melee piercing damage character. nightblade was a given, of course, but since i never leveled an inquisitor beyond level 15 i always struggle to decide between it and something else.
the RR from word of pain seems very powerful, as does horn of gandarr, but i also never played a cadence character so i have no idea of how well the soldier’s kit synergizes with piercing nightblade.
if anyone can share some insight it’ll be welcome.

PS: i’m not leveling this character to play an optimized endgame build. i’ll probably finish elite, and depending on how much i enjoy it i might try to complete the ultimate campaign, but i enjoy leveling new characters more than farming endgame gear or pushing crucible/SR

2

Blademaster has less buttons to press. Point, click and hold - for most part.

Infiltrator is more reliant on casts like Word of Pain and Inquisitor Seal to supplement your melee and defense.

Blademasters are generally better as melee overall but infiltrators have more variety (cold melee, pierce and cold casters, etc).

3

Infiltrator don’t have auto attack. If you have full Belgothian set it’s viable option but still I will choose good old Blademaster. BM have the luxury of good attack from the beginning - Cadence.

4

I am heavily biased towards Blademasters so, Blademasters

For pierce Filthintraitors i’d wait for patch was it give a bit of QoL on casting skills

1 Like
5

thanks for the replies. i also wanted to level a cold infiltrator, which is why i was leaning towards a piercing blademaster, and i guess it’s what i’ll do

1 Like
6

only until you’re Lv. 25 and get your hands on https://www.grimtools.com/db/items/1472 which i consider still very early on given that 1-25 happens very fast compared to 25-50 and beyond :slightly_smiling_face:

and even then you could argue that it is even neccessary/useful this early since x1.3 a weapon that has like 0 damage because it’s early ofc is still 0 and Dual Blades has the Point’s way better spent early granting that flat damage on every hit rather then just on the 3rd MH Hit (Offhand does get calculated into the proc however doesn’t stack the Cadence counter) :wink:

7

Check this build out https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YNnlXwdV. It’s a little annoying to level especially nearer late game but it’s pretty fun.

8
  • why the elemental rings & amulet on a piercing oriented build? (i know the weapon converts it partially but straight up flat phys or piercing stuff would do more)
  • why the damage head component when leathery hide grants more stun resist that this build lacks?
  • why even goin blitz when Shadowstrike fits the piercing route already better and has multi target with nightfall and the sword converting a large part of the innate cold Damage into piercing anyways?

just some questions that immediately came into my mind upon looking at it :wink: