Lost Ark Shadowhunter Build: PvP and PvE Skills, Engravings, and More

When outfitted correctly, Lost Ark's Shadowhunter can be a deadly opponent in both PvE and PvP settings. We've researched the best skills, engravings, and ultimate abilities for both playstyles and organized them below.

Lost Ark Shadowhunter PvP Build

This is where the name "Shadowhunter" can be taken literally. Those looking to take their character into PvP battles will find themselves transforming into ambush predators who stalk their prey from a distance before pouncing.

We recommend focusing on Crit and Swiftness as the two primary building block stats.

Shadowhunter PvP Engraving: Perfect Suppression

PvP Shadowhunters should have their kits neat and their abilities trimmed with a consistent input-output balance. For this reason, we recommend building around the "Perfect Suppression" Engraving.

While this engraving does take away the ability to transform into a demon using Demonize, its trade-off in PvP is extremely valuable in the form of a universal buff. Now, instead of filling a gauge to transform, players can focus on filling a gauge to spend on more direct damage.

Other preferable engravings are "Grudge" and "Master of Ambush."

Shadowhunter PvP Skills

The best skills for Shadowhunters in PvP include:

• Sharpened Cut
• Demonic Slash
• Thrust Impact
• Rising Claw

Other notable skills for PvP are:

• Piercing Thorn
• Howl
• Grind Chain
• Demon Vision

Lost Ark Shadowhunter PvE Build

Ready to cause some havoc? In contrast to the PvP build, PvE Shadowhunters are masters of demonic destruction. These heroes' main goal is to cause as much damage as possible as quickly as possible and then rebuild their charges to do it all over again.

We recommend focusing on Specialization to help quickly build gauge charge and Crit as the two building block stats.

Shadowhunter PvP Engraving: Demonic Impulse

Demonic Impulse essentially removes the cooldown that controls how often Shadowhunters can shift into their demon forms. It allows players to rebuild Shadowburst immediately after a transformation so they won't have to wait very long to wreak havoc.

This is important because, using this build, the Shadowhunter will be doing a primary chunk of their damage in demon form while using Demon Skills. Cutting down the time between transformations allows them to artificially increase their damage threshold.

Other preferable engravings are "Keen Blunt" and "Cursed Doll."

Shadowhunter PvE Skills

For best skills for a PvE Shadowhunter include:

• Demonic Slash
• Demon's Grip
• Howl
• Decimate

Other notable skills for PvE are:

• Demonic Clone
• Thrust Impact
• Rising Claw
• Cruel Cutter

Lost Ark Shadowhunter Awakening Skill: Gate of Eruption

Between the two Awakening skills available to Shadowhunters, "Gate of Eruption" is the better choice at the time of writing.

Not only is it available to both PvP and PvE players—those utilizing Perfect Suppression or Demonic Impulse—it is much more valuable to have on your bar due to the amount of gauge charge it gives back. Following use, Gate of Eruption fills up part of the Shadowburst gauge bar, allowing players to prompt transformation using Demonic Impulse or funnel more damage thanks to Perfect Suppression. It works both ways.

Its nature as an area of effect (AoE) attack cannot be underestimated, either. Sure, players can maneuver out of the red under their feet—but can they escape the massive explosion that comes at its end?