Grim Dawn Grim Misadventures #53: Arcanist Mastery, Part Two

Building upon the first installment, Crate Entertainment designer “Zantai” has moved on to the second portion of our in-depth look at the Arcanist mastery. In this entry, we learn more about some of the actual skills and abilities we’ll be able to unlock:

Albrecht’s Aether Ray
(A powerful arcane technique perfected by Master Albrecht in the years just preceding the Grim Dawn that channels raw arcane energies into a concentrated beam of destruction.)

Aether Ray focused intense quantities of arcane energies into your target in the form of a destructive beam. The skill is the first example in Grim Dawn of a channeled ability, which must be maintained in order to use it to its full potential. Aether Ray requires significant focus and study into the arcane, and as such requires a caster off-hand to be used. The modifier for this skill causes the beam to disintegrate all it touches with bonus vitality damage and a penalty to the target’s damage. This skill also has a transmuter, which corrupts the beam with the raging powers of the chaotic void and causes it to deal chaos damage instead of aether damage.

Reckless Power
(Turn your body into a conduit of the aether, manifesting terrifying arcane energies while sacrificing some of your humanity and lifeforce.)

Reckless Power does exactly what the name implies, grants you access to incredible energies at the cost of your own survivability. While under the effect of this buff, you will have a bonus to various spell damage types, but your maximum health will be decreased by a percentage. It is a very risky playstyle, but the pay-off is equally satisfying. The modifier for this skill extends some of your new-found power to nearby allies. This skill also has a transmuter, which allows the power hungry to further sacrifice their defenses in the interest of more raw energy.

Devastation
(Hailed as the ultimate force of destruction known to Arcanists, this technique tears a rift in reality through which fall embers of raw arcane energy. This dangerous spell is extremely draining and should not be used lightly.)

Devastation is the pinnacle of destructive magic that rains raw aether energy upon your foes. In case one display of such power proves insufficient, standing still beyond the initial cast can release up to two additional waves of projectiles. As with Aether Ray, this skill requires a caster off-hand.

Fabric of Reality
(Unravel the secrets of the very fabric of reality. The raw powers of the aether and the void become as playthings to you.)

Fabric of Reality is a passive which unlocks the maximum potential of your mastery over the powers of the universe. You will wield the aether and the void with ease, as if they were mere flame and ice. This passive also enhances your ability to draw energy from other sources, increasing your energy leech.