LizardIRL has been playing Last Epoch at a high level for years. He has invested a huge amount of time learning the game, theory crafting builds and making educational content. By the time LE Multiplayer launched, he already had thousands of hours driven by his competitive nature and desire to improve. His builds and min/maxing rules have shaped the meta, establishing him as a top build maker and theory crafter. LizardIRL livestreams his Rank 1 Arena pushes and has dominated both SC and HC ladders. Learn about the Skills, Gameplay and Passives for the Marrow Shards Lich Build.
Skills
Reaper Form
This is a Reaper Form build. Thanks to the Unholy Dominion Node, Transplant doesn't share Cooldown with Reap, a new Skill granted while you are Transformed. This ability provides incredible offensive and defensive buffs with nodes like Rapid Destruction, Soul Shroud and Vile Shroud.
Death Seal
Death Seal is a core part of the build and it enables the Low Life playstyle thanks to Deadlock. This ability has substantial downtime but it provides incredibly strong buffs for its duration. Desperate Shroud and Corrupted Consciousness are really powerful when combined with the Deadlock Node.
Marrow Shards
This Marrow Shards setup focuses on empowering its Bone Splinters Subskill. Turn them deadly by combining the interactions granted by Bone Knives, Bone Splinters and Marrow Caster. Grab all the Damage Multipliers and Dark Precision to ensure the Bone Splinters crit super hard.
Transplant
Transplant is an amazing Movement Skill with tons of buffs and utility. Grant yourself the Frenzy and Haste buffs thanks to Acolyte's Fervor and cast Bone Curse with Doom Bringer. Grab Plated Bone to enhance the protective effects of Bone Armor.
Bone Curse
Bone Curse is a Curse that attaches to enemies for a duration. The Sigil of Mortality Node inflicts the Mark For Death Ailment so enemies take extra Damage. It provides an additional hit source for extra Physical Damage and Ailments. It can be automatically casted thanks to Transplant's Doom Bringer Node.
Alternative Skills & Tips
- This Marrow Shards setup has many pieces that interconnect to make it work. Adjust the Skill Tree based on your current needs and try to get Level of Marrow Shards on your chest and Increased Projectile Speed With Marrow Shards And Bone Nova on your Idols as soon as possible to enable its full potential.
- Consider investing Points into Deathtouch Scythe and Executioner inside Reaper Form if you don't need the defenses provided by Soul Shroud and Vile Shroud.
- Aura Of Decay can replace Bone Curse if you need survivability. Aura Of Decay grants tons of Poison Damage Reduction while it's active. Absence of Life provides a great heal based on your total Health that helps mitigate the Health cost from Marrow Shards. Respite helps cap your Resistances and Loathing can apply Mark for Death when you get hit.
- The Violent Emergence Node inside Transplant is great for bossing, but not really necessary with the cull provided by Bone Curse's Brittle Bones Node.
Passives
Passives provide powerful effects that dictate the playstyle of a Class and its Masteries. Remember that you can allocate Passives on the first half of all Masteries regardless of the one you chose.
- Take Nodes with Intelligence, Health, Cast Speed, Spell Critical Strike Chance and Critical Strike Multiplier.
- Investing points into Forbidden Knowledge helps cap Necrotic Resistance.
- Dance with Death has great synergy with Death Seal's Deadlock Node.
- Get tons of Spell Leech with Survival of the Cruel, Soul Maw and Ageless Ascetic.
- Elixir of Death is crucial for survivability.
- Three Plagues and Mind Over Body boost your Damage substantially.
Make sure to complete the Campaign to get all your Passive Points.
Gameplay
This Lich wants to position itself far away from the enemies while casting Marrow Shards. Stay in combat and leech to keep Reaper Form up as long as possible. Make sure you are familiar with enemy mechanics to know when to use your Support Skills to stay alive. Pay attention to the telegraphed attacks of your enemies and stay out of their range.
Skill Usage/Rotation
- Transform into Reaper Form.
- Use Bone Curse before attacking with Marrow Shards.
- Cast Death Seal when enemies are nearby.
- Aim Marrow Shards carefully to maximize its deadly Bone Splinters.
- Leech back all the Health consumed by casting Marrow Shards.
- Cast Reap and Transplant to juke or move.
Mapping
- Let Death Seal kill enemies as you cruise through the Echoes.
- Time Reap and Transplant apart to always be on the move.
- Use the Haste gained from releasing Death Seal efficiently while your Movement Skills are on Cooldown.
- Save your Death Seal Cooldown for the Echo Boss, if there is one.
Bossing
- Take advantage of all your buffs and keep them active.
- Position yourself to maximize the DPS from the Bone Splinters cone created by destroying Marrow Shards.
- Save either Reap or Transplant for emergency situations.
- Use Death Seal and Elixir of Death to mitigate incoming Damage. Time them against dangerous telegraphed Boss attacks.
Advanced Skill Tips
- Keep your Reaper Form active by staying in combat and leeching.
- This build can be scary to play due to Low Life and the high health cost attached to Marrow Shards. Learn your limits and use the build's Spell Leech effectively.
- Target dangerous mobs first and finish them fast with Death Seal.
- Transplant is a blink and can be used to go over incoming attacks or terrain.
- Use a Potion preventively before you engage dangerous enemies to proc Elixir of Death.
- Get at least 1 Large Immortal Idol or Huge Immortal Idol with Chance To Fear On Hit to keep enemies away from you.
Learn more about how to maximize your gameplay in the Build Scaling section of this guide.
