Embarking on a Grim Adventure: Your Ultimate Grim Dawn Game Guide

Grim Dawn is an action role-playing game (ARPG) developed by Crate Entertainment that immerses players in the dark and war-torn world of Cairn. With complex character development and deep customization options, the game offers a rewarding and challenging journey for players of all skill levels. This comprehensive guide aims to provide tips and advice for each character class, including optimal strategies for leveling and skill allocation in order to efficiently progress through the game.

Basic Concepts

In Grim Dawn, there are eight core classes, or Masteries, which can be combined to create 36 possible class combinations or builds. Each character starts with one Mastery and gains access to a second one at level 10. Additionally, players accumulate attribute points with each level up, which can be allocated into Physique, Cunning, or Spirit.

In order to maximize your character's potential at higher levels, it is recommended that you prioritize stat distribution based on your build's equipment requirements and focus your efforts on developing key skills within your chosen Masteries. It is also crucial to optimize resistances against various damage types throughout the game world.

A Note on Skill Bonuses

Skill bonuses present another essential aspect of Grim Dawn's gameplay, as they improve abilities without requiring additional skill points. These bonuses can come from items or components in your gear or from constellations gained through the devotion system. In many cases, it may be beneficial to overlap an important skill beyond its maximum limit via bonuses.

Offense and How to Kill Everything and/or Everyone

Balancing offense and defense is crucial for the successful progression of Grim Dawn. While dealing significant burst damage is essential for defeating enemies, it is equally important to optimize your character's build with appropriate offensive stats and skill points needed for your desired attack type: weapon-based melee attacks, spellcasting, or a mix of both.

Protection and How to Not Die Like a Dummy

A balanced defensive strategy is just as important as offense. To avoid becoming overwhelmed by powerful enemies, players should focus on health and resistance. Utilizing gear with appropriate resistance-boosting stats and thoughtful devotion allocation can significantly improve survivability in challenging content.

The following sections will provide specific builds and recommendations for leveling each character class in Grim Dawn:

Soldier Levels 1-10

Soldiers provide a strong starting point for new players due to their innate durability and powerful weapon-based skills. From levels 1-10, prioritize the Forcewave skill line or Cadence for melee-focused characters. For supportive skills, consider investing in Military Conditioning or Field Command to boost your health and defenses.

Soldier Levels 15-25

As players progress into the mid-levels of Grim Dawn, it’s important to invest further in scaling damage output. Focus on maxing out key primary attacks skills such as Forcewave or Cadence, along with supporting passives like Deadly Momentum or Tremor. Soldier builds that incorporate a shield may also want to start investing in Overguard at this stage.

Soldier Levels 32-50

In the later levels with Soldiers, players should have their main offensive skill maxed out and begin aggressively allocating points into additional survivability-enhancing skills such as Menhir's Will and Military Conditioning. During this time, reach out to secondary Mastery is available with a focus on synergistic passive abilities regardless of class combination choice.

Demolitionist Levels 1-10

Demolitionists specialize in explosive and fire damage, offering powerful single and multi-target damage abilities. Early on, invest points in the Fire Strike or Blackwater Cocktail skill line for dealing high amounts of damage. Additional points should be placed into the Flame Touched or Vindictive Flame passives to improve both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Demolitionist Levels 15-25

In the mid-levels, Demolitionist players should focus on scaling the damage output of their chosen primary offensive skill by continuing to invest points into it alongside synergistic passive abilities such as Ulzuin's Chosen or Thermite Mines. Investing in Blast Shield can help improve survivability when taking on tougher content.

Demolitionist Levels 32-50

In later levels, Demolitionists should prioritize maximizing their offense and utility options within their Mastery before transitioning over to their secondary class. Continue building out your primary offensive components while allocating remaining points towards utility skills like Ulzuin's Wrath for crowd control.

Occultist Levels 1-10

Occultists have access to a diverse array of spells that deal with chaos, vitality, poison, and vitality decay damage types. Early investments should be made into either Dreeg's Evil Eye or Bloody Pox for dealing direct damage or curses like Vulnerability for debuffing enemies. Ensure your character can remain resilient by placing additional points into passive skills like Blood of Dreeg.

Occultist Levels 15-25

Throughout the mid-levels, Occultists will continue refining their spell-casting abilities and maximize their elemental curse debuff potential via Vulnerability or Frailty. As your character transitions towards a more support-focused or pet-centric playstyle, investing in Summon Familiar and/or Summon Hellhound begins to make more sense.

Occultist Levels 32-50

In the high-level range for Occultists, players should have a strong grasp of their character’s identity – whether it is the spell-casting focus, pet-centric or support-based. Focus on mastery synergy and ensure that you have a good balance of offense-defense by maxing out primary offensive skills and utility spells such as Blood of Dreeg for healing purposes or Curse of Frailty for crowd control.

Nightblade Levels 1-10

Nightblades excel at dealing burst damage through dual-wielding melee attacks and utilizing powerful poison and cold damage debuffs. In the early stages, focus on the Amarasta's Blade Burst skill line for AoE burst damage or invest in Lethal Assault as your primary source of single-target damage. Consider Pneumatic Burst for survivability and mobility needs.

Nightblade Levels 15-25

During mid-game levels, Nightblades should refine their build by further investing in key offensive abilities like Amarasta's Blade Burst or Shadow Strike while branching out into useful passive abilities such as Dual Blades to maximize overall DPS output. Survivability potential during this phase can be improved by allocating points into Veil of Shadow.

Nightblade Levels 32-50

In the later stages, Nightblades should have their primary offensive options fully developed and start building synergistic relationships with secondary Mastery skill lines based on their class combination choices – such as support-centric Aura skills if paired with soldier class or focus on other defense-oriented abilities. Elemental resistances should be managed with Veil of Shadows, and prioritizing health pool gains through building attributes or constructing devotions is also important.

Arcanist Levels 1-10

Arcanists dominate the battlefield with elemental damage spells, providing both utility and crowd control options. Early on, players should invest in base elemental damage skills like Callidor's Tempest or Panetti's Replicating Missile to rapidly take down enemy threats. Taking on abilities such as Iskandra’s Elemental Exchange will provide buffs to increase overall damage output as well.

Arcanist Levels 15-25

During mid-levels, Arcanists should continue their path of powerful spellcasting by maximizing primary offensive options and incorporating crowd control options like Olexra’s Flash Freeze for reliable AoE freezing. For defensive capabilities, investing in Maiven’s Sphere of Protection is recommended to manage the character’s survivability throughout the game.

Arcanist Levels 32-50

Late-game Arcanists should focus on honing secondary Mastery synergies based upon chosen class combinations while ensuring attributes are properly balanced between offense and defense through skill allocation within resistance buffs provided by Maiven's Sphere and maintaining proper devotion point distribution throughout character levels.

Shaman Levels 1-10

Shamans offer a unique combination of mastery over two-handed weapons, lightning-based spells, and nature-based healing abilities. In early gameplay levels, investing in Primal Strike or Savagery as primary offensive tools is advised, along with supporting passives such as Modrogen’s Pact that boosts overall survivability.

Shaman Levels 15-25

For mid-level Shamans, it is essential to optimize dual-wield expertise through passives such as Feral Hunger while simultaneously expanding primary attack skills for optimal performance. Shamans should also begin focusing on proper gear selections and exploring secondary masteries that complement their current build.

Shaman Levels 32-50

In the endgame phases for Shamans, players should focus on maximizing synergy between both classes while ensuring sufficient offense-defense balance. Important skills to consider are Wendigo Totem for healing support and Stormcaller's Pact to amplify lightning damage. Players should also pay attention to resistance and health pool growth through gear and devotion allocation.

Inquisitor Levels 1-10

Inquisitors are versatile gun-wielding spellcasters who specialize in elemental damage and crowd control abilities. In the beginning, consider investing in Word of Pain for its rapid elemental ticks or Ranged Expertise to boost dual-wielding capabilities. Add points into Inquisitor's Seal for enhanced survivability early on.

Inquisitor Levels 15-25

Mid-level Inquisitors should continue scaling their primary attack skills while additionally developing valuable supportive auras such as Aura of Censure. For crowd control purposes, consider investing in Rune of Hagarrad or Rune of Kalastor, which provide potent traps that can freeze or burn enemies, respectively.

Inquisitor Levels 32-50

During later stages, Inquisitors should fully maximize their offensive capabilities and prioritize complementary skills from their secondary Mastery depending on the class combination chosen. Ensure a balanced focus on offensive and defensive stats by optimizing resistances through gear choices or devotion selections and using Inquisitor's Seal effectively for added protection.

Necromancer Levels 1-10

Necromancers wield dark magic that focuses on summoning undead minions and dealing vitality decay damage. Early gameplay levels benefit from points invested into Raise Skeletons, which provide a reliable source of damage for players while they navigate the game world. Additional skills to consider include Reaping Strike or Siphon Souls for additional damage capabilities.

Necromancer Levels 15-25

At mid-game levels, Necromancers should focus on sustaining minion survivability through skills like Undead Legion while simultaneously boosting damage output. Points should be allocated into spells such as Bone Harvest or Spectral Binding to provide direct damage options that complement minion-based strategy.

Necromancer Levels 32-50

Endgame Necromancers should focus on synergizing their build with their chosen secondary Mastery, either bolstering the power of their minions or enhancing the potency of their spells. Remember to invest in durability through skills like Master of Death and optimizing resistances via gear choices or devotion points.

Oathkeeper Levels 1-10

Oathkeepers utilize a versatile toolkit consisting of sword-and-shield melee combat, shield-based abilities, and divine magic. Early levels benefit from investments in skills such as the Aegis of Menhir or Righteous Fervor for effective offense. Add points into Presence of Virtue for a useful aura that boosts damage and survivability.

Oathkeeper Levels 15-25

For mid-level Oathkeepers, refining your build is essential, whether it leans towards physical damage dealers or supporting caster playstyle. Continue maximizing active skills such as Vire's Might and develop passive abilities like Shattering Smash for increased effectiveness in battle with chosen class combination targets.

Oathkeeper Levels 32-50

In later levels, Oathkeepers should have defined offensive capabilities while prioritizing survivability through passive defensive abilities like Divine Mandate or Path of the Three to enhance elemental resistances accordingly. Additionally, leveraging synergy potential with secondary Mastery will boost performance in both offense and defense aspects for balanced gameplay progression.

Conclusion

Grim Dawn offers players a vast array of Mastery choices and builds to cater to different gameplay preferences while exploring the immersive world of Cairn. With this comprehensive guide providing leveling and skill allocation advice, any player should feel prepared to dive into this captivating adventure to reach peak performance in their desired class combination.