Last Epoch: Best Mage Leveling Build (Season 2)

Image Credit(s): Eleventh Hour Games, Last Epoch

If your idea of fun is freezing everything in sight, turning mana into explosions, and dashing around like a caffeinated wizard, this Shatter Strike Mage build is for you. It's fast, flashy, and very, very deadly.

Mage Mastery Choice: Spellblade

Spellblade is your go-to for this build. You’ll be up in enemies’ faces, unleashing icy slashes that explode into frozen bits. The real fun begins once you grab the Gemini passive to dual wield.

Early Game Mage: Fireball & Glacier

• Start with Fireball to get through the early chapters.

• Unlock Glacier after putting 5 points into the Mage passive tree.

• Around level 20-25, switch to Shatter Strike once Gemini is online.

Key Skills for Mage (Endgame Setup)

• Shatter Strike: Your bread and butter. Fast, cold, and hits like a truck.

• Surge: Dash + defensive tool. Generates tons of Ward.

• Enchant Weapon: Huge damage boost. Always keep it active.

• Mana Strike: Helps you regenerate mana fast. Especially early on.

• Flame Ward: Your panic button. Press it when you see death coming.

How To Play the Mage

• Teleport (or Surge) into a pack.

• Drop Shatter Strikes until everything’s gone.

• Hit Flame Ward if you’re in trouble.

• Use Mana Strike if you run low on juice.

• Enchant Weapon whenever it's off cooldown.

Gearing Priorities

Offense

• Flat melee crit on both weapons

• Increased Cold Damage

• Added Spell Damage

• Melee Attack Speed

Defense

• Ward per Second

• Health & Armor

• Physical Resistance

• Endurance Threshold

Must-Haves

• Dual Crystal Swords for crit synergy

• Silver Rings for movement speed

• Stack Dexterity for Shatter Strike scaling

Uniques To Watch For

• Julra’s Stardial (if you're lucky)

• Boot Uniques for movement

• Flame Ward-affecting gear for survival boosts

Loot Filter

Set up a filter to highlight:

• Crystal Swords

• Cold Damage affixes

• Crit Strike gear

• Ward and resistance gear

Final Tips

• Always stay within five levels of the area you’re in.

• Don’t hoard trash loot. Shatter it or move on.

• Get your idol slots and passive points before rushing monoliths.

• Once you’re around level 55–60 with good gear, the build really starts to shine.

Final Blurb

This is one of the smoothest and most explosive leveling setups for Mage. It turns the campaign into a blur of cold damage and flashy mobility. Get to endgame, respec if you want—or just keep freezing everything in sight. Either way, you’re going to have a good time.

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