Last Epoch, the highly anticipated action RPG, offers a wealth of character customization and build options. For players eager to dive into the world of Eterra and conquer the Tombs of the Erased, a strong and efficient leveling build is paramount. This guide explores a powerful Smite Hammer Paladin build, designed for smooth progression and early game dominance. This build is not only effective for clearing content but also provides a solid foundation for a more specialized endgame build. Furthermore, understanding how to efficiently acquire Last Epoch Gold will significantly accelerate your character's progression.

Skill Specialization and Progression:

Here's a recommended skill specialization order to optimize your leveling experience:

Smite: It is essential to prioritize Smite in the early stages. Concentrate on nodes that enhance damage, mana efficiency, and critical strike chance. Important nodes to seek out include those that boost flat damage, critical multiplier, and decrease mana cost.

Hammer Throw: As you progress in levels, allocate points to Hammer Throw for area of effect (AoE) damage. Select nodes that augment the number of hammers thrown, their damage output, and conversion to lightning damage to create synergy with other skills.

Holy Aura: Holy Aura offers passive enhancements that greatly improve survivability. Invest in nodes that provide increased armor, elemental resistance, and healing effectiveness. Additionally, consider nodes that inflict damage on enemies that strike you.

Lunge: Lunge serves as your mobility skill. Focus on nodes that lower cooldown times and enhance movement speed, enabling you to swiftly reposition and evade perilous situations.

Sigils of Hope: Sigils of Hope delivers crucial buffs and sustain. Prioritize nodes that extend Sigil duration, grant armor, and offer healing.

Passive Tree Allocation:

Focus on the Paladin and Forge Guard passive trees.

Paladin Tree: Invest points in nodes that increase your elemental damage, critical strike chance, health, and mana regeneration.
Forge Guard Tree: Allocate points to increase armor, block chance, and health. This tree enhances your defensive capabilities, making you more resilient in combat.

Gear and Affixes:

While leveling, focus on acquiring gear with the following affixes:

Enhanced Physical Damage: Vital for amplifying the damage output of both Smite and Hammer Throw.

Enhanced Elemental Damage: The transformation to Lightning damage on Hammer Throw renders this affix highly beneficial.
Critical Strike Probability: An increased crit probability results in more frequent damage surges.
Critical Strike Multiplier: Amplifies the damage inflicted when you achieve a critical strike.
Mana Recovery: Essential for sustaining a consistent mana supply for skill casting.
Health: Boosts your durability and enables you to endure greater amounts of damage.
Armor: Mitigates the physical damage received.
Elemental Resistances: Shields against various types of elemental damage.

Do not overlook the significance of regularly upgrading your equipment. Even minor enhancements can greatly influence your overall performance. Do not hesitate to purchase gear from vendors if it presents a considerable upgrade. This is where having a substantial amount of Last Epoch Gold early in the game proves to be invaluable.

Gameplay Tips:

Single Target Smite: Utilize Smite to swiftly take down bosses and formidable foes.

Hammer Throw for Area of Effect: Use Hammer Throw to eliminate groups of enemies. Position yourself wisely to enhance the number of foes affected.

Lunge for Tactical Positioning: Employ Lunge to rapidly reposition and evade perilous situations.

Sustain Holy Aura and Sigils of Hope: Ensure these buffs remain active to optimize your durability and damage potential.

Focus on Survivability: Do not hesitate to allocate resources towards defensive attributes and abilities to bolster your survivability. A fallen Paladin inflicts no damage.

Acquiring Last Epoch Gold:

Complete Quests: Quests often reward you with significant amounts of gold.
Sell Unwanted Items: Sell unnecessary gear and other items to vendors.
Farm High-Density Areas: Areas with a large number of enemies provide opportunities for loot, which can be sold for gold.

The Smite Hammer Paladin is a powerful and versatile build that excels at leveling in Last Epoch. By following this guide, you'll be well-equipped to conquer the Tombs of the Erased and progress efficiently through the early game. Remember to prioritize key skills, passives, and gear affixes to maximize your damage output and survivability. Furthermore, efficient methods of acquiring Last Epoch Gold for sale will significantly accelerate your journey, allowing you to purchase necessary upgrades and further optimize your build.

High-Density Areas: Areas with a large number of enemies provide opportunities for loot, which can be sold for gold.

The Smite Hammer Paladin is a powerful and versatile build that excels at leveling in Last Epoch. By following this guide, you'll be well-equipped to conquer the Tombs of the Erased and progress efficiently through the early game. Remember to prioritize key skills, passives, and gear affixes to maximize your damage output and survivability. Furthermore, efficient methods of acquiring Last Epoch Gold will significantly accelerate your journey, allowing you to purchase necessary upgrades and further optimize your build.