Shadowhunter

Community Guide
LAST UPDATED
March 10, 2026
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, which 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 the Demon form (transformation build)

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
  • Cutscenes take you off transformation
  • 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
  • Cutscenes take you off transformation
  • 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
Demonic Slash
Level 7
1
3
Quick Recharge
Cruel Cutter
Cruel Cutter
Level 13
3
3
2
Galewind
Grind Chain
Grind Chain
Level 14
2
3
2
Bleed
Demonic Clone
Demonic Clone
Level 13
3
3
2
Galewind
Demon's Grip
Demon's Grip
Level 13
3
3
2
Wealth
Piercing Thorn
Piercing Thorn
Level 14
2
2
2
Galewind
Howl
Howl
Level 13
1
1
2
Wealth
Decimate
Decimate
Level 10
3
2
1
Galewind
Awakening
Engravings
Gate of Eruption
Gate of Eruption

Ark Passives

Demonic Impulse
Evolution
Spec
Spec
30/30
Crit
Crit
10/30
Limit Break
Limit Break
3/3
Zealous Smite
Zealous Smite
2/2
Critical
Critical
1/1
Pulverize
Pulverize
1/1
Standing Striker
Standing Striker
2/2
Enlightenment
Demonic Impulse
Demonic Impulse
1/1
Instinct Enhancement
Instinct Enhancement
3/3
Chaos Training
Chaos Training
Eternal Blood
Chaos Enhancement
Chaos Enhancement
3/3
Corrosion
Corrosion
Ominous
Execution Ceremony
Execution Ceremony
3/3
Leap
Transcendent Power
Transcendent Power
5/5
Unleashed Power
Unleashed Power
5/5
Ascension
Ascension
3/3
Notes

You should aim to have 90~100% Crit Rate with this build. Depending on your character, you might have to adjust some nodes accordingly.

Your main sources of Crit Rate are:

  • DemonizeDemon Form (30%)
  • AdrenalineAdrenaline engraving (14~20%)
  • CritStats (0~24%)
  • Zealous SmiteZealous Smite (12~24%)
  • Bracelet, Accessories, etc

If you have excess Crit Rate, you can move points off CritCrit into SwiftnessSwiftness or move one Zealous SmiteZealous Smite point into Destruction ChargerDestruction Charger.

Ark Grid Cores

Sun
Moon
Star
Order
Ominous (3)Ominous (3)
Demonic Clone (3)Demonic Clone (3)
Critical Claws (2)Critical Claws (2)
Chaos
Flashy AttackFlashy Attack
Smoldering StrikeSmoldering Strike
AttackAttack
Notes

Your Destiny: OminousDestiny activation decreases Intrude skill cooldown, and your Leaping BlowLeaping Blow grants an stack of Frenzied ChaosFrenzied Chaos, allowing you to use Blood DemonBlood Demon again.

This changes the gameplay into a quick condensed burst, in and out of form constantly, similar to Brawl King Breaker.

Engravings

Core Engravings
Pick One
✓
Notes

Raid Captain requires you to to obtain additional sources of move speed (stronghold feast, peyto wine, bracelet line) to reach the cap. It's still viable without them, but will perform slightly worse than Hit Master.

Hit Master has lower potential and doesn't affect rune/awakening damage, but it's a cheaper option.

Skills

Demonic Slash
Demonic Slash
Level 10
1
3
1

Mobility Skill, Destruction

  • Can be used to quickly apply synergy during build gauge cycle prior to transformation.
Spinning Dive
Spinning Dive
Level 10
1
1
2

Push Immunity

Demonic Clone
Demonic Clone
Level 10
3
3
1

Backup identity generator, Destruction

Rising Claw
Rising Claw
Level 10
2
3
2

Counter, Destruction

Demon Vision
Demon Vision
Level 10
1
3
1
Wealth

Main identity generator, Stagger

Demon's Grip
Demon's Grip
Level 10
3
2
2

Main identity generator - Lacks Paralysis Immunity

Howl
Howl
Level 10
3
2
2

Backup identity generator, Destruction 

Decimate
Decimate
Level 10
2
1
1

Backup Identity generator

Ominous (332) Ark Grid - Alternative Skill
Piercing Thorn
Piercing Thorn
Level 14
2
2
1

Filler Damage skill

  • You can replace DecimateDecimate or Spinning DiveSpinning Dive with it.
  • You cast this right before transforming, so that the Bleed EffectBleed Effect ticks get buffed by Demon Form's Crit Rate. This skill will deal more damage than some of the fillers you can use while waiting for Blood VortexBlood Vortex and Bloody PiercingBloody Piercing to come back off cooldown.
  • You can take Gore BleedingGore Bleeding's damage gem and put it in this skill.
Demon Skills
Ruining Rush
Ruining Rush
Level
Quick Recharge

Mobility Skill, Synergy applier

  • Rune is flexible, can use any other utility/low impact runes such as Rage/Purify/Poison/Bleed, etc
Death Claw
Death Claw
Level
Quick Recharge

Counter

  • Rune is flexible, can use any other utility/low impact runes such as Rage/Purify/Poison/Bleed, etc
Destruction
Destruction
Level

Synergy applier, Filler Damage skill

  • Despite its name, it doesn't do Destruction.
Gore Bleeding
Gore Bleeding
Level
Galewind

Filler Damage skill, Destruction

Leaping Blow
Leaping Blow
Level
Galewind

Filler Damage skill, Mobility, Push Immunity, Destruction

Blood Massacre
Blood Massacre
Level
Vision

Filler Damage skill

Blood Vortex
Blood Vortex
Level
Galewind
Mountain's Face

Main Damage Skill

Grants one stack of Chaos Sliver.

There's currently a ping/attack-speed related bug with this skill. With high ping and/or attack speed, the skill skips some damage ticks. If it happens to you, take off Galewind and replace it with other runes.

Bloody Piercing
Bloody Piercing
Level
Galewind

Main Damage Skill

Grants one stack of Chaos Sliver.

Blood Demon
Blood Demon
Level

Main Damage Skill, Push Immune

Our Identity skill. Requires a Frenzied Chaos (Chaos Sliver x2) stack to use.

T Skill and Awakening

Blood Marsh
Blood Marsh

With Demon's AscensionDemon's Ascension, it gains Push Immunity and can phase through enemies. 

Awakening
Fallen Ruin
Hyper Awakening
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
DMG gem 0DMG gem 1DMG gem 2DMG gem 3DMG gem 4DMG gem 5DMG gem 6
CDR
CDR gem 0CDR gem 1CDR gem 2CDR gem 3CDR gem 4
Notes

Blood DemonBlood Demon, Blood VortexBlood Vortex and Bloody PiercingBloody Piercing gems have significantly higher priority than the rest of the skills.

Prior to unlocking Ark Grid, you use the same gem setup that Eternal Blood uses.

Rotation

Rotation — Pre-Ark Grid
Notes
  1.  Start by getting your AdrenalineAdrenaline stacks and applying Synergy
  2.  Cast Dm Skill 01 35Blood Vortex → Ark Passive Dm 5Bloody Piercing → Dm Skill 01 36Blood Demon
  3.  Use fillers while you wait for cooldowns to come back
  4.  Cast Dm Skill 01 35Blood Vortex → Ark Passive Dm 5Bloody Piercing → Dm Skill 01 36Blood Demon again
  5. Gather identity and repeat