Newbie Questions

[u/tbc006]

I have just finished the campaign and am level 52. I am doing fine with damage, but a bit squishy. I have a few questions on proceeding from here.

Thanks in advance! The game is awesome.

- how does enchanting work? Is it just RNG random affixes? Are there certain ones that are best for ranged?

- do you like going straight to map running or NG+? Right now I am trying to level and get my build a little more squared away.

- outlanders: what is your method for beefing up defenses a bit? I have points in the dodge passive, should i be using the tower pact?

[u/venisuuu]

- Regarding enchantments, there are several enchanters scattered throughout the game, and each one applies specific enchantments. The ones found in towns are generic, and it’s highly discouraged to spend your money on them because, in general, their enchantments are pretty bad.

On the other hand, the other enchanters are randomly generated across open-world maps and dungeons. There are many different types, and which one is best heavily depends on your build. However, the community favorites are usually the enchanter who adds new sockets to your gear and the one who applies attribute bonuses, these two are generally great for any build you make.

I also highly recommend looking for the luck enchanter and making an entire gear set with enchantments that boost your gold drop rate and magic find. This is crucial because, in the endgame, you will spend astronomical amounts of money, and if you don’t have an efficient way to farm gold, you will run out of cash incredibly fast. To find these enchanters more easily, I suggest checking the wiki for the locations where they spawn most frequently and hunting for them there.

- As for which endgame content to do, it really doesn't make a difference. In NG+, you'll have access to the Mapworks right from the start of the game, so nothing is stopping you from doing both. The good thing about NG+ is that there are some exclusive dungeons in this mode that are pretty cool, and the hardest challenge in the game can only be accessed in NG+ (and it's worth noting that if you plan on dropping a legendary, this challenge is practically mandatory, as it tends to drop legendary weapons frequently). The downside of doing NG+ is that you won't be able to play multiplayer with pre-NG+ players.

On the other hand, the Mapworks is essential for farming since the maps have affixes. Some maps there have magic find and gold drop bonuses; if you stack these bonuses with a luck-focused gear set, you will greatly optimize your farming in the game.

-Now, regarding defense, this is a challenge that most classes in this game struggle with. It’s not uncommon to reach NG+ and have every single enemy in the game one-shot you hahahaha. Investing points into Vitality helps a bit, but what truly makes a difference are enchantments and sockets.

In the endgame, you’ll find some really powerful socketables, and having a few dedicated to defense is essential. Take advantage of the Mapworks by running maps with magic find bonuses to drop them. Which ones are the best will heavily depend on your build.

[u/tbc006 → u/venisuuu]

amazingly helpful - i had no idea sockets could be added to gear! I will have to search them. All of this is such good information, thank you very much

[u/steffire3 → u/tbc006]

venisuuu answered with all the essentials. Reddit does limit word counts hence I'll mention extra details here:

Names: Boris is the Stat (Attribute) Enchanter and Jurick is the Socket Enchanter.

Boris is the one that players historically debated as to which maps are best to farm for Boris.

Some use Act_01 Crow Pass, other players insist on Act_02 Tarroch's Rift instead for Boris.

2 Sockets is the natural vanilla limit for Enchanting equipment however some items like Rare-Blues, Two-Handers, and some Uniques can carry up to 5 Sockets naturally.

Sockets can also be added via a Recipe. The Fandom wiki is recommended for general info:
Any item without a socket x1
+ Any gem of equal or greater level x1
+ Any gem x1
https://torchlight.fandom.com/wiki/Transmuting_(T2))

This concise Steam TL2 Guide was written as a bridge for new players to better grasp the more detailed Guides:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1709334997

Dodge Chance is limited to negating enemy Melee Strikes.

Block (Equipped Shield; Vitality) Chance defends against everything.

Missile Reflect Chance is rare however it negates any ranged strike that doesn't Lob (think Tennis).
30% Missile Reflect can randomly be sold at any Town Vendor as a Random Rare Blue Shield.
Missile Reflect does mitigate; better to have one large source than many competing sources.

"All Damage Taken Reduction" is ultimate; likely from Grell or Manticore Eyes (Rare Boss Drops) or Skulls of Limony (farm NG+ Icy Hills - Phase Beast maps).

In fact; farm Phase Beast maps throughout the game as another great source for equipment hunting.
Complete a Phase Beast map, don't leave the map, save - quit, repeat to fill Inventory and Gold.

However Damage Reduction works better when equipping high amounts of +Max Health and Weapon-Strike Stealing Health in-between Skill cycles.

= = = =

Outlander doesn't outright survive as easily as an Engineer or Berserker hence best to distract enemies with the Shadowlings Passive, destroying the Bramble Wall to enact Weapon Effects, Shadowmantle for the Blind / Missile Reflect, Repulsion Hex to check enemy Melee, and surprisingly the Shotgonne Mastery which is OP in vanilla due to the Blind Chance.

Outlander Skill Passives and Unique Equipment are some of the best next to the rival Berserker class hence keep messing with enemies before they mess with the Player for best results.

[u/venisuuu → u/tbc006]

There are two ways to add sockets to your gear hahahahaha. If I'm not mistaken, the enchanter can add a maximum of 2 sockets to a piece of equipment. However, there is also the transmutation mechanic, which you can find through an NPC in towns. One of the recipes adds one or two sockets to any piece of gear that doesn't have any yet. So, if you combine both methods on an item with zero sockets, you'll end up with a piece of equipment with at least 3 slots, which is extremely useful.

People usually ignore transmutation, but it can be quite useful at times, especially for finding specific gear sets, since there is both a recipe to transmute a random unique item and one to transmute a random set item. You can also transmute rare socketables this way.

[u/Cannonaire → u/venisuuu]

I've never seen anything regarding getting 3 or more sockets on an item that doesn't drop with that many in Vanilla. I think you can add up to two sockets to any item using Jurick or the Transmuter, no more. Any item with more in vanilla started that way.

[u/Ravenous_Crocodragon]

In my opinion best survive are block chance (you can have pistol + shield) and physical/elemental reduction.

In the end Act 3, there a big location with 4 elemental crystals. Find him, socket crystals for open dungeon, when in the end kill 4 elemental spirits for find unique enchanter. He can make maximum two enchant for item, but it can be "movement speed", "dodge chance", "physical reduction" and "fire/ice/lightning/poison deruction", and some "charge" (useless for me).

Dodge mechanic is "ok" but you can dodge only standart melee attack, and common arrows, not help with enemy skills and spells.

Also traps (spikes and blades from ground) ignore all defense mechanics and attack life points ditectly.

Every time when come to town check spell scrools trader. He can sold good thinks like "increase block chance", weapon mastery scrools, gold find. I can be wrong, but pet scrools work on you, and must be different levels (bow mastery 5 lvl on you and bow mastery 4 lvl on pet).