• Character Basics

Control Basics

Core Attributes

Gaining Levels

Character Window

Death

1: There are too many gear types with no generics of class separation. Item 'Types/Classes'. Path of exile has 12 different types of regular weapons (Fishing rods not included): 1-H Axes, 1-H Swords, 1-H Maces, 2-H Axes, 2-H Swords, 2-H Maces, Scepters, Staves, Wands, Claws, Daggers, and Bows. So I was reading the game guide to check how armor worked because I was (and still am) clueless about how it works, and I ended up reading page after page of features and thought it was funny how many little things weren't updated. Grim Dawn may still be a good few months away (currently perhaps at the end of August), but I’ve had my hands on some early alpha code to get an impression of this furrow-browed, grimly serious action RPG from the former Titan Quest developers. You can see my thoughts below. The first time I heard. Grim Dawn is an action role-playing game developed by Crate Entertainment that attempts to perfect the magical formula of exploration, character advancement, and loot collection. We are currently maintaining 4,097 articles with 54,447 edits! 16 Inventory Slots: World Drop: Core Felcloth Bag: Phase 5: 28 Soul Shard Slots: Bosses in Molten Core: Felcloth Bag: Phase 1: 24 Soul Shard Slots: Learned from Journal of Jandice Barov in Scholomance: Satchel of Cenarius: Phase 5: 24 Herb Slots: Revered with Cenarion Circle - Mishta in Southwind Village, Silithus: Big Bag of Enchantment: Phase.

Character Basics

Creating a character in Grim Dawn is a multi-layered process that puts you in control. Grim Dawn characters go beyond just the typical archetypes of warrior, ranger and wizard. By combining character attributes, the dual mastery system and items, you can create a character that is truly your own; whether that is an unstoppable spell-weaving tank, a devious blade-wielding assassin or a gun-toting pyro.

Basic Controls

Grim Dawn is controlled through a combination of a mouse and keyboard, with the mouse being the primary form of interaction with the world around you. By default, left-clicking anywhere in the world will move your character towards that location. Left-clicking on an interactive object, such as a door, chest, NPC or monster will cause your character to approach that object and engage it in an appropriate manner.

Move To Command

You can assign either a Move To shortcut key or a Move To skill to one of your buttons on the mouse or quickbar in order to move around the world of Cairn without interacting with any hostile targets.

This setting is useful for ranged characters that wish to have a dedicated move command that will allow them to escape harm without accidentally clicking to attack a target.

Rotating The Camera

The camera in Grim Dawn is not restricted to the standard fixed-angle view common to ARPGs. You can rotate the camera by holding down the middle mouse button or using the keyboard (Default Keys: , or .) to change your perspective on the world and see things from a different direction.

All levels in Grim Dawn are designed so that this option is completely optional, but you can, should you choose to, enrich your experience by turning the camera to an optimal view that suits your playstyle, such as to maximize your visibility of enemies as a ranged character.

Core Attributes

Health

Health is a measure of how much pain and damage you can withstand. If it ever runs out, you will die. Health is represented by the red bar on the screen. When your health runs low, the edges of the screen will flash red in warning. You can restore health by drinking a Tonic of Mending or by using various skills. When out of combat for 2.5 seconds, your Constitution will kick in and rapidly refill your health. Health is increased by the Physique attribute, and to a lesser extent by Cunning and Spirit.

Note that Constitution is a limited resource, so it is not ideal to rely on this mechanic as your sole source of healing. To learn more about Constitution, visit the Combat page.

Energy

Energy is the resource you consume in order to cast spells and abilities. If you run out of energy, you will not be able to cast skills that require energy. Energy is represented by the Aether-green bar on the screen. It is increased by the Spirit attribute.

Physique

Improves your physical conditioning, the ability and strength to fight in heavier gear and the agility to avoid enemy attacks. Every point of Physique increases your health by 2.5, health regeneration by 0.05 and Defensive Ability by 0.4, which affects your enemies’ ability to hit and critically hit you. Higher physique also allows you to meet the attribute requirements of armor, one-handed maces, one-handed axes and two-handed melee weapons. The heaviest armor in the game requires a considerable investment in Physique.

Cunning

Improves your combat technique, which affects your effectiveness with weapons and physical-based attacks. Every point of Cunning increases health by 1.0, your physical and pierce damage by 0.41%, bleed and internal trauma damage by 0.46% and Offensive Ability by 0.4, which affects your ability to hit and critically hit your enemies. Higher Cunning also allows you to meet the attribute requirements of one-handed swords and all guns.

Spirit

Improves the flow of energy into your being. Every point of Spirit increases your health by 1.0, magical damage by 0.47%, magical duration damage by 0.5%, energy by 2 and energy regeneration by 0.01 + 0.26%. Higher Spirit also allows you to meet the attribute requirements of caster armor, implements, caster off-hands, rings and amulets.

The damage types affected by Spirit are: Fire, Burn, Cold, Frostburn, Lightning, Electrocute, Acid, Poison, Vitality, Vitality Decay, Aether and Chaos.

Gaining Levels

Dawn

As you slay monsters and complete quests, you will accrue experience. Experience will allow you to gain levels, which in turn increase your power through attributes and skill points. Experience is represented by the yellow bar on the screen, underneath health and energy. Whenever that bar fills up, you will gain a level.

Each time you level up, you will gain 10 Offensive Ability, 10 Defensive Ability, 1 attribute point and up to 3 skill points. You will also gain access to up to two Masteries.

The level cap is 85, increased to 100 with the Ashes of Malmouth expansion. At levels 2 through 50, you earn 3 skill points per level. At levels 51 through 90, you earn 2 skill points per level. Levels 91 and up earn 1 skill point per level.

Selecting Masteries

Upon reaching level 2, you will be able to open the Skill Window (Default key: S) and select your first Mastery. Masteries represent distinct archetypes, each with a unique set of skills that offer a wide variety of play styles. At level 10, you can combine your first Mastery with another to create a dual-class synergy that will further define your play style. To learn more about the Masteries currently available in Grim Dawn, visit the Masteries page.

Spending Attribute Points

Attribute points can be assigned in the Character Window (Default key: C). You can distribute your points in any combination to Physique, Cunning and Spirit by clicking the + symbol next to them. Each point will increase that attribute by 8.

Spending Skill Points

Skill points can be assigned in the Skill Window
(Default key: S). Before you can assign your skill points into skills, you must first invest in the Mastery bar, located along the bottom of the Skill Window. By pressing the large + symbol, you will fill the Mastery bar and unlock skill tiers. In addition to unlocking new skills, points in the Mastery bar also increase your Core Attributes. You will need to find a balance between investing in the Mastery bar and in your skills.

Active skills are denoted by square icons. These skills can be assigned to your Quickbar and used during battle. Passive skills are denoted by circular icons. Once you assign points into them, these skills will passively provide their benefits. They do not need to be assigned to the Quickbar.

Passive skills which are connected to an Active skill by a line modify that Active skill only. These are known as Skill Modifiers. The Active skill must be learned before you can place points into its modifiers.

Assigning New Skills

Once you have learned a new active skill, you will need to assign it to the Quickbar before you can use it. To assign a skill, right-click on a slot in the Quickbar and select the desired skill from the menu. You can also assign skills to the mouse buttons this way, located to the right of the Quickbar.

Note that not all skills can be assigned to the left-mouse button.

Character Window

The Character Window (Default key: C) is a detailed summary of your character’s equipment and stats. Whenever you acquire a new item, it goes into your inventory, located along the bottom of the Character Window. Items you currently have equipped appear above your inventory, in the following slots:

Note that you can activate a secondary weapon set (Default key: W) by pressing the Weapon Swap button to the left of your Head equipment slot.

Equipping Items

As you collect items, they will be added to your inventory. If you are not currently wearing an item in a particular gear slot, the first item you loot that belongs into that gear slot (and for which you meet the attribute requirements) will be automatically equipped. You can equip new items by right-clicking them from your inventory or by left-clicking and dropping them to an appropriate equipment slot.

You can remove an item from your inventory by left-click moving it outside of the Character Window, or by left-clicking it and pressing the Drop Key (Default key: D).

Extra Bags

As you adventure out in the world of Cairn, you will eventually earn additional bag space from quest rewards. These bags will appear on the right side of your inventory space. Additional bags can be accessed by pressing on their respective buttons. When your main inventory fills up, items will automatically go into available space in your extra bags. This may sometimes seem like items are disappearing inside your inventory. Check your bags!

Detailed Statistics

To the right of your equipment, you can see an overview of all of your stats. The first tab provides the basics, but the following two tabs will give you a detailed rundown of all major game statistics. Hover over individual stats to see additional information.

Resistances

Resistances are an important aspect of your defenses which reduce the damage you take from spells and abilities as well as reduce the duration of crowd control effects. You will primarily find resistances on equipment. You cannot raise any individual resistance above 80%, but there are items on Elite and Ultimate difficulty which can increase the maximum allowed resistances to up to 95%. You can see an overview of your core resistances on the first tab of the Character Window.

Death

Even the most powerful of heroes may one day stumble and find themselves trapped in the cold jaws of death. But do not fear, as death itself does not mark the end of your journey. Characters that fall in battle will respawn in town with a penalty to their Experience gained. This penalty is dependent on your current level, but you will never drop below the experience required for your current level.

You can gain back some of the lost experience by recovering your tombstone. Note that you will only ever have one tombstone out in the world at a time, so dying while trying to recover your tombstone will generate a new one.

Grim Dawn starting guide for new players.

How to Start the Grim Dawn

Class

Create a character.

You spawn in devils crossing with a fresh character who has no class selected yet. You’re able to pick one class atm.

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Press ‘S’ for the skills window and choose one of the following classes:

  • Soldier.
  • Demolitionist.
  • Occultist.
  • Nightblade.
  • Arcanist.
  • Shaman.
  • Inqusitor. – DLC
  • Necromancer. – DLC
  • Oathkeeper. – DLC

Read

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I heavily suggest you read the class descriptions before picking one as each class does differnt things.

Level 10 – Second Mastery

In Grim Dawn you’re able to select two classes to use on one character once you reach level 10.

So combination is very possible.

Devils Crossing

Pretty much the hub town world similar to the likes of the one from Diablo III.

You spawn here when you first make a character.

Devils Crossing Map

  • Chest – Storage npc.
  • Bags – Either merchant or seller.
  • Book – Spirit guide that allows respecs.
  • Cog – Inventor.

Hud

What you see on the screen.

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Hotbar

  • Health is in red.
  • Mana is in green.
  • Unlocked skills can be set with right click in a number.
  • Character level is in the middle.
  • Rift travel – L
  • Character window – C
  • Skills window – S
  • Codex – Q
  • Factions – J
  • Map – M
  • Group window – P
  • Achievements – V
  • Settings – G

Compass

Shows the map in a short circle.

Can be enlarged with a key on the hotbar.

Equip / Inventory

The equipment tab and inventory is opened with the ‘I’ key.

Drag and drop

If your stats match with the equipment you can just drag and drop it into the slots on the screen.

  • Helm slot.
  • Weapon slot 1.
  • Weapons slot 2.
  • Ring slot 1.
  • Ring slot 2.
  • Amulet slot.
  • Chest slot.
  • Pants slot.
  • Boots slot.
  • Gloves slot.
  • Shoudlers slot.
  • Belt slot.

Inventory

Open with the ‘I’ key.

Where all your junk and materials are stored that you find during you playthrough.

Deposit

Also money tab here.

Tonics

Tonic of mending

Is on the hotbar by default but can be activated to restore a portion of health over time.

Cool down on this item.

Tonic of spirit or energy elixir

Is on the hotbar by default but can be activated to restore a portion of energy over time.

Cool down on this item.

Constitution

The yellowish tone on your health bar that decreases when your life regens is the Constitution. This system is put in place basically to not be constantly using potions during battle.

Constitution restoration

Find food around the world and rations.

Rations can be dropped by enemies or found on plates.

Attributes

Every time you level up in Grim Dawn you gain a attribute point that is located with the ‘I’ key menu.

  • Physique – Bonus health and regen stat with more weight for heavy gear.
  • Cunning – Extra damage with pierce, hit land ratio increases.
  • Spirit – Increases magic damage and the ability to channel higher magic gear.

Skill Tree

Mastery bar

The bar at the bottom of a class skill tree.

This feature requires the player to invest skill points into the bar to increase it’s reach.

The further it reaches the more advanced skills and buffs you can invest into.

Skills

Each class has many skills and passive buffs you can invest into depending on your chosen build.

Find what works for your play style.

Devotion

Found in the skills menu. Has it’s own tab.

Restored shrine

Similar to the likes of Skyrim finding these shrines around the map will allow you to earn a devotion point that will go towards your chosen path for certain bonuses.

Constellation

When you invest in certain constellations they provide bonuses towards stats.

Getting a full constellation done will give a special ability towards one move.

For example Tsunami and Aetherfire on both my skills.

Shrine power

These can be levelled up for more damage and effective rate.

Rift

Pressing L will open a personal rift which allows you to travel anywhere and return to the last spot it was used at on the map.

Very hand for going to town to sell your gear.

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Act I & II

The beginner type of acts in Grim dawn.

Not the hardest but doesn’t hold your hand.

Act I

Start from Devils crossing and head up towards the Foggy bank and later towards the burrwitch estates. The enemy types are the low level pretty basic enemies.

Act II

Things start to heat up and you must fix the bridge north west of Devils crossing. Once fixed you can walk over and start Act II. The enemy types are upgraded and are more capable.

Lore Bonus

Finding books around the world and reading them in your inventory will grant a lore bonus.These can range from a little to alot of xp.

Right click on the note in the inventory.

Xp & Respawn

Xp scaling

Xp scales to the level that you’re currently at, meaning you can’t keep farming low level enemies and expect to level up fast. You must kill mobs around 1-3 areas that you’re currently around in the story.

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Enemy respawn

Overtime enemies will respawn on the map.

So you can keep farming xp if you would like.

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Map

The map colour will inform you of the respawn by changing colour when you explore an area.

Enemy Bosses

Enemy bosses respawn just like regular enemies so you can keep killing them for xp and loot.

The star

They’re shown by a star near the health bar.

Quests

The quest menu can be accessed by pressing ‘Q’ for the codex window.

In here it’ll tell you details about quests you have chosen to do from NPCS. For example:

Right side

Active quests are also shown on the right side of the screen but can be turned off with the key icon.

Co-op

If you play with a friend the enemy levels are increased for difficulty. So keep that in mind for when your farming.

Factions

This one gets abit complicated but there are multiple factions in Grim Dawn and doing certain quests and killing certain enemy types increases or lowers a factions trust in you.

Gear

Leveling up a factions trust will allow you to partake in more activities in the areas and have access to better equipment from the merchants.

Loot Filter

Note: I wouldn’t recommend turning this on at the start.

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Loot filter

The left of the health bar is a ring icon.

This is the loot filter system in Grim dawn so you can choose what appears on the screen if you don’t like certain items.

Note: Read it before you click anything as it’s confusing.

Black Smith

Enchanting

You can use materials you find in the world to craft a weapon that responds to your current level at the blacksmith but has a chance for random stats and effects.

Scrolls

You can find/buy scrolls that allow you to craft certain items at a blacksmith.

You can try and craft really any type of item from armour to 2 handed great axe.

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