Best Hammerdin Paladin Build In Last Epoch
In the ever-expanding world of Last Epoch, mastering the art of character builds is crucial for tackling the game's challenging endgame content. Among the plethora of builds available, the Hammerdin Paladin stands out as a formidable and highly enjoyable build to play. This guide will delve into crafting the best Hammerdin Paladin build, focusing on skills, gear, and strategies to make your Paladin nearly invincible on the battlefield.
Understanding the Hammerdin Paladin
The Hammerdin Paladin draws its name and inspiration from a similar concept in the Diablo series, relying on hurling blessed hammers that spiral outwards, dealing damage to all enemies in their path. In Last Epoch, this build capitalizes on the Paladin's inherent tankiness and synergizes it with substantial area damage, making it an excellent choice for both solo play and group support.
Skills and Specializations
The core of the Hammerdin Paladin revolves around the following skills:
- Throwing Hammers: This will be your primary damage-dealing skill. Specializing in Thor’s Mortal Strike, Disintegration, Iron Spiral, and Enforce Justice will maximize your damage output and AoE coverage.
- Sigils of Hope: These sigils increase your offensive capabilities while providing essential buffs. Focus on the Tetragram, Empowering Sigils, Decree of Flame, and Last Wish specializations to enhance both offense and defense.
- Holy Aura: An indispensable aura that boosts your survivability and damage. Prioritize Aura of Divinity, Shelter from the Storm, Ray of Hope, and Redemption to keep you and your allies hardy in prolonged fights.
- Smite: Although not your main attack, Smite serves as a critical support skill. Aim for Consecrated Ground, Righteous Flare, Fissure, and Holy Fire to optimize your healing and damage output.
- Volatile Reversal: This unique skill allows for strategic positioning and mana management. Specialize in Ancient Reversal, Time Lost Vitality, Dark Expanse, and Harbinger of Dust for utility and sustain.
Passive Skills
Your passive investment should bolster your durability and damage with hammers. Focus primarily on the following trees:
- Paladin Tree: Concentrate on Conviction, Valor, and Blade of the First Templar for increased damage and critical strike opportunities.
- Void Knight Tree: Even though you're not a Void Knight per se, dipping into this tree for Abyssal Endurance provides significant survivability enhancements.
- Sentinel Tree: Early investment here is key for foundational defense and attack speed enhancements through Juggernaut and Relentless respectively.
Gear and Stat Priorities
When gearing up your Hammerdin Paladin, prioritize items that enhance your throwing attack damage, critical strike chance/damage, and survivability. Look for:
- Helmet/Chest/Legs: Items with increased health, critical strike chance and throwing attack damage are paramount.
- Rings/Amulet: Target added physical or elemental damage to spells to boost your Hammer's damage output. Also consider stats that enhance your mana regeneration or reduce skill cooldowns.
- Relic/Belt: Seek relics and belts that offer bonuses to health, critical strike multiplier, or specific increases to Throwing Hammers damage.
- Unique Items: Certain uniques can significantly enhance the Hammerdin Paladin's effectiveness. Keep an eye out for items that synergize with your playstyle or fill gaps in your build.
Playstyle Tips
- Movement is Key: Always be on the move to avoid incoming damage while ensuring your Hammers can hit enemies from all angles.
- Use Sigils of Hope Wisely: Activate Sigils of Hope before engaging tough opponents to maximize your buffs during critical encounters.
- Positioning with Volatile Reversal: Use Volatile Reversal strategically not just for mana but to position yourself in safer or more advantageous spots during battles.
- Balance Offense and Defense: While it's tempting to go full offense with a build like this, ensure you have enough survivability to withstand high-damage scenarios, especially in endgame content.
Conclusion
The Hammerdin Paladin build in Last Epoch offers a balanced mix of robust defense and formidable offense, making it an excellent choice for players looking to crush their enemies with divine precision. By carefully selecting skills, specializing effectively, gearing appropriately, and mastering the playstyle, you'll find yourself mowing down hordes of enemies with ease. Remember, no build is set in stone; feel free to tweak this guide to suit your playstyle or the challenges that lie ahead in your adventure.