Grenado & Canister Bomb Pyromancer
A Demolitionist/Occultist Pyromancer built around the cooldown-based Grenado and Canister Bomb as its two main attacks, with Thermite Mine's elemental resistance reduction layered on top. Choosing Occultist over Oathkeeper or Inquisitor for the second mastery trades a little damage for 19% less damage taken, extra health regen, and +10% physical resistance — exactly what a skill-point-starved Demolitionist needs for survivability. Author-verified end to end while playing SSF (self-found) and Hardcore.
Grenado
The author personally leveled this SSF (self-found) and Hardcore, and demonstrated kills against the Ravager, Callagadra, Mogdrogen, Lokarr, and their own clones (with video proof). The guide is from v1.2.1.5 and hasn't been re-verified on v1.2.1.6. Damage is modest early-to-mid game and comes into its own once the endgame gear is assembled.
Beginner ★★★☆☆
Gear need ★★★★☆ (many required items — for veterans)
Skills & Priorities
9The main attack. It deals no weapon damage, so it scales through +skill gear like Vilgazor's Heart and Gargabol's Ring. Also the binding target for Ulzuin's Torch's Meteor Shower proc.
The second main attack, also weapon-damage-independent. Synergizes with Korvan Armor's Pierce-to-Fire conversion. Also the binding target for Solael's Witchblade's Eldritch Fire proc.
An always-on passive that boosts Grenado and Canister Bomb — extra damage plus a 5% chance to cut their cooldown by 100%.
A deployable skill whose elemental resistance reduction (-25% to -27% at level 12-13) is close to mandatory. Also the binding target for Magi's Fissure proc.
A passive that raises health regeneration — HP regen buffs are scarce in Grim Dawn overall, making this a high priority.
Occultist's heal skill — one of the few safety nets this skill-point-starved build has room for.
A thrown debuff. Its Fumble effect makes enemies miss 50% of their attacks.
A safety-net skill: once your resistances are capped it further cuts incoming damage, plus a few seconds of damage absorption. Also the binding target for Behemoth's Giant's Blood proc.
An always-on aura that raises OA and damage. Demolitionist is skill-point-starved, so it's fine to deprioritize if points are tight.
Devotion Route (In Order)
14- 1.1 point in Crossroads (Chaos).
- 2.Complete Jackal (3pt / requires Chaos 1, grants Chaos +3).
- 3.1 point in Crossroads (Eldritch).
- 4.Complete Raven (4pt / requires Eldritch 1, grants Eldritch +5).
- 5.1 point in Crossroads (Primordial).
- 6.Complete Eel (3pt / requires Primordial 1, grants Primordial +5).
- 7.1 point in Crossroads (Ascendant).
- 8.Complete Hammer (3pt / requires Ascendant 1, grants Ascendant +4).
- 9.[Core] Complete Solael's Witchblade (5pt / requires Chaos 4, Eldritch 6 — accumulated Chaos 4, Eldritch 6 meets the gate exactly; grants Chaos +1, Eldritch +1). Bind its Eldritch Fire proc (15% on Attack) to Canister Bomb.
- 10.Complete Kraken (5pt / requires Eldritch 5, Primordial 5 — accumulated Eldritch 7, Primordial 6 meets the gate; grants Chaos +2, Primordial +3). Requires a two-handed weapon equipped, which this build's Fleshwarped Incinerator (a two-handed gun) already satisfies.
- 11.[Core] Complete Behemoth (6pt / requires Chaos 3, Eldritch 4, Primordial 4 — accumulated Chaos 7, Eldritch 7, Primordial 9 meets the gate; grants Chaos +2, Eldritch +3). Bind its Giant's Blood proc (15% on being hit) to Blast Shield.
- 12.Complete Hydra (6pt / requires Ascendant 3, Chaos 3, Eldritch 5 — accumulated Ascendant 5, Chaos 9, Eldritch 10 meets the gate; grants Chaos +2, Eldritch +3). It has no proc, just movement speed and damage bonuses.
- 13.[Core] Complete Magi (7pt / requires Eldritch 10 — accumulated Eldritch 13 meets the gate; grants Eldritch +3). Magi only counts as complete once all 7 of its stars are taken, and its final star automatically grants the Fissure proc (15% on Attack). Bind it to Thermite Mine.
- 14.[Core] Complete Ulzuin's Torch (7pt / requires Chaos 8, Eldritch 15 — accumulated Chaos 11, Eldritch 16 meets the gate; grants nothing). Bind its Meteor Shower proc (30% on Attack) to Grenado. This uses 53 of 55 devotion points.
Gear
- ▸Start Demolitionist and invest early in Grenado and Canister Bomb (fill cooldown gaps with a ranged weapon skill like Ugdenbog Flamethrower or Flintcore Bolts if you like). Max Ulzuin's Chosen as soon as it's available.
- ▸Add Occultist as your second mastery mid-game and lean on Blood of Dreeg for survivability. Level Thermite Mine to 12-13 points for its elemental resistance reduction.
- ▸For devotions, clear the Crossroads/Jackal/Raven/Eel/Hammer bridges first, then complete Solael's Witchblade in the early-to-mid game.
- ▸Use Fettan Mask (from a level-75 urn) as a placeholder helmet — its +1 to all skills goes a long way for a skill-point-starved Demolitionist.
- ▸Weapon: Fleshwarped Incinerator, buyable from a vendor inside the Port Valbury roguelike dungeon. If the stock rolls badly, leave and re-enter the area and wait ~15 seconds for it to refresh.
- ▸Amulet: Vilgazor's Heart (dropped by a boss in the Malmouth DLC), boosting Grenado, Canister Bomb, and Demolitionist skills.
- ▸Helmet: upgrade to Ravager's Dreadgaze after killing the Ravager (use Fettan Mask as a stand-in until then). Chest: Korvan Armor (drops from Act 7 champion-tier enemies, or the Tomb of the Heretic roguelike dungeon).
- ▸Rings: Gollus' Ring (from Gollus near Homestead) paired with Gargabol's Ring (+3 Grenado, from a boss in the Primeval Woods roguelike dungeon). Pants: Dreeg-Sect Legguards.
- ▸Belt: Chains of Ordas (+1 Demolitionist, from Watcher Ordas in Port Valbury: Old Town). Medal: Kymon's Badge (Blood Grove specialty shop, or a Kymon's Chosen hostile-faction kill). Relic: Conflagration (+1 Demolitionist; its blueprint is purchasable from a vendor).
Playstyle & Notes
- ▸Fire Grenado and Canister Bomb on cooldown, relying on Ulzuin's Chosen's proc chance to fill the gaps.
- ▸Keep Thermite Mine down at all times to maintain the elemental resistance reduction.
- ▸Use Flashbang to lower enemy accuracy, and lean on Blast Shield as a safety net.
- ▸Plays best at range with hit-and-run tactics — kite hard-hitting physical melee enemies rather than trading blows.
Thermite Mine strips enemy elemental resistance. On your own side, use components to hit 100% armor absorption and cover main resistances, with Blast Shield further reducing incoming damage once resistances are capped.
The guide is from v1.2.1.5 and hasn't been re-verified on v1.2.1.6. Gear-dependent — expect to spend real time farming green MIs for good affixes. Demolitionist is skill-point-starved, often forcing you to skip skills like Flame Touched.
Buy Fleshwarped Incinerator from a vendor inside the Port Valbury roguelike dungeon. Vilgazor's Heart drops from a Malmouth DLC boss; Korvan Armor from Act 7 champion-tier enemies or the Tomb of the Heretic roguelike; Gargabol's Ring from a Primeval Woods roguelike boss; and Chains of Ordas from Watcher Ordas in Port Valbury: Old Town.