Start hammer time with this Destroyer build guide
Looking for the best Destroyer build in Lost Ark?The gravity hammer-wielding Destroyer is now available in the western release ofLost Ark,bringing along a unique, burst-damage-focused playstyle. Destroyer is one of the slowest classes in Lost Ark, with long, chunky animations. The payoff is worth it though, as he slams his hammer down for massive AoE damage that is perfect for any fight. Get everything you need to start hammering away at Lost Ark’s endgame with this Destroyer guide.
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Best Lost Ark Destroyer build: overview and Identity Skills
The Destroyer has two identity meters. The first is Gravity Cores. Using skills will fill your three Gravity Cores, which you can then spend to empower other skills. This is superficially similar to theStrikerandWardancer’sOrbs, but it plays out a bit differently in practice. Destroyer has two types of skills. Concentration skills have blue icons and build up Gravity Cores. Gravity Release skills have purple icons and spend all fully charged Gravity Cores on activation, gaining bonuses based on the number of cores spent. So, your goal is to quickly build up three Gravity Cores, spend them for burst damage, then repeat.
Destroyer’s second identity gauge is the Gravity Meter, which functions similarly toBerserker’sBurst Meter. At full Gravity Meter, you can activate Hypergravity mode. This slows all nearby enemies and makes you immune to all debuffs and crowd control effects, but disables most of your skills. However, it also massively boosts your basic attack speed and power. Use Hypergravity mode for additional single target burst when you have a window during boss fights.
Destroyer’s skills are all very slow but come with massive damage and area of effect coverage. That makes the leveling process easy, as you can blow away most mob packs with one button. Your Gravity Release skills also make single-target damage a breeze, easily dropping campaign bosses. The build below leans into everything Destroyer already does well and will help you through leveling and the early endgame.
You can level up skills using skill points, which you will earn from character levels and various quests throughout the game. Each skill has ten levels and earns powerful Tripod effects at levels 4, 7, and 10. You won’t be able to max out every skill until the very late endgame, so work towards the build below as you progress through the main story and use it to get started in endgame dungeons.
Skill point totals are normalized in arena PvP, so you will be able to max out more skills right off the bat. Use those points to set up the build above. Destroyer’s excellent AoEs and crowd control make him a battlefield enforcer that can easily stun whole teams to create easy kills for his teammates. The build above will help you play to those strengths.
You will first encounterEngravingsaround level 30, but you won’t really start using them until 50. Engravings are powerful bonuses that help customize your character to fit your playstyle. There are many generic engravings you can unlock for all classes, plus two class-specific engravings per class. Destroyer’s are:
Both Destroyer class engravings lean into different slides of the “build meter then burst” playstyle. Rage Hammer focuses on Gravity Cores and Gravity Release skills, while Gravity Training looks to spend as much time in Hypergravity mode as possible. An advantage of this is that both playstyles want the same stats (more on that later), making it easy to swap between the two.
Your generic Engravings are pretty flexible, but some options are always stronger than others. A few that work well on Destroyer are:
Combat stats come from your accessory items and affect your character in various class-specific ways. Your stat priorities will be based on the classEngravingyou use, and you will look for accessory items that pair Engraving nodes with the desired stat. For Destroyer, this is all very simple. You want as much Crit as possible, with Specialization as your second priority. This holds true at all stages of the game and for both class Engravings. Crit will increase your critical strike rate, while Specialization helps you build Gravity Cores and Gravity Meter faster. You may also consider splashing some Swiftness to smooth out Destroyer’s slow attack animations, but it isn’t required.
The final pieces of the class puzzle are Awakening Skills. These are essentially ultimate abilities, with huge damage and lengthy cooldowns. Each class has two, which you can earn from the Trixion quest line after completing the main story. Destroyer’s are:
Big Bang deals more damage but is much harder to land because of the charge time. Consider using Terra Break in high-end PvE encounters you don’t have a handle on, since it is harder to whiff. Terra Break is also a no-brainer choice for Gravity Training users, who gain more value from the instant Gravity Meter charge
That’s everything you need to get started with Destroyer in Lost Ark’s endgame! Destroyer’s playstyle is not for everyone, but pays dividends for those who enjoy it. If you’re still trying to pick your class, check out ourtier listfor some ideas. Every class is solid though, so don’t sweat it too much. Once you’ve made your decision, our guide toleveling fast in Lost Arkcan help you slog through the story and get into endgame quicker.
