Second mastery for 2H ranged chaos build

Grim Dawn Classes, Skills and Builds
1

I’m planning to do a 2h ranged chaos/vitality based build. So I chose Occultist mastery but now I’m not sure about the second mastery. I thought about Shaman (for Storm totem with lightning to vitality modifer) but I also think Demolitionist with Fire strike and Brimstone would be good as LMB attack. Like this tree
http://grimcalc.com/build/HA4wyn
is it viable with only 1 skill point in Fire stike and 12 points in Brimstone?

2

It is, but at some point, you’ll want to max Fire Strike anyway, for it provides %weapon damage increase.

BTW, do note, that Demolisher have a skill to reduce Shaos resist. Occultist doesnt.

3

really just take your pick between primal strike or fire strike. Demo or Shaman. you could do Soldier for the shotgun cadance. But i would recomend Shammy or Demo

4

Actually, i wonder - why one wants to make 2-h chaos build? Dual-wielding seems more formidable for that - cause extra attack speed benefits flat damage

5

Harbringer Set.

Edit:

also have you seen Primal Strike in action ? It’s crazy with ranged.

6

Thanks guys. Now I have to decide - Primal Strike vs. Fire Stike (Brimstone). Something to think over…
Thunderous strike transmuter on Primal Stike reduces total damage by 35% which seems a huge damage loss. So I think I would take Fire Strike

7

I’ve seen it - it has crazy AoE, but also crazy energy consumption and kinda poor life leech. And it’s all about lightning damage, i dont think you can make it deal decent chaos damage.

8

Not really … still hits 200% wep dmg… is AOE … and has Chain lighting … It’s pretty damn amazing …

Now Fire strike has the melee/2h Ranged Transmuter on it also … which again is pretty damn amazing… Really comes down to what theme you want.

If Chaos is your thing … Thematically i think you’ll be happier with Demo and becoming a pyromancer. There is a -%Chaos on Hellfire Mine Also Tons of value adds like armor / attack speed / Flashbang ! ( Flashbang is amazing)

But Shaman has Wendigo Totem which is Amazing also to add Mogdren’s Pack. Really speaking neither is a bad option.

9

You can make it do good Chaos Damage if you are set up to put lots of chaos damage into it. 200% wep damage with 40% wep damage chained to 6 targets is nothing to shake a stick at. I would agree with you though that Demo has more synergy if your wanting to do Chaos…

Shaman would be if you wanted to do more Vitality damage. Either way neither choice is “terrible”

10

But the transmuter subtracts 50% of weapon damage. So it is 200-50 = 150% wep damage at lvl 16 of Primal Strike

11

Max rank (26) is 250% - 50 % from Transmuter.

12

As far as I know, Primal Strike barely reaches 100% weapon damage with transmuter - (200%-50%)*0.65=100% (not counting chain lightning). Fire Strike reaches 138% weapon with transmuter. However, Primal Strike deals full damage into 3m AoE and releases a chain lightning, that can hit even non-clustered targets far away. And energy comsumption is abysmal, you have to invest a LOT into enery regen or you’re dry in 5 sec. A perfect tools VS packs, still. Fire Strike, on other hand, has small energy consumption and is much more effective against single targets (i.e. bosses).

But reaching that high rank requires dire gear investments, and it will still be 135% weapon damage with transmuter. Fire Strike has 138% weapon damage on its own, and can get it even higher at max rank.