Runemaster Static Rush Endgame Build for Last Epoch (Patch 1.1)

Our base class is the Mage, which acts as a generic spell caster. Our character will be offered an opportunity to select an Advanced Mastery once we have completed the first act of the campaign. Each base class has three possible masteries to choose from. For the Mage, we have access to the Mastery Tree Passives for Sorcerer, Runemaster and Spellblade. Upon selecting a Mastery and placing 20 Passive Points into the Mage Tree, you'll then be able to place Passive Points into the Mastery Trees.

For this caster build, Runemaster is our advanced class. We will utilize the majority of our Passive Points the Runemaster Passive tree, with a smaller investment of points into Sorcerer to round out the build. Our passive points will be targeting a well rounded blend of damage and defensive generators, with some investments in mana regeneration. This will ensure we can not only maximize our damage output, but also generate significant defensive layering while we clear and kill. Each of the Passive Trees and their points are broken down below.

• 8 points into Arcanist: This will increase our Spell Damage and give us additional Ward Retention, as well as miscellanious resistances.
• 1 point into Scholar: Provides base Health and Mana.
• 1 point into Reactive Ward: A travel point to reach Warden.
• 5 points into Mage Flurry: This gives us an increase to Cast Speed.
• 5 points into Warden: This gives our build additional Ward Retention.
• 10 points into Knowledge of Destruction: This will give us a large boost to not only our Critical Strike Chance, but the Critical Strike Multiplier as well.

Our base class is the Mage, which acts as a generic spell caster. Our character will be offered an opportunity to select an Advanced Mastery once we have completed the first act of the campaign. Each base class has three possible masteries to choose from. For the Mage, we have access to the Mastery Tree Passives for Sorcerer, Runemaster and Spellblade. Upon selecting a Mastery and placing 20 Passive Points into the Mage Tree, you'll then be able to place Passive Points into the Mastery Trees.

For this caster build, Runemaster is our advanced class. We will utilize the majority of our Passive Points the Runemaster Passive tree, with a smaller investment of points into Sorcerer to round out the build. Our passive points will be targeting a well rounded blend of damage and defensive generators, with some investments in mana regeneration. This will ensure we can not only maximize our damage output, but also generate significant defensive layering while we clear and kill. Each of the Passive Trees and their points are broken down below.

• 5 points into Unsealed Mana: Whenever we manually cast  Lightning Blast three times in a row, we will gain Ward and Mana. This has a 3 second cooldown.
• 7 points into Quintessence of Triumph: This will give us increased Spell Damage, but more importantly, we will do 7% more damage if we have more Ward than the enemy has health.
• 8 points into Arcane Focus: Flat Ward gain on every cast we do, as well as Intelligence. Intelligence is the primary method of increasing our Ward Retention, our primary defensive modifier.
• 5 points into Runeword: Cataclysm: This node will increase our Critical strike chance, but also gives us 15% more damage to enemies with low health. This effect is only triggered once we critically strike an enemy. This effect lasts for 6 seconds.
• 6 points into Transcendence: We get flat health from this node, but we will also get 36 Ward per second if we have at least 60 Intelligence. The build is scaled to be above this threshold.
• 6 points into Mental Catalysis: We gain additional Intelligence when using an Off-hand Catalyst. This also helps protect us from Critical Strike Damage.
• 6 points into Inscribed Instruments: This node will give us a significant boost to our Critical Strike Multiplier, adding 72% to it.
• 5 points into Decree of the Bountiful Ocean: This node gives us 15% increased to Mana Regen, however, this value is doubled, as we will always have a Gon rune active.
• 5 points into Brand of Deception: We take this in order to apply the Brand to the enemy. All skills except  Lightning Blast will trigger this effect.
• 8 points into Ancient Inscriptions: This node will give us much needed Intelligence, but will also reduce all cooldowns by 1% for every 4 Intelligence we have. (Ex:20 Intel = 5% Cooldown Reduction)
• 1 points into Runeword: Hurricane: All but gaurentees we get a flat increase to our spell lightning damage. This is imperative, as we only do spell lightning damage.
• 5 points into Order's Imposition: This enables us to do 10% more damage to enemies the have been Branded by our Brand of Deception, however it also increased the damage the Brand does. Adding 1% more damage for each % of Chance to Shock we have scaled. This should be around 100% or more.
• 4 points into Jagged Veil: This gives us up to 20% more Critical Strike Multiplier. Having at least 2000 Ward will cap this. This also gives you a flat 8 Ward for every critical strike you land.
• 7 points into Celestial Doom: This node will add an addition flat 7 Spell Damage to our spells. This will also increase the damage done to rares and bosses.

Our base class is the Mage, which acts as a generic spell caster. Our character will be offered an opportunity to select an Advanced Mastery once we have completed the first act of the campaign. Each base class has three possible masteries to choose from. For the Mage, we have access to the Mastery Tree Passives for Sorcerer, Runemaster and Spellblade. Upon selecting a Mastery and placing 20 Passive Points into the Mage Tree, you'll then be able to place Passive Points into the Mastery Trees.

For this caster build, Runemaster is our advanced class. We will utilize the majority of our Passive Points the Runemaster Passive tree, with a smaller investment of points into Sorcerer to round out the build. Our passive points will be targeting a well rounded blend of damage and defensive generators, with some investments in mana regeneration. This will ensure we can not only maximize our damage output, but also generate significant defensive layering while we clear and kill. Each of the Passive Trees and their points are broken down below.

• 5 points into Calculated Destruction: Provides Intel and an additive increase to our spells to critically strike.

In this section, we will break down each skill and highlight the key passives we have selected to make the skill shine in the build. While some of these skills do allow for some variation to exist depending on your own custom choices, we recommend utilizing the skill trees as presented until you have a strong understanding of the build itself.

It wont be uncommon to clear packs with a single cast of  Frost Wall, considering this skill is automated with  Lightning Blast. Not only will you gain Ward when you cross the walls threshold, but enemies will be evaporated by several hard hitting blasts of lightning as well.

• 1 point into Biting Limit: This is a travel node.
• 1 point into Crackling Barrier: We convert our Frost Wall to be lightning Damage, the only element we scale for damage.
• 4 points into Lightning Rod: This will enable our Frost Wall to now cast our scaled  Lightning Blast when an enemy walks through it.
• 1 point into Charged Pylons: This adds the additional ability for the Wall to cast  Lightning Blast even if they do not walk through it.
• 2 points into Amplified Currents: This increases the rate at which the Wall will cast  Lightning Blast.
• 4 points into Crystals of Protection: We enable our wall to give us 120 Ward and 12 Mana when we pass through. Values are doubled if the Wall is casted 2 meters away from you.
• 3 points into Boosted Kickoff: This node will give you Haste and Frenzy when you walk through the wall.
• 1 point into Runic Conclusion: This will cause the Wall to create three instances of  Runic Detonation. This skill does have a hit component, thus can critically strike.
• 1 Point into Glyph of Direfrost: We empower the previous node Runic Conclusion, to do have more damage and a significantly larger area. This effect only works if you are FACING AWAY FROM THE WALL.
• 1 Point into Shattered to Pieces: We further empower the Runic Conclusion node, by adding even more damage and increasing the area again.
• 2 Point into Marching Winter: We finish off the skill, by putting the last point to have the Wall be larger, and last longer.

In this section, we will break down each skill and highlight the key passives we have selected to make the skill shine in the build. While some of these skills do allow for some variation to exist depending on your own custom choices, we recommend utilizing the skill trees as presented until you have a strong understanding of the build itself.

 Flame Rush is a traversal skill, but do not use it arbitrarily. We will need this skill to be off of cooldown when we move into packs. We use rush to apply our Brand of Deception, adding significant damage to any enemy unforunate enough to be caught in its path. We also work in unison with our  Frost Wall, in order to "Double-Dip" on massive explosions. It is fair to note, that  Flame Rush has two seperate hit components, the base attack, which is when you "hit" and enemy while in the "ball". The other is the end explosion, the explosion has double the base damage and twice the damage scaling. Both are hits, thus both will have a chance to critically strike an enemy.

• 2 points in Fiery Overload: This node gives us frenzy when we finish our  Flame Rush.
• 3 points in Lunar Protection: We generate 90 Ward per second while in our "Ball" during the cast. Upon completion of the cast, we gain 180 Ward.
• 1 point in Energy Equivalence: Here, we convert our  Flame Rush to be Lightning Damage, the only element we scale for damage.
• 1 point in Beta Decay: This node adds automation to the build. Upon casting  Flame Rush, we will automatically cast  Static Orb and gain all of its benefits.
• 3 points in Blazing Flux: Reduces the cooldown and provides mana efficiency. This effect can be doubled if you manage your Idols and resistances carefully, getting your fire resistance to 150%. This isn't a requirement for the build, just a bonus to have the additional cooldown reduction and mana efficiency.
• 3 points in Manafused Current: Adds significant damage based on our current Mana.
• 1 point in Solar Rush: This is a travel node to obtain both Blazeborn and Gas Powered.
• 5 points in Blazeborn: Adds significant damage and area to  Flame Rush, to both the hit and explosion instaces of the cast.
• 1 point in Gas Powered: This is the node that enables us to combo with  Frost Wall. When in the "ball" and passing through the wall, you almost double the area of the explosion from  Flame Rush and all but gaurentee it will critically strike.
• 1 point into Runic Eclipse Will give us damage reduction while in the ball.

In this section, we will break down each skill and highlight the key passives we have selected to make the skill shine in the build. While some of these skills do allow for some variation to exist depending on your own custom choices, we recommend utilizing the skill trees as presented until you have a strong understanding of the build itself.

 Static Orb will be completely automated, and used in conjunction with  Flame Rush. This skill will add significant damage output, as well as significant defensive scaling with Lightning Aegis. Orbs will orbit you and will explode when they come into contact with an enemy, dealing significant damage.

• 1 point into Shocking Conduit: This is a travel node, in order to get to Orbital Fulmination.
• 1 point into Insidious Focus: We continue the pathing to Orbital Fulmination.
• 1 point into Orbital Fulmination: This will allow the  Static Orb and its smaller orbs to orbit us, making it feasible to use with Beta Decay.
• 1 points into Forking Surge: This causes the explosions from the orbs to hit additional enemies.
• 2 points into Static Armor: This is one of our major defensive scalers. This node will allow you to take 25% reduced damage while Lightning Aegis is active, and It increase all of your Lightning Damage by 50%.
• 1 points into Storm Burst: This will add 30% more damage and area to the explosions.
• 4 points into Open Circuit: We add 20% more damage to our  Static Orb.
• 4 points into Scatter Blast: This will add four additional, but smaller, orbs to revolve around you when you cast  Flame Rush.
• 1 points into Overcharged Detonation: This will add 1% more damage per Mana cost of the skill.
• 4 points into Critical Trajectory: We finalize this skill by adding 100% to the skill Critical Strike Multiplier.
• 1 point into Fusionblast: We shoot and additional Lightning Blast, after we have used Static Orb.

In this section, we will break down each skill and highlight the key passives we have selected to make the skill shine in the build. While some of these skills do allow for some variation to exist depending on your own custom choices, we recommend utilizing the skill trees as presented until you have a strong understanding of the build itself.

 Flame Ward is one of our primary defensive scalers in this build. This skill is coupled alongside the passive Ward generation from gear, skills, and  The Invoker's Static Touch to generate mass amounts of Ward. However, we also rely on the 25% damage reduction from Lightning Aegis as well as our gear rolled with Armour and Reduced Bonus Damage From Crits. These together, with our significant Ward generation, will put our EHP into the 10,000 to 15,000 range.

• 3 points into Dilation: Adds duration and mana efficiency to the skill.
• 3 points into Stalwart Defense: Adds more Ward to  Flame Ward.
• 2 points into Desperate Defense: This node works depending on your current health, adding significantly Ward when you are low on life.
• 1 point into Astonish: This automates  Flame Ward to trigger any time that you are stunned and  Flame Ward is not on cooldown.
• 5 points into Through Flames: We add 10 base damage to all of our skills while  Flame Ward is active.
• 4 points into Concentrated Shielding: This node adds even more ward, but reduces the duration of  Flame Ward active effects.
• 1 point into Fortification: We do not use  Flame Ward for its damage, so we eliminate the retaliation component, but recieve ample Ward in its place.
• 1 point into Fuel The Flames: We increase the amount of Ward granted by 10% with this node, but add a cooldown.
• 1 point into Flame Runner: Provides bonus haste when  Flame Ward is active.

In this section, we will break down each skill and highlight the key passives we have selected to make the skill shine in the build. While some of these skills do allow for some variation to exist depending on your own custom choices, we recommend utilizing the skill trees as presented until you have a strong understanding of the build itself.

 Lightning Blast is a versatile skill we rely on for mana generation through Unsealed Mana, and a significant source of damage when used through our  Frost Wall. It will not be uncommon to see anything but critical strikes come from  Lightning Blast after you are moderately geared, even low-level gear could see significant chances to critically strike. But do keep in mind, this is the least of all of our damage. This can be used for generic trash clear, when mana use is not justified for small simple packs.

• 4 points into Arcing Power: With this node, every time you cast  Lightning Blast manually, you will add an additional chain, up to a maximum of four.
• 3 point into Storm Razor: This node will add 3% to the base Critical Strike Chance of  Lightning Blast, and add 15% more damage to the cast. (This also applies when  Frost Wall uses this skill)
• 1 point into Surging Influence: This increases the range at which  Lightning Blast can chain. (This also applies when  Frost Wall uses this skill)
• 4 points into Crackling Speed: This adds cast speed when manually casting  Lightning Blast.
• 3 point into Shattershock: This adds 36% more damage with  Lightning Blast when the enemy is shocked. (This also applies when  Frost Wall uses this skill)
• 5 point into Frontloaded: This node add 100% more damage to the first chain, but does 25% less damage with each bounce. (This also applies when  Frost Wall uses this skill)
• 1 points into Closed Circuit: This node allows us a chance to have  Lightning Blast chain off of you. Granting you increased damage and critical strike chance. (This also applies when  Frost Wall uses this skill)