Last Epoch has always been about experimentation, and with Season 3 introducing major balance updates, many players are searching for the best builds to start their journey. The game's respec system makes switching between builds easy, but picking a strong starter can save you a lot of time and resources. Some of these builds are powerful throughout the campaign, while others can scale well into the endgame.

This guide will cover seven of the best starter builds for Last Epoch Season 3, highlighting their main skills, strengths, and unique item synergies. If you want to speed up progression, farming gear and investing in Last Epoch gold can also give you a smoother start.

1) Judgement Paladin

The Judgement Paladin is one of the most versatile starter builds in Season 3. Judgement provides an AoE attack that deals damage over time while also healing allies, making it both offensive and supportive. Pairing it with Holy Aura and Symbols of Hope greatly increases damage and survivability.

Main skills:

·Judgement

·Holy Aura

·Healing Hands

·Symbols of Hope

The build doesn't require unique items, but Rahyeh's Light adds survivability, and Transcriber's Graver boosts damage. The only drawback is Judgement's cooldown, which can limit fast mob clearing.

2) Minion Army Necromancer

The Minion Army Necromancer remains a top pick thanks to Season 3 buffs that made minions tankier and stronger. It's a smooth, safe option for campaign progression. While it may struggle in very high corruption maps or Uber bosses, it easily transitions into more specialised endgame minion builds like Summon Abomination.

Main skills:

·Summon Skeleton

·Summon Bone Golem

·Summon Wraith

·Summon Skeletal Mage

No Uniques are necessary, but items like Evolution's End (amulet) and Phantom Grip (ring) significantly increase minion efficiency. This is a fantastic build for beginners who prefer commanding an army.

3) Summon Bear Beastmaster

The Beastmaster's Bear companion received major buffs in Season 3. Now, the bear can self-heal and cast Earthquake every six seconds, dealing a chunk of your total damage. This makes the build a hybrid of summoning and Earthquake scaling, with a focus on both pet strength and your own attacks.

Main skills:

·Summon Bear

·Earthquake

·Warcry

·Swipe

Recommended uniques include Blossom of Immortal Stone, which consolidates damage types, and Hakar's Phoenix, which revives companions every 10 seconds. This build offers great durability and consistent damage output.

4) Umbral Blades Falconer

If you're looking to speedrun the campaign, the Umbral Blades Falconer is one of the best starter builds. It has strong mob-clearing potential and decent boss damage, though survivability is its weak spot. Many players transition this into the powerful Ballista Falconer later in the endgame.

Main skills:

·Umbral Blades

·Dive Bomb

·Smoke Bomb

·Aerial Assault

It doesn't rely on Uniques, but Phantom Grip again comes in handy for increasing damage on Dive Bomb and Aerial Assault. Fast and flashy, this build is perfect for players who want momentum early.

5) Summon Abomination Necromancer

One of the highlights of Season 3 is the reworked Abomination. It no longer drains its own health unless affected by Dread Shade, making it far more reliable. You can now focus on buffing it with supporting minions like Skeletal Mages before fusing them into the Abomination.

Main skills:

·Summon Abomination

·Summon Skeletons

·Bone Curse

·Aura of Decay

The Phantom Grip ring and Evolution's End amulet are excellent for boosting the Abomination's damage. If you want to maximise performance quickly, you can always buy Last Epoch gold to help acquire these key upgrades.

6) Warpath Void Knight

The classic spin-to-win Warpath Void Knight has returned stronger than ever in Season 3. Small buffs to endurance while channelling make it even better for clearing packs of mobs. The main challenge here is mana management, so you'll need gear with cost reduction and regeneration.

Main skills:

·Warpath

·Anomaly

·Symbols of Hope

·Abyssal Echoes

This build shines with the help of World Splitter (axe) and Nihilis (amulet), which improve mana sustain and survivability. If you enjoy whirlwind-style gameplay, this is your go-to.

7) Totem Shaman

For players who want a simple, defensive starter build, the Totem Shaman is a fantastic choice. Using Storm and Thorn Totems, it deals solid AoE damage while maintaining survivability through Spriggan Form and Eterra's Blessing.

Main skills:

·Summon Storm Totem

·Summon Thorn Totem

·Eterra's Blessing

·Spriggan Form

It requires no Uniques and is very beginner-friendly. The main downside is mobility-you'll need to rely on careful positioning to avoid heavy-hitting enemies, especially Rift Beasts.

Final Thoughts

Season 3 of Last Epoch has shaken up the meta with buffs to minions, new mechanics, and skill reworks. The seven starter builds above-ranging from durable minion armies to flashy melee and spell options-are some of the best ways to get through the campaign and prepare for endgame content.

Whether you prefer to command a legion of undead, spin through hordes of enemies, or summon massive beasts, there's a build here to match your playstyle. Start with one of these, and you'll find yourself well-prepared to farm gear, push corruption, and dive into Last Epoch's evolving endgame.