Last Epoch features a variety of Damage over Time (DoT) ailments that the game doesn’t explicitly explain, including Spreading Flames. The description of Spreading Flames might be vague, but having spent considerable time in the game, I’ve come to understand its mechanics and can share these insights with you.
How does Spreading Flames function?
Spreading Flames is a DoT ailment similar to the traditional Burn effect, dealing Fire damage over time. Though it shares similarities with the Ignite status, it’s important to note several crucial differences. Unlike Ignite, which can accumulate on a target without limit, Spreading Flames can be applied to a target only once at any given time. Its unique feature is the ability to ‘spread’ to adjacent enemies upon the death of the affected target, without a cap on the number of times it can transfer, allowing it to persist indefinitely from a single application. While Ignite can inflict more damage due to its stacking capability, Spreading Flames shines in scenarios where Area of Effect (AoE) damage is preferable, making it ineffective for stacking.
How do you apply Spreading Flames?
There are specific methods to apply Spreading Flames, though not every class has the innate ability to do so. For Mages, the simplest route is through the Spreading Inferno node for the Fireball spell. Spellblade Masters can access it by choosing Inferno for the Firebrand spell or Engulfing Flames for Flame Reave.
For those playing as Sentinels, the Rebuke skill can gain Spreading Flames through the Wildfire Shell node, and Smite can incorporate the DoT by selecting Immolate in its skill tree.
Players not aligned with the Mage or Sentinel classes can still utilize Spreading Flames by acquiring unique items such as Cinder Song or Firestarter’s Torch, which are obtainable through drops.
