The developers of Last Epoch recently shared an in-depth look at their meticulous skill design process in a new developer blog, highlighting the complexity and care involved in creating each ability for the game. Justin Carpenter Last Epoch Gold, the Technical Game Designer, walked players through how a skill like Heartseeker evolves from initial concept to a polished, balanced gameplay element.

The process begins with ideation, where the team selects a new ability that fits the needs of a specific class or mastery. For example, the Marksman class needed a strong single-target damage skill, which led to the creation of Heartseeker—a fresh take on the classic Diablo 2 Guided Arrow. This stage focuses on ensuring the skill concept aligns with the class fantasy and gameplay role.

Next comes the refinement phase, where the skill’s tree and individual nodes are designed and iteratively balanced. Playtesting is crucial here, with community testers helping identify problematic interactions or overpowered combinations. Some nodes, like Hidden Skewer and Returning Darkness, required multiple revisions to avoid gameplay imbalances or exploits. This iterative tuning continues up to the skill’s launch, with repeated number adjustments to perfect power and feel.

The blog emphasizes that skill design in Last Epoch is a slow, deliberate process due to the game’s unique approach: each skill has its own specialization tree, adding significant development complexity compared to other ARPGs. The team prioritizes quality and balance over quantity, ensuring new skills integrate well with existing mechanics and do not disrupt the overall game balance.

Community discussions reflect appreciation for this careful approach, noting that although new skills take time, the result is a more satisfying and polished gameplay experience. Developers have expressed that designing skills is one of their favorite tasks, but it requires patience due to the need for extensive balancing and ensuring each skill fits the evolving meta without causing unintended issues buy Last Epoch Gold.

In summary, Last Epoch’s skill design process is a detailed journey from concept to implementation, involving ideation, iterative refinement, community feedback, and continuous balancing. This dedication results in unique, well-crafted skills that enhance class identity and gameplay depth, demonstrating the developers’ commitment to quality and player experience in this evolving ARPG.