Gotta run and summon sometimes with Anna. Pop Cronley with Ulo proc.
It’s not easy or fun. Maybe that’s the way Crate wants it or maybe someone needs to put some more time into the build design. shrug
You can check author’s thread to learn more. Pet builds I posted can run gladiator crucible, they can even finish it although it’s hard. I stated they can’t farm it, because farming means completing it fast, easy and reliably.
You caught me 
Well, a guy in comments suggested a pet build
I will probably try, it looks promising.
Hi,
I’m new to this game and I’m basically looking for a mastery combination (AoM) that:
- performs very well during leveling phase (1-100)
- offers up to date top tier builds (smooth cruicble and ultimate farming) due to respec if depended gear has found.
- active playstyle because I tend to get really tired of pure LMB clicker builds that are based on one boring looking spell (I like to play caster, range and melee, but no pure pet builds – too much of passive playstyle for me :p)
- is fun to play and has nice visual effects (active spells + mods) which feel powerful and look powerful too!
because many animations look pretty boring in GD. e.g. savagery, cadence or brute force…surely powerful but lame) - has a noticeable progress with selffound gear – so no specific items needed to get things started. I think that is called: „from zero to hero“ right?
I have already lvled a few hereos and found some stuff (legendarys too, using GD Item Assistant to handle all the loot) but I dont like to start again and yet again, maybe u guys could check them and recommend me some changes if these combined masterys can fit in the terms above:
www.grimtools.com/calc/8NK4eOO2 Level 74 Elementalist - highest leveld hero so far (based on www.grimdawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52296 I was looking for a beginner build, sadly havent noticed that the build is not up to date. It began to feel chewy in elite, but its leveling phase guide still helped a lot!)
http://www.grimtools.com/calc/1NX7z5WZ Level 63 Battlemage (first hero and first playthough normal/vet story mode …squishy…^^‘)
www.grimtools.com/calc/mN4K83xZ Level 27 Tactician based on Jov’s www.grimdawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60934 then I read that gunslinger suck without the weapons…
Thank you and I’m sorry if my english reads weird, I’m not a native speaker.
Seeya!
P.S.: I hope it‘s fine to post my request here?
So, you want a caster.
Then you should go spellbinder (build 3), sorcerer (build 6) or ritualist (build 10). Go to authors’ threads to learn more about these builds and pick the one that suits you most.
Hi, i’m looking for a build to complete full main campaign on Hardcore. Hoping to get some build suggestions for a smooth hardcore experience.
Check Zars channel here :
He plays on Hardcore and has various builds 
I see some people disliking the concept of this thread. I’m finding it useful atm and I watch the Build Compenmdium thread as well, but I also find that some of those builds get “stuck” when the game ups the difficulty suddenly and you don’t have the gear to cover it.
The problem for a thread like this is when a new patch hits… how are you going to identify which of the builds in the list are still good and which have been hit? Are you going to re-test them all?
Levelling is one of the issues in this game - so many people level a toon the same way every time (e.g. as Soldier with Blitz etc) and switch in late game. That seems (a) very, very boring and (b) most of the game is levelling, there’s no real ‘end game’ as such (just a bit of farming) so you miss out on playing the build.
So for me, adding in which builds can be levelled (mostly self-found) using the build itself is a key point.
It would be good if the next expansion were thinking about adding an end-game. Playing a build to 100 then rinse and repeat endlessly has limited ‘replayability’ to my mind (just my opinion, others are free to see it differently ofc).
Typically people take something soldier-based, play a two-hander and then maybe switch to s&b. Just because not dying is the No1 priority in hardcore.
That’s the way to go for new players, experienced ones can go for a caster.
These builds in the end all have great survivability, you must check authors’ threads to see how they are doing while leveling.
For example, author of aether spellbinder claims he plays HC and feels wonderful.
Yes, I do! And if you think that seal of blades nerf for example will greatly affect these builds you are very mistaken.
To bring diversity to your leveling experience you should try different builds. not just a dozen of soldiers. To see how builds perform during leveling stage you should visit author’s threads.
My thread is about showing the ultimate purpose, the goal you want to achieve in the end.
The place you employ your end-game build is gladiator crucible. In my opinion it has great replayability and allows to test both the build and yourself.
Crucible is the answer!
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I didn’t mention Seal of Blades, I was simply pointing out a potential banana skin. The same is true of the Build Compendium - many outdated builds. Even those that were up to date before the expansion haven’t been updated for AoM. My personal view is that a build shouldn’t be in your guide (not in the main section anyway) unless it has been updated and tested (been played to level 100 by its author). Otherwise there’s a lot of guesswork (you can test a completed build, but theorycrafting it from 85-100 is a different piece of work).
All in all - I was saying that I like the idea of your OP but it would take some work to keep it up to date or it stops being useful. Good news that you’re planning to do that. -
I’m not sure if it was clear that I was saying exactly that - I don’t want to play the same build to 100 over and over and then try crucible, nemesis. What I was saying is that I see builds in the compendium saying to “level it as <whatever> and switch at level X” and they do the same every time they make (say) a Spellbreaker, they level ABB DW Nightblade to 85 then change. Just an example btw.
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Do you mean crucible as it is now? Not sure I agree that’s enough to be considered much of an end game in the true sense. Once you’ve done level 150… what’s left but farming it?
Things like PvP would be nice to add to Crucible (yeah, I know, extra balance work for Crate, budgets etc mutter, mutter). Also in the main game, nemesis hunting is a bit limited - maybe open up some level 100 mobs to hunt down - they could put them in cave areas so they don’t need to design major new maps.
Loads of things could be added cheaply and easily if they don’t have the resources for multiplayer.
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AoM was a HUGE update, so it takes some effort to update to it. The following expansions won’t be hard to adapt to (until another major content update, if any). Also, if you can make it to 85 you will easily get to 100, that’s my opinion. I remember only one non-updated build on the list and for that I wrote the description what to update.
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Switching for end-game build is just a natural part of game design. It is the same for Grim dawn, D3, PoE. It happens because only a high-level character can equip super-juicy gear. It’s just the way it is.
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Sure, I’m on with you on this one. The more content the better tha game is. But we must not forget that all the content we have now is already great job done by devs and thank them for it.
I agree! I think this thread is a good idea, but also I would like to see a thread that show’s a couple of playstyles for each mastery combination that can be played smooth and enjoyable during leveling phase 1-100 because leveling is one of the biggest part of the game and is the most fun (if u can feel your progress, becoming more powerful with each levelup and rewarding loot…). I kinda miss the hunt feeling for loot and exp in modern ARPGs these days…either its too fast or its too frustrating.
I think it could be very helpful for beginners (including me)
Thanks for this guide! I have a question:
Which of this builds are strong even with self found gear? And not a pain in the ass to level?
Mostly intrested in melee build.
Thanks!
That’s enormous amount of work. Even one mastery combination can bring absolutely different builds. For example, Cabalist (Occultist+Necromancer) can be played as a pure pet summoner and be a good build or it can also be a melee dual-wielding slaughter machine that destroys all content (if proper geared). Putting all that stuff together for all masteries is unrealistic.
For new players I’d recommend a build based on Soldier mastery, as it is the most powerful one, providing great offensive and defensive skills and passives.
As least gear-dependant I’d recommend Warder (build 2 on the list) or blademaster (build 5 on the list). Check them and see which suits you most.
You are welcome!
I think least gear-dependant and easy to play are these: Warder (build 2 on the list) or blademaster (build 5 on the list). Check them and see which suits you most.
At least the warder build in this list is very reliant on gear. Without the weapon it simply cannot be done. Least gear dependent warder would be physical, or elemental warder with transmuted cadence.
First, all end-game builds in every ARPG - Grim Dawn, D3, PoE - rely on gear. A build is basically skills+gear, it is just how games are designed. You can’t expect to be on par with full geared build with only mediocre items.
However, I was asked what is strong even with mediocre gear. Warder is the answer. You take physical two-handed weapon, savagery, blitz and shaman passives for two-handers. You stack phys+lightning damage on gear. You also need life steal - so nodes from Devotion + haunted steel component (20% is the goal). That’s how you get an easy and reliable characer, who will get the job done. And you have a huge space to improve when you get all those sweet legendaries.
Btw, transmuting cadence is bad idea, as 33% will become fire, 33% ice and 33% lightning. Stacking all those types of damage is hard not effective. So use Savagery or non-transmuted Cadence.
This answer is not only for you, it is to help anyone who wants a build for beginners.
What do you want?
Beat all content with yellows that you found in Normal Lower Crossing?
I want that people like you actually grow a brain.
Transmuted cadence can get a ton of damage from devotions and is supported by wind devils ele rr, so doesn’t really need specific gear to work fine