Mastering the Magic: A Comprehensive Guide to Last Epoch's Mage Masteries

In the realm of action RPGs, Last Epoch offers a unique and engaging experience through its diverse class system. Among these, the Mage class stands out due to its access to three distinct Masteries: Sorcerer, Runemaster, and Spellblade. Each of these Masteries provides unique buffs, skills, and playstyles, ensuring that players can tailor their approach to combat. This article delves into the specifics of each Mage Mastery and provides insights on which one might be the best to pick based on versatility and overall effectiveness.

Mage Mastery Classes

The Mage class in Last Epoch offers three fascinating Masteries, each catering to different combat styles and offering unique benefits and skills. Below are the detailed descriptions and features of each Mastery.

Sorcerer

The Sorcerer is a formidable wielder of arcane power, capable of devastating foes from afar with high-damage spells.

Description: A master of the arcane who wields unprecedented power to devastate enemies from a distance.

Passive Bonuses: +50 Mana, Spells deal increased damage equal to their mana cost

Mastery Skill: Meteor

Details: Meteor calls down a meteor from the sky, dealing substantial damage upon impact with added damage applied at 900% effectiveness. It offers 2074 DPS and has a 56 Mana cost.

Runemaster

The Runemaster is a sorcerous savant who incorporates magic into both offensive and protective wards to counter threats.

Description: A savant of the art of runes, able to infuse magic into offensive and protective wards that devastate those who trespass them.

Passive Bonuses: 30% increased Elemental Damage, 10% increased Cast Speed with Elemental Spells

Mastery Skill: Runic Invocation

Details: Runic Invocation allows you to gain 1 Rune of the corresponding element whenever you use an elemental skill. You can consume all active Runes to cast a unique Invocation based on the combination and order of Runes consumed. It has a 12 Mana cost.

Spellblade

The Spellblade combines martial prowess with spell mastery, allowing for effective close-range combat.

Description: A mage who combines martial prowess with their mastery of spells to face enemies in close combat.

Passive Bonuses: 4 Ward gained on melee hit, Mana spent on melee attacks is converted to Ward

Mastery Skill: Shatter Strike

Details: Shatter Strike is a sweeping melee attack that deals cold damage to enemies in a surrounding circle and vanquishes frozen enemies below 100 health. It offers 497 DPS and has a 15 Mana cost.

Unique Benefits and Skills

Last Epoch allows players to explore the depth of each Mastery's ability and passive skill trees. As you level up, you'll gain access to advanced skills and buff options that further define your chosen Mastery. Accessing these unique features is as simple as navigating to the "Passives" menu and selecting each Mastery from the top-left corner.

The Ultimate Choice: Best Mage Mastery

Given the uniqueness of each Mastery, choosing the "best" one can be subjective and largely dependent on your preferred combat style. However, after a comprehensive analysis, the Runemaster stands out as the overall best choice for a Mage in Last Epoch.

The Runemaster offers a balanced mix of the attributes found in both the Sorcerer and the Spellblade. It combines the long-range high damage capabilities of the Sorcerer with the close-range combat effectiveness of the Spellblade. The versatility offered by the Runemaster allows for a flexible gameplay style that can adapt to various combat situations.

Runic Invocation: The Game-Changer

One of the standout features of the Runemaster is its Mastery Skill, Runic Invocation. This skill is immensely powerful, allowing for the customization of damage based on the element of the Runes you've gathered. Whether you prefer Fire, Ice, or Lightning, Runic Invocation can deliver substantial damage. When paired with elemental skills like Fireball, Disintegrate, and Elemental Nova, along with passive buffs to elemental damage, Runemaster can achieve extremely high DPS, making it a formidable class.

Making Your Mastery Decision

In Last Epoch, you can choose your Mastery starting at level 17. While you can delay this decision, doing so may deny your character valuable access to better spells and other significant buffs. It's crucial to carefully consider your preferred combat style before making this irreversible choice, as the game explicitly warns that your Mastery selection "cannot be undone or changed." Diligently review each Mastery to ensure it aligns with your gameplay preferences.

Respec Options

Though your Mastery choice is permanent, Last Epoch does allow for some flexibility. You can always respec your Passive Skills and regular Skill Points if you feel the need to tweak your build to better suit evolving strategies or new encounters within the game.