Masteries

Soldier	Demolitionist	Occultist	Nightblade	Arcanist	Shaman	Inquisitor	Necromancer

Grim Dawn's skill classes are known as Masteries.  Each Mastery has its own skill tree which represents the various character archetypes within the game. On reaching level 2, a player chooses a Mastery for their character to specialize in. At level 10, a second and final mastery may be chosen to complement the first choice and create a dual-class character.

Dual-classes

	Soldier	Demolitionist	Occultist	Nightblade	Arcanist	Shaman	Inquisitor	Necromancer
Soldier	—	Commando	Witchblade	Blademaster	Battlemage	Warder	Tactician	Death Knight
Demolitionist	Commando	—	Pyromancer	Saboteur	Sorcerer	Elementalist	Purifier	Defiler
Occultist	Witchblade	Pyromancer	—	Witch Hunter	Warlock	Conjurer	Deceiver	Cabalist
Nightblade	Blademaster	Saboteur	Witch Hunter	—	Spellbreaker	Trickster	Infiltrator	Reaper
Arcanist	Battlemage	Sorcerer	Warlock	Spellbreaker	—	Druid	Mage Hunter	Spellbinder
Shaman	Warder	Elementalist	Conjurer	Trickster	Druid	—	Vindicator	Ritualist
Inquisitor	Tactician	Purifier	Deceiver	Infiltrator	Mage Hunter	Vindicator	—	Apostate
Necromancer	Death Knight	Defiler	Cabalist	Reaper	Spellbinder	Ritualist	Apostate	—

Skill Points

Skill points are earned each time a character levels up. Three points are granted per level to 50, and two per level-up after that to the level cap of 85. Several Quests also provide skill points as a reward, for a total of 223 obtainable skill points.

Skills

Mastery skills are first unlocked by investing skill points in the mastery bar. Filling the Mastery bar up to a particular tier allows points to then be spent on skills of that tier, as well as granting the character an increase in base attributes.

Skill Types

Skills in Grim Dawn can be divided into four types:

• Active skills require manual activation by the player, and are assigned to the mouse or skill bar.

• Passive skills activate automatically, and can provide bonuses or chance on attack effects.

• Modifiers alter the behavior of Active and Passive skills by adding additional effects.

• Transmuters are a class of Modifier that alters the basic function of an active or passive skill. They can provide interesting trade-offs and a greater range of build possibilities, and give players more flexibility as to how they use certain skills. Each Mastery features 3-5 Transmuters.

Skill Functions

Default Weapon Attacks

These are Active skills that serve as Auto-Attack Replacers, and can be bound to the left mouse button. In addition to those available from Masteries, several are granted by items.

	Auto-Attack	Source
Cadence 01/16 When used as your default weapon attack, Candence will magnify the power of every 3rd strike. 1 Energy Cost 2 Charge Levels: 100% 130% Weapon Damage 24 Physical Damage 16/16 4 Energy Cost 420% Weapon Damage 182 Physical Damage	Cadence	Soldier
Fire Strike 01/12 When used as your default weapon attack, Fire Strike inflicts additional physical and fire damage. 1 Energy Cost 100% Weapon Damage 4 Fire Damage +4% Physical Damage 12/12 3 Energy Cost 122% Weapon Damage 38 Fire Damage +56% Physical Damage	Fire Strike	Demolitionist
Savagery 01/16 1 Energy Cost 6 Charge Levels: 30%, 50%, 65%, 80% 90%, 100% 100% Weapon Damage 6 Lightning Damage 12 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds +8% Lightning Damage +8% Bleeding Damage 16/16 7 Energy Cost 8 Charge Levels: 30%, 50%, 65%, 80% 90%, 100%, 108%, 115% 150% Weapon Damage 46 Lightning Damage 147 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds +90% Lightning Damage +90% Bleeding Damage	Savagery	Shaman
	Troll Rage	Mistborn Talisman (relic)
	Beronath's Fury	Shard of Beronath (component)

Weapon Pool Skills

These are Passive abilities that have a chance to proc with default weapon/auto attacks.

	Skill	Mastery
Markovian's Advantage 01/12 Can activate with all default weapon attacks. 12% Chance to be Used 110% Weapon Damage 16 Physical Damage +15% to All Damage 30 Reduced Target's Defensive Ability for 5 Seconds 12/12 26% Chance to be Used 140% Weapon Damage 123 Physical Damage +125% to All Damage 150 Reduced Target's Defensive Ability for 5 Seconds	Markovian's Advantage	Soldier
Zolhan's Technique 01/12 Can activate with all default weapon attacks. When used with a melee weapon, the attack strikes multiple nearby targets. 12% Chance to be Used 180 Degree Attack Arc 2 Target Maximum 110% Weapon Damage 90 Internal Trauma over 5 Seconds 15% Slower Enemy Attack for 2.8 Seconds 12/12 26% Chance to be Used 5 Target Maximum 175% Weapon Damage 685 Internal Trauma over 5 Seconds 33% Slower Enemy Attack for 10 Seconds	Zolhan's Technique	Soldier
Feral Hunger 01/10 Requires a two-handed melee or two-handed ranged weapon. Activates off default weapon attacks. 8% Chance to be Used 180 Degree Attack Arc 5 Target Maximum 110% Weapon Damage 28 Bleeding Damage over 2 Seconds 10% of Attack Damage converted to Health 10/10 25% Chance to be Used 160% Weapon Damage 204 Bleeding Damage over 2 Seconds 33% of Attack Damage converted to Health	Feral Hunger	Shaman
Upheaval 01/10 Requires a two-handed melee or two-handed ranged weapon. Activates off default weapon attacks. 100% Chance to be Used 3 Meter Radius 50% Weapon Damage 15 Lightning Damage 78 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds 10/10 115% Weapon Damage 74 Lightning Damage 348 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds	Upheaval	Shaman
Amarasta's Quick Cut 01/08 12% Chance to be Used 70% Weapon Damage 19 Piercing Damage +5% Crit Damage 08/08 22% Chance to be Used 100% Weapon Damage 68 Piercing Damage +35% Crit Damage	Amarasta's Quick Cut	Nightblade
Belgothian's Shears 01/08 12% Chance to be Used 165 Degree Attack Arc 3 target Maximum 110% Weapon Damage 14-19 Physical Damage +12% Pierce Damage Stun target for 0.7 Seconds 08/08 22% Chance to be Used 128% Weapon Damage 56-86 Physical Damage +115% Pierce Damage	Belgothian's Shears	Nightblade
Execution 01/08 12% Chance to be Used 230% Weapon Damage 54 Cold Damage 9% Reduction to Enemy's Health 08/08 22% Chance to be Used 265% Weapon Damage 110 Cold Damage 23% Reduction to Enemy's Health	Execution	Nightblade
Nidalla's Hidden Hand 01/08 6 Acid Damage 30 Poison Damage over 5 Seconds +8% Acid Damage +8% Poison Damage 12% Slow target for 5 Seconds 5% Piercing Damage converted to Acid Damage 08/08 28 Acid Damage 160 Poison Damage over 5 Seconds +66% Acid Damage +66% Poison Damage 30% Slow target for 5 Seconds 33% Piercing Damage converted to Acid Damage	Nidalla's Hidden Hand	Nightblade
Whirling Death 01/08 12% Chance to be Used 360 Degree Attack Arc 6 Target Maximum 100% Weapon Damage 31 Piercing Damage 75 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds 08/08 22% Chance to be Used 120% Weapon Damage 80 Piercing Damage 327 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds	Whirling Death	Nightblade

Exclusive Skills

These are Active skills which provide powerful buffs,only one of which can be activated at any one time.

	Exclusive Skill
Menhir's Bulwark 01/12 Requires a shield or two-handed weapon. This ability must be toggled to maintain its effect. Exclusive Skill - Only one Exclusive Skill can be active at any one time. 2% Damage Absorption 8 Physical Damage +5% Stun Duration +8 Health Regenerated per Second Healing Effects Increased by +3% 15% Resistance to Life Reduction +25% to All Retaliation Damage 12/12 15% Damage Absorption 46 Physical Damage +40% Stun Duration +85 Health Regenerated per Second Healing Effects Increased by +15% 33% Resistance to Life Reduction +135% to All Retaliation Damage	Menhir's Bulwark (Skill)	Soldier
Oleron's Rage 01/12 This ability must be toggled to maintain its effect. Exclusive Skill - Only one exclusive skill can be activated at any one time. 30-50 Internal Trauma over 5 Seconds +25% Physical Damage +25% Pierce Damage +25% Internal Trauma Damage +3% Offensive Ability +1% Movement Speed 12/12 140-195 Internal Trauma over 5 Seconds +135% Physical Damage +135% Pierce Damage +135% Internal Trauma Damage +14% Offensive Ability +12% Movement Speed	Oleron's Rage (Skill)	Soldier
Possession 01/12 This ability must be toggled to maintain its effect. 2% Damage Absorption 10 Chaos Damage +25% Acid Damage +25% Vitality Damage +25% Chaos Damage +25% Poison Damage +25% Vitality Decay 2% Chaos Resistance 100% Skill Disruption Protection 12/12 15% Damage Absorption 42 Chaos Damage +135% Acid Damage +135% Vitality Damage +135% Chaos Damage +135% Poison Damage +135% Vitality Decay 25% Chaos Resistance 100% Skill Disruption Protection	Possession (Skill)	Occultist
Primal Bond 01/12 This ability must be toggled to maintain its effect. 2% Damage Absorption 30 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds +25% Physical Damage +25% Internal Trauma Damage +25% Bleeding Damage with +6% Increased Duration 5% Less Damage from Beasts Bonus to All Pets 18 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds +8% to All Damage +8% Crit Damage 12/12 15% Damage Absorption 129 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds +135% Physical Damage +135% Internal Trauma Damage +135% Bleeding Damage with +50% Increased Duration 18% Less Damage from Beasts Bonus to All Pets 84 Bleeding Damage over 3 Seconds +74% to All Damage +33% Crit Damage	Primal Bond (Skill)	Shaman
Reckless Power 01/12 Exclusive Skill - only one Exclusive Skill can be active at any one time. 6-15 Aether Damage +25% Fire Damage +25% Aether Damage +25% Burn Damage 15% Physical Damage converted to Aether Damage +2% Attack Speed +2% Casting Speed 40 Fire Retaliation 25% Chance of 1 Second of Stun Retaliation 12/12 39-48 Aether Damage +135% Fire Damage +135% Aether Damage +135% Burn Damage +12% Attack Speed +2% Casting Speed 238 Fire Retaliation 50% Chance of 1 Second of Stun Retaliation	Reckless Power (Skill)	Arcanist
Star Pact 01/12 Exclusive Skill - only one Exclusive Skill can be active at any one time. 36 Frostburn Damage over 3 Seconds +25% Cold Damage +25% Lightning Damage +25% Frostburn Damage +25% Electrocute Damage 15% Physical Damage converted to Lightning Damage 15% Aether Damage converted to Cold Damage +1% Skill Cooldown Reduction 12/12 102 Frostburn Damage over 3 Seconds +135% Cold Damage +135% Lightning Damage +135% Frostburn Damage +135% Electrocute Damage 15% Physical Damage converted to Lightning Damage 40% Aether Damage converted to Cold Damage +10% Skill Cooldown Reduction	Star Pact (Skill)	Arcanist
Stormcaller's Pact 01/12 This ability must be toggled to maintain its effect. 24-39 Electrocute Damage over 3 Seconds +8% Crit Damage +25% Cold Damage 33% Chance of 75% Lightning Damage +25% Frostburn Damage +25% Electrocute Damage 15% Physical Damage converted to Lightning Damage 5% Reduced Stun Duration 12/12 90-156 Electrocute Damage over 3 Seconds +35% Crit Damage +135% Cold Damage 33% Chance of 405% Lightning Damage +135% Frostburn Damage +135% Electrocute Damage 30% Reduced Stun Duration	Stormcaller's Pact (Skill)	Shaman

Respecs

Skills can be unlearned by visiting a Spirit Guide who will refund skill points for a small fee, which will increase the more skill points are refunded. Skills cannot be completely unlearned without first removing all points from passive skills which affect it. Points can also not be removed from the Mastery bar.

• Masteries
• Items
• Creatures
• Factions
• Locations
• Constellations

• Soldier
• Demolitionist
• Occultist
• Nightblade
• Arcanist
• Shaman
• Inquisitor
• Necromancer
• Oathkeeper

Demolitionist Skills
Active Skills
Blackwater Cocktail (High Potency - Demon Fire - Agonizing Flames) • Canister Bomb (Concussive Bomb - Improved Casing) • Fire Strike (Explosive Strike - Searing Might - Searing Strike - Static Strike - Brimstone) • Flashbang (Searing Light) • Grenado (High Impact - Skyfire Grenado) - Shattering Blast • Mortar Trap (Heavy Ordnance - "The Big One") • Stun Jacks (Quick Jacks - Full Spread) • Thermite Mine (Hellfire Mine)
Passive Skills
Blast Shield • Ulzuin's Chosen
Toggle Skills
Flamed Touched (Temper) • Vindicative Flame (Ulzuin's Wrath)

Nightblade Skills
Active Skills
Amarasta's Blade Burst (Lethal Assault) • Blade Barrier • Blade Trap (Devouring Blades) • Phantasmal Blades (Frenetic Throw - Heart Seeker - Nether Edge) • Pneumatic Burst (Breath of Belgothian - Shadow Dance - Elemental Awakening) • Ring of Steel (Ring of Frost - Circle of Slaughter) • Shadow Strike (Nidalla's Justifiable Ends - Nightfall)
Passive Skills
Anatomy of Murder • Dual Blades (Belgothian's Shears - Hidden Hands - Amarasta's Quick Cut - Whirling Death - Execution) • Merciless Repertoire • Phantasmal Armor
Toggle Skills
Veil of Shadow (Night's Chill)
Summons
Blade Spirit

Navigation
Soldier Skills	Demolitionist Skills	Occultist Skills
Nightblade Skills	Arcanist Skills	Shaman Skills
Inquisitor Skills	Necromancer Skills	Oathkeeper Skills
Items	Creatures	Factions
Locations	Constellations