Last Epoch Ailments: A Comprehensive Guide

Last Epoch is an exciting action role-playing game that offers players a wide range of gameplay mechanics and character customization options. One of the key mechanics in the game is the Ailment system, which allows players to apply various debuffs to enemies or even themselves. Understanding and utilizing these Ailments effectively can greatly enhance your gameplay experience. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the world of Last Epoch Ailments, covering everything from their definition to their types and scaling methods.

Introduction to Ailments

In Last Epoch, Ailments are debuffs that can be applied to enemies or even yourself. These debuffs can cause damage, weaken the enemy, or have a combination of both effects. Ailments come in a wide variety, each with its own unique effect. Whether you prefer a build focused on dealing massive damage or one that focuses on weakening enemies, there is an Ailment for you.

The number of Ailments in Last Epoch is extensive and continues to grow. Some Ailments are only found on specific unique items, while others can be found throughout the game. This diversity offers players a vast range of options when it comes to building their characters and exploring different playstyles.

Last Epoch provides players with a visual display of the Ailments applied to a target. This display can be found under the enemy’s HP bar at the top of the screen. By observing this visual representation, you can track the Ailments currently affecting the enemy and the number of stacks on each Ailment. This feature is invaluable for assessing the efficiency of your Ailment application and identifying valuable damage debuffs that can aid in your survival.

Understanding Ailment Types

Ailments in Last Epoch can be categorized into three main types: Damaging Ailments, Debuffing Ailments, and Hybrid Ailments. Let’s take a closer look at each type and explore their unique effects.

Damaging Ailments

Damaging Ailments are Ailments that directly cause damage to the enemy. They can be in the form of Damage over Time (DoT) effects or instant hits. Here are some examples of Damaging Ailments:

• Bleed: A DoT that deals Physical Damage over 3 seconds. It can stack with no limit.
• Electrify: A DoT that deals Lightning Damage over 2.5 seconds. It can stack with no limit.
• Ignite: A DoT that deals Fire Damage over 2.5 seconds. It can stack with no limit.

Debuffing Ailments

Debuffing Ailments, as the name suggests, weaken the enemy by reducing their capabilities or making them more vulnerable to damage. These Ailments can have a variety of effects and can greatly influence the outcome of battles. Here are some examples of Debuffing Ailments:

• Blind: Reduces Critical Strike chance by 50% and causes ranged enemies to aim erratically.
• Chill: Reduces movement, attack, and cast speed by 12% per stack. It can stack up to 3 times.
• Critical Vulnerability: Increases the chance to receive a Critical Strike by 2% and reduces Critical Strike Avoidance by 10%. It can stack up to 10 times.
• Fear: Causes the enemy to run in fear for a short period. An enemy cannot be Feared twice.
• Frailty: Reduces the enemy’s damage by 6%. It can stack up to 3 times.
• Freeze: Renders the enemy unable to move or perform actions for 1.2 seconds.
• Marked For Death: Reduces the enemy’s resistances by 25%.
• Shock: Reduces Lightning Resistance by 5% and increases the chance to be stunned by 20%. It can stack up to 10 times.
• Shred Armour: Reduces the enemy’s Armour by 100. It can stack.
• Shred Resistance: Reduces the specified Resistance by 5% (2% on Bosses). It can stack up to 10 times.
• Slow: Reduces movement speed by 20%. It can stack up to 3 times.
• Stun: Renders the enemy unable to move or perform actions for 0.4 seconds.
• Taunt: Although not technically an Ailment in the traditional sense, Taunt forces enemies to attack the target that initiated the Taunt.

Hybrid Ailments

Hybrid Ailments combine elements of both Damaging and Debuffing Ailments, offering a unique blend of effects. Here are some examples of Hybrid Ailments:

• Damned: A DoT that deals Necrotic Damage and reduces health regeneration by 20%. It can stack with no limit.
• Doom: A DoT that deals Void Damage and increases Melee Damage taken by 4%. It can stack up to 4 times.
• Frostbite: A DoT that deals Cold Damage and increases the chance to be Frozen by 20%. It can stack with no limit, but only the first 30 stacks increase the chance to be Frozen.
• Poison: A DoT that deals Poison Damage and reduces Poison Resistance by 5%. It can stack infinitely, but only the first 30 stacks reduce Poison Resistance.
• Time Rot: A DoT that deals Void Damage and increases the duration of Stuns received by 5%. It can stack up to 12 times.

Damaging Ailments

Damaging Ailments in Last Epoch can be a powerful tool for dealing consistent damage over time or delivering impactful hits. Understanding the mechanics and effects of each Damaging Ailment is crucial for optimizing your build. Let’s take a closer look at some of the Damaging Ailments available in the game:

Bleed

Bleed is a Damage over Time effect that deals Physical Damage to the enemy. It has a base damage of 53 and lasts for 3 seconds. One of the notable aspects of Bleed is that it can stack with no limit. This means that multiple stacks of Bleed can be applied to the enemy, increasing the overall damage output. Bleed can be particularly effective against enemies with high health pools or bosses.

Electrify

Electrify is a Damage over Time effect that deals Lightning Damage to the enemy. It has a base damage of 44 and lasts for 2.5 seconds. Similar to Bleed, Electrify can stack with no limit, allowing you to apply multiple stacks and increase the damage over time. Electrify can be useful for dealing sustained damage to enemies, especially those with Lightning Resistance.

Ignite

Ignite is a Damage over Time effect that deals Fire Damage to the enemy. It has a base damage of 40 and lasts for 2.5 seconds. Like Bleed and Electrify, Ignite can stack with no limit, providing an opportunity to maximize the damage output. Ignite can be particularly effective against enemies weak to Fire Damage or those with high health regeneration.

By utilizing these Damaging Ailments effectively, you can greatly enhance your damage output and overcome even the toughest enemies in Last Epoch.

Debuffing Ailments

Debuffing Ailments in Last Epoch have the power to weaken enemies, making them more susceptible to damage or reducing their overall effectiveness in combat. Understanding the unique effects and mechanics of each Debuffing Ailment is crucial for maximizing their potential. Let’s explore some of the Debuffing Ailments available in the game:

Blind

Blind is a powerful Debuffing Ailment that reduces the enemy’s Critical Strike chance by 50%. In addition, it causes ranged enemies to aim erratically, further reducing their accuracy. This Ailment can be particularly effective against enemies that heavily rely on Critical Strikes or have high damage output. By reducing the enemy’s chance to land critical hits, Blind can significantly increase your survivability in combat.

Chill

Chill is a Debuffing Ailment that reduces the enemy’s movement, attack, and cast speed by 12% per stack. It can stack up to 3 times, further increasing the effectiveness of the debuff. Chill can be an invaluable tool for slowing down enemies, making them easier to kite or control in combat. This Ailment is especially useful against fast-moving enemies or those with high attack speed.

Critical Vulnerability

Critical Vulnerability is a Debuffing Ailment that increases the chance for the enemy to receive a Critical Strike by 2%. Additionally, it reduces the enemy’s Critical Strike Avoidance by 10%. This Ailment can stack up to 10 times, making enemies increasingly vulnerable to critical hits. Critical Vulnerability can be particularly effective against enemies with high Critical Strike Avoidance or those that are resistant to other forms of damage.

Fear

Fear is a Debuffing Ailment that causes the enemy to run in fear for a short period. Once an enemy is Feared, they cannot be Feared again, making it a one-time debuff. Fear can be a useful tool for crowd control, allowing you to temporarily remove an enemy from combat or create an opportunity for a strategic advantage. This Ailment is particularly effective against enemies with high damage output or those that rely on melee attacks.

Frailty

Frailty is a Debuffing Ailment that reduces the enemy’s damage by 6%. It can stack up to 3 times, further amplifying the damage reduction. Frailty can be an excellent tool for mitigating the damage output of enemies, making them easier to defeat. This Ailment is particularly effective against enemies with high damage or those that rely on specific types of damage.

Freeze

Freeze is a Debuffing Ailment that renders the enemy unable to move or perform actions for 1.2 seconds. This immobilization effect can be invaluable in combat, allowing you to temporarily disable an enemy and prevent them from dealing damage or performing actions. Freeze is particularly effective against enemies that rely on melee attacks or have high mobility.

Marked For Death

Marked For Death is a Debuffing Ailment that reduces the enemy’s resistances by 25%. By weakening the enemy’s resistances, this Ailment allows you to deal more damage and overcome their defenses more easily. Marked For Death can be particularly effective against enemies with high resistances or those that are resistant to specific types of damage.

Shock

Shock is a Debuffing Ailment that reduces the enemy’s Lightning Resistance by 5% and increases the chance for them to be stunned by 20%. Shock can stack up to 10 times, further increasing the effectiveness of the debuff. This Ailment is particularly effective against enemies weak to Lightning Damage or those that have high resistance to stun.

Shred Armour

Shred Armour is a Debuffing Ailment that reduces the enemy’s Armour by 100. This reduction in Armour makes the enemy more vulnerable to physical damage, allowing you to deal more significant hits. Shred Armour can be particularly effective against enemies with high Armour values or those that heavily rely on physical damage.

Shred Resistance

Shred Resistance is a Debuffing Ailment that reduces the specified Resistance of the enemy by 5% (2% on Bosses). This reduction in Resistance makes the enemy more susceptible to specific types of damage. Shred Resistance can stack up to 10 times, further increasing the effectiveness of the debuff. This Ailment is particularly effective against enemies with high resistance to specific damage types or those that have a specific vulnerability.

Slow

Slow is a Debuffing Ailment that reduces the enemy’s movement speed by 20%. It can stack up to 3 times, further slowing down the enemy. Slow can be an invaluable tool for kiting enemies or controlling their movement in combat. This Ailment is particularly effective against fast-moving enemies or those with high mobility.

Stun

Stun is a Debuffing Ailment that renders the enemy unable to move or perform actions for 0.4 seconds. This brief period of immobilization can be crucial in combat, allowing you to interrupt enemy attacks or create an opportunity for a strategic advantage. Stun is particularly effective against enemies that rely on melee attacks or have low resistance to stun.

Taunt

Although not technically an Ailment in the traditional sense, Taunt behaves similarly and forces enemies to attack the target that initiated the Taunt. This can be a valuable tool for tanky characters or builds focused on drawing enemy attention away from more vulnerable allies. Taunt can be particularly effective against enemies that have high damage output or prioritize attacking specific targets.

By effectively utilizing these Debuffing Ailments, you can weaken enemies and gain a significant advantage in combat.

Hybrid Ailments

Hybrid Ailments in Last Epoch combine elements of both Damaging and Debuffing Ailments, offering a unique blend of effects that can greatly enhance your combat capabilities. Understanding the mechanics and effects of each Hybrid Ailment is crucial for optimizing your build. Let’s explore some of the Hybrid Ailments available in the game:

Damned

Damned is a Hybrid Ailment that deals Necrotic Damage over time and reduces the enemy’s health regeneration by 20%. This combination of damage and debuff makes Damned particularly effective against enemies with high health regeneration or those that heavily rely on health-based mechanics. Damned can stack with no limit, allowing you to maximize the damage and health regeneration reduction.

Doom

Doom is a Hybrid Ailment that deals Void Damage over time and increases the Melee Damage taken by the enemy by 4%. Doom can stack up to 4 times, further amplifying the debuff. This combination of damage and debuff makes Doom particularly effective against enemies with high Melee Damage output or those that rely on melee attacks. By increasing the enemy’s vulnerability to Melee Damage, Doom allows you to deal more significant hits.

Frostbite

Frostbite is a Hybrid Ailment that deals Cold Damage over time and increases the chance for the enemy to be Frozen by 20%. Frostbite can stack with no limit, but only the first 30 stacks increase the chance to be Frozen. This combination of damage and debuff makes Frostbite particularly effective against enemies weak to Cold Damage or those that rely on mobility. By increasing the chance to freeze the enemy, Frostbite allows you to temporarily immobilize them and gain a strategic advantage.

Poison

Poison is a Hybrid Ailment that deals Poison Damage over time and reduces the enemy’s Poison Resistance by 5%. Poison can stack infinitely, but only the first 30 stacks reduce Poison Resistance. This combination of damage and debuff makes Poison particularly effective against enemies with high Poison Resistance or those that rely on health regeneration. By reducing the enemy’s Poison Resistance, Poison allows you to deal more significant Poison Damage over time.

Time Rot

Time Rot is a Hybrid Ailment that deals Void Damage over time and increases the duration of Stuns received by the enemy by 5%. Time Rot can stack up to 12 times, further increasing the duration of Stuns. This combination of damage and debuff makes Time Rot particularly effective against enemies that rely on mobility or have low resistance to Stun. By increasing the duration of Stuns, Time Rot allows you to control the enemy more effectively and interrupt their actions.

By incorporating these Hybrid Ailments into your build, you can harness the power of both damage and debuff effects, creating a devastating combination against your enemies.

Scaling Ailments: Ailment Damage

Scaling Ailments effectively is essential for maximizing their damage output and effectiveness in combat. While Ailment damage scales similarly to other forms of damage, there are some unique considerations to keep in mind. Let’s explore how Ailment damage can be scaled in Last Epoch:

• No added damage for DoT Ailments: Ailments that are Damage over Time effects do not have added damage. Their damage output is solely based on the base damage of the Ailment and any scaling modifiers.
• Stacks increase damage: Ailments can build up multiple stacks, effectively increasing the damage they deal. Applying multiple stacks of an Ailment can significantly enhance its damage output.
• Increase chance to apply Ailments: The chance to apply stacks of an Ailment can be increased through skill nodes and affixes. For example, Chance to Poison on Hit can increase the chance to apply Poison stacks. It is possible to exceed 100% chance, resulting in the application of multiple stacks at once.
• Increased Duration: Ailment Damage over Time can be improved through Increased Duration modifiers. This applies not only to Ailments but also to Damage over Time skills.
• Ailments cannot apply other Ailments: It is important to note that Ailments cannot apply other Ailments. For example, Ailments cannot apply Shred.

Both Increased and More Damage modifiers function similarly for Ailments. If a skill used to apply Ailments has a More Damage node without any exclusionary wording, the Ailments applied by that skill will benefit from the multiplier. The same principle applies to sources of Increased Damage. For example, if you apply Ignite and have a weapon with Increased Melee Fire Damage, the Increased Damage will not affect Ignite because it specifies Melee. However, if the source were Increased Fire Damage, it would affect Ignite.

Scaling Ailments: Non-Damage Factors

Scaling Ailments in Last Epoch involves more than just increasing their damage output. Other factors play a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of Ailments in combat. Let’s explore the non-damage components of scaling Ailments:

• Ailment-specific scaling: Some Ailments, such as Fear, can only be scaled through Ailment chance and can only be applied once. These Ailments may not have additional scaling options beyond their base effects.
• Stackable Ailments: Ailments like Frailty can be scaled with multiple stacks, but they may not offer additional scaling options. These Ailments rely on the amplification provided by stacking rather than additional modifiers.
• Special scaling options: Certain Ailments have unique ways of scaling. For example, Chill and Shock can benefit from Increased Duration modifiers. Armour Shred scales not only with Chance to Shred Armour but also with Increased Armour Shred Effect and Armour Shred Duration. Freeze can be scaled through the Freeze Rate Multiplier stat and stacks of Frostbite. Stun scales with damage, Increased Stun Chance, and Increased Stun Duration.

Understanding the specific scaling options for each Ailment is crucial for optimizing your build and maximizing their effectiveness in combat.

Tips and Strategies for Using Ailments

Now that you have a solid understanding of Last Epoch Ailments, here are some tips and strategies for utilizing them effectively:

• Synergize with your build: Choose Ailments that synergize well with your build and playstyle. Consider the damage type of your build, the strengths and weaknesses of your character, and the enemies you will be facing.
• Stack Ailments: Whenever possible, aim to apply multiple stacks of an Ailment to maximize its damage output or debuff effect. Experiment with different skills, modifiers, and equipment to increase your chance of applying multiple stacks.
• Consider resistances: Take into account the resistances of your enemies when choosing which Ailments to prioritize. Some enemies may be highly resistant to specific Ailments, making them less effective. Adapt your strategy accordingly.
• Combine with other debuffs: Experiment with combining Ailments with other debuffs or crowd control effects to create powerful synergies. For example, combining Freeze with a Stun effect can effectively immobilize an enemy and prevent them from taking any action.
• Monitor Ailment efficiency: Keep an eye on the Ailments applied to enemies and their stack count. This will allow you to assess the efficiency of your Ailment application and adjust your strategy if needed.
• Experiment and adapt: Last Epoch offers a vast range of Ailments and build options. Experiment with different combinations, skills, and equipment to find the optimal setup for your playstyle. Don’t be afraid to adapt your strategy based on the enemies you encounter.

By following these tips and strategies, you can master the art of using Last Epoch Ailments and gain a significant advantage in combat.

Conclusion

Last Epoch Ailments offer a vast array of possibilities for enhancing your gameplay experience. Whether you prefer a build focused on dealing massive damage or one that focuses on weakening enemies, Ailments provide a versatile toolkit to achieve your goals. By understanding the different types of Ailments, their unique effects, and how to scale them effectively, you can optimize your build and overcome even the toughest challenges in Last Epoch. Master the art of Ailments, and unleash devastating power upon your enemies.