The wind howls through the ruins of Eterra as your falcon circles above, its sharp eyes tracking the movements of the Void-touched below. With a flick of your wrist, Ballistae erupt from the ground, their bolts piercing through enemies before they even know what hit them. This is the power of the Ballista Falconer—a build that doesn’t just kill enemies; it erases them from existence.
In Last Epoch Season 2: Tombs of the Erased, the Ballista Falconer has risen as one of the most devastating, fast-paced, and high-risk/high-reward builds in the game. It’s not for the faint of heart—this is a Zero Hit Points (ZHP) setup, meaning you trade all traditional defenses for unmatched damage. But if you’re willing to master its mechanics, you’ll be rewarded with a playstyle that clears screens in seconds and melts bosses before they can land a single blow.
This guide isn’t just about numbers—it’s about strategy, lore, and community wisdom. We’ll break down how to level, gear, and optimize Ballista Falconer build, why the Falconer’s lore makes it so unique, and what top players like BinaQC have discovered while pushing it to 1,000+ Corruption.
The Ballista Falconer: A Lore-Driven Powerhouse
The Falconer isn’t just a Rogue with a bird—it’s a tactical mastermind, a remnant of the Avian Aerie, an ancient order of sky-bound assassins who once served the Osprix. These warriors didn’t fight on the frontlines; they controlled the battlefield from above, using falcons to scout, distract, and strike with lethal precision.
In Last Epoch, this translates into a playstyle where your Falcon isn’t just a pet—it’s a force multiplier. The Aerial Assault skill buffs your Ballistae, while Falcon Strikes disrupt enemy formations. Thematically, this mirrors the Aerie’s tactics: overwhelm before the enemy can react.
But there’s a dark side. The Falconer’s ZHP variant—where you forsake armor, resistances, and health—echoes the Aerie’s “strike fast or die” philosophy. As one lore fragment in the Osprix Archives warns: “The sky favors the bold, but the ground claims the reckless.”
Why This Build Dominates Season 2
The Ballista Falconer excels in three key areas:
- Off-Screen Clearing: Ballistae auto-target enemies beyond your vision, making them perfect for Monolith speed farming.
- Burst Damage: With the right setup, a single volley can one-shot Tier 4 Dungeon bosses.
- Mobility: Smoke Bomb and Aerial Assault let you reposition instantly, avoiding deadly mechanics.
Community Insights
- BinaQC (Beastmaster specialist) adds: “The ZHP version is squishy, but if you master Silver Shrouds, you’re untouchable.”
Step-by-Step Build Guide
Leveling: From Puncture to Ballista Dominance
Early on, Bleed Puncture carries you effortlessly. At Level 40, transition to Ballistae by:
- Specializing in Ballista (max Perfect Aim and Shared Enhancements).
- Using Aerial Assault to buff turret damage.
- Grabbing Mourningfrost (a Unique dagger that scales damage with Dexterity) as soon as possible.
Core Skills & Rotations
- Ballista: Your primary damage source. Place them behind cover to avoid enemy aggro.
- Aerial Assault: Use before summoning Ballistae for the Tactician buff (+30% damage).
- Smoke Bomb: Your “oh shit” button—grants invincibility frames and Silver Shrouds (guaranteed dodges).
- Decoy: Distracts enemies, giving you breathing room.
- Falconry: This Skill serves as support for the build, enhancing your overall effectiveness in combat. This setup also lets your Falcon apply a portion of certain ailments, bleeding to your enemies, increasing the damage output over time and providing strategic advantages during encounters.
Tip: If playing in a party, use Purging Fumes (Smoke Bomb node) to buff allies.
Gear: The Holy Trinity of Damage
- Uethrin’s Stand: Increases max Ballistae and attack speed.
- Phantom Grip: Boosts crit chance to near 100%.
- Mourningfrost: Adds 1 Flat Cold damage per Dexterity, scaling insanely with high-Dex gear.
Community Tip: “Farm Death Rattle (Amulet) early—it’s BiS for crit minion builds.” — Grunfire
Defense? What Defense?
This build doesn’t use armor or resistances. Instead, you rely on:
- Silver Shrouds (guaranteed dodges from Smoke Bomb).
- Dusk Shrouds (grants Dodge Rating and Glancing Blows).
- Kiting: If enemies get close, you’ve already failed.
Pushing Ballista Falconer Build for 1,000+ Corruption
Bossing Strategy
- Pre-place Ballistae before engaging.
- Time Smoke Bomb for boss telegraphs (e.g., Abberoth’s slam).
- Use Falcon Strikes to execute low-health targets.
Corruption Scaling
At high Corruption, prioritize:
- Dexterity breakpoints (every 20 Dex boosts Razorfall damage).
- Armor Shred (Idols with “Chance to Shred Armor on Hit”).
- Movement Speed (to stay ahead of one-shot mechanics).
Community FAQ: Solving Common Problems
“I Run Out of Mana!”
- Fix: Craft -Mana Cost rings or use Elixir of Construction (Ballista node).
“I Die Too Fast!”
- Fix: Always keep a Silver Shroud active. Use Coordinated Fade (Passive) to auto-generate them.
“Is Hardcore Viable?”
- Answer: Yes, but risky. The HC variant drops Mourningfrost for capped resistances and 100% Glancing Blows.
Is This Build for You?
The Ballista Falconer is not a beginner-friendly build. It demands:
- Precise positioning.
- Fast reactions (to dodge with Smoke Bomb).
- Patience (to farm key Uniques).
But if you want a build that redefines “glass cannon”, this is it. As BinaQC proved, it’s possible to clear all content without taking a single hit—if you play perfectly.