Season 2 Masteries: Top Picks in Last Epoch

Last Epoch boasts an impressive array of 15 Mastery classes, each providing a unique subclass to enhance and specialize your build. These range from the familiar Sorcerer to the unique Falconer, where you can soar across the map with a bird companion dealing damage. With such variety, choosing the right Mastery can be daunting, but this comprehensive Last Epoch Mastery tier list is designed to guide you through the selection process.

Importantly, Last Epoch offers flexibility in Mastery selection; you're not locked into a single choice. It's common for players to invest in multiple Masteries to optimize their builds, utilizing the first half of any Mastery's passive tree. Additionally, you can switch your Mastery at the Respec NPC in the End of Time, allowing for experimentation and adaptation to your playstyle.

How We Ranked the Best and Worst Masteries in Last Epoch

The strength of a Mastery is determined by how well it supports potential builds across various aspects like clear speed, single-target damage, and defense. Builds are assessed based on their ability to maximize damage multipliers, critical hits, armor shred, and other key stats that enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities. Masteries that offer efficient scaling and a balanced mix of these elements rank higher.

Defensively, critical hit damage reduction and resistances are crucial, providing flexibility and survivability. Masteries that provide these in a point-efficient manner are favored. Additionally, the effectiveness and playability of Mastery skills are considered, with high damage potential and user-friendly mechanics contributing to a higher ranking.

Last Epoch Tier List: Best Season 2 Masteries

Contribute to the community Tier List by voting on the best Last Epoch Masteries!

Last Epoch Season 2 Masteries Tier List

S-Tier: Paladin, Void Knight
*Best overall clear, bossing, and defense, with no significant weaknesses*

A-Tier: Falconer, Bladedancer, Shaman, Druid
*Strong clear, bossing, and/or defense. Lacking significantly in one area*

B-Tier: Marksman, Lich, Beastmaster
*Good clear, bossing, and/or defense. Lacking significantly in one or more areas*

C-Tier: Necromancer, Forge Guard, Runemaster
*Decent to good clear, bossing, and/or defense. Lacking significantly in one or more areas*

D-Tier: Spellblade, Warlock, Sorcerer
*Poor to good clear, bossing, and/or defense. Lacking significantly in multiple areas*

Our Last Epoch Tier List explanations below feature example builds from our friends at Maxroll.gg.

S-Tier Last Epoch Masteries

**S-Tier: Void Knight**

If you're looking to obliterate enemies with a giant purple sword and maintain near-immortality, **Void Knight** is your go-to. With **Erasing Strike**, it scales exceptionally well, especially when transitioning into the World Splitter version. The **Warpath** build is equally viable, offering top-tier performance for both new and casual players.

Void Knight's enhanced mobility and effective health (eHP) make it a formidable choice. It excels in clear speed and bossing damage, with the unique advantage of simultaneous movement and damage dealing, enhancing overall DPS and playability. The passive tree is packed with beneficial stats like damage effectiveness, critical hit enhancements, and various resistances.

Explore more Void Knight builds such as Smite Void Knight, which offers speed, tankiness, and long-range capabilities, or Time Rot Void Knight, which provides robust sustain and burst damage.

**S-Tier: Paladin**

Recognized for its overwhelming power post-Sentinel rework, **Paladin** dominates with skills like **Judgement**, which boasts 350% damage effectiveness and 200% critical multiplier. Paladin's versatility shines with other potent skills like Symbols of Hope and Holy Aura, which blend damage with defense, and Healing Hands, which provides significant healing.

The passive tree offers unparalleled resistances, recovery, and damage reduction, making Paladin a robust choice. Key nodes like **Covenant of Light** and **Reverence of Duality** amplify damage, sustain, and defensive capabilities. While Judgement is a standout, **Bleed Hammerdin** and **Smite** builds offer alternative paths for those seeking to diverge from the meta.

A-Tier Last Epoch Masteries

**A-Tier: Falconer**

Despite nerfs, **Falconer** remains incredibly strong. Its unparalleled movement speed and top-tier damage, enhanced by critical hit multipliers and Dexterity scaling, make it a force to be reckoned with. **Aerial Assault** allows for simultaneous mobility and damage output, making it a thrilling choice.

However, its defense can be a weak point, requiring careful use of **Dodge**, **Silver/Dusk Shrouds**, and **Glancing Blows** to mitigate damage. Builds like Zero HP Ballista Falconer push the limits of damage but demand precise defensive strategies. For a more balanced approach, consider **Umbral Blades**, which evolves into a Dexterity-stacking build with high DPS and engaging gameplay.

**A-Tier: Bladedancer**

While less popular than Falconer, **Bladedancer** is equally potent. It offers well-rounded clear speed, single-target damage, and defense, supported by high-DPS skills and effective passives. **Lethal Mirage** provides valuable iframes, making it ideal for fast and strong melee play.

The passive tree supports Dexterity stacking, crit, leech, and various defensive mechanics. Standout nodes like **Pursuit** and **Argent Veil** enhance damage and survivability. Builds such as **Shadow Daggers**, **Shadow Cascade**, and **Chakrams** cater to different playstyles, with the potential to tackle challenging content like Uber Abberoth.

**A-Tier: Beastmaster**

As a summoner Mastery, **Beastmaster** shines with its **Storm Crows** and **Summon Wolf** builds, achieving high DPS through snapshotting. While not as tanky as S-Tier options, it offers a strong archetype for summon-based gameplay, albeit with slower movement speed.

The passive tree provides essential damage reduction, health, and healing, though it lacks direct damage nodes. Builds like **Poison Nova Scorpion** showcase Beastmaster's potential for well-rounded damage and clear, despite the slower pace. Consider using **Haste** and idols to mitigate movement speed issues.

**A-Tier: Shaman**

**Shaman** excels in both melee and elemental builds, pushing high Arena waves with its **Tornado** skill, which offers impressive damage and vacuum effects. **Earthquake** and **Avalanche** have limitations, but **Aftershock** idols can enhance their utility. **Summon Storm Totem** adds decoy functionality with solid damage.

The passive tree provides penetration, cooldown reduction, and elemental damage paired with resistances. Key nodes like **Fist of Stone** and **Lagon's Answer** boost both offense and defense. Shaman's versatility makes it a strong choice for players looking to push high Arena waves.

**A-Tier: Druid**

**Druid** stands out with **Storm Werebear**, offering excellent DPS and effective health (eHP). Its combo-based playstyle, involving **Rampage**, **Maul**, and **Roar**, provides both damage and control. While farming speed may be slower, its engaging gameplay and strong performance in challenging content make it a rewarding choice.

The passive tree offers nodes like **Spirit Warden** and **Focused Wrath**, enhancing damage, sustain, and survivability. **Spriggan Form** and **Swarmblade** add defensive and offensive options, though **Entangling Roots** is less effective. Druid's versatility and strength make it a top-tier choice for those willing to invest time in mastering its mechanics.

B-Tier Last Epoch Masteries

**B-Tier: Lich**

**Lich** embodies the classic 'sacrifice for power' archetype, with strong skills like **Reaper Form** and a robust passive tree. **Drain Life** and **Aura of Decay** have their uses, but **Death Seal** provides a significant damage boost at the cost of risk. **Reaper Form** combines movement, AoE damage, and health recovery, making it a versatile choice.

The passive tree supports Intelligence stacking, mana, health, and recovery. Key nodes like **Dance With Death** and **Hollow Lich** offer efficient damage buffs. While not the best, Lich remains a competitive choice for players looking to embrace a high-risk, high-reward playstyle.

**B-Tier: Marksman**

As an archer subclass, **Marksman** excels with builds like **Hail of Arrows** and **Heartseeker**. **Hail of Arrows** benefits from **Sanguine Hoard**, while **Heartseeker** offers auto-targeting with Bleed or Poison setups. **Multishot** and **Hail** provide strong damage effectiveness, though **Detonating Arrow** falls short.

The passive tree supports dodge, crit, and recovery, with standout nodes like **Heightened Senses** and **Thief's Quiver**. Marksman's focus on damage and clear speed makes it a solid choice for players who prioritize offense over defense.

C-Tier Last Epoch Masteries

**C-Tier: Necromancer**

**Necromancer** offers a strong suite of skills and a versatile passive tree, making it suitable for Arena pushes. **Summon Skeletal Mage** reduces enemy health regeneration, while **Sacrifice** sees limited use due to poor personal damage support. **Dread Shade** and **Assemble Abomination** provide powerful temporary boosts and tanky summons, respectively.

The passive tree supports various damage types and recovery, with standout nodes like **Elixir of Hunger** and **Rite of Undeath**. While defense is lacking, Necromancer remains a viable choice for summoner enthusiasts.

**C-Tier: Runemaster**

**Runemaster** allows for unique spell combinations, with **Rune of Invocation** offering extreme versatility. **Hydrahedron** and **Focus Autobomber** showcase its potential for high corruption runs, though defense remains a concern. **Flame Rush** and **Frost Wall** provide strong damage and utility, while **Runebolt** and **Glyph of Dominion** offer competitive stats.

The passive tree supports Ward, mana, and elemental debuffs, making Runemaster a competitive choice for players seeking unique spellcasting mechanics.

**C-Tier: Forge Guard**

While **Forge Guard** holds its own, it struggles to compete with higher-tier Masteries. **Manifest Armor** and **Shield Throw** offer unique build options, while **Smelter's Wrath** and **Forge Weapon** provide strong damage effectiveness. The passive tree includes solid nodes like **Guardian**, but overall, it lacks the standout features of top Masteries.

D-Tier Last Epoch Masteries

**D-Tier: Spellblade**

Despite its D-Tier status, **Spellblade** remains viable, offering strong DPS and speed. However, it struggles with defense, requiring careful positioning to avoid one-shots. **Flame Reave** is underwhelming, but **Enchant Weapon** provides potent damage boosts. **Firebrand** and **Surge** offer enjoyable gameplay, though they fall short in damage compared to top skills.

The passive tree provides Ward support and damage buffs, but lacks standout nodes to compete with higher tiers. Spellblade is a good choice for players who enjoy combining magic and melee but are willing to accept its defensive limitations.

**D-Tier: Warlock**

**Warlock** focuses on damage over time and curses, making it accessible for new and casual players. **Cthonic Fissure**, **Profane Veil**, and **Chaos Bolts** are key skills, with builds like **Witchfire** proving viable. However, defense is a significant weakness, relying heavily on high eHP and recovery.

The passive tree supports damage over time and specific builds, but lacks the comprehensive defensive options found in higher tiers. Warlock is best suited for players who prioritize ease of gearing and a focus on damage over time.

**D-Tier: Sorcerer**

As a classic caster class, **Sorcerer** offers viability but lacks standout features. **Frostbite Frostclaw** is a solid all-rounder, though it struggles with mana and speed. **Static Orb** and **Ice Barrage** provide strong stats and utility, while **Arcane Ascendance** and **Black Hole** offer unique mechanics.

The passive tree supports Ward, damage, and elemental debuffs, but **Mana Bulwark** proves ineffective. Sorcerer is suitable for players who enjoy traditional caster gameplay but are willing to accept its limitations in speed and mana efficiency.

For more detailed guides and builds for Last Epoch 1.2, visit our Last Epoch 1.2 builds page, exploring the Tombs of the Erased!