Focuses on the Demon form (transformation build)
Shadowhunter
Community Guide
LAST UPDATED
December 20, 2025
December 20, 2025
Editors
Sekwah, Ivor
This document is created by community members as a compilation of class related information. This is not meant as a new player guide, if you are a new player we suggest reading Maxroll’s Build Guides instead. If you have any feedback or want to help with class discussions, join our Discord!
How does my identity work?
Shadowhunter utilizes a Shadowburst gauge, this gauge is filled by using your skills and the amount of gauge generation is based on the Specialization stat. Demonic Impulse heavily relies on this for entering transformation state, once the gauge is full they can transform, once they de-transform they generate a full gauge again and repeat. For Perfect Suppression certain skills can utilize the built up gauge for more damage increase since you are unable to utilize the transformation state.
How do the two builds compare?
Demonic Impulse
Perfect Suppression
Summary
Focuses on Human skills and resource management
Pros
- Easy to play
- High survivability
- Full Paralysis Immunity during transformation
- Non Positional
- Easy to play
- Build diversity
- Better character growth
Cons
- Small Hitboxes
- Long cycles
- Cutscenes don't let you play the class
- High uptime required to do decently
- High mana consumption
- Annoying hitboxes
- Lack of paralysis immunity
Demonic Impulse
Summary
Focuses on the Demon form (transformation build)
Pros
- Easy to play
- High survivability
- Full Paralysis Immunity during transformation
- Non Positional
Cons
- Small Hitboxes
- Long cycles
- Cutscenes don't let you play the class
- High uptime required to do decently
Perfect Suppression
Summary
Focuses on Human skills and resource management
Pros
- Easy to play
- Build diversity
- Better character growth
Cons
- High mana consumption
- Annoying hitboxes
- Lack of paralysis immunity
Chaos Dungeon
Demonic Slash
Level 7
Cruel Cutter
Level 13
Grind Chain
Level 14
Demonic Clone
Level 13
Demon's Grip
Level 13
Piercing Thorn
Level 14
Howl
Level 13
Decimate
Level 10
Gate of Eruption
Ark Passives
Demonic Impulse
Evolution
Spec
30/30
Crit
10/30
Limit Break
3/3
Zealous Smite
2/2
Critical
1/1
Pulverize
1/1
Standing Striker
2/2
Enlightenment
Demonic Impulse
1/1
Instinct Enhancement
3/3
Chaos Enhancement
3/3
Corrosion
2/5
Bloody Piercing
3/3
Leap
Transcendent Power
5/5
Unleashed Power
5/5
Ascension
3/3
Ark Grid Cores
Sun
Moon
Star
Order
Chaos
Notes
This setup keeps the same gameplay as before, greatly increasing the damage of 
Bloody Piercing (X). You put a bit more focus on casting 
Gore Bleeding off cooldown and after X, as it's your 
Destiny stacker.
Engravings
Core Engravings
Pick One
✓
Skills
Demonic Slash
Level 10
Mobility Skill, Destruction
- Can be used to quickly apply synergy during build gauge cycle prior to transformation.
Thrust Impact
Level 10
Backup identity generator - Lacks Paralysis Immunity
Demonic Clone
Level 10
Main identity generator, Destruction
Rising Claw
Level 10
Counter, Destruction
Demon Vision
Level 10
Main identity generator, Stagger
- Concentrated Release (1st row) can be used if your Spec stat is too low or you lack Wealth runes.
Demon's Grip
Level 10
Main identity generator - Lacks Paralysis Immunity
Howl
Level 14
Main identity generator, Destruction - Lacks Paralysis Immunity
Decimate
Level 10
Secondary identity generator
Demon Skills
Ruining Rush
Level
Mobility Skill, Synergy applier
- Rune is flexible, can use any other utility/low impact runes such as Rage/Purify/Poison/Bleed, etc
- Generates 8 stacks.
Death Claw
Level
Counter, Synergy applier
- Rune is flexible, can use any other utility/low impact runes such as Rage/Purify/Poison/Bleed, etc
- Generates 5 stacks
Destruction
Level
Damage filler, Stagger
- Generates 3 stacks.
Gore Bleeding
Level
Main Damage skill
- Generates 8 stacks.
Leaping Blow
Level
Main Damage skill, Mobility
- Generates 3 stacks.
Blood Massacre
Level
Main Damage Skill
- Generates 1 stack.
T Skill and Awakening
Blood Marsh
With Demon's Ascension (Leap node) generates up to 9 stacks, has Push Immunity and can phase through enemies. It also hits like a truck.
Fallen Ruin
Ray of Ruin
Only usable in Demon Form. Fires a long beam in front of you, dealing damage and causing an explosion afterward.
Gem Priority
Gems are listed in order of most to least important from left to right. Grayed out icons are optional.
DMG
CDR
Notes
The rest of the slots (grayed out icons) can be filled with gems from alts for the Base Attack Power bonus. They don't need to be Shadowhunter gems.
With 
Ark Grid you might run into cases where it's not worth waiting 2+ seconds for 
Blood Massacre / 
Leaping Blow to come back, in this case you want to detransform earlier which might cause you to find 
Demon Vision and 
Howl still in cooldown. If that's happening too often, consider adding both cooldown gems.
Rotation
No rotation image for this selection.