Gunlancer Build Guide | Lost Ark Wiki

Lost Ark Gunlancer Build Guide

Gunlancers use a Gunlance with a shield to aid them in effectively fulfilling the tank role. They’re considered the tankiest Class in the game due to their high HP, Armor rating, and defensive skills, and as such they always stay on the frontline. Gunlancers not only have the ability to block most of the enemy’s moves, but they also have the skills to aggro and manage threat on them.

Please visti our Gunlancer page for more information about this Advanced Class

Lone Knight

Lone Knight increases the Gunlancer's Crit Chance and Crit Damage when using Lance Skills, i.e. yellow skills, making it ideal for pure DPS builds. Despite being a damage-oriented engraving and reducing the player's access to some defensive utility, a Gunlancer running Lone Knight remains one of the tankiest DPS classes. Not only do they have a defensive identity, but also many key Gunlancer skills provide them with shielding and damage mitigation when invested in.

As with other DPS classes, damage-oriented Gunlancers should look to equip accessories that increases their Crit stat to increase their damage potential. Besides this, players running Solo Knight should also build Swiftness as their main damage skills are not improved with Specialty and their identity gauge.

Combat Readiness

Combat Readiness allows Gunlancers to retain all of their strong defensive utilities, while also buffing Normal Skills, i.e. blue skills, making it the ideal class engraving when running a tank Gunlancer. That being said, at higher levels and higher investment, players using this engraving can still see high damage numbers when executing their main burst combos. Players, however, should not expect insane DPS from Gunlancers running this engraving until about reaching Tier 3 content, and so this build guide will largely treat this class engraving as a support-oriented engraving.

Because the idenity of a Gunlancer is key when running Combat Readiness for increasing the damage and utility provided by their blue skills identity skills, Specialty is a must with Combat Readiness Gunlancers. Pure Support Gunlancers will then want to build Swiftness for cooldown reduction and quicker casting times. If you don't need your party-wide support abilities or would rather deal more damage as a tank, Crit will be the way to go.

Grudge

An engraving that you'll see most, if not all DPS classes using. Provides one of the highest damage boosts of all engravings at the cost of increased damage taken. Other options are available (e.g. Cursed Doll). Only take this engraving if you can afford to take it to level 3.

Super Charge

Increases the damage and casting speed of charge skills. Good to have on a Solo Knight Gunlancer as many high damaging skills are charge skills or have tripods that turn them into a charge skill.

Spirit Absorption

Increases player attack and movement speed. Helps Gunlancers with their poor mobility on top of quickening casting times.

Master Brawler

Increases damage for each front attack that hits the enemy. Works with this build as many of the listed Gunlancer Skills are front attacks.

Adrenaline

Increases crit rate at max stacks. Gunlancers do not have access to many (if any) crit rate buffs, so this engraving can help maximise damage.

Vital Point Strike

Should only be considered if running a Support Gunlancer or your party is heavily struggling with stagger checks. Increases the effectiveness of the Gunlancer's many attacks that inflict stagger.

Barricade

Increases the player's damage while shielded. Because the Gunlancer's identity skills and some tripods provide long-lasting self shielding, the uptime of this damage buff can be quite high, particularly when running Combat Readiness.

Awakening

Usually only taken if running Combat Readiness as Lone Knight Gunlancers are forced to be more selective when using their identity gauge. Reduces the cooldown of your awakening skills, allowing Guardian's Protection to be used more often, and thus having a higher uptime on Defensive Stance.

Expert

Should only be considered if running a Support Gunlancer. Increases the efficiency of shields provided by the player, improving their ability to keep their party alive.

Bash

Bash is the Gunlancer's main source of self buff & boss debuff with the right tripods. Because of the skill's short cooldown and the debuff's long application time, it is possible for the debuff to have a 100% uptime using this skill alone. Only the first two tripods are necessary for this skill to shine. First is Armor Destruction, which provides the skill the ability to debuff the boss, making them take increased damage for a certain amount of time. Taking Ready Attack increases the player's attack power when hitting the boss with this skill. If playing a Support Gunlancer and your party is struggling to stagger the boss, the attack buff can be swapped for more stagger damage from this skill using Concussion. Though not necessary, players can invest in Bell Strike if they have any extra skill points to increase it's AoE radius, making it easier to hit. Players should generally use Bash as a combo opener to maximize the damage of their hardest hitting skills.

Shout of Hatred

Shout of Hatred is is a unique skill as it is one of the only skills in the game that taunts enemies. What makes the taunt special is it's ability disrupt many boss attacks. On top of that, this skill good party-wide buffs and has good identity gauge generation. It is recommended to invest in all three tripods for this skill. Because of it's long cooldown, we take Quick Preparation as the first tripod. The next tripod, Shield, provides a bit of defensive utility for the Gunlancer. When running a Support Gunlancer, Threatener is a viable option to keep the boss' attention away from your allies for longer. Finally, Open Weakness makes it so that bosses hit by the skill take increased damage from both front and back attacks dealt by the entire party.

Nellasia's Energy

Nellasia's Energy is a strong defensive skill that boosts party survivability with damage mitigation and shields. All three tripods should be invested in. This skill has an insanely long cooldown, so Quick Preparation is taken as the first tripod. The next tripod to take is situational. If crowd control is giving you and your party issues during the boss fight, Shout of Purification gives this skill a party-wide cleanse. Otherwise, Effectiveness increases the damage mitigation that the skill provides. Finally, Survive is taken to provide a strong party-wide shield to protect allies from unavoidable AoE attacks.

Surge Cannon

Besides dealing massive damage, Surge Cannon is great for dealing with stagger and part break mechanics. It's worth getting all three tripods on this skill due to the sheer amount of damage the skill can do. The first tripod, Explosive Shell, adds an additional attack to the skill that does more damage and also deals part break damage. The next tripod you choose changes the way you use this skill. Taking Confirmed Attack is the safer option, removing the need to hold the skill allowing the skill to go off at max damage faster. Overcharge has a higher damage potential, but requires you to stay stationary for longer to reach that higher damage. Finally, Focus Fire is a straight damage boost and adds more hits to the skill.

Fire Bullet

Fire Bullet is a low-cooldown skill that you can spam in-between your main damage burst window. It is recommended to invest into all three tripods when taking this skill. Although Lucky Chance can be a bit RNG dependent, it's worth taking to have it up more often so you're not reliant on your auto-attack damage on skill downtimes. This tripod is especially potent when paired up with the Quick Recharge rune, which reduces all your cooldowns on skill use. Enhanced Strike and Attack Creation provide a straight damage boost to the skill.

Dash Upper Fire

Dash Upper Fire is a movement ability that can be used to close the distance between you and the boss, and more importantly, is a counter skill. Though not the focus of the skill, it also provides a damage buff, though less potent than Bash. The more tripods you choose to invest into this skill, the more damage it does. The first tripod, Ready Attack, provides the skill with the self damage buff mentioned earlier. Out of the set of second tripod choices, Weak Point Detection provides the largest damage boost as raid bosses are push-immune. Extra Shell adds an additional hit to the skill that deals extra damage.

Charged Stinger

Charge Stinger is a high damage, high cooldown skill that you want to make sure doesn't miss. Since this will be one of your hardest-hitting skills, you'll want to invest into all three tripods on this skill. The tripods to choose on this skill are quite straightforward, simply being the largest damage boost in their sections of the tripod tree. Weak Point Detection provides a decent damage boost against push-immune enemies (i.e. raid bosses), Charge Enhancement increases the damage gain per charge level, and Last Charge increases the number of charge levels on top of giving the skill a good damage boost.

Counter Gunlance

Counter Gunlance is an interesting defensive skill that has decent offensive capabilities. Essentially, this skill allows you to completely block one enemy attack and retaliate with a counterattack of your own. More tripods allow the counterattack to deal more damage, however none of them are required if mainly using this skill defensively. Ready Attack gives you a decent damage buff when you successfully manage to block and counterattack the boss. The choice for the next tripod depends on what you want to use this skill for. If you're just using it to negate boss attacks, Quick Preparation allows the skill to be used more often. Otherwise, Weak Point Detection, gives a damage boost to the counterattack. Bombardment adds extra hits and damage to the skill's counterattack.

Gunlance Shot

If defensive utility doesn't sound like your thing and you just want straight big damage numbers, Gunlance Shot is the way to go. Though to get the most of this skill, you'll have to invest into all three tripods. Like Charged Stinger, the tripods we aim for here are the ones that maximize the skill's damage. Nimble Attack increases attack speed while using the skill, and thus casting speed, which will be important when we get to our third tripod. Weak Point Detection is the largest damage boost of the selection of second tripods. Finally, Close Explosion changes the skill type from normal to charge (hence the importance of quicker casting speed) and gives the skill a huge damage boost when overcharging.

Guardian's Protection

One of two Awakening Skills that Gunlancers can choose from. Whereas most other classes have a clear choice on which awakening skill to use, both that the Gunlancer has access to are viable. Guardian's Protection is the defensive option of the two, providing you and allies around you with strong damage reduction and push & debuff immunity, as well as instantly filling your identity gauge to the top.

Lance of Judgment

One of two Awakening Skills that Gunlancers can choose from. Whereas most other classes have a clear choice on which awakening skill to use, both that the Gunlancer has access to are viable. Lance of Judgment is the offensive option of the two, dealing more damage than Guardian's Protection and providing you and allies around you with a boost to your crit rate.

Dash Upper Fire

Dash Upper Fire is a movement ability that can be used to close the distance between you and the boss, and more importantly, is a counter skill. Though not the focus of the skill, it also provides a damage buff, though less potent than Bash. The more tripods you choose to invest into this skill, the more damage it does, though this is not a priority as a Support Gunlancer so only invest past the first tripod if you have extra skill points. The first tripod, Quick Preparation, allows the skill to be used more often. Out of the set of second tripod choices, Weak Point Detection provides the largest damage boost as raid bosses are push-immune. Extra Shell adds an additional hit to the skill that deals extra damage.

Counter Gunlance

Counter Gunlance is an interesting defensive skill that has decent offensive capabilities. Essentially, this skill allows you to completely block one enemy attack and retaliate with a counterattack of your own. More tripods allow the counterattack to deal more damage, however none of them are required if mainly using this skill defensively. Concussion should be taken if your party is struggling to stagger the boss. Otherwise, Ready Attack gives you a decent damage buff when you successfully manage to block and counterattack the boss. Quick Preparation lowers the skill's cooldown, allowing it to be used more often. The final tripod is just a damage boost and should only be invested in if you have extra skill points. Bombardment adds extra hits and damage to the skill's counterattack.

Shield Shock

Shield Shock is another source of boss debuff, allowing a 100% uptime of the debuff. Only the first tripod is required for this skill. Armor Destruction gives this skill the ability to debuff the boss, making them take increased damage from the whole party. The next tripod, Ready Defense, gives the skill some defensive utility and reduces the Gunlancers incoming damage on skill hit. The final tripod, 2nd Turbulence, is simply a damage up. It should be noted that the boss debuff from shield shock does not stack with Bash, so the two skills should be timed so as not to overlap.

Shield Bash

Shield Bash a hard hitting skill when running Combat Readiness and its tripods helps alleviate some of the innate sluggishness the Gunlancer may have. Only one tripod is required for this skill, however more can be invested in if you have extra skill points to increase the damage dealt. Nimble Movement allows the skill to be executed faster by increasing the user's attack speed when using it. Excellent Mobility should be considered if you want to travel farther during the initial dash, otherwise, Weak Point Detection is a great damage boost. Finally, Additional Hit, as it's name implies, adds additional hits to the skill, with each hit dealing more damage.

Guardian's Thunderbolt

If you're looking for more damage, Guardian's Thunderbolt is a good choice to take since Combat Readiness increases the damage of all blue skills. As we want this skill to do as much damage as possible, it is recommended to invest into all three tripods when taking this skill. Each tripod we choose is simply the biggest damage boost in its tree section. Damage Luck increases the number of hits dealt by the skill by one, Tough Strike is a straight damage up, and Lightning Stalk adds even more hits to the skill.

Shield Charge

Shield Charge is another damage option when running Combat Readiness and can act as a movement skill to close the distance between you and the boss. As it is a damage skill, it is recommended to take all three tripods. Enhanced Strike simply increases the damage output of this skill. Shield makes using the skill safer, giving you a shield while dashing. Finally, Destruction Charger has the highest damage output out of the two final tripods.

Guardian's Protection

One of two Awakening Skills that Gunlancers can choose from. Whereas most other classes have a clear choice on which awakening skill to use, both that the Gunlancer has access to are viable. Guardian's Protection is the defensive option of the two, providing you and allies around you with strong damage reduction and push & debuff immunity, as well as instantly filling your identity gauge to the top.

Lance of Judgment

One of two Awakening Skills that Gunlancers can choose from. Whereas most other classes have a clear choice on which awakening skill to use, both that the Gunlancer has access to are viable. Lance of Judgment is the offensive option of the two, dealing more damage than Guardian's Protection and providing you and allies around you with a boost to your crit rate.

Lost Ark Gunlancer Builds

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Build Stats & Engravings

• Recommended Equipment Stats & Engravings

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Lost Ark Gunlancer Builds

Build description

Build Stats & Engravings

• Recommended Equipment Stats & Engravings

Build Skills

• Build Skills