Questions RE: Drain Essence

Grim Dawn Classes, Skills and Builds
1

I’m still trying to catch up on game mechanics, metas, what’s optimal, what’s sub-optimal, what may not be viable, and why. Please bear with me.

So my questions…

  1. Is Drain Essence a skill that kills very slowly?
  2. Cabalist vs Apostate vs Spellbinder vs Death Knight. I’m looking for ranking in terms of damage, defense, and performance in relation to each other. If any are totally not viable please state. For the ranking a 1 to 10 scale would be fine with 10 being the highest.
  3. Ranking the various damage elements for Drain Essence using the scale above.
  4. Does damage element influence or matter in relation to each of the classes above? For example, would Aether be better for a specific class and Fire be better for a different class?
  5. Drain Essence vs AAR vs Flames of Ignaffar? Again I’m looking for ranking in terms of damage output in relation to each other.
  6. Are there beginner builds with leveling info. for Drain Essence?
  7. Can one level with DE from the start all the way to 100?
  8. Can a DE build be used as a first Grim Dawn character to 100 and to farm end game gear?
  9. Is there an end game set for DE?

Thanks in advance.

2

DE is strong, you can level from the start, aether version is nice for spellbinder. Other versions exist all over the forum.

3

  1. No, it’s pretty fast when you have the right setup.

  2. I have only played aether and cold DE, and I’d say Spellbinder > Reaper.

  3. Aether > Cold

  4. Yes, Aether is better on Spellbinder, cold on Reaper.

  5. AAR deals better damage, DE is tankier

  6. If there is one, I don’t remember it.

  7. Yes, but I don’t know if it will be an amazing gaming experience. :smiley:

  8. I don’t really know. I think all skills in GD can be used from start to finish, but there are some that are better than others.

  9. Uroboruuk’s set is good for aether DE, Chillwhisper set is good for cold DE.