Last Epoch Season 2: Best Masteries Ranked

Last Epoch features an impressive 15 Mastery classes, each acting as a specialized subclass that enhances specific aspects of your build. From traditional archetypes like the Sorcerer to unique options such as the Falconer—which lets you soar across the battlefield with a bird companion—there’s no shortage of playstyles to explore. With so many choices, deciding where to focus can be tough, but this Last Epoch Mastery tier list will guide your decision.

How We Ranked the Best and Worst Masteries in Last Epoch

A Mastery’s strength depends on how well it fulfills key criteria for viable builds. Every build prioritizes clear speed (mapping), single-target DPS (bossing), and survivability, but some Masteries simply excel more than others or have superior synergies.

For instance, multiplicative damage ("more" multipliers) is stronger than additive ("increased") multipliers, so Masteries offering the former rank higher. Pay close attention to passives—they’ll clearly indicate how damage scales. Stats like critical hit chance, crit multiplier, flat damage, armor shred chance, and armor shred effect also play major roles.

Defensively, critical hit mitigation (reduction or avoidance) is crucial, as sudden damage spikes often lead to deaths. Resistances matter too—while gear and idols can cover them, having resistances on the passive tree adds flexibility. Meanwhile, damage reduction is one of the best survival stats, though it’s rare. Recovery mechanics (leech, regeneration, on-hit healing) and effective HP (ward/health) also factor in. Masteries that offer these efficiently tend to rank at the top.

Mastery skills are evaluated based on their numerical potential for bossing and clearing, with slight consideration given to playstyle fluidity. A skill might be S-Tier numerically but feel clunky, which could lower its Mastery’s ranking. If mechanics like snapshotting don’t bother you, feel free to adjust rankings accordingly.

Last Epoch Season 2 Masteries Tier List

Paladin, Void Knight

Unmatched in clear speed, boss damage, and defense, with no notable weaknesses

Falconer, Bladedancer, Shaman, Druid

Strong in clear, bossing, and/or defense but falters in one area

Marksman, Lich, Beastmaster

Solid in clear, bossing, and/or defense but struggles in one or more aspects

Necromancer, Forge Guard, Runemaster

Decent in some areas but lacks optimization for high-level play

Spellblade, Warlock, Sorcerer

Underwhelming performance in multiple areas, requiring significant optimization

S-Tier Last Epoch Masteries

S-Tier: Void Knight

For players who want to obliterate screens with a massive purple sword while remaining unkillable, the Void Knight (paired with Erasing Strike) is ideal. It scales exceptionally well, especially when transitioning into the World Splitter variant. The Warpath version is equally viable, offering top-tier performance while being friendly to new and casual players.

With enhanced mobility and effective HP (eHP), the Void Knight boasts top-tier clear speed and formidable boss damage. Its ability to deal damage while moving significantly boosts DPS while feeling smooth to play.

Numerically, it delivers 200% added damage effectiveness on all skills (600% on Erasing Strike), which is where you want to be. The passive tree provides Physical/Void resistance and penetration, leech mechanics, damage reduction, health increases, slow/chill resistance, mana sustain, attack speed, and more. Key nodes include Sorrow & Steel (damage, armor, and AoE in one), Void Corruption (massive crit bonuses), and Mortal Cleave (culling, damage, and crit chance). Simply put, the Void Knight has it all.

S-Tier: Paladin

Developer Eleventh Hour Games (EHG) admitted overbuffing the Sentinel rework, which is why Judgement Paladin dominated the Terminate Uber Abberoth race, securing four of the top five spots. This Mastery undeniably earns its S-Tier status.

Like the Void Knight, the Paladin excels in damage, survivability, and skill potency. Judgement alone is absurdly strong, offering 350% damage effectiveness and a 200% crit multiplier—all for just 15 mana and a 4-second cooldown. Nearly every other skill matches this power, a claim no other Mastery can make. For example, Symbols of Hope and Holy Aura blend offense and defense, while Healing Hands provides unparalleled sustain.

The passive tree offers the highest resistance values in the game, along with recovery, damage reduction, mana solutions, attack/cast speed, block chance, armor, and penetration. Standouts include Covenant of Light (buffing Healing Hands and Holy Aura), Reverence of Duality, and Covenant of Dominion, which collectively deliver an overpowered mix of offense and defense.

While Judgement is the star, Bleed Hammerdin and Smite are viable alternatives for off-meta experimentation.

A-Tier Last Epoch Masteries

A-Tier: Falconer

EHG aimed to nerf overpowered builds to "just under OP," which perfectly describes the Falconer post-adjustments. While no longer game-breaking, it remains exceptionally strong.

Boasting unrivaled mobility and top-tier damage—thanks to critical multipliers and Dexterity scaling—the Falconer shines with Aerial Assault, allowing you to combine movement and damage seamlessly. The only real drawback is defense: relying on Dodge, Silver/Dusk Shrouds, or Glancing Blows for mitigation, alongside minimal resistance options on the passive tree.

The Zero HP Ballista Falconer is a glass-cannon build that hits extremely hard but relies on cheesing mechanics—definitely not hardcore-friendly. Alternatively, Umbral Blades (using Shadow Daggers or Dexterity-stacking) offers a fast-paced playstyle, though it requires high APM.

A-Tier: Bladedancer

Though less popular than the Falconer, the Bladedancer is nearly as strong, excelling in clear speed, boss damage, and survivability. Skills like Lethal Mirage provide invincibility frames (iframes), making it ideal for agile melee players.

Key passive nodes include Pursuit (damage and movement speed), Argent Veil (boosting Dodge reliability), and Death’s Door (damage reduction for low-life builds). With Glancing Blows, Dusk Shrouds, and Dodge, defense is sturdy, while Dexterity scaling and crit support maximize damage. Its only limitation is raw numerical power compared to S-Tier juggernauts like Judgment Paladin.

Build options include Shadow Daggers, Shadow Cascade, Chakrams, or Lethal Mirage using the Black Blade of Chaos.

A-Tier: Beastmaster

The premier summoner Mastery, Beastmaster secured second place in the Uber Abberoth race partly due to Storm Crows (a cross-Mastery skill) and Summon Wolf buffs. While not the fastest, its minions excel in sustained damage.

The Poison Nova Scorpion build (popularized by CookBook) offers balanced performance but suffers from slow movement speed—unless mitigated via Haste gear and idols.

Passives provide damage reduction, health, healing, endurance for companions, crit support, and stun. Damage scaling must come from elsewhere, however.

A-Tier: Shaman

A hybrid melee/elemental Mastery, Shaman excels in endgame pushes, reaching Arena waves 500-700+. While clear speed isn’t top-tier, it’s respectable, and defense is solid.

Tornado is the standout skill, offering vacuum effects and deceptively high damage. Earthquake and Avalanche see little play due to mana issues, but Aftershock idols can supplement damage. Summon Storm Totem serves as a reliable decoy.

The passive tree delivers elemental penetration, cooldown reduction, Haste, and auto-cast triggers. Highlights include Fist of Stone (health regeneration and stun), Lagon’s Answer (damage reduction and AoE), and Swirling Maelstrom (ward and sustain).

A-Tier: Druid

The shapeshifting specialist, Druid thrives as Storm Werebear, boasting strong DPS, survivability, and endgame viability (Uber Abberoth, 1000 Corruption, 300+ Arena). Its only flaw is slower farming speed.

Werebear Form replaces four skills, with Rampage and Maul excelling in mobility and damage. Roar provides crowd control and rage sustain. Meanwhile, Spriggan Form (better with Beastmaster synergy) and Swarmblade offer alternative playstyles.

Passives shine with Spirit Warden (sustain), Focused Wrath (damage and rage management), and Impervious (damage reduction).

B-Tier Last Epoch Masteries

B-Tier: Lich

A high-risk, high-reward Mastery, Lich trades health for power via Reaper Form and impactful passives.

Death Seal stands out with 300% damage effectiveness and 50% damage reduction, while Reaper Form offers mobility, AoE attacks, and life steal. The downside: skills drain health, requiring recovery investment.

Passives like Dance With Death, Hollow Lich, and Ageless Plagues deliver efficient damage scaling, while Harvested Legions automates minion spawning.

B-Tier: Marksman

The quintessential archer, Marksman excels with Hail of Arrows (best with the Sanguine Hoard quiver) or Heartseeker (auto-targeting projectiles).

Strengths include high hit-count projectiles (enabling sustain via on-hit healing) and powerful multipliers. Drawbacks include squishiness and reliance on positioning.

Notable passives include Heightened Senses (crit avoidance/multiplier) and Death From Afar (stun/armor shred).

C-Tier Last Epoch Masteries

C-Tier: Necromancer

The undead summoner, Necromancer performs well in mid-tier Arena (200-400 waves), thanks to skills like Summon Skeletal Mage’s anti-regen effect and Dread Shade’s burst damage.

Assemble Abomination (tanky minion) and Summon Wraith (DPS-focused) are viable but require optimization. Passives like Elixir of Hunger (sustain) and Rite of Undeath (resistances) help but lack S-Tier impact.

C-Tier: Runemaster

A unique spell-combo specialist, Runemaster thrives with Rune of Invocation, which creates hybrid spells like Hydrahedron (1000 Corruption viable).

Defense is its weak spot, but mobility skills like