I was levelling a Paladin, and for the first time tried Word of Pain, as I’ve been hearing forever that it was a good skill for leveling.
YOU GUYS WEREN’T KIDDING
Also, I love it’s playstyle so much I wish there was a good endgame built around it…
Has anyone managed an endgame build centered in Word of Pain?
It cannot be a central part of the build because it’s 1/s ticking aoe skill so it has to suck on bosses.
But of course it can play an important role in clearing trash.
I like some Pierce WoP - Infiltrator with it. Check the crossbow in the builds below
Ulvar’s beginner / SSF build: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/Q2zjKER2
Crucible optimized build: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/bVAaaYlV
Also something with Goredrinker, i.e. this by afanasenkov26
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YZe84A6V
2 x Chillheart to convert WoP to Cold
Chaos WoP with something added to it, there’s a lot of possible builds
Elemental WoP + Obliteration Deceiver by Plasmo:
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/1NXXx0PN
You could make some Vitality WoP using Decree of Malmouth, i.e.
[1.1.4.2 - 1.1.9.0] Vitality Deceiver. 150-170 5m 30s. SR 80. Crate of Entertainment. Callagadra. Avatar and other bosses
Physical, Aether are also doable
I like Pain for both leveling and on end game proc based builds. I have posted one with Cataclysm/Augur set Deceiver but don’t think it’s optimal configuration. Mage Hunter, have somewhere GT, Idk where but it’s fun build.
Here’s non-set elemental version with Hyrian shield:
[1.1.6.1] The pain of Hyrian - fun elemental shielded Mage Hunter caster
And here’s aether version, if you’re into many colorful procs:
[1.1.7.2] The purple/green Bonemonger! Aether procs Apostate CR+/SR 75
WoP is probably my favorite skill, so i’ve tried to make builds around it for as long as I’ve played.
I’ve made several builds, but while they can clear SR50, they are probably all a bit underpowered.
Still it’s good food for thought.
Pierce deceiver:
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/p25xPgKN
Elemental mage hunter, With Obliteration (SR65)
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/RZRdEyP2
Chaos EoR Paladin (not tested much)
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/r2Brd3z2
My latest attempt: Bleed Tactician (pretty meme, but really fun)
https://www.grimtools.com/calc/62abvw3V
I also made a Aether Infiltrator using dual Blaze heralds. I don’t have a link, but it’s really similar to @grey-maybe’s version, just not as good. Better use that one instead. (It’s getting nerfed in 1.1.9.2 anyway)
And I also tried Acid WoP with Heart of Gulgazor, but it never really panned out.
WoP is really good in Elemental (where there is ample gear to support it and you have another source of RR in Aura of Censure) Or in Pierce, Chaos or Aether since it already debuffs those resistances by itself.
Bleed (with Goredrinker set) is surprisingly synergetic too.
Since it’s a DoT, and WoP gets reapplied every second, once it crits, it keeps going with increased damage for the duration since lower values won’t override higher ones. Rend also has no cooldown, so it can get applied to more than one target per tick.
Deadly aim also increases crit damage and makes getting those crits easier.
Add the fact that Bleed is one of the least resisted damage type, and the goredrinker set gets you to around 50% pierce RR and 20% Bleed RR (on top of rend) and you don’t need much else to clean mobs.
(Too bad the goredrinker set is lackluster as a whole.)
There is probably a good WoP Bleed vindicator, Paladin or Infiltrator somewhere…
Wow, guys. 
You put some effort in your replies. Awarded it with some tags.
There are quite a few sets in the endgame that solidify its role as a debuffing tool, but no sets really focus on its damage potential. Would be kind of unique if there was an item/set out there that lowered its duration/AoE but increased its damage exponentially 
Here’s something else too: WoP as a crowd cleaner, with Callidor’s tempest (Completely untested)
Never seen a build like that before, so more food for thought
Mage Hunter, Level 100 (GD 1.1.9.1) - Grim Dawn Build Calculator (grimtools.com)