The Nova Hammerdin Paladin is a formidable build in Last Epoch, renowned for its exceptional area-of-effect (AoE) damage and long-range capabilities. By transforming the Hammer Throw skill into a nova of hammers, this build effectively clears screens of enemies while maintaining substantial survivability. This guide provides an in-depth look at the skills, passives, gameplay strategies, gear recommendations to optimize the Nova Hammerdin Paladin build.
Nova Hammerdin Paladin Build Skills in Last Epoch
The Nova Hammerdin Paladin utilizes a combination of offensive and supportive skills to maximize damage output and survivability. Below is a detailed breakdown of each skill and its specialized nodes:
| Skill | Nodes |
|---|---|
| Hammer Throw | – Enra’s Technique – Avatar of the Spire – Zealot’s Conviction – Weighted Hammers – Hammer Vortex – Mana Starved Forging |
| Sigils of Hope | – Empowering Sigils – Iron Sigils – Sign of the Guardian – Last Wish |
| Smite | – Descend – Desperate Measures – Righteous Flurry |
| Volatile Reversal | – Harbinger of Dust – Warped Time – Catching Up |
| Holy Aura | – Shelter from the Storm – Wrath – Fanaticism |
Last Epoch Nova Hammerdin Paladin Build: Passives
Allocating passive points strategically across the Sentinel, Paladin, and Void Knight trees enhances the build’s effectiveness.
| Passive Node | Tree | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Armour Clad | Sentinel | Grants damage reduction, crucial for survivability. |
| Juggernaut | Sentinel | Provides additional resistances and armor. |
| Abyssal Endurance | Void Knight | Increases health and void resistance. |
| Holy Icon | Paladin | Enhances healing and elemental resistances. |
| Defiance | Paladin | grants 2 mana and improves some skills boosts resistances and armor. |
| Honour | Sentinel | Grants block chance and armor. |
| Siege Captain | Sentinel | Offers both damage and survivability benefits. |
| Shield Breaker | Paladin | Provides resistance shred, increasing enemy susceptibility to damage. |
| Reverence of Duality | Paladin | Grants increased damage and resistances. |
These passives collectively enhance both offensive and defensive aspects, ensuring a balanced and resilient character.
Nova Hammerdin Paladin build: Gear
Optimizing your gear is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of the Nova Hammerdin Paladin build in Last Epoch. This section outlines the recommended equipment, including weapons, armor, accessories, and idols, to enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities.
| Equipment Slot | Recommended Items/Affixes | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | – One-Handed Weapon: Prioritize a weapon with high Throwing Attack Damage, Critical Strike Chance, and Critical Strike Multiplier. – Notable Uniques: Eagle Wing, Li’raka’s Claws | – Throwing Attack Damage: Enhances the damage output of Hammer Throw. – Critical Strike Chance & Multiplier: Increases the likelihood and impact of critical hits, significantly boosting overall DPS. – Eagle Wing and Li’raka’s Claws provide substantial bonuses to critical strike metrics, amplifying damage potential. |
| Shield | – Ironglass Shield: Offers inherent attributes that enhance block chance and effectiveness. – Affixes: Block Chance, Block Effectiveness, Damage Taken on Block | – Block Chance & Effectiveness: Improves survivability by reducing incoming damage through effective blocking. – Damage Taken on Block: Further mitigates damage when blocking, enhancing durability in combat. |
| Helmet | – Affixes: Strength, Dexterity, Health | – Strength & Dexterity: Contribute to increased damage and skill effectiveness. – Health: Enhances overall survivability by increasing the health pool. |
| Body Armor | – Affixes: Health, Armor, Resistances | – Health: Boosts survivability by enlarging the health pool. – Armor & Resistances: Provide damage mitigation against various attack types, crucial for enduring challenging encounters. |
| Gloves | – Riverbend Grasp: Grants bonuses to Throwing Attack Damage and Strength. – Alternative Affixes: Throwing Attack Damage, Strength, Dexterity, Health | – Throwing Attack Damage: Directly increases the potency of Hammer Throw. – Strength & Dexterity: Enhance damage output and skill performance. – Health: Adds to survivability. |
| Boots | – Affixes: Movement Speed, Health, Resistances | – Movement Speed: Facilitates quick repositioning and dodging of enemy attacks. – Health & Resistances: Contribute to overall durability and defense against various damage types. |
| Amulet | – Bleeding Heart: Provides Melee Damage Leeched as Health, aiding in sustain. – Alternative Affixes: Throwing Attack Damage, Critical Strike Chance, Health | – Melee Damage Leeched as Health: Converts a portion of damage dealt into health, enhancing sustain during combat. – Throwing Attack Damage & Critical Strike Chance: Boost damage output. – Health: Further increases survivability. |
| Rings | – Affixes: Reduced Mana Cost (for Hammer Throw), Throwing Attack Damage, Strength, Health | – Reduced Mana Cost: Enables more frequent use of Hammer Throw without depleting mana reserves. – Throwing Attack Damage: Enhances primary attack potency. – Strength & Health: Contribute to both offensive power and survivability. |
| Belt | – Affixes: Health, Armor, Resistances | – Health: Increases the character’s durability. – Armor & Resistances: Provide additional layers of defense against incoming damage. |
| Idols | – Adorned Rahyeh Idols: Look for prefixes granting a chance to cast Smite with throwing attacks and suffixes providing Health or Block Chance. | – Chance to Cast Smite: Adds supplementary damage and healing through automatic Smite casts. – Health: Boosts overall survivability. – Block Chance: Further enhances defensive capabilities. |
Skill Rotation
- Activate Sigils of Hope: Cast four Sigils to gain their buffs.
- Engage with Hammer Throw: Spam Hammer Throw to unleash hammers in a nova pattern.
- Utilize Mobility Skills: Use Smite or Shield Rush to navigate the battlefield quickly.
- Apply Volatile Reversal: Cast on top of enemies to amplify damage and gain buffs.
- Maintain Buffs: Keep Sigils of Hope and Holy Aura active for continuous benefits.