All 10 Masteries and Their Skills in Grim Dawn

Masteries are the character classes in Grim Dawn, an action RPG where you battle hordes of monsters and collect loot. Each mastery is a different fighting style with its own skills and the weapons it handles best, so the one you pick shapes how your hero plays. They're spread across the base game and three expansions, and you can combine two of them into a single character.

Arcanist

Casts elemental and Aether spells, including powerful ranged attacks and defensive auras.

Role

Elemental and Aether caster

Damage Types

Fire; Cold; Lightning; Aether; Chaos

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +100, Cunning +150, Spirit +250, Health +900, Energy +1000

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Inner Focus; Rank 1: Panetti's Replicating Missile; modifiers: Distortion (rank 15), Supercharged (rank 25), Proliferation (rank 40); Rank 1: Iskandra's Elemental Exchange; modifiers: Overload (rank 10), Elemental Balance (rank 25), Manifestation (rank 5); Rank 5: Olexra's Flash Freeze; modifiers: Absolute Zero (rank 20); Rank 5: Callidor's Tempest; modifiers: Inferno (rank 20), Wrath of Agrivix (rank 10); Rank 10: Trozan's Sky Shard; modifiers: Frozen Core (rank 20), Shattered Star (rank 40); Rank 10: Mirror of Ereoctes; Rank 15: Arcane Will; Rank 15: Maiven's Sphere of Protection; modifiers: Conversion (rank 32); Rank 20: Nullification; Rank 25: Albrecht's Aether Ray; modifiers: Disintegration (rank 50), Tainted Power (rank 32); Rank 32: Mental Alacrity; Rank 40: Fabric of Reality; Rank 50: Star Pact; Rank 50: Devastation; Rank 50: Reckless Power

Demolitionist

Combines firearm attacks with explosives, traps, fire, and electrical damage.

Role

Firearms and explosives specialist

Damage Types

Physical; Lightning; Fire; Pierce; Chaos

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +175, Cunning +175, Spirit +150, Health +1200, Energy +700

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Flashbang; modifiers: Searing Light (rank 10); Rank 1: Stun Jacks; modifiers: Full Spread (rank 15), Quick Jacks (rank 5); Rank 1: Fire Strike; modifiers: Searing Might (rank 15), Explosive Strike (rank 10), Static Strike (rank 25), Brimstone (rank 50), Searing Strike (rank 15); Rank 5: Blackwater Cocktail; modifiers: Demon Fire (rank 20), Agonizing Flames (rank 40), High Potency (rank 10); Rank 5: Flame Touched; modifiers: Temper (rank 20); Rank 10: Vindictive Flame; modifiers: Ulzuin's Wrath (rank 20); Rank 15: Grenado; modifiers: High Impact (rank 25), Shattering Blast (rank 40), Skyfire Grenado (rank 20); Rank 20: Canister Bomb; modifiers: Improved Casing (rank 40), Concussive Bomb (rank 25); Rank 25: Mortar Trap; modifiers: Heavy Ordnance (rank 32), "The Big One" (rank 50); Rank 32: Blast Shield; Rank 32: Thermite Mine; modifiers: Hellfire Mine (rank 50); Rank 50: Ulzuin's Chosen

Nightblade

Attacks quickly in melee and can wield two weapons or use phantasmal blades.

Role

Dual-wielding melee specialist

Damage Types

Cold; Pierce; Acid; Bleeding; Vitality

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +175, Cunning +200, Spirit +125, Health +1250, Energy +650

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Veil of Shadow; modifiers: Night's Chill (rank 15); Rank 1: Amarasta's Blade Burst; modifiers: Lethal Assault (rank 15); Rank 1: Dual Blades; modifiers: Belgothian's Shears (rank 5), Nidalla's Hidden Hand (rank 10), Amarasta's Quick Cut (rank 15), Whirling Death (rank 25), Execution (rank 50); Rank 5: Pneumatic Burst; modifiers: Shadow Dance (rank 15), Elemental Awakening (rank 32), Breath of Belgothian (rank 10); Rank 5: Phantasmal Blades; modifiers: Heart Seeker (rank 15), Nether Edge (rank 32), Frenetic Throw (rank 10); Rank 10: Phantasmal Armor; Rank 10: Shadow Strike; modifiers: Nidalla's Justifiable Ends (rank 25), Nightfall (rank 50); Rank 20: Anatomy of Murder; Rank 20: Blade Barrier; Rank 20: Ring of Steel; modifiers: Circle of Slaughter (rank 40), Ring of Frost (rank 25); Rank 25: Blade Trap; modifiers: Devouring Blades (rank 40); Rank 32: Merciless Repertoire; Rank 50: Blade Spirit

Occultist

Weakens enemies with curses, deals damage over time, and summons pets.

Role

Curse and pet specialist

Damage Types

Acid; Vitality; Chaos; Bleeding

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +125, Cunning +150, Spirit +225, Health +1000, Energy +900

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Summon Familiar; modifiers: Mend Flesh (rank 5), Storm Spirit (rank 15), Lightning Strike (rank 25); Rank 1: Curse of Frailty; modifiers: Vulnerability (rank 10); Rank 1: Dreeg's Evil Eye; modifiers: Blood Burst (rank 5), Terrifying Gaze (rank 20), Vile Eruption (rank 40), Focused Gaze (rank 10); Rank 5: Bloody Pox; modifiers: Wasting (rank 20), Black Death (rank 40), Fevered Rage (rank 15); Rank 5: Solael's Witchfire; modifiers: Second Rite (rank 25), Consecrated Blade (rank 15); Rank 10: Summon Hellhound; modifiers: Ember Claw (rank 20), Hellfire (rank 32), Infernal Breath (rank 50); Rank 10: Sigil of Consumption; modifiers: Destruction (rank 25); Rank 15: Blood of Dreeg; modifiers: Aspect of the Guardian (rank 32); Rank 32: Bonds of Bysmiel; modifiers: Manipulation (rank 50); Rank 40: Doom Bolt; Rank 50: Possession

Shaman

Combines two-handed weapons with lightning attacks, totems, and pets.

Role

Two-handed and primal combat

Damage Types

Lightning; Bleeding; Vitality; Physical; Cold

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +200, Cunning +150, Spirit +150, Health +1300, Energy +600

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Devouring Swarm; Rank 1: Savagery; modifiers: Tenacity of the Boar (rank 15), Storm Touched (rank 32), Might of the Bear (rank 5); Rank 1: Brute Force; modifiers: Feral Hunger (rank 10), Upheaval (rank 15); Rank 5: Mogdrogen's Pact; modifiers: Heart of the Wild (rank 15), Oak Skin (rank 25); Rank 5: Grasping Vines; modifiers: Entangling Vines (rank 25); Rank 5: Primal Strike; modifiers: Torrent (rank 15), Storm Surge (rank 25), Thunderous Strike (rank 10); Rank 10: Summon Briarthorn; modifiers: Ground Slam (rank 20), Emboldening Presence (rank 40); Rank 10: Wind Devil; modifiers: Raging Tempest (rank 20), Maelstrom (rank 40); Rank 20: Wendigo Totem; modifiers: Blood Pact (rank 40); Rank 32: Storm Totem; modifiers: Corrupted Storm (rank 40); Rank 50: Primal Bond; Rank 50: Conjure Primal Spirit; Rank 50: Stormcaller's Pact

Soldier

Combines durable weapon attacks with shields and can also specialize in firearms.

Role

Durable weapon and shield fighter

Damage Types

Physical; Bleeding; Pierce; Fire; Cold; Lightning

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +250, Cunning +175, Spirit +75, Health +1400, Energy +500

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Cadence; modifiers: Fighting Form (rank 15), Deadly Momentum (rank 40), Discord (rank 5); Rank 1: Forcewave; modifiers: Rending Force (rank 15), Internal Trauma (rank 25), Tremor (rank 5); Rank 1: Markovian's Advantage; Rank 5: Military Conditioning; Rank 5: Menhir's Will; Rank 5: Fighting Spirit; Rank 10: Shield Training; Rank 10: Overguard; modifiers: Markovian's Defense (rank 15); Rank 10: Blitz; modifiers: Blindside (rank 32); Rank 10: Blade Arc; modifiers: Laceration (rank 32), Clean Sweep (rank 15); Rank 10: Zolhan's Technique; Rank 15: Veterancy; Rank 20: Field Command; modifiers: Squad Tactics (rank 32); Rank 20: War Cry; modifiers: Break Morale (rank 40), Terrify (rank 25); Rank 25: Decorated Soldier; Rank 40: Scars of Battle; Rank 40: Counter Strike; Rank 50: Menhir's Bulwark; Rank 50: Oleron's Rage

Inquisitor

Pairs ranged weapon attacks with runes, relics, and support auras.

Role

Ranged weapon and rune specialist

Damage Types

Fire; Cold; Lightning; Physical; Pierce; Aether; Chaos

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +125, Cunning +200, Spirit +175, Health +1150, Energy +750

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Storm Box of Elgoloth; modifiers: Lightning Tether (rank 15), Allagast's Arcane Net (rank 5); Rank 1: Word of Pain; modifiers: Word of Agony (rank 10), Death Sentence (rank 25); Rank 1: Ranged Expertise; Rank 5: Rune of Hagarrad; modifiers: Biting Cold (rank 15), Chillsurge (rank 32); Rank 5: Bursting Round; Rank 10: Deadly Aim; Rank 10: Flames of Ignaffar; modifiers: Intensify (rank 20), Infernal Purge (rank 32), Endless Flame (rank 50), Tainted Flame (rank 15); Rank 10: Word of Renewal; modifiers: Vigor (rank 20), Steel Resolve (rank 32), Word of Arms (rank 15); Rank 15: Rune of Kalastor; modifiers: Ignition (rank 25); Rank 20: Chilling Rounds; Rank 25: Inquisitor Seal; modifiers: Arcane Empowerment (rank 40), Runic Seal (rank 32); Rank 40: Artifact Handling; Rank 40: Horn of Gandarr; Rank 40: Storm Spread; Rank 50: Aura of Censure; Rank 50: Aura of Conviction

Necromancer

Summons skeletal and other minions and uses vitality, Aether, and death magic.

Role

Pet and vitality specialist

Damage Types

Vitality; Aether; Acid; Cold; Physical; Pierce; Bleeding

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +200, Cunning +100, Spirit +200, Health +950, Energy +950

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Raise Skeletons; modifiers: Undead Legion (rank 10), Will of the Crypt (rank 20); Rank 1: Drain Essence; modifiers: Hungering Reach (rank 10), Decomposition (rank 20), Gravechill (rank 5); Rank 1: Reaping Strike; Rank 5: Spectral Binding; modifiers: Spectral Wrath (rank 15); Rank 5: Bone Harvest; modifiers: Dread (rank 20), Soul Harvest (rank 32), Harvester of Death (rank 10); Rank 10: Ill Omen; Rank 15: Summon Blight Fiend; modifiers: Rotting Fumes (rank 25), Blight Burst (rank 40), Unstable Anomaly (rank 20); Rank 15: Ravenous Earth; modifiers: Decay (rank 25), Foul Eruption (rank 40); Rank 15: Necrotic Edge; Rank 25: Call of the Grave; Rank 25: Siphon Souls; modifiers: Blood Boil (rank 40), Sear Souls (rank 32); Rank 32: Mark of Torment; Rank 50: Master of Death; Rank 50: Reap Spirit; Rank 50: Harbinger of Souls

Oathkeeper

Uses shields and retaliation alongside celestial attacks, movement, and support skills.

Role

Shield and retaliation fighter

Damage Types

Physical; Fire; Acid; Bleeding; Vitality

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +250, Cunning +125, Spirit +125, Health +1250, Energy +650

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Aegis of Menhir; modifiers: Avenging Shield (rank 5), Reprisal (rank 20), Aegis of Thorns (rank 10); Rank 1: Righteous Fervor; modifiers: Consecration (rank 15), Retribution (rank 32), Dreeg's Reproach (rank 5); Rank 1: Safeguard; Rank 5: Presence of Virtue; modifiers: Haven (rank 15), Rebuke (rank 25); Rank 5: Smite; Rank 10: Vire's Might; modifiers: Volcanic Stride (rank 20), Tectonic Shift (rank 32), Volcanic Might (rank 15); Rank 10: Resilience; Rank 15: Ascension; modifiers: Clarity of Purpose (rank 32); Rank 15: Judgment; modifiers: Crushing Verdict (rank 25), Heart of Wrath (rank 40); Rank 20: Shattering Smash; Rank 25: Eye of Reckoning; modifiers: Soulfire (rank 40); Rank 32: Summon Guardian of Empyrion; modifiers: Celestial Presence (rank 50), Scion of Dreeg (rank 40); Rank 50: Divine Mandate; Rank 50: Path of the Three

Berserker

Fights with two weapons and wereforms, empowered by cold winds from Asterkarn.

Role

Two-weapon and wereform fighter

Damage Types

Cold; Bleeding; Pierce; Chaos

Mastery Bar Bonuses at Rank 50

Physique +200, Cunning +200, Spirit +100, Health +1350, Energy +550

Skill Tree

Rank 1: Werewolf; modifiers: Voracity (rank 10), Recklessness (rank 25), Blight of Ch'thon (rank 5); Rank 1: Onslaught; modifiers: Open Wounds (rank 15), Endless Rage (rank 32), Covenant of Ch'thon (rank 5); Rank 1: Implements of War; Rank 5: Amatok's Pact; modifiers: Bloodfrenzy (rank 20), Icebound (rank 40); Rank 5: Bloodfangs; Rank 5: Battle Surge; Rank 10: Rallying Cry; modifiers: Impulse (rank 20), Frenzied Cry (rank 15); Rank 10: Wereraven; modifiers: Glacial Talons (rank 20), Everwinter (rank 32), Talons of Ch'thon (rank 15); Rank 15: Untamed Rage; Rank 20: Avalanche; Rank 25: Leap; modifiers: Fault Line (rank 40); Rank 25: Winds of Asterkarn; modifiers: Hailstorm (rank 40); Rank 32: Bonechilling Cry; Rank 50: Bloodborne; Rank 50: Heart of Asterkarn; Rank 50: Form of the Beast

What Masteries Are in Grim Dawn

Masteries are the character classes of Grim Dawn. Each one is a type of hero, like a soldier, a summoner, or a spellcaster, and it comes with its own skills and way of fighting. Some lean toward melee, some toward magic, and some toward summoning minions to fight for them. Once you reach level 2, you open the Skill window by pressing S and pick your first mastery, which is one of the biggest decisions you make with a new character.

How Dual-Class Builds Work in Grim Dawn

At level 10, you can add a second mastery to your first, creating a dual-class character. The first mastery is the main one. It gets most of your skill points and usually holds your core attacks or spells, while the second mastery mainly adds passive buffs and lowers enemy resistances. Many players choose this route because the pairing blends two sets of skills into one character. A helpful rule is to choose your damage type first, then pick the second mastery that works with it.

How Mastery Points Work

Skill points come in with every level. You earn 3 per level up to level 50, 2 per level from 51 to 90, and 1 per level after that. Before you can spend points on a mastery's skills, you have to put points into the Mastery bar at the bottom of the Skill window. Each point you invest there unlocks more of that mastery's skills, and it also raises your core attributes. The level cap is 85 in the base game, and the Ashes of Malmouth expansion raises it to 100, giving you more points to spend.

Best Masteries for New Players

No mastery is the best in every case, but a few are easier to start with. Soldier is a popular first pick because its damage is simple to follow and its passive buffs help you survive. Occultist is another favorite, since it supports almost any build and is strong in the early levels. Oathkeeper is often praised for its easy leveling and toughness, too.

For a second mastery, Inquisitor and Demolitionist are the usual picks. Inquisitor pairs well with nearly any first mastery, while Demolitionist is most valued for its resistance reduction and defensive buffs. These are popular picks rather than fixed rankings, and they can shift as the game changes.

Can You Change Your Mastery Later?

No. Once you pick a mastery, it stays with your character, and the game offers no way to swap it. You can still undo spending, though. A Spirit Guide will take back skill points and Mastery bar points for Iron Bits, and the cost rises the more points you reset. The Mastery bar always keeps at least one point, so the mastery itself stays put. Third-party tools can force a class change, but they aren't officially supported.

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