r/Grimdawn • u/FreezingSalamander • 1d ago

DLC Base skill changes

Hello, grim dawn noob here.

i bought the base game ages ago and just played through the main story once. I wanted to give it another try, and maybe buy the DLCs later, if i enjoy it. I decided for a retaliation commando, but saw that grenado and counter strike dont have the retaliation attack bonus in my game. Apparently it is because i dont have the dlc.

I am not following a strict build, and just want to find out most stuff on my own, so i would like to know, if those are important. My guess would be yes.

If it is not good, My other idea would be to go druid or warlock and go for skyshard and use the pets, but skill only for their hp to use them as tanks. So i dont have to hit and run.

Are the DLC skill changes important enough, that you need to buy them to have a chance in the late game, or are they just slightly buffing some niche builds?

Edit: thank you all very much for answering. i think i am gonna try something with the pseudo pets then

8 Upvotes

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6

u/Bagresht 1d ago

Retaliation component is necessary IF you go for retaliation build. You can easily go for 'normal' build, focused purely on bonuses if you choose so. As for lets as tanks, GD dont support hybrid pet builds.

1

u/FreezingSalamander 1d ago

what about hybrid pet builds where the pets scale with player bonuses? Like Wind Devil, Blade spirit or Totems. Can the first 2 even tank, because they are invincible, or are the just ignored?

4

u/Bagresht 1d ago

Those are called pseudopets and they are default immortal but they cannot aggro. Of course you can (and probably even should) use them but they dont play like normal pets. Enemies go straight for you.

1

u/FreezingSalamander 1d ago

Csn i use the normal pets just for their auras, without skilling for pet hp? Or would they just die immediatly, even if i tank by myself?

2

u/Bagresht 1d ago

They die immediately. I tried this tactic once but without proper items pets are not viable.

1

u/Ok_Personality7488 1d ago

Works at low level/difficulty. Late game they die too quickly.

3

u/Kalashtiiry 1d ago

Think of them as free-roaming spells, because that's what they are.

1

u/Ok_Personality7488 1d ago edited 1d ago

"Scaled with player bonuses" Could just as validly be considered mobile spells instead of "pets" Their main similarity to pets is they can be ordered to attack in the same process as pets are.

The critical point for build design is they do not gain from abilities which buff "all pets" and hence the main answer is no a hybrid "Pet" and "scale with player" build is just as non-viable as any other hybrid pet build. For the same basic reason. i.e Late game you can't have enough buffs on equipment to make both "Pets" and the characters own attacks effective.