last-epoch Last Epoch 1.0 Preview: New Skill and Rework for the Primalist

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Learn about the new Primalist Skill, Gathering Storm, and changes to Tempest Strike, coming with the launch of Last Epoch 1.0 on February 21st, 2024!

Last Epoch is preparing up for its 1.0 launch, and the pre-patch blog posts are here to give us a sneak peek into the exciting features arriving on February 21st. Among the highlights are Item Factions, the Falconer, and the Warlock. Just yesterday, Eleventh Hour Games shared a lengthy forum post about the Primalist skill Gathering Storm and the revamped Tempest Strike.

New Skill: Gathering Storm

Replacing Ice Thorns at level 2 for Primalists, Gathering Storm strikes your enemies with a mighty lightning-powered storm. You gain Storm Stacks with each hit, allowing you to release Storm Bolts at an accelerated rate. The more stacks, the faster the bolts!

The skill has no Mana cost by default, and its damage is increased by 4% for each point of melee attack strength, while each point of attunement adds +1 spell damage to the storm bolts. 

Gathering Storm can be specialized into different branches, allowing you to customize the effects and manage your Storm stacks. You will also be able to combine your Gathering Storm with other lightning abilities, such as Storm bolt: for example, when your primal wolves cast storm bolts, they will also use Gathering Storm's Storm bolt, which means more bolts will trigger.

Customize Gathering Storm through its skill tree:

• Frostbringer: Convert damage to Cold and add crowd control through frostbite.
• Ranged Spell Conversion with Lagonian Diplomacy: Transform Gathering Storm into a complete spell, emphasizing the spell aspects.
• Dual Wielding Support: Two Eyed Storm node lets your Storm Stacks hit two enemies for the price of one with dual-wielding weapons.
• Whirlwind Tactics: Great synergy with minions, expending Storm Stacks when using Companions.

Furthermore, Tempest Strike undergoes a significant overhaul, transforming into a high-cost combo ability. With each strike, trigger a Tempest for powerful effects.

Tempest Strike will also work well with other abilities, such as the druid’s transformations or your totems. The skill tree offers diverse options:

• Druid's Call: Turn Tempest Strike into a melee triggered ability while transformed, perfect for lightning Werebears.
• Tempest Sacrificing: Sacrifice Tempests for increased attack speed, opening up spell combos like the Ceaseless Typhoon.
• Totem Support: Looming Gale node turns Tempest Strike into a Tempest Totem, fitting into totem and minion builds.
• Tempest Focus: Add more Tempests with this node, allowing multiple tempests on each strike.

All of this is just a taste of what is to come, since the revision of Gathering Storm and Tempest Strike is part of a larger overhaul of the Primalist class, aimed at making it more varied, dynamic, and enjoyable to play. Eleventh Hour Games will release several pre-patch posts before launch to address changes, as well as additional class and game updates. So prepare for an exciting launch as Last Epoch servers go down 24 hours before the big day, and stay tuned for additional information as we count down to the Last Epoch 1.0 release!

For a more detailed look at all Primalist changes, check out the official forum post here: Gathering Storm and Tempest Strike Rework

Additionally, you can check out our Last Epoch section here on Icy Veins or head directly to our Primalist page for more information about the class and its masteries!