Our Shadowhunter Lost Ark class guide covers everything you need to know about this Gunner subclass, including its overall role in the team, its strengths and weaknesses, some tips, and more. Lost Ark allows you to control a number of classes, who all come with different benefits in PvE and PvP content. So if you want a breakdown of the Shadowhunter Lost Ark class, we’ve got you covered below.
Shadowhunter Class Guide Overview
The Shadowhunter in Lost Ark is an Assassin type that wields two double edged daggers called Haladies. Their musical instrument is a Flute. The Shadowhunter is a Hybrid DPS; that means they have both Ranged and Melee attacks.
Their Identity Gauge, the Shadowburst Meter, fills up upon successful hits to enemies. Once full players can activate it to enter Demonize; which transforms the character into a demon and grants access to the use of 6 unique Demon only skills. Demonize also gives the player 20% increased health and movement speed, the player is also immune to interrupts. Once ended the Player must wait 30 seconds before they can enter Demonize again due to the Composure Debuff.
There are two distinct playstyles that players can choose from through the use of the Shadowhunter’s Class Engravings:
- Perfect Suppression aka “Human Form” Disables Demonize and instead improves the damage of all Normal Skills.
- Demonic Impulse aka “Demon Form”: Disables Composure to allow entering Demonize more often and improving Crit Rate.
Both playstyles are viable in endgame content so pick your favorite flavor. The one caveat being that the Demon Form playstyle is really only viable with the Second Level of the Demonic Impulse Engraving, which may be difficult to get early on. And the Human Form playstyle is viable even with only the First Level of the Perfect Suppression engraving.
Role of a Shadowhunter
Shadowhunters are a pure DPS class in Lost Ark. In PvE, they focus on sustained damage to the boss. In PvP, they are largely a “Poke” class that focuses on harassing enemy players repeatedly getting in and out of combat in rapid succession.
Strengths
- High sustained damage
- High burst damage (demonize only)
- High Mobility
- Straightforward and easy class to learn
Weaknesses
- Lower health pool
- Not much utility
- Only one short attack damage party buff
Skills
The following table is a list of all Lost Ark Shadowhunter Skills that you will unlock and at which level you will do so.
| Level | Icon | Skill Name | Cooldown (seconds) | Type | Description |
| 10 |  | Demonic Slash | 10 | Normal | Dash forward to inflict 58 Damage 3 times before swinging your demonic weapon for 58 Damage. |
| 10 |  | Nimble Cut | 6 | Normal | Use your demonic weapon to slash forward 3 times, inflicting 50, 50, and 66 Damage. |
| 10 |  | Slasher | 8 | Normal | Swing your demonic weapon downward to inflict 114.9 Damage, followed by an upper swing for 173.9 Damage. |
| 10 |  | Rising Claw | 12 | Normal | Dart forward and inflict 29 Damage, then deliver an uppercut for 268.9 Damage, launching foes into the air. |
| 10 |  | Spinning Dive | 16 | Normal | Spin and leap to inflict 254.6 Damage to foes, then perform one final slash that inflicts 165 Damage and pushes foes away. Airborne foes are launched back in the air when hit. |
| 10 |  | Demonic Clone | 12 | Combo | Call forth an incarnation of the devil to attack by your side. Move forward and punch 2 times, inflicting 262.3 Damage, then strike the ground with one final blow that inflicts 172 Damage. |
| 10 |  | Ruining Rush | 6 | Normal | Charge forward to inflict 278.0 Damage and deliver a ferocious claw attack for 918.5 Damage. |
| 10 |  | Death Claw | 4 | Normal | Perform a quick claw attack for 337.0 Damage, then deliver a powerful upper blow to inflict 1,168.5 Damage. |
| 10 |  | Destruction | 8 | Normal | Release the demonic energy latent within you to inflict up to 628.5 Damage. |
| 12 |  | Cruel Cutter | 18 | Normal | Toss your weapon and wipe out foes in front of you, inflicting up to 762.5 Damage as you move forward. Airborne foes are launched back in the air when hit. |
| 14 |  | Demon Vision | 24 | Charge | Focus demonic energy and shoot a ray of death forward to inflict 411.8 Damage, knocking foes away. Charge up to channel longer before knocking foes away for 829.1 Damage. |
| 16 |  | Thrust Impact | 18 | Normal | Use a burst of your weapon’s powers to pull foes close, inflicting 99 Damage, before quickly sliding back to evade foes and inflict 395 Damage. |
| 18 |  | Brutal Cross | 10 | Normal | Swing your weapon forward with force to inflict 293.8 Damage, knocking foes back. |
| 20 |  | Demon’s Grip | 18 | Normal | Rapidly thrust with your demonic arm forward and pull foes to you inflicting 443.2 Damage. |
| 20 |  | Grind Chain | 12 | Normal | Throw your weapon forward to inflict 163.1 Damage, then another 176.9 Damage as it comes back to you. This skill cannot be canceled while your weapon is away from you. |
| 20 |  | Gore Bleeding | 6 | Normal | Violently claw at foes to inflict 210.0 Damage, then deliver another claw attack for 524.0 Damage as you move forward. |
| 24 |  | Demolition | 16 | Combo | Dart forward with crossed weapons to inflict 146 Damage. Use the skill again to quickly perform 2 slashes that inflict 149.5 Damage. Use the skill once more to swing your weapon and inflict 199.3 Damage, pushing foes away. |
| 28 |  | Piercing Thorn | 20 | Point | Summon infernal spikes at the target location within 12 meters to inflict 433.1 Damage, knocking foes down. |
| 30 |  | Leaping Blow | 18 | Point | Leap to the target location and smash the ground, causing a shockwave that inflicts 57.0, 347.5 Damage. |
| 32 |  | Spinning Weapon | 24 | Combo | Launch the weapon on your left arm forward and make it spin for 2s to inflict 296.9 Damage. Use the skill again to launch the weapon on your right arm to inflict 296.9 Damage over 2s. |
| 36 |  | Sharpened Cut | 18 | Normal | Move 9 meters forward while quickly spinning, inflicting up to 468.2 Damage. You ignore collision with normal monsters during the skill motion. |
| 40 |  | Howl | 30 | Normal | Gather demonic powers and let out a cry that inflicts 338 Damage to nearby foes, inflicting Fear for 2s. |
| 40 |  | Blood Massacre | 20 | Normal | Raise your hands and gather blood energy to cause an explosion that inflicts 492 Damage. |
| 50 |  | Decimate | 27 | Normal | Gather demonic powers to swing your arms forward and summon giant Demon arms that slash at foes to inflict 671.0 Damage. |
| Level | Icon | Skill Name | Cooldown (minutes) | Type | Description |
| 50 |  | Gate of Eruption (Normal Form) | 5 | Point | Unleash demonic powers to open up the gates of hell, scattering hellish energy across the land that inflicts 64 Damage to foes and inflicts Fear upon them for 4s. Dark energy periodically rises from the earth, inflicting up to 495.0 Damage. The energy explodes at the end for 546 Damage and knocks foes away. |
| 50 |  | Fallen Ruin (Demon Form) | 5 | Normal | Soar into the air and shoot an energy ray straight to the ground to inflict 495.0 Damage. The laser causes an explosion moments later, knocking foes away for up to 1,390.0 Damage. |
Shadowhunter Levelling Guide
We recommend that you try out all the skills and play whatever is the most fun for you. However, if you just want to speed up the process (maybe that’s the most fun for you) or you’re tying to power through levelling an alt, follow this level by level breakdown of what skills to use and level up and which tripods to activate.
You can swap between saved skill tree slots whenever for free (even in combat as long as no skills are on cooldown). It’s recommended to use both your skillbook slots, choose abilities based on this: one for AoE (packs of normal enemies) and one for Single Target (Boss/Elites).
Skill Progression
At early levels you will use Demonic Slash for damage and movement. Demonic Clone is great for AoE.
Cruel Cutter is top priority for getting to level 10; it has amazing damage. If you don’t run into mana issues, take nimble movement instead as the first Tripod slot. Secondly, Thrust Impact is the next priority for getting to level 10.
Demon’s Grip is great for pulling in enemies closer to you and has decent damage. Sharpened Cut has a good movement aspect to it.
Later on you’ll unlock Howl at level 40, it has great AoE damage. If you’re in a party, take the Tripod 3: Scream of Fury for a party wide damage buff.
You will have left over skill points at some levels and between levels not listed below, just put them into whatever you feel like or wait until the next checkpoint to save time removing points later. There are 7 skills listed in the chart below, as for the 8th skill, I personally enjoy Demon Vision, with the Tripod 1: Concentrated Release and Tripod 2: Encroaching Power.
Below is a Shadowhunter Skill Levelling chart that shows progression of skill points and their Tripods.
| Level | Icon | Skill Name | Skill Level | Tripod 1 | Tripod 2 | Tripod 3 |
| 11 | | Demonic Slash | 4 | Excellent Mobility | ||
| 12 | | Cruel Cutter | 4 | Magick Control | ||
| 16 | | Thrust Impact | 4 | Wide Explosion | ||
| 20 | | Cruel Cutter | 10* (remove points from everything else) | Magick Control | Earth Attack | Encroachment Release |
| 21 | | Demonic Slash | 4 | Excellent Mobility | ||
| 22 | | Thrust Impact | 4 | Wide Explosion | ||
| 22 | | Demonic Clone | 4 | Vital Point Strike | ||
| 23 | | Demon’s Grip | 4 | Quick Preparation | ||
| 24 | | Thrust Impact | 5 | |||
| 30 | | Thrust Impact | 10* (remove points from Demon’s Grip and Demonic Clone) | Wide Explosion | Deep Thrust | Spectral Explosion |
| 31 | | Demonic Clone | 4 | Vital Point Strike | ||
| 32 | | Demon’s Grip | 4 | Quick Preparation | ||
| 34 | | Demonic Clone | 7 | Vital Point Strike | Fist of Destruction | |
| 36 | | Sharpened Cut | 4 | Enhanced Slash | ||
| 38 | | Sharpened Cut | 7 | Vertical Slash | Vertical Slash | |
| 40 | | Howl | 4 | Quick Preparation | ||
| 44 | | Howl | 10 | Quick Preparation | Law of the Jungle | Mighty Roar |
| 46 | | Demonic Slash | 7 | Excellent Mobility | Nimble Movement | |
| 48 | | Demon’s Grip | 7 | Quick Preparation | Piercing Hand |
Gear
Just equip the highest Item Lv. item you find. Focus on Agility for increased movement speed, reduced casting time, and faster skill cooldowns. Secondly, your next best stat is Specialization.
Perfect Suppression Build
Here’s a good Human Form build for Shadowhunters. The good thing with this build is that it is viable throughout all tiers of content. This Normal form build is best paired with at least 1 level of the Perfect Suppression Engraving. It’s good for all content such as Chaos Dungeons, Tower Event, Quests, Guardian Raid, and Abyss Dungeon.
For this build, you can swap out Rising Claw for your skill of choice if you don’t a need counter.
If you’re using other abilities not listed here, make sure to choose Tripods such as Encroachment Discharge and Encroachment Release . These are important as you are no longer using the Identity Gauge to go into Demonize form.
Always use Howl, when it’s available, before your big hitting abilities for the Party Attack Buff
Human Form Stat Priority
Firstly, your stats should be more focused on Crit. Secondly, Swiftness for faster skills and movement.
PvE Build Normal Form
This build requires 268 Skill Points which will require the collecting a few extra skill points from Shushire or Rohendel if you have it unlocked.
| Icon | Skill Name | Skill Level | Tripods | Notes |
| Cruel Cutter | 10 | 2 2 2 | Tripod 3: Encroachment Release – as you will not be entering Demonize. |
| Thrust Impact | 10 | 3 3 2 | High Damage |
| Sharpened Cut | 10 | 3 2 1 | Damage |
| Howl | 10 | 3 2 1 | Tripod 3: Scream of Fury – Party Damage Buff |
| Decimate | 10 | 3 2 1 | Damage |
| Spinning Weapon | 7 | 2 3 | Damage |
| Rising Claw | 4 | 2 | Counter Attack Tripod 1: Naively Honest – to make sure your counter won’t be interrupted. |
| Demonic Slash | 4 | 1 | Movement ability |
Shadowhunter Demonic Impulse Build
Below is a good Demon Form build for Shadowhunters. This Demonize Build is viable only if you have the second level of the engraving Demonic Impulse. This is due to the fact that you do not receive any Crit Rate from only having the first level achieved. It’s good for all content such as Chaos Dungeons, Tower Event, Quests, Guardian Raid, and Abyss Dungeon.
Make sure to choose abilities that give the most Identity Gauge gain and choose a Tripods such as Encroaching Power which increase the amount of Shadowburst Meter gained.
Always use Howl before you use the other abilities for the Party Attack Buff
Demon Form Stat Priority
Maximize Specialization as much as possible to gain more Identity Gauge. To help with getting into Demonize Form within one rotation, use the Wealth Rune to build more of the Shadowburst Gauge Meter. Next, if you’re good on Specialization, Crit is the next best stat to choose.
PvE Build Demonize
This build requires 268 Skill Points which will require the collecting a few extra Skill Points in Shushire and Rohendel.
| Icon | Skill Name | Skill Level | Tripods | Notes |
| Decimate | 10 | 2 1 1 | High Identity Gauge Builder |
| Howl | 10 | 3 2 1 | High Identity Gauge Builder Tripod 2: Encroaching Power – Identity Gauge |
| Thrust Impact | 10 | 3 3 1 | Tripod 3: Encroaching Power – Identity Gauge |
| Demonic Clone | 10 | 2 3 1 | Tripod 3: Enhanced Release Encroachment – Identity Gauge |
| Demon’s Grip | 7 | 3 2 | Tripod 2: Encroaching Power – Identity Gauge |
| Demon Vision | 7 | 2 3 | Tripod 2: Encroaching Power – Identity Gauge |
| Demonic Slash | 7 | 1 3 | Movement ability |
| Rising Claw | 4 | 2 | Counter Attack Tripod 1: Naively Honest – to make sure your counter won’t be interrupted. |
Shadowhunter PvP Guide
In Player versus Player Arenas, Shadowhunters are a “poke” type class. This means that they engage and disengage in and out of combat very quickly and often to try to catch the target off guard.
PvP Stats
- 1000 Swiftness
- 249 Domination
- 1 Crit
PvP Skills Build
Feel free to change whatever skills you like depending on your playstyle and how you see fit.
Some combos available with this build include:
- Sharpened Cut (stagger) >
- Demonic Clone (knock up) >
- Thrust Impact* (finisher)
- Demonic Slash >
- Rising Claw (knock up) >
- Thrust Impact* (finisher)
A nice ranged combo:
- Grind Chain (stagger) >
- Demon Vision (1.5 Second Stun) >
- Piercing Thorn
*after the second attack, Thrust Impact might not be within range to hit the target, walk or dash forward to close the gap.
Demonize form provides a small heal and has Paralysis Immunity which will help you from being CC’d. Ruining Rush is a dash attack ability. Leaping Blow is a great gap closer you’ll want to combo into Blood Massacre to make a very powerful attack.
Alternatively you can use Demon’s Grip instead of Sharpened Cut to bring the enemy in closer for a longer chain of attacks that can deal massive damage. The rotation would look like this:
- Grind Chain (stagger) >
- Demon’s Grip (gap close) >
- Rising Claw (knock up) >
- Demonic Clone (knock up) >
- Thrust Impact (finisher)
Below is a general Shadowhunter PvP build that is a great foundation to build upon.
| Icon | Skill Name | Skill Level | Tripods | Notes |
| Demonic Slash | 10 | 1 3 1 | High Mobility, Armor |
| Thrust Impact | 10 | 3 2 2 | High Damage Combo Finisher |
| Grind Chain | 10 | 2 2 1 | Very Long Range Poke Attack |
| Demonic Clone | 10 | 3 3 2 | Good Damage Tripod 1: Naively Honest – Paralysis Immunity |
| Demon Vision | 10 | 1 1 1 | Tripod 2: Electric Discharge – Stun 1.5 seconds |
| Piercing Thorn | 10 | 3 2 2 | Ranged Knock up |
| Sharpened Cut | 7 | 1 3 | Mobility, Armor |
| Rising Claw | 7 | 2 1 | Knock up Tripod 1: Naively Honest – Paralysis Immunity |
Here’s Youtuber Pum with some extraordinary 3v3 PVP.
Best Shadowhunter Engravings
Demonic Impulse Build
This Demonize Build is viable only if you have the second level of the engraving Demonic Impulse. This is due to the fact that you do not receive any Crit Rate from only having the first level achieved.
Mandatory
| Icon | Engraving | Description | Source |
 | Demonic Impulse | Lv. 1: The Composure effect does not activate when Demonize ends. Upon Demonize, Demonic Skill Cooldown is reset. Lv. 2: …and Crit Rate +15% while Demonic Mode is active. Lv. 3: …and Crit Rate +30% while Demonic Mode is active. | Guardian Raid Abyss Dungeon |
 | Grudge | Lv. 1: Damage +4% to Boss or above monsters. Damage -20% from Boss or above monsters. Lv. 2: Damage +10%. … Lv. 3: Damage +20% … | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
 | Keen Blunt Weapon | Lv. 1: +10% Crit Damage but your attacks have a chance to deal Damage -20%. Lv. 2: +25% Crit Damage… Lv. 3: +50% Crit Damage… | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
Optional
| Icon | Engraving | Description | Source |
 | Raid Captain | Lv. 1: Outgoing Damage +10% of basic Move Speed bonus percentage. Lv. 2: Outgoing Damage +22% … Lv. 3: Outgoing Damage +45% … | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
 | Cursed Doll | Lv. 1: Atk. Power +3%. Healing -25%, natural recovery excluded. Lv. 2: …+8%. … Lv. 3: …+16%. … | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
 | Spirit Absorption | Lv. 1: Atk./Move Speed +3%. Lv. 2: Atk./Move Speed +8%. Lv. 3: Atk./Move Speed +15% | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
Perfect Suppression Build
You only need to have 1 level of Perfect Suppression for this build as each tier above only provides 5% more damage. It’s much easier to get the other engravings on this list too.
Mandatory
| Icon | Engraving | Description | Source |
 | Perfect Suppression | Lv. 1: Normal Skill Damage +20%. Shadowburst Meter +50% for all skills. Disables Demonize. Lv. 2: Normal Skill Damage +25%. … Lv. 3: Normal Skill Damage +30%. … | Guardian Raid Abyss Dungeon |
| Grudge | Lv. 1: Damage +4% to Boss or above monsters. Damage -20% from Boss or above monsters. Lv. 2: Damage +10%. … Lv. 3: Damage +20% … | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
| Keen Blunt Weapon | Lv. 1: +10% Crit Damage but your attacks have a chance to deal Damage -20%. Lv. 2: +25% Crit Damage… Lv. 3: +50% Crit Damage… | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
Optional
| Icon | Engraving | Description | Source |
| Raid Captain | Lv. 1: Outgoing Damage +10% of basic Move Speed bonus percentage. Lv. 2: Outgoing Damage +22% … Lv. 3: Outgoing Damage +45% … | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
| Cursed Doll | Lv. 1: Atk. Power +3%. Healing -25%, natural recovery excluded. Lv. 2: …+8%. … Lv. 3: …+16%. … | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
| Spirit Absorption | Lv. 1: Atk./Move Speed +3%. Lv. 2: Atk./Move Speed +8%. Lv. 3: Atk./Move Speed +15% | Chaos Dungeons Cube |
Gear Sets
Below is a list of all the gear sets and their bonuses that available to Tier 1 Shadowhunters. You can mix and match 2-Set bonuses using 2 or 3 different ones. Depending on your playstyle and what’s available to you, you may want to take two 2-set bonuses instead of a full 5-set Bonus. You can also have one set for Chaos Dungeons and other Solo Content, and another for Guardian Raids and other Group Content.
| Item Level | Rarity | Set Bonus Name | Effects | Source |
| 385 | Relic | Dark Night | 2-Set: When attacking a foe, 30% chance for +8% Atk and Move Speed for 6s. (Cooldown: 3s) 5-Set: Increases Crit Rate by 40%, but decreases Crit Damage by 40%. | Chaos Dungeon Rohendel (Welcome 3) Chaos Dungeon Rohendel (Nightmare 1-4) |
| 385 | Relic | Phantom Memory | 2-Set: Attack Speed and Move Speed +5% 5-Set: Increases Damage with an Awakening Skill to Seed or lesser monsters by 60%. Increases Damage to Challenge or lesser monsters by 60% when hitting them with an Awakening Skill for 10s. (Cooldown: 60s) | Chaos Dungeon Rohendel (Welcome 3) Chaos Dungeon Rohendel (Nightmare 1-4) |
| 385 | Relic | Void Afterimage | 2-Set: Decreases damage taken by 30% when HP is below 30%. +15% Atk. Speed and Move Speed, +10% Skill Cooldown. 5-Set: When hitting a foe with a normal attack, +15% Additional Damage for 3s (Cooldown: 1s) | Chaos Dungeon Rohendel (Welcome 3) Chaos Dungeon Rohendel (Nightmare 1-4) |
| 340 | Legendary | Awakened Hatred | 2-Set: Combat Resource Recovery Speed: +30% 5-Set: Crit Damage +25 | Abyss Dungeon (Corridor of the Twisted Lord) Abyss Dungeon (Hildebrigne, Dream Palace) |
| 340 | Legendary | Boisterous Elemental | 2-Set: Increases Attack Speed and Move Speed by 4% for 6s, up to 8% when attacking monsters Boss rank or above. (Cooldown: 3s) 5-Set: Increases damage to monsters Boss ranked or above by 12%. | Abyss Dungeon (Corridor of the Twisted Lord) Abyss Dungeon (Hildebrigne, Dream Palace) |
| 340 | Legendary | Dense Confusion | 2-Set: Attack Speed and Move Speed +4% 5-Set: Crit Rate +15% | Abyss Dungeon (Corridor of the Twisted Lord) Abyss Dungeon (Hildebrigne, Dream Palace) |
| 340 | Legendary | Enraged Nature | 2-Set: Move Speed +8% 5-Set: Atk. Power +4% for 8s, up to 12% when attacking a monster Boss ranked or above. (Cooldown: 3s) | Abyss Dungeon (Corridor of the Twisted Lord) Abyss Dungeon (Hildebrigne, Dream Palace) |
| 340 | Legendary | Mist | 2-Set: Decreases damage taken from Normal ranked monsters by 20%. 5-Set: Increases damage dealt to monsters Challenge rank or below by 15%. | Abyss Dungeon (Corridor of the Twisted Lord) Abyss Dungeon (Hildebrigne, Dream Palace) |
| 302 | Epic | Ancient | 2-Set: When hit while HP is below 20%, restores 3% of Max HP for 15s each time you hit a Normal monster. (Cooldown: 60s) 5-Set: Increases damage by 17% when hitting 3 or more foes. | Abyss Dungeon (Valley of Beasts) Abyss Dungeon (Spirit of the Necromancer) |
| 302 | Epic | Rugged Valley | 2-Set: Move Speed +8% 5-Set: Atk. Power +4% for 8s, up to 12% when attacking a monster Boss ranked or above. (Cooldown: 3s) | Abyss Dungeon (Valley of Beasts) Abyss Dungeon (Spirit of the Necromancer) |
| 302 | Epic | Seraphic Oath | 2-Set: Attack Speed +8% 5-Set: Additional Damage +10% | Abyss Dungeon (Valley of Beasts) Abyss Dungeon (Spirit of the Necromancer) |
| 302 | Epic | Stalwart Years | 2-Set: Attack Speed +8% 5-Set: Additional Damage +10% | Abyss Dungeon (Valley of Beasts) Abyss Dungeon (Spirit of the Necromancer) |
Why not also check out our Lost Ark Soulfist builds, which covers everything you should know about the class, including its overall role.