Mastering Tempest Strike: A Primalist's Guide to Elemental Burst and Shapeshift Synergy in Last Epoch

 

Last Epoch’s ever-evolving class system has made the Primalist one of the most dynamic and Last Epoch Gold versatile characters in the game. With the arrival of new skill synergies and updates to elemental scaling, Tempest Strike has risen in popularity, offering high elemental burst damage combined with impressive shapeshift interactions. This guide explores how to fully optimize Tempest Strike, build around elemental burst combos, and effectively use shapeshifting forms like Werebear and Spriggan to dominate both solo content and endgame monoliths.

What Is Tempest Strike?

Tempest Strike is a Primalist skill that delivers a melee attack with a chance to unleash additional elemental effects:

Lightning Strike: Deals lightning damage in an area.

Ice Thorns: Fires a cone of ice projectiles.

Earth Spikes: Triggers earth damage in a line.

This makes Tempest Strike a hybrid melee-caster tool with strong elemental theming. While initially RNG-dependent, its skill tree allows for scaling the proc chances and increasing the damage of each element.

Key Strengths

High Elemental Burst: Each swing can potentially unleash multiple elemental effects.

Versatile Scaling: Can scale with elemental damage, melee, spell, or elemental penetration.

Shapeshift Synergy: Works well with Spriggan and Werebear forms.

AoE Coverage: Excellent crowd control in monolith and arena farming.

Skill Tree Breakdown

Recommended Tempest Strike Specialization

Focus on enhancing elemental damage, increasing proc chances, and utility.

Core Nodes:

Storm’s Aid: Increases the chance for all three elemental procs.

Nature’s Wrath: Converts Tempest Strike to a Spell, allowing synergy with spell damage and mana efficiency.

Elemental Barrage: Boosts elemental damage per effect triggered.

Force of Nature: Adds increased chance to trigger all three procs on each hit.

Optional Utility Nodes:

Stormcaller’s Precision: Improves critical strike chance for elemental procs.

Fury of the Wild: Adds chance to bleed or poison, depending on your scaling direction.

Synergy with Shapeshift Forms

The real power of Tempest Strike lies in combining it with Primalist’s Druid Mastery, particularly via Shapeshifting into Werebear or Spriggan.

Werebear Form

Why It Works: Tempest Strike can be cast through Werebear using the Swipe skill, particularly if you’ve specialized it to cast Tempest Strike via nodes like Rampaging Swipe.

Passive Synergies: Werebear’s nodes increase melee and elemental damage while offering mobility and tankiness.

Key Skill Synergy:

Rampage: Close distance rapidly.

Maul: Add crowd control or stun.

Spriggan Form

Why It Works: Spriggan Form supports a spell-heavy approach. Since Tempest Strike can be converted into a Spell (via Nature’s Wrath), this allows you to scale with spell damage, elemental penetration, and mana efficiency.

Key Skill Synergy:

Thorn Shield: Adds survivability and retaliatory damage.

Summon Vines: Boosts passive DoT and screen control.

Passive Tree Synergies

Primalist Tree

Tempest Bond: Increases elemental damage when under effects of Tempest Strike.

Wisdom of the Wild: Boosts mana regeneration and spell damage.

Druid Tree (Recommended Mastery)

Natural Attunement: Boosts elemental resistance and spell damage.

Ursine Strength: Adds flat melee damage (if not converted to spell).

Savage Form: Adds bonuses while in Werebear or Spriggan form.

Elder Branch: Adds global elemental and healing effectiveness.

Beastmaster (Alternate Mastery Option)

While less ideal than Druid for spell-focused Tempest Strike, Beastmaster offers superior companion synergy.

Savage Hunters: Boost companion damage.

Aspect of the Boar: Provides defenses while attacking.

Gearing and Stats Priority

Core Stats

Elemental Damage (Increased & Added)

Melee or Spell Damage (Depending on Tempest Strike build)

Elemental Penetration

Critical Strike Chance and Multiplier

Mana Regeneration (Spriggan)

Health and Endurance

Weapon Choices

One-Handed Staff or Sceptre for spell-focused builds

Two-Handed Mace or Axe for melee hybrid builds

Key Uniques

Stormcarved Testament: Increases proc chance and elemental penetration.

Shattered Chain of the Spriggan: Grants mana regen and synergy with Spriggan Form.

Tempest Maw: Boosts damage when all three elemental effects are active.

Idol Affixes

+% Tempest Strike Proc Chance

Increased Elemental Damage while Shapeshifted

Health Regen or Mana Efficiency depending on form

Recommended Skill Loadout

Druid + Tempest Strike Core Build

Tempest Strike (Main Damage)

Werebear Form OR Spriggan Form (Shapeshift Core)

Maul or Swipe (Mobility + AoE)

Thorn Shield (Defense)

Summon Vines or Fury Leap (Crowd Control / Movement)

Monolith and Arena Performance

Monolith

Clear Speed: Excellent. Procs from Tempest Strike clear mobs quickly.

Survivability: High in Werebear, moderate in Spriggan.

Bossing: Sustain elemental DoT and burst via procs. Use shapeshift to avoid boss mechanics.

Arena

Crowd Control: Excellent with elemental knockbacks and slows.

Scaling: Can scale well into higher tiers with good mana management and health regen.

Threats: Avoid enemies with elemental resistance or mana drain effects.

Tips for Mastery and Playstyle

Tempo Matters: Tempest Strike rewards a consistent attack rhythm. Use skills like Fury Leap or Rampage to maintain uptime.

Form Switching: Don’t hesitate to shift between Werebear and Spriggan based on fight dynamics.

Know Your Scaling: Choose spell or melee focus early and tailor gear accordingly.

Practice Rotation: Use Tempest Strike between movement skills and defensives for high uptime.

Manage Resources: Spriggan builds need mana regen; Werebear needs health leech and endurance.

Conclusion

Tempest Strike has evolved into a powerful skill with deep synergy potential, especially for players who enjoy complex builds involving elemental scaling and shapeshifting. Whether you prefer to tank in Werebear Form or blast away in Spriggan Form, mastering this skill means embracing flexibility, learning timing, and optimizing every node and piece of gear.

With the right build, Tempest Strike becomes more than just a melee swing—it becomes a devastating elemental storm.

So gear up, shape the storm, and buy Last Epoch gold let nature strike through you!