Last Epoch: Best Mage builds and skills
Best Mage builds and skills in Last Epoch
Wondering what the best Acolyte skills and builds are in Last Epoch? For big magical power in Last Epoch, there's no beating the Mage. This crafty spellslinger is the archetypal wizard seen in other RPGs, and while the in-game character model representing the Mage is noticeably older than his peers, there's no denying that this wizened elder can still whip the rest of his party into shape.
The Mage has a nearly endless array of options at their disposal, making them one of Last Epoch's most versatile, and potentially complex, classes. Whether you want to study runes, go for broke with big AoE blasts, or wield a spell-infused sword, there's something for you when it comes to the Mage's three Masteries: the Runemaster, the Sorcerer, and the Spellblade. Below, we've outlined our preferred builds for each Mastery, along with the right Skills, Specialization Tree nodes, and Passives for each. Read on to learn the true might of magic.
In this guide:- Last Epoch Best Mage Runemaster build
- Last Epoch Best Mage Sorcerer build
- Last Epoch Best Mage Spellblade build
Last Epoch Best Mage Runemaster build
The Runemaster is an interesting Mastery that's all about setting up ward (basically a temporary shield that boosts your existing health) and paying attention to different combinations of runes. Put the right runes together, and you can inflict devastating damage and light up a battlefield with the equivalent of element-shooting cannon blasts. For players who enjoy a bit of crunch to their spell management and don't mind the idea of keeping track of runic symbols, this Hydrahedron Runemaster Mage build will impress like nothing else.
Flame Rush
To begin your Runemaster build, Specialize in the Flame Rush Skill to get around and create searing hot explosions in your wake. This Skill generates Fire runes and will come in infinitely handy for Runic Invocation, described below.
For nodes on the Skill Specialization Tree, I recommend Blazing Flux to ensure that Flame Rush costs less mana and has a briefer cooldown. Runic Eclipse is an excellent way to ensure you take less damage while using your Flame Rush, and Lunar Protection will generate ward whenever you use Flame Rush.
Flame Ward
Ward in Last Epoch normally acts as a defensive measure, but Flame Ward adds a little twist by not only giving you a burst of 400 ward and decreasing your damage by 30%, but also creating a retaliatory flame burst to every hit you take for three seconds.
To ensure that you can tank decently with this Skill, get to the Dual Aegis node as soon as you can. This will allow you to use Flame Ward twice before you need to wait through a cooldown. Infusion and Dilation are also good choices to make Flame Ward hit harder and cost less mana.
Frost Wall
Frost Wall normally sets up a wall of ice that lasts for six seconds, putting major chill into any enemy that happens to be in the area of effect. We're going to tweak the ice in this build for the purposes of creating bigger damage with Runic Invocation, converting it to fire instead.
To do so, take the Pyroglass node, which swaps Frost Wall's cold damage to fire. Combine this with the Biting Limit node to shred through any fire resistance that enemies might have when they come into contact with your ice-turnt-flame boundary.
Runebolt
Runebolt serves as a handy means of spamming projectiles. It normally fires off a fire burst, followed off by a lighting burst, and then a cold burst. We're going to make them all lighting, and you'll see why when we delve into Runic Invocation below.
For your all-lighting setup, you'll need to take the Jolting Spark and Lighting Spear nodes. You'll also want to take the Arcane Restoration node to gain back some mana every time you hit an enemy with Runebolt.
Runic Invocation
Here we reach the crucial skill of our build. Runic Invocation generates runes that sit atop the screen (or above your Mage's head if there are already other items on the top of the screen, like a boss' healthbar) passively whenever you cast elemental spells. You can activate this Skill to unleash those runes in a Runic Invocation, which in our case will be Hydrahedron - a deadly mass that erupts fire at everything surrounding it. Invoking Hydrahedron, which will be your main damage dealing attack, requires a Lighting, Fire, and Fire rune combo. Now you can see why we've been changing the elements of previous Skills above!
To make Hydrahedron even more potent, pour some of your Specialization points into Devastating Starfall, Unbridled Ruin, and Runic Energy. Transcriber of Power is also a good choice for gaining more spell damage and casting speed after activating Runic Invocation.
Passives
To maximise your potential with the Hydrahedron Runemaster build, we recommend the following Passives:
- Mage Passives: Max out Arcanist and then put some points into Elementalist, focusing on Arcane Flames afterwards. When you can, take Knowledge of Destruction for greater critical strike chances.
- Runemaster Passives: Arcane Focus and Edict of the Scion are must-haves. Never Late will nicely supplement your Flame Rush, and Decree of the Burning Wind, Jagged Veil, and Runeword: Inferno are fine choices on the other side of the Passive Tree for helping you deal more damage to bosses, gain ward, and buff your fire potency.
- Sorcerer Passives: The Sorcerer Passive Tree offers up some good options for a Hydrahedron Runemaster, namely Arcane Momentum, Essence of Celerity, and Calculated Destruction.
- Spellblade Passives: There's no need to invest in the Spellblade tree, since you aren't going to be relying on melee attacks with this build. Arcane Warden is okay, but not a priority by any means.
Last Epoch Best Mage Sorcerer build
The Sorcerer is the Mastery to go for if you want to light up your Last Epoch screen with big AoE spells that wreck all foes within a close radius. The following Glacier Sorcerer build is an especially strong one that lets you keep your mana flowing while you turn enemies into ice sculptures. Get started on the pathway of cold vengeance by Specializing in the following Skills and Passives.
Flame Ward
As with our other builds listed here, Flame Ward is an all-around stellar Skill for giving you 400 ward plus a nice damage reduction every time you pop it. It might seem funny for a Glacier Sorcerer to have a Flame Ward Skill, but who said that fire and ice don't occasionally mix?
You'll need Dual Aegis to store an additional charge of Flame Ward, or else you'll only be able to use it once before waiting through an annoying cooldown. Other useful nodes include Dilation and Barrier.
Focus
Focus is a useful defensive Skill that'll always keep your mana high. While channeling this Skill, you'll get 100% increased mana regen as well as ten ward per second, which will come in infinitely handy for the big damage spells that this build relies upon.
Make the most of Focus by investing in the Revelation, Iron Stance, and Mana Flooded nodes. Desperate Meditation, Null Profusion, and Null Infusion are also great picks that'll keep you going if you ever run into negative mana.
Glacier
As you might've expected from the name of this build, Glacier is the Sorcerer's main method of bringing the frosty hurt. It also looks very cool, since you'll be channeling not one, not two, but three icy explosions that travel in the direction of your choice and deal increasingly larger damage.
Put your points into as many damage-boosting nodes as you can to make sure that nobody will be able to recover from your Glacier assault. Greater Destruction will make Glacier's largest explosion inflict more damage, while Morditas' Bane ups Glacier's potency against rare enemies and bosses. To gain mana with your kills, take Cold Victory and Critical Rejuvenation, which will work well alongside your Focus Skill.
Ice Barrage
For a quick dose of sharp icicles to the face, Ice Barrage is just what you need. This Skill opens a rift that continuously launches icicles from it for five seconds. It's a stellar DPS Skill, and while Glacier will be your best way of massacring a group, Ice Barrage is your go-to for single targets.
Be sure to take the Nailed Shot node to give your icicles the ability to pierce through enemies. You'll also want Cryogenesis, which makes Ice Barrage deal more damage for the price of a slightly shorter duration.
Teleport
Use Teleport to move around in a jiffy. This Skill will be particularly useful when you've got to navigate behind a group of mobs to nail them with Glacier or Ice Barrage.
To reduce Teleport's cooldown, take Comet Rush. Then go for the Crystaline Passage node to grant yourself higher cold resistance and armour if Teleport was cast within the last four seconds, before finally moving on towards Time Dilation, Mana Tunnel, and Tunnel Finder to keep your mana flowing and your Teleport cooldown low.
Passives
To maximise your potential with the Glacier Sorcerer build, we recommend the following Passives:
- Mage Passives: Arcanist is a good Passive for the additional intelligence and elemental resistance. Since this is a heavy DPS build, Mage Flurry is the other Passive you should focus on, though you can also put a smattering of points into Knowledge of Destruction if you'd like to up your critical strike chance.
- Runemaster Passives: There are a fair number of Runemaster Passives worth taking here, including Sphere of Protection for a health bump, Edict of the Scion for increased spellcasting area, and Inscribed Instruments for great buffs when you use a wand, sceptre, or staff.
- Sorcerer Passives: You're going to want Arcane Momentum, Calculated Destruction, Mana Shell, and Wisdom at your disposal first and foremost. Following these, invest in Chill to the Bone, Crackling Precision, Arcane Obliteration, Archmage and Recollection
- Spellblade Passives: Aside from placing a point or two into Elemental Affinity there's not much here for you, Sorcerer - the Spellblade's all about weapon attacks, and that's just not your style.
Best Mage Spellblade build
The Spellblade is a magus who's just as capable with a sword as a spell. This Mastery is perfect for Last Epoch fans who like the idea of the Mage's magic but want a fighting style that's a little more in-your-face and personal. The Shatter Strike Spellblade Mage build that we've outlined here fits the bill with a great array of cold attacks that will freeze single targets, shatter their remains, and make for very easy playing.
Enchant Weapon
You're going to be relying on melee attacks way more with the Spellblade than any other Mage Mastery, so it's totally worth your time to Specialize in Enchant Weapon. Your melee attacks will always deal 15% more elemental damage passively, and whenever you activate this Skill, you'll bump that up to 50% damage for five seconds.
Taking Concentrationto make Enchant Weapon last longer is a necessity, as is Celerity for increased melee attack speed. Since this is a cold-focused build, Frostbrand is also needed for additional melee cold damage.
Flame Ward
Flame Ward will serve as your defense as you wade in the thick of things to get your weapon dirty. Activating this Skill will grant you 400 ward atop your regular health and a damage reduction. We'll also change the flames generated by this Skill to cold with a few important node choices.
First off, take Dual Aegis for the ability to pop Flame Ward twice before a cooldown kicks in, and then Dilation to make the Skill cost less mana and last longer. Following these nodes, grab Infusion, which grants an overall damage increase, and then Frost Ward, which switches Flame Ward into a Cold Ward.
Mana Strike
Mana Strike sends a arc-shaped attack wave outwards from your mage, returning 15 mana to them if enemies are in the line of fire. This Skill will be your reliable go-to for gaining back lost mana during your attacks, and is critical for ensuring that your Spellblade never runs out of energy while facing down an angry mob.
Arcanist's Blade, Mana Drain, and Critical Mana are the most important nodes to fill out on the Mana Strike Specialization Tree. Swift Sap is also handy for increased attack speed, and if you want to deal damage to a larger area, take Sprite Blade.
Shatter Strike
The bulk of your damage will be dealt via Shatter Strike, which sees your Spellblade generating a huge circle around them that whallops for a truly intimidating barrage of cold damage. Even better - you'll instantly kill any enemy below 100 health who's frozen.
Taking nodes that build upon Shatter Strike's already considerable damage is the priority here. Cold Steel is great for a critical multiplier, while Absolute Zero offers up more damage with the only tradeoff a 20% drop in attack speed, which can be balanced out by taking Breadth of Cold, Whiteout, and Iceblink.
Teleport
Of all the Mage Masteries listed here, the Spellblade is the most in need of a good traversal Skill to dash out of the reach of bosses or troublesome AoE attacks. Teleport is your go-to.
Your nodes here are going to look very similar to the ones we recommend for the Glacier Sorcerer - these are both icy character builds, after all. In short, maximise the Comet Rush node for a shorter Teleport cooldown and then Crystaline Passage for higher cold resistance and armour if Teleport was cast within the last four seconds. Time Dilation, Mana Tunnel, Tunnel Finder should be your next nodes.
Passives
To maximise your potential with the Shatter Strike Spellblade build, we recommend the following Passives:
- Mage Passives: Scholar and Arcanist are both necessary picks. Put a point into Reactive Ward so you can get Warden, then max out Mage Flurry.
- Runemaster Passives: The only Passive that should fall on your radar is Sphere of Protection - you're going to be inflicting the cold conditions on enemies with this build, so it's handy to not have to take damage from them!
- Sorcerer Passives: Mana Shell is a useful pick for a Spellblade, thanks to the extra mana and armour boost it provides.
- Spellblade Passives: You'll need Infused Weapon and Arcane Warden for sure. Arcane Shielding should be your next bet, along with Shattered Aegis. Aside from those, the other most useful Spellblade Passives are Mana Reaver, Gemini, Prismatic Blade, Mental Fortitude, and Prodigy.
That finishes our look at the best builds available for the magical maestro that is the Mage. For more on all the class options available to you in Last Epoch, keep an eye on Rock Paper Shotgun in the coming days as we proceed to delve into the the gothic Acolyte, the brutal Primalist, the shifty Rogue, and the noble Sentinel.