Last Epoch: Best Runemaster Builds

Creating a build can be daunting for a beginner in Last Epoch. Despite the game doing a fantastic job of introducing you to its myriad of progression systems and skill trees, finding the “perfect” build is nigh impossible. That’s because there is no perfect build, but there are multiple things you can try to help you clear out the entire campaign or progress through the endgame.

The Runemaster is perfect for the job if you want to crush the game with a spellcaster. Mages, in general, are already extraordinary damage dealers. While they have to be more careful about how they steamroll into battle, their burst damage is matched only by their AoE clear. Since the Runemaster has a wide array of abilities, you can use those to create multiple builds. In this guide, we’ll discuss the best builds to experiment with using this Mastery.

Frost Claw Runemaster Build

The Frost Claw Runemaster build uses a proc base playstyle that utilizes three damage-dealing skills. Cold damage enjoyers will surely enjoy this build since its visuals are pure eye candy. Best of all, it’s a well-rounded build that can handle all of Last Epoch’s content.

Main Skills

Frost Claw

Frost Claw will be your main damage skill, and you’ll use it to proc Elemental Nova through Celestial Conflux and Ice Barrage through Power Word: Hail, making Ice Baragge even more powerful. Make sure to allocate some points to Frozen Reign and Gift of Winter to manage the mana cost of other skills.

Flame Ward

Flame Ward is a powerful defense skill due to the damage reduction it provides. You become incredibly tanky while it’s active, and it also gives you damage through Infusion, converting it into Cold damage from Frost Ward.

Frost Wall

Frost Wall serves as a strong damage buff and crowd control. The Freeze for this skill is guaranteed on everything except for bosses as long as it’s been active for at least 0.2 seconds. Adding a node to Chilled Touch will provide a damage multiplier whenever Frost Wall is active, making it deadlier.

Ice Barrage

The Ice Barrage skill will primarily be used as a proc for Frost Claw, but it deals excellent single-target damage and provides significant buffs. Adding Frost Armor into the fray also provides a damage multiplier for all your Cold damage and reduces Cold damage taken. It’s best to allocate some points to Ice Shield too, since it makes you immune to damage from projectiles in the direction that Ice Barrage is facing. However, note that it’s best not to put this skill on your action bar—use it through Runic Invocation instead.

Elemental Nova

Elemental Nova procs from Frost Claw, providing you with an enhanced clearing skill thanks to its relatively large AoE. Adding damage multipliers like Shatter Nova, Glacial Might, Arcana Elementorum, and Ice Nova helps increase your DPS. You can also include Cryomantic Fragility to keep the mana costs manageable. Thanks to Frost Armor from Ice Barrage, any Cold damage taken is offset.

Passive Skills to Take

Mage Passives

• Scholar (2/8) - Increases Health and Mana.
• Arcanist (8/8) - Increases Lightning Resistance, Fire Resistance, and Intelligence.
• Reactive Ward (1/6) - Whenever you drop below 70% Health, you gain a burst of ward based on your max HP.
• Mage Flurry (5/5) - Increases Attack Speed and Cast Speed.
• Warden (5/5) - Increases Ward Retention.

Runemaster Passives

• Unsealed Mana (1/6) - Increases Mana and Cast Speed.
• Sphere of Protection (8/8) - Increases Health and decreases taken from Chilled, Ignited, or Shocked enemies.
• Quintessence of Triumph (7/10) - Increases Spell Damage.
• Arcane Focus (8/8) - Increases ward gained on direct spell cast and Intelligence.
• Runeword: Cataclysm (5/6) - Increases Critical Chance.
• Transcendence (8/8) - Increases Health and lets you passively gain wards over time.
• Never Late (1/8) - Increases Critical Chance and Spell Damage on the next spell.
• Edict of the Scion (6/6) - Increases area for Area Skills and ward per Rune upon Area Skill use.
• Mental Catalysis (6/6) - Increases Intelligence with a Catalyst and decreases bonus damage from Crits with a Catalyst.
• Inscribed Instruments (6/6) - Increases Cast Speed when using a Staff, Ward Retention when using a Sceptre, and Critical Strike multiplier when using a Wand.
• Rune of Dilation (4/8) - Increases Buff Duration, Cast Speed, and Movement Speed after traversal.
• Runeword: Avalanche (1/5) - Increases chance to gain Runeword: Avalanche when you use a Cold skill.
• Jagged Veil (4/5) - Gain a ward upon Crit.

Sorcerer Passives

• Arcane Momentum (5/5) - Gain a stack of Arcane Momentum for two seconds upon casting a spell.
• Calculated Destruction (5/8) - Increases Intelligence.
• Mana Shell (5/8) - Increases Mana and Armor.
• Essence of Celerity (6/8) - Increases Arcane Momentum duration and Spell Damage per stack.
• Cryomancer (1/8) - Increases Freeze Rate multiplier and Cold Damage.
• Chill To The Bone (5/5) - Increases Cold Damage leeched and Cold Penetration.

The Best Gear for Frostclaw Runemasters in Last Epoch

Starting Gear

Starting Idols

• 3x Vigorous Stout Lagonian Idol of Life
• 1x Vigorous Stout Lagonian Idol of Insulation
• 4x Stunning Small Eterran Idol of Deflection
• 1x Phasing Huge Arcane Idol of Ice
• 1x Vital Humble Eterran Idol of Hope
• 1x Vital Humble Eterran Idol of Remedy

Endgame Gear

Endgame Idols

• 4x Vigorous Stout Lagonian Idol of Life
• 2x Plated Small Lagonian Idol of Frost
• 1x Throne of Ambition
• 1x Stunning Small Eterran Idol of Hope
• 1x Stunning Small Eterran Idol of Deflection
• 1x Phasing Huge Arcane Idol of Ice

Hydrahedron Runemaster Build

The Hydrahedron Runemaster build lets you fill the battlefield with octahedrons that shoot fire projectiles, incinerating everything in its path. You could say this is the opposite of the Frost Claw build we just discussed. In this build, you’ll combine Lightning and Fire runes to conjure Hydrahedon—a Runic Invocation exclusive to the Runemaster. Time to turn your foes into ashes!

Main Skills

Runic Invocation

Runic Invocation will be your bread and butter for this build. Combining Fire, Fire, and Lightning (FFL) will create Hydrahedon—your primary damage skill. Be sure to invest some points into Devastating Starfall, Runic Energy, and Unbridled Ruin to increase its damage.

Runebolt

Runebolt’s main function is to generate mana and enhance your Hydrahedons. Be sure to pair it with Arcane Restoration. You can guarantee it will create Lightning Runes only by using the Lightning Spear and Jolting Spark nodes.

Flame Rush

Flame Rush will be your movement skill, generating Fire Runes and automatically proccing Runic Invocation.

Flame Ward

Flame Ward is the defensive skill that’ll provide you with insane damage reduction. While its duration is short, you’ll be tanky while it’s active. Adding Dual Aegis is crucial since it provides a second charge for the ability.

Frost Wall

You can convert Frost Wall into Fire by adding Pyro Glass. Apply Fire Resistance Shred to the skill by getting the Biting Limit node. Adding Purifying Gate and Boosting Kickoff can also grant you Frenzy, Cleanse, and Haste, providing excellent utility.

Passive Skills to Take

Mage Passives

• Elementalist (2/8) - Increases Fire, Lightning, and Cold Damage.
• Arcanist (8/8) - Increases Intelligence and Fire and Lightning Resistance.
• Arcane Flames (5/6) - Deals more damage to ignited enemies.
• Knowledge of Destruction (10/10) - Increases Critical Strike Chance and Critical Multiplier.

Runemaster Passives

• Unsealed Mana (1/6) - Increases Mana and cast speed.
• Sphere of Protection (8/8) - Increases Health and decreases taken from Chilled, Ignited, or Shocked enemies.
• Arcane Focus (8/8) - Increases ward gained on direct spell cast and Intelligence.
• Never Late (8/8) - Increases Critical and Spell Damage on the next spell.
• Edict of the Scion (6/6) - Increases area for Area Skills and ward per Rune upon Area Skill use.
• Rune of Dilation (2/8) - Increases cast speed and movement speed.
• Decree of the Burning Wind (8/8) - Deal more damage to bosses and rares.
• Ancient Inscriptions (10/10) - Increases Intelligence.
• Runeword: Hurricane (1/5) - Have a chance to gain Runeword: Hurricane after using a Lightning skill.
• Runeword: Inferno (3/5) - Have a chance to gain Runeword: Inferno after using a Fire skill.
• Jagged Veil (5/5) - Gain a ward upon Crit.
• Celestial Doom (7/10) - Increases Spell Damage.

Sorcerer Passives

• Arcane Momentum (5/5) - Gain a stack of Arcane Momentum for two seconds after casting a spell.
• Essence of Celerity (8/8) - Increases Arcane Momentum duration and Spell Damage per stack,
• Calculated Destruction (6/8) - Increases Intelligence.

Spellblade Passives

• Elemental Affinity (2/6) - Increases Elemental Resistance and Elemental Damage.

The Best Gear for Hydrahedron Runemasters in Last Epoch

Starting Gear

Starting Idols

• 4x Lunar Grand Glass Idol of Pyromancy
• 1x Throne of Ambition
• 1x Shrewd Adorned Arcane Idol of Conduction

Endgame Gear

Endgame Idols

• 1x Throne of Ambition
• 4x Lunar Grand Glass Idol of Pyromancy
• 1x Shrewd Adorned Arcane Idol of Conduction