Top Reflect Build Guide for Forge Guard in Last Epoch

 

What Makes This Forge Guard Build So Unique?

If you're looking for a build in Last Epoch that feels unkillable, lets you chill while mobs destroy themselves, and scales well into high corruption, this Forge Guard reflect build is exactly what you need. Instead of micromanaging minions or spamming buttons constantly, this setup lets you relax while reflect damage and automated healing do the work. With Shield Throw as your main active skill and passive healing from Smite, it's a tanky powerhouse that can handle endgame content—even bosses—while requiring minimal effort.

How This Reflect Build Works in Last Epoch

This build is designed around two core mechanics: reflect damage and Shield Throw. You’re stacking reflect stats so enemies take punishment just for hitting you, and you mix in Shield Throws for extra targeted damage and to keep healing flowing. The setup doesn’t rely on minions or complicated combos. It’s all about durability, automation, and fun.

You’ll start fights by simply standing still—literally. The reflect damage takes care of the smaller mobs, and once things get denser or you reach a boss, you activate Shield Throw to add pressure while healing yourself through Smite procs.

Here’s a quick breakdown of why it feels so good:

• Reflect damage punishes everything around you.

• Shield Throw deals decent AOE and triggers healing.

• You’re almost impossible to kill thanks to constant Smite heals and high block chance.

• It’s “AFK-friendly”—perfect for chill grinding or multitasking.

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Core Skills and Mechanics Explained

You’ll rely on a few essential skills and interactions to make this build work. Let’s go through them one by one.

🛡️ Shield Throw

This is your main damage and utility skill. It deals direct damage, bounces between enemies and allies, and can be modified to convert its damage to void, which synergizes perfectly with our gear and idols.

Key Nodes to Prioritize:

• Shield Barrage: Removes cooldown so you can spam it.

• Ricochet Nodes: Boosts bounce count for more hits.

• Heavy Shield: Adds flat damage and scaling.

• Void Conversion: Converts base damage to void to synergize with idols and gear.

🌩️ Smite

You don’t cast this directly—it gets auto-triggered through idols when you use Shield Throw. Smite heals you when it lands, making it the foundation of your sustain.

Key Nodes:

• Fallen from Grace: Converts Smite to Void for better synergy.

• Cost Reduction: Keeps mana costs negligible.

• Healing Boosts: Maximizes how much you recover each proc.

🔰 Ring of Shields

This skill sets up a wall of rotating shields that not only absorb damage but also reflect it. It’s mostly automated thanks to shield procs on block.

Recommended Nodes:

• Shield Wall: Places a wall of shields for bounce synergy.

• Healing on Death: Heals you when shields expire.

• Auto-Cast on Block: Makes the whole thing passive and seamless.

Gear Guide: What to Prioritize for Maximum Reflect and Healing

To make this build shine, you need to stack specific modifiers that synergize with both reflect damage and Shield Throw’s void conversion. Fortunately, most of the required items are fairly accessible—even for solo players or those in Trade League.

🪓 Weapon: Dreamthorn (Two-Handed Sword)

This unique is perfect for this build due to:

• Flat Void Damage

• Block Chance

• Scalability with Shield Throw

Try to get a well-rolled version—LP3 is ideal if you’re buying, but even an LP0 version works.

🛡️ Shield: High Block Rate Shield

Pair Dreamthorn with a high block chance shield. You're aiming to hit 99% block chance. Block isn't just for defense here—it also automates shield casting and healing interactions.

🧱 Armor, Amulet, Rings & Belt

Look for the following affixes:

• Throwing Damage

• Throwing Attack Speed

• Void Damage / Void Penetration

• Critical Strike Chance & Multiplier (Throwing only)

• Resistance Caps

• Strength and Dexterity (help scale damage)

Your amulet and belt are great places to add throwing damage. Try for high tiers on these stats.

👣 Boots & Gloves

Boots should include movement speed and utility (resists, health). Gloves need throwing damage and crit bonuses. Strength scaling helps here too.

🧿 Idols

These are vital for scaling the build. You want:

• 150 flat reflect damage to attackers

• 15% increased reflected damage

• +1 flat throwing damage per 10 reflected damage

• Chance to cast Smite on throwing attacks

• 100% Shield Throw void conversion

These are not optional. The whole build’s damage and healing loop relies on these idol interactions.

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Passives Breakdown: Where to Put Your Points

Now that your gear is locked in, let’s look at how to spread your passive points for balance between defense, reflect scaling, and throwing efficiency.

🛡 Sentinel Base Tree

Focus on survivability and block chance early on:

• Armor Clad for damage reduction

• Defiance for resistances

• Vengeance for passive sustain

• A few points in Relentless to boost health

⚙ Forge Guard Tree

This is the build’s main passive engine. Key areas:

• Iron Reflexes (for Dexterity scaling)

• Shield Crafter (enhances Ring of Shields interactions)

• Reflected Damage, Throwing Damage, and Strength nodes

• Skip minion nodes since we’re not running any

🔥 Paladin Tree (Optional but Recommended)

Pick this up if you want Symbols of Hope and additional healing scaling. Also:

• Force of Devotion

• Healing Effectiveness

• Block Chance passives

• Aim to reach Symbols of Hope level 4 if you can

🌑 Void Knight Tree (Optional Endgame)

Spend points here if you want even more void throwing damage via nodes like:

• Void Blades

• Void Wave

Don’t overcommit early—this is more of a fine-tuning area once the rest of your tree is stable.

How to Play: Gameplan and Boss Strategy

🧍 Basic Gameplay Loop

The charm of this build is its low input, high reward style. Here’s your general loop:

1. Enter a zone or start a fight.

2. Stand still. Let reflect damage take care of mobs.

3. Use Shield Throw occasionally to keep enemies debuffed and trigger healing.

4. If needed, drop Ring of Shields for extra bounces or damage absorption.

5. Smite procs from Shield Throw keep you topped off on health.

You’ll find yourself barely using potions and very rarely dying, even in harder monoliths or dungeons.

🧑‍✈️ Boss Encounters

For bosses:

• Use Ring of Shields directly on the boss to maximize Shield Throw ricochets.

• Hold down Shield Throw—that’s it. Spam it to deal consistent damage and heal via Smite.

• Avoid bugs related to shield bounces—if your damage seems low, reposition slightly or refresh shields.

Note: There’s a known bug where Shield Throw sometimes deals no damage when bouncing off shields. Until this is patched, avoid over-relying on the shield wall mechanic during bosses.

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Defense Layers: Why This Build Is So Tanky

This setup is built like a fortress. Here's why:

• 99% Block Chance: You absorb nearly every hit.

• Smite Healing on Every Throw: Nearly constant full HP recovery.

• Ring of Shields: Extra absorb layer plus passive healing.

• High Armor & Strength Scaling: Reduces incoming damage.

• Optional Paladin Nodes: Even more healing and resist boosts.

To round out defenses:

• Cap all resistances.

• Aim for 100% crit avoidance or 100% reduced crit damage taken.

• Balance endurance and health to avoid one-shots.

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Leveling Tips and Gear Priorities

🆙 Leveling Path

You can begin working on this build in the mid-30s, but it starts to feel great in the 50s–60s, once you get:

• Basic reflect idols

• Dreamthorn or another decent two-hander

• Enough points in Forge Guard for damage scaling

Until then:

• Use Smite and Hammer Throw for leveling.

• Prioritize defense nodes in Sentinel and Forge Guard.

⚒ Gear Prioritization by Level

Level Range	Key Priorities
1–30	Armor, block, resistances
30–50	Start looking for reflect idols
50–70	Equip Dreamthorn, tune throwing gear
70+	Fine-tune idols, finish passive trees
90+	Optimize crit stats, min-max void gear

🏁 Conclusion: Is the Reflect Shield Throw Forge Guard Worth Playing?

If you enjoy a build that plays itself, heals constantly, and clears monoliths with minimal effort—this setup is perfect. While the current bug with Shield Throw ricochets limits its single-target boss efficiency, everything else about the build feels smooth and satisfying.

Whether you’re farming gold in Trade League or pushing corruption into the 500s, the AFK Reflect Forge Guard can carry you through with nearly unmatched survivability and ease. Once the Shield Throw bug is patched, this build’s boss damage potential will rise dramatically.

As you level up, remember to:

• Prioritize block, reflect, and healing

• Use Shield Throw as both offense and defense

• Let your idols do the heavy lifting for damage scaling

For endgame min-maxing, continue upgrading idols and refining your critical stats like throwing damage, void penetration, and crit multiplier.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is this build viable for hardcore?
Yes. With 99% block, constant healing from Smite, and passive defenses, it’s one of the safest builds available.

Q: Can this build clear high corruption monoliths?
Absolutely. Many players report stable clears above 500+ corruption, even at level 90.

Q: Is boss damage an issue?
Right now, yes—because of a bug affecting Shield Throw’s ricochets. Once patched, boss damage should improve significantly.

Q: Do I need LP items or high-tier gear?
Not really. Most gear is easy to obtain or craft. The idols carry much of the build’s power.

Q: How important is the 100% void conversion idol?
It’s mandatory. Without it, your scaling will suffer drastically.

Q: What’s the best relic for this setup?
A Weaver’s Will Sentinel relic with throwing damage or Symbols of Hope modifiers is best-in-slot.

Q: Is this beginner-friendly?
Yes. The build is easy to understand, forgiving, and powerful with moderate investment.

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