If you’re new to Last Epoch or even to ARPGs in general, this guide will help you take your first steps into the world of Eterra. We’ll cover the basics of classes, skills, crafting, loot filters, and endgame so you can jump right in with confidence. Having a large amount of Last Epoch gold can also help you get started with confidence.

 

Understanding Classes and Masteries

 

When you start a new character, you’ll choose from five base classes:

 

Sentinel – a heavily armored fighter.

 

Rogue – fast and agile, excelling with bows and blades.

 

Mage – master of elemental and arcane magic.

 

Primalist – attuned to beasts and nature.

 

Acolyte – dark caster, often commanding minions.

 

Each base class eventually branches into three masteries (subclasses). For example, the Sentinel can become a Paladin, Void Knight, or Forge Guard. These choices drastically change how your character plays by unlocking unique passives and skills.

 

Tip: You can respec skills, but mastery choice is permanent. Try a class long enough to get a feel for it before committing.

 

Skills and Specializations

 

Every class starts with a set of base skills, but the real depth comes from specialization trees.

 

You can specialize in up to five skills as you level.

 

Each specialization has its own passive tree, allowing you to customize how the skill works.

 

Not all specialized skills need to be on your skill bar—some trigger automatically through other abilities.

 

For example, a Rogue’s Shadow Cascade does moderate damage by default. But with the right nodes, it can scale with summoned shadows, massively boosting its power. Other skills, like Smoke Bomb, can be modified into movement tools or defensive utilities.

 

Attributes and Scaling

 

Your character’s stats matter. Press C to open the character sheet:

 

Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Attunement, and Vitality all improve damage and defenses in different ways.

 

Each skill has scaling tags (e.g., “Melee, Physical, Dexterity”), showing which attributes or effects improve it.

 

Resistances are crucial—keep them high to survive as you progress.

 

If you’re a Rogue stacking Dexterity, you’ll not only boost your damage but also gain Dodge Rating for extra survivability. Understanding scaling ensures your build feels powerful instead of underwhelming.

 

Campaign Quests, Idols, and Factions

 

During the campaign, pay attention to the gray diamond side quests. These often reward:

 

Extra passive points.

 

Idol slots (special charm-like items that provide bonuses).

 

Later, you’ll choose between two factions:

 

Merchants Guild – focused on trading with other players.

 

Circle of Fortune – rewards self-found farming and loot bonuses.

 

You’re not locked in forever—you can switch factions if you change your mind.

 

Crafting Basics

 

Crafting is one of Last Epoch’s core systems. To understand it, turn on “Always Show Mod Ranges” in settings so you can see affix values when hovering over items.

 

Key terms:

 

Implicits – base stats every item has (e.g., swords add melee damage).

 

Prefixes – usually offensive modifiers (attack speed, damage).

 

Suffixes – usually defensive or utility stats (resistances, health).

 

The Forge

 

Press F to open the Forge anywhere. Items have Forging Potential (FP), which acts like crafting stamina. Each modification consumes FP until the item can’t be altered anymore.

 

Glyphs and Runes

 

Glyph of Hope – 25% chance to not use FP on craft.

 

Glyph of Chaos – rerolls an affix into another of the same type.

 

Rune of Shattering – destroys an item to recover its affix shards.

 

Affixes can be upgraded from Tier 1 to Tier 7, with Tier 5 being the normal crafted max. Tier 6 and 7 only appear on special Exalted items.

 

Early on, buy cheap items from vendors, then shatter them for shards. This fuels your crafting pool.

 

Loot Filters

 

Like any ARPG, loot quickly becomes overwhelming. That’s where loot filters come in.

 

Press Shift + F to open the loot filter menu.

 

You can add rules to show, hide, or recolor items based on affixes, item types, or rarities.

 

For example, you can highlight all items with “+ Shadow Cascade” to make farming for a build easier.

 

A good filter keeps your screen clear, saves time, and ensures you don’t miss valuable drops.

 

Endgame: Monoliths and Dungeons

 

Once you finish the campaign, you’ll unlock Last Epoch’s endgame.

 

Monolith of Fate

 

Works similarly to “maps” in other ARPGs.

 

Each monolith has its own timeline and final boss.

 

Completing monoliths grants Blessings (permanent buffs) and unlocks Empowered Monoliths for tougher, rewarding content.

 

Dungeons

 

Found via red waypoints on the world map.

 

Require keys to enter.

 

Bosses drop unique loot and provide access to legendary crafting.

 

You can combine three keys to create a Portal Charm, which skips to the dungeon boss—but only do this if you know the mechanics.

 

Final Tips for New Players

 

Experiment with builds. Every class is viable—choose one that looks fun.

 

Don’t hoard crafting materials. Use them regularly; more will always drop.

 

Keep resistances high. Defense matters just as much as damage.

 

Use loot filters early. They’ll save you countless hours.

 

Complete idol and passive quests. These rewards are permanent power boosts.

 

Conclusion

 

Last Epoch does a fantastic job of blending classic ARPG depth with modern accessibility. By understanding classes, scaling, crafting, and the basics of endgame, you’ll set yourself up for success as you journey through Eterra. Having enough cheap Last Epoch gold can help you be prepared for any eventuality.

 

Dive in, try out different builds, and don’t worry about making mistakes—every run teaches you something new. Before long, you’ll be smashing through monoliths and chasing legendaries like a seasoned veteran.