For additional area damage, the Projection of War node can be taken, though it increases Rive's Mana cost. This is only recommended if you have the sustain to Last Epoch gold support it.
By combining Rive, Lunge, Shield Rush, and a flex slot skill of your choice, you'll have all the tools necessary to breeze through the early stages until your mastery choice becomes available.
Passive Tree Recommendations
The base Sentinel passive tree leans heavily toward defense. While this defensive scaling becomes incredibly valuable once you choose your mastery, it offers less impact in the early campaign. Because of this, your initial passive point allocation should aim to enhance survivability while boosting damage where possible.
Start by maxing out Overwhelm and Juggernaut for a strong foundation of damage and tankiness. From there, put points into Relentless to unlock the third tier of passives. If you're using the Projection of War node with Rive, sprinkle a few points into Time and Faith for extra sustain during fights.
After investing 20 points into the core Sentinel tree, stop spending and save additional points. These will be crucial when you unlock your mastery, allowing you to quickly progress into more impactful nodes tied to your chosen path.
Gear and Unique Item Priorities
When it comes to gearing your Sentinel for leveling, focus primarily on stats that boost Rive's performance. Look out for items with increased Physical Damage, Attack Speed, and Strength, all of which directly improve your killing efficiency.
Movement Speed is another essential stat and should always be prioritized on boots. The faster you move, the quicker you clear zones, making leveling far smoother.
Several early-game Uniques can provide a huge power spike:
Hammer of Lorent pairs well with Rive's Foe Cleaver node, though it prevents shield use for Shield Rush.
Taste of Blood is an excellent one-handed weapon that scales effectively with Physical Damage.
Humming Bee grants additional mobility for zipping around the battlefield.
Advent of the Erased, obtainable as early as level 16, is one of the strongest early boots thanks to its large Movement Speed bonus.
While you don't need these Uniques to level efficiently, finding any of them will make your progression noticeably faster and smoother.
Playing the Sentinel Through the Early Game
Playing the Sentinel Through the Early Game
The Sentinel excels at taking direct fights and surviving encounters that might overwhelm more fragile classes. With Rive as your main damage dealer, supported by Lunge and Shield Rush for mobility, you'll cut through enemies quickly while staying durable.
Your damage scaling comes primarily from physical multipliers and attack speed, while your defenses rely on early passive nodes and naturally high armor scaling. The combination allows you to stay aggressive without worrying about being overwhelmed by groups of enemies.
As you approach the mastery choice, consider how your early investments can align with your long-term plans:
If you're aiming for Forge Guard, lean into nodes that complement Forged Weapons and armor scaling.
If Paladin is your choice, prepare to incorporate holy magic skills like Smite.
For a Void Knight, start considering synergies with void-based nodes and plan your transition from physical damage.
Final Thoughts
Leveling a Sentinel in Last Epoch is a rewarding experience for players who enjoy strong, melee-focused gameplay backed by durable defenses. Having a lot of cheap Last Epoch gold will make the experience better. The class offers flexibility in its early stages, but Rive-based builds supported by mobility skills remain the most efficient way to progress through the campaign.
By prioritizing damage-oriented stats, investing smartly in the passive tree, and keeping an eye out for early-game Uniques, you'll be well prepared to transition into your chosen mastery. Whether you evolve into cheap Last Epoch gold a Paladin, Void Knight, or Forge Guard, a well-leveled Sentinel sets the stage for dominating Last Epoch's endgame content.
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