Lightning Blast Runemaster Guide
The Lightning Blast Runemaster transforms the classic Lightning Blast into a high-speed, chain-casting engine of Spark Charge mayhem, offering solid defensive layers, smooth mapping, and effective bossing capabilities. Designed with a focus on survivability and consistent performance, this version of the Runemaster provides a highly balanced playstyle.
This is a Caster build that spams Lightning Blast to reliably proc Spark Charges, both from the skill itself and from Fragment of the Enigma. Runic Invocation generates massive Ward bursts through Reowyn's Frostguard, boosting tankiness alongside the on-demand damage reduction from Flame Ward. Teleport provides mobility and valuable buffs, while Frost Wall offers multiple buffs and even casts Lightning Blast itself for additional damage output.
You need Fragment of the Enigma, which is essential to enable the Flat damage scaling of Spark Charges from Intelligence. Prismatic Gaze and Grasp of the Blood Mage significantly help with capping Crit Chance, while Twisted Heart of Uhkeiros serves as the main engine of Ward generation.
Overall, the Lightning Blast Runemaster is a fun and balanced caster build that performs well in Endgame. If you enjoy a fast-paced, spark-charging playstyle with strong defensive layers, this build is perfect for you!
Jagged Veil is currently bugged and does not apply its multiplier to Critical Strike Multiplier. When fixed, the build’s damage will increase by 20%.
This build NEEDS Fragment of the Enigma. Check our Unique Item Farming Guide for tips!
This build guide assumes you have a Level 70 Character.
Reach Level 70 with our Mage Leveling Guide.
Check our Tier Lists to know how this build performs in the current patch.
If you are looking for a different playstyle, check all our Build Guides!
Skills
Lightning Blast
This setup is all about getting the most out of Spark Charges, which do most of your damage. Lightning Attunement grants Lightning Aegis, a solid defensive buff which also enables some of your Idols. Convergence makes all your chains hit the same target, granting really solid single target damage. Since Convergence cuts the number of chains in half and then rounds up, you aim for an odd number of chains to get the best value out of it.
- Lightning Blast: Final Spark makes mapping feel much smoother by removing the delay on Spark Charge explosions. While it doesn’t boost your actual DPS, the instant detonation is a huge quality of life improvement for clearing packs quickly.
- Teleport: Keep Haste up permanently by blinking with Comet Rush before it runs out. Boosted Kickoff in Frost Wall grants the initial source of Haste.
Skills showcase extra Skill Points in case you find +Level of Skills that may not be included in the Planners.
Passives
- This setup grabs most Intelligence nodes to scale Spark Charges with Fragment of the Enigma.
- Calculated Destruction is mandatory to cap your Critical Strike Chance.
- Decree of the Burning Wind, Jagged Veil, and Celestial Doom grant substantial Damage Multipliers.
- Circle of Elements is needed to apply Chill to benefit from Chilled Touch in Frost Wall.
- Sphere of Protection is great for survivability.
Make sure to complete the Campaign to get all your Passive Points.
Gameplay
Skill Usage/Rotation
- Generate CFC Runes by using Lightning Blast.
- Use Runic Invocation to cast Reowyn’s Frostguard.
- Place a Frost Wall and go through it to gain Haste.
- Use Teleport to refresh Haste to 4 seconds and apply Spark Charges.
- Attack with Lightning Blast.
- Place Frost Wall near priority targets.
- Refresh Reowyn’s Frostguard on Cooldown.
- Keep Teleport buffs up.
- Use Flame Ward on demand to mitigate damage.
Bossing
- Take advantage of all your defensive buffs and keep them active.
- Flame Ward can save you from incoming Damage. Time it against dangerous telegraphed Boss attacks.
- You can use Flame Ward preventively before you engage dangerous enemies.
- Hold one charge of Flame Ward for emergency situations.
- Avoid using Evade as much as possible, since Nihilis consumes Ward on Evade.
- Drink Potions to refill Mana when needed.
Gear, Idols & Blessings
- This setup stacks Intelligence to gain Flat damage for Spark Charges, thanks to Fragment of the Enigma. Use it even without Legendary Potential.
- Mad Alchemist's Ladle grants a Damage Multiplier, Cast Speed scaling with Intelligence, Armor Shred, Frailty, and Mana on Potion Use. Get one from Exiled Mages, even without LP. The only important roll range is Chance to Shred Armor on Spell Hit.
- Twisted Heart of Uhkeiros provides a significant amount of Ward, along with valuable stats. Use one as soon as possible.
- Prismatic Gaze and Grasp of the Blood Mage provide much needed Base Critical Strike Chance to help reach Crit cap. Get them with a perfect Crit roll.
- Farm Orian's Descent from The Seeker's Summit. It has up to a massive 25 Intelligence roll and also grants Mana on Potion Use. Craft it into a Legendary with Mana Regeneration, and ideally a Health Affix as well. Alternatively, Champions can drop Belts with Spark Champion's Affix.
- Foot of the Mountain is easy to find with multiple LP and offers valuable stats: All Attributes, Endurance, and even some Mana sustain through reduced Mana costs. Since the build stacks Health, Endurance provides a good amount of tankiness. Alternatively, you can use Blood of the Exile if you want more Movement Speed.
- Mantle of the Pale Ox has amazing stats, especially with a Minion, and this build has Mirror Images from Teleport. Aim for a high Damage Redirected roll.
- A well rolled Nihilis is a great addition to the build. Prioritize a high Mana Regeneration and All Resistances roll.
- Heretical Adorned Arcane Idols are crucial to cap your Critical Strike Avoidance. Prioritize their Enchant first.
- Red Ring of Atlaria helps with capping Resistances, provides Damage Reduction and also grants Mana Regeneration. Julra's Stardial is a decent offensive alternative.
Learn the basics for crafting gear with our Beginner Crafting Guide.
Make sure to complete the Campaign to get all your Idol Slots.
Build Scaling
Offensive Stats
- Intelligence
- Increased Spell Lightning Damage
- Flat Spell Lightning Damage
- Cast Speed
- Increased Spell Critical Strike Chance
- Critical Strike Multiplier
- Armor Shred Chance
- Lightning Resistance Shred
- Lightning Penetration
Defensive Stats
- Health
- Ward
- Armor
- Endurance
Scaling Tips
- Fragment of the Enigma: Main item of the build. Used to scale Flat Damage for Spark Charges with Intelligence.
- Mad Alchemist's Ladle: Grants up to 48% More Damage Multiplier, based on the number of Negative Ailments on the target. This build easily reaches more than the 8 required: 5 from Mad Alchemist's Ladle, 1 from Grasp of the Blood Mage, Shock and Chill from Passives, and Lightning Resistance Shred from Grand Mysteries of the Deep. Additionally, it grants Cast Speed from Intelligence scaling.
- Lightning Aegis: Heretical Large Arcane Idol with Increased Cast Speed while you have Lightning Aegis and Heretical Adorned Arcane Idol with Increased Lightning Damage while you have Lightning Aegis are very efficient.
- Runeword: Cataclysm: More Damage vs Low Health enemies.
- Decree of the Burning Wind: Always doubled due to the Fire Rune.
- Jagged Veil: 20% More Damage when you have 100% Critical Strike Chance.
- Celestial Doom: Brand Bosses with Brand the Invaders from Frost Wall.
- Frost Wall: Chilled Touch grants another Damage Multiplier. Chill is applied thanks to Circle of Elements.
- Flame Ward: The Damage Reduction and Armor provided is insane. While this Skill is active, you are almost immortal!
- Sphere of Protection: Grants Damage Reduction.
- Prismatic Gaze: Less Elemental Damage Taken.
- Mantle of the Pale Ox: Grants Damage Reduction since this build has Mirror Images from Teleport.
- Reowyn’s Frostguard: One of the two main sources of Ward generation, scales with Intelligence.
- Twisted Heart of Uhkeiros: Other main source of Ward generation, scales with Health and Cast Speed.
- Reactive Ward: Can proc to give Ward in combination with Twisted Heart of Uhkeiros, or when you need it most in a dire situation.
- Grasp of the Blood Mage: Delays 25% of Hit damage, helping you survive big spikes of damage.
- Red Ring of Atlaria: This build easily reaches the Attribute requirements and gains access to the Damage Reduction.
Our Damage Explained Article covers all you need to know to scale Damage.
Learn all you need to know to scale Defense with our Defense Explained Article.
Loot Filter
Loot Filters are critical in Last Epoch. Making sure you highlight all the related valuable Item Bases, Affixes, Uniques and Idols is necessary to ensure your character's progression. Click on the Generate Loot Filter button down below then use the Paste Clipboard Contents button in-game to import it!
Here is the Endgame Loot Filter for this build:
Learn how to load and make Filters with our Loot Filter Guide.
FAQ & Mechanics
Once a guide is released, many players have questions on why and how we are approaching certain choices. In this section you can find the answers to the questions that have been asked the most.
The Endgame Planner reaches slightly over 100% Spell Crit Chance. Make sure you have good Intelligence rolls on your gear to fully benefit from Calculated Destruction. Until then, use Spell Critical Strike Chance on your Wand, Catalyst, or Amulet to help cap Crit. The Base Crit rolls on Prismatic Gaze and Grasp of the Blood Mage also need to be perfect.
Double-check your skill bar order. Flame Ward, Frost Wall, then Lightning Blast from left to right ensures Cold-Fire-Cold Runes, assuming you have properly converted them. Remember that Lightning Blast is converted with the Rune of Winter Passive.
You gain a lot of Mana on Potion use. Use them wisely. Picking up a few Potions during a Boss encounter can be a life saver.
Video Guide
Summary
The Lightning Blast Runemaster is a well-rounded build with strong single-target damage, solid tankiness, and decent clear speed. Fragment of the Enigma is essential, enabling Intelligence to scale Spark Charge, your main source of damage. Overall, it performs very well in the endgame.
- This build centers around Spark Charges, an Ailment that explodes with Lightning Damage in an AoE.
- It requires Fragment of the Enigma, which enables Flat damage scaling for Spark Charges from Intelligence.
- Attack with Lightning Blast to apply Spark Charges.
- Reowyn’s Frostguard and Twisted Heart of Uhkeiros are the main sources of Ward generation.
- Use Flame Ward for insane Damage Reduction.
- While they are not mandatory, Unique items such as Prismatic Gaze, Grasp of the Blood Mage, and Mad Alchemist's Ladle significantly boost the build's power.
Credits
Written by BinaQc.
Content Reviewed by Volca.