Hey gamers! If you're looking to dominate Last Epoch's Season 2 with the best builds, you're in the right place. Whether you're aiming to speedrun through monoliths, melt bosses in seconds, or simply find the perfect build to match your playstyle, this comprehensive tier list has got you covered. We'll break down the top 35 new meta builds, from the least effective to the absolute best, so you can make an informed decision on which build to choose. Let's dive in!
Introduction to Last Epoch's 1.2 Update
The 1.2 update for Last Epoch has brought a wave of new builds and strategies, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or new to the game, understanding the current meta is crucial for maximizing your gameplay. This tier list will help you navigate through the best builds available, ensuring you're always one step ahead.
D Tier: The Basics
The Abomination Necromancer build focuses on maximizing the effectiveness of the Abomination minion. Key skills include the Assembly Abomination, Dread Shade, and Infernal Shade, which enhance the Abomination's damage output. Managing minion health through the minion leech mechanic is crucial, as high personal DPS can harm the Abomination. This build excels in endgame content, offering a unique playstyle centered around a single formidable minion.
Next, the Shield Bash Forge Guard build combines formidable defenses with a high melee offense. The core of this setup is the Shield Bash skill, which scales damage through high block effectiveness and strength, thanks to the Indomitable Force and Iron Arms node. Achieving 100% block chance not only enhances survivability but also boosts damage output. Key skills include the Ring of Shields for additional defense, Volatile Reverse for damage amplification, and Sigils of Hope for debuffs. While the build boasts exceptional single-target damage and tankiness, it has limited AoE capabilities and average clear speed.
C Tier: Stepping Up
Moving to the C tier, we find builds that offer more versatility and higher damage output, making them suitable for both mid and endgame content.
The Airquake Beastmaster build is a melee setup that combines high single-target damage with robust survivability. The core of this build is the synergy between Tempest Strike and Airquake. Tempest Strike rapidly generates mana and applies buffs like Aspect of the Shark, while Airquake delivers massive physical damage to finish off enemies. Support skills like War Cry and Summon Frenzy Totem further enhance damage output and provide crucial buffs. Mobility is maintained through Fury Leap, allowing for swift engagements and repositioning. While this build doesn't rely on unique items to function, incorporating gear like the Undisputed Eye of the Rene Glass can significantly boost performance.
The Squirrel Beastmaster build transforms your summon wolves into a swarm of agile squirrels using the unique helmet, the Herald of the Suri. These crit-focused minions, enchanted by Scoring Rage, deliver rapid attacks with a high critical strike chance. Core skills like Swipe trigger companion abilities, while Summon Frenzy Totem and War Cry provide buffs and survivability. This build excels in endgame content with excellent clear speed and strong single-target damage. However, it is gear-dependent, relying heavily on the Herald of the Suri.
The Vigoderoid Mage Necromancer build focuses on empowering a single skeletal mage, specifically a cryomancer, into a formidable damage dealer. By utilizing the Arch Mage node, players summon one enchanted mage instead of multiple weaker ones. Key skills include Dread Shade and Infernal Shade, which boost the mage's damage output while managing health through the leech mechanic and careful buffs. The build scales with the player's maximum mana, making mana-increasing gear and passives crucial. While this build offers high single-target damage and screen-clearing potential, it requires careful management of buffs and minion survivability.
The Multistrike build is a powerful melee setup, particularly when utilized by the Forge Guard mastery. Central to this build is the Multistrike skill, which delivers consecutive attacks that can summon phantom axes, significantly amplifying damage output. The build excels in single-target scenarios, making it ideal for boss encounters. Key support skills include the Ring of Shields for enchanted defense, Healing Hands for sustain, and Symbols of Hope for additional buffs. While the build boasts exceptional tankiness and damage ramp-up, it may feel slower due to deliberate attack animations and has limited AoE capabilities.
B Tier: Solid Choices
The Judgment Paladin build is a powerful Sentinel setup that excels in both survivability and damage output. Core to this build is the Judgment skill, which creates a consecrated aura, a damage-over-time effect that burns enemies while healing the Paladin and allies within the radius. This mechanic is similar to the Righteous Fire playstyle from Path of Exile, offering a unique and engaging experience for new players.
The Bleed Hammerin Paladin build focuses on combining Hammer Throw with bleed effects to create high sustained damage. This build inflicts damage over time, which stacks with Hammer Throw's ability to hit multiple enemies at once. Vengeance and Judgment provide the Paladin with damage buffs and survivability. For offense, this build excels in sustained AoE damage while maintaining strong defenses through high armor and block chance. This build is ideal for players who enjoy a mix of ranged combat and damage-over-time mechanics with solid survivability in endgame content.
The Riot Void Knight build is a powerful melee setup that combines high single-target damage with strong survivability. Central to this build is the Riot skill, which is converted to void damage through the Temporal Warrior node. Equipping a two-handed weapon like the Fog Cleaver doubles its damage stats, significantly boosting output. The Flame Drinker's Blade adds void penetration and grants a stacking buff from Scrap Metal, further enhancing damage. Defensively, this build leverages high armor and block chance, ensuring resilience in endgame content. While it doesn't rely on specific unique items to function, incorporating gear that boosts void damage and critical strike chance can further optimize performance.
The Hail of Arrows Marksman build is a tactical ranged setup that excels in AoE damage through elemental damage over time. By utilizing the Hail of Arrows skill, this build creates a persistent rain of elemental damage, overwhelming enemies in its area. The Marksman mastery enhances this with skills like Smoke Bomb and Dark Quiver to generate shadows and buff damage, while Swift provides mobility and additional damage buffs. Defensively, the build relies on gear for survivability, as it lacks innate defensive tools.
The Fireball Sorcerer build is another ranged spellcasting setup that excels in high AoE damage and mobility. The core of this build is the Fireball skill, enchanted with notes like Embers, Seeker's Ash, and Piercing Heat, creating a seeking piercing projectile that shreds enemies' fire resistance. Supporting skills include Meteor for additional burst damage, Flame Ward for defensive layering, and Teleport for mobility and buffing.
The Shatter Strike Spellblade build is a high-damage melee setup that leverages cold damage and critical strikes to obliterate enemies. The core of this build is the Shatter Strike skill, enchanted with notes like Divide Out, Hold Presence, and Absolute Zero to maximize damage output. Dual-wielding swords, especially those with high attack speed and critical strike chance, further amplify performance. Supporting skills include Mana Strike for mana generation, Teleport for mobility and defensive buffs, and Flame Ward for damage reduction.
A Tier: Top Contenders
The Erasing Strike Void Knight build is a high-damage melee setup that leverages void damage and mana stacking for sustain output. The core of this build is the Erasing Strike skill, which delivers powerful attacks with guaranteed critical strikes, especially when enchanted by nodes like Final Hour and Obliteration. Mana sustain is achieved through the Void Well passive and mana stacking, allowing for continuous use of Erasing Strike. Defensively, the build incorporates Healing Hands for mobility and utility.
The Time Rot Void Knight build is a high-damage elemental-focused setup that excels in endgame content by utilizing the Devouring Orb skill. The build applies a Time Rot stack, enchanted by the Root Grip passive and the World Root node. The Anomaly skill provides burst damage and debuffs, while Volatile Reverse offers unique buffs and echoes for increased damage output. Defensively, the build incorporates Abyssal Echoes for buffs and Symbols of Hope for additional survivability.
S Tier: The Best of the Best
Finally, we arrive at the S tier, reserved for the absolute best builds in Last Epoch's 1.2 update. These builds are highly optimized for both single-target and AoE damage, offering exceptional survivability and clear speed.
The Umbrellade Blades Falconer build is a dynamic and agile ranged setup that excels in both single-target and AoE damage by utilizing the Umbrellade Blade skill. This build summons daggers that explode into Cold damage, applying the Shadow Daggers debuff to enemies. Key skills include Aerial Assault for mobility and damage, Dive Bomb for powerful strikes, and Smoke Bomb to generate shadows and provide defensive buffs. This build is ideal for players who enjoy a high-damage ranged minion setup with strong mobility.
The Ballista Falconer build is a ranged minion setup that excels in the Ballista skill, which summons stationary turrets that fire powerful bolts at enemies. The Aerial Assault skill buffs the Ballista's damage and attack speed, while Smoke Bomb provides defensive utility and shadow generation. Defensively, the build uses Decoy to draw enemy aggro and Falcon Strikes to enhance the Falcon's damage output even further. This build is ideal for players who enjoy a ranged minion setup with high damage output.
The Tornado Shaman build is an AoE caster that excels in clearing large groups of enemies and dealing substantial single-target damage by utilizing the Tornado skill. This build summons multiple tornadoes that jack and damage enemies over time. Key nodes include Charge Storm, Gift of Disguise, and Elder Branch, which enhance the skill's damage output and jacking capabilities. Defensively, the build incorporates Fist of Stone for additional endurance and Protective Circle for increased resistance. This build is ideal for players who enjoy a ranged spellcasting build with high AoE damage.
The Warpath Void Knight build is a powerful melee setup that utilizes the Warpath skill, which continuously spins to deal significant damage to nearby enemies. Key nodes include Varrier's Fury to enhance the skill's damage and AoE, while Cyclone of War increases critical strike chance. Defensively, the build incorporates Abyssal Echoes for buffs and Anomaly for powerful debuffs. This build is ideal for players who enjoy a high-damage melee build with strong tankiness.
The Nova Hammeritin Paladin build is a ranged AoE powerhouse that effortlessly clears screens of enemies in seconds. By combining the Endless Technique with the Avatar of Despair, the Hammer Cho skill transforms into a nova, launching multiple hammers in all directions. This build excels in both single-target and AoE damage, offering excellent survivability and speed farming potential. This build is ideal for players who enjoy a ranged build with high damage output and strong clear speed.
