If you like the idea of dual pistols, smoke, and a one-liner before everything explodes, the Gunslinger is Trove’s love letter to cinematic gunplay. In 2025 the class rewards aim, rhythm and a little bit of reckless swagger: you can sit back and charge precise shots that explode like fireworks, or you can rip into a machine-gun flurry and watch the room rearrange itself. This Trove guide walks you through the Gunslinger Abilities, why it’s powerful now, and the three builds: burst damage, rapid-fire chaos, or speed-clear routes — with practical rotations, gem choices, emblem/flask picks and endgame tuning.
The Gunslinger Abilities & passive
The Gunslinger is built around two complementary combat philosophies: charge shots with massive precise explosions and rapid shots that reward sustained pressure. Add mobility tricks and a few class-gem modifiers, and you have a toolkit that can be tuned for different roles.
your basic attack is a long-range projectile with a 29-block range and respectable attack rate, while charging converts that basic attack into powerful Charge Shots with layered AoE. The class also has a Lucky Shot passive that grants occasional free charged shots and a mobility tool called Blast Jump for damage + repositioning.
Basic Attack: 120% MD per shot; range ~29 blocks; attack rate ≈ 2.5× Attack Speed/sec. You move at 60% speed while firing.
Charge Shot: hold to charge — low/med/full charges change damage and AoE. Full charge: ~325% MD direct + ~275% MD AoE. Charges take ~1.3s for full.
Lucky Shot (passive): dealing damage sometimes grants a free, fully charged Charge Shot — the icing on burst windows.
Blast Jump: a mobility/offense skill that deals high MD and repositions you (useful for engage/disengage and speed clears).
Run and Gun: Increases the Gunslinger's Movement Speed and Attack Speed, and allows the Gunslinger to run full speed while attacking.
The Gunslinger Builds
Precision Burst Build
If you want to win boss DPS contests or melt named targets, this is your build. It revolves around timing full Charge Shots, using Lucky Shot procs, and orchestrating high-value AoE detonations.
You’ll play at medium range: kite, full-charge on openings, and use Blast Jump to reposition if a mechanic forces you out. Your damage scales with Magic Damage and Light for late-game HP-dense foes; Crit/Crit Damage amplify your windows.
- Core stats: Magic Damage → Crit Chance → Crit Damage → Light → moderate Health.
- Gems: Empowered gems that boost single-target and AoE damage (Explosive Epilogue & Pyrodisc are common picks). Put Light into your cosmics for PR scaling.
- Emblems/Flask: Martial + Surestrike (crit consistency); Death-Defying Vial if you solo; Chronomancer if you need shorter charge windows.
- Allies: Rapt Berserker or Puck for damage support.
- Rotation (short): Pre-position → build to full Charge (1.3s) → Fire full Charge Shot into boss cluster → Lucky Shot procs can give you instant followup full charges → Blast Jump to dodge mechanics → Repeat.
Why it works: the Charge Shot’s layered direct+AoE damage (325% + 275% MD) allows the Gunslinger to deliver huge, reliable windows of damage when you land full charges and stack crit.
Run-and-Gun Build
Run-and-Gun is the Gunslinger’s fun, chaotic side: spin-up sustained DPS and shred packs with rapid shots. This build shines in dungeons and Delves with many targets — especially when combined with a class gem that rules changes to make rapid shots explode or give on-hit bonuses.
You play aggressively: move, spray, and let empowered gems turn on-hit into chain explosions. Attack Speed becomes a major stat, but don’t ignore MD and crit — you want each bullet to matter.
- Core stats: Attack Speed → Magic Damage → Crit Chance/Crit Damage → Light.
- Gems: Pyrodisc + Explosive Epilogue to scale on-kill/AoE; lesser gems filled with AS. Trovesaurus community builds often show run-and-gun variants doing exceptionally well with high AS and the right class gem.
- Emblems/Flask: Martial + Beamer (for added summon DPS) or Martial + Surestrike; Elysian Bandolier or a DPS flask for sustained windows.
- Allies: Rapt Berserker for raw damage; Chronomancer Qubesly for cooldown reduction if you want more frequent ultimates.
- Rotation (short): Turn on Run-and-Gun (class gem or build effect) → kite through packs, aim for clumped targets → let empowered gems trigger explosions on kill → Blast Jump to reseat and keep moving.
Why it works: high attack speed + AoE-on-kill creates exponential clear speed in dense content — the Gunslinger becomes an area-denial weapon in the right hands.
Mobility & Speed-Farm Build
When the goal is Flux Farming, the Gunslinger uses Blast Jump, movement speed and pre-placement (when applicable) to chain kills. This build sacrifices some raw burst for clear speed and low downtime.
Keep energy regen high and use lesser gems for movement and attack speed. Your aim is to never stop moving; each Blast Jump and charged poke should be part of a route plan.
- Core stats: Movement Speed → Attack Speed → Energy Regen → Magic Damage.
- Gems: air/movement allocations on lesser gems; Explosive Epilogue is still useful for room clears.
- Emblems/Flask: Beamer or Trailblazer style emblems for movement; Elysian Bandolier for refill speed.
- Allies: damage ally (Rapt) or speed ally if available.
- Rotation (short): Pre-route your path → Blink/Blast Jump into spawns → run and shoot (short charges for quick damage) → use on-kill explosions to chain clears and never stop.
Why it works: mobility equals uptime. Gunslinger’s kit includes a movement tool (Blast Jump) and ranged reach, enabling safe, fast clears when geared for speed.
Gems, Class Gems & Empowered Picks
Gunslinger builds are heavily driven by your gem choices — empowered gems and class gem variants can flip the class from a precise sniper to an explosives factory.
- Core empowered gems to consider:
- Explosive Epilogue — on-kill explosions that create chain clears.
- Pyrodisc — large AoE on use, great with Charge/AoE builds.
- Berserker Battler or Vampirian Vanquisher depending on sustain needs.
- Class Gem: the Gunslinger class gem is famous for enabling a Run-and-Gun style (machine-gun) or turning Charge mechanics into different behaviors.
- Cosmic / Mystic upgrade priority: dump Light into cosmics/mystics when approaching Long Shade and Shadow Tower tiers (Light scales multiplier against tougher mobs).
tip: if you enjoy sustained play, prioritize attack speed on lesser gems early; if you want to one-shot bosses, funnel into crit/MD + Light.
Emblems, Flasks & Allies
- Emblems: Martial is the default for physical/magical damage stacking; Surestrike pairs perfectly with crit builds. Chronomancer shines if you want more frequent ultimate windows, and Beamer is excellent for farming teams.
- Flasks: Death-Defying Vial is a staple if you run risky solo content; DPS flasks can push burst phases. Use Bandolier for farming.
- Allies: Rapt Berserker for raw DPS, Earnie for survivability/light, and Puck or similar summons for sustained damage. Choose allies that amplify your chosen role.
Martial + Surestrike for charged burst; Martial + Beamer for farming; Chronomancer if you rely on cooldown windows.
Gunslinger Gear priorities by slot
Slot | Precision Burst | Run-and-Gun | Speed-Farm |
---|---|---|---|
Weapon | Magic Damage / Crit Damage | Attack Speed / Magic Damage | Attack Speed / Movement |
Hat | Crit Damage / Light | Crit / Attack Speed | Movement / Energy Regen |
Face | Magic Damage / Energy Regen | Magic Damage / Attack Speed | Energy Regen / Movement |
Ring | Crit / AS | Attack Speed / Crit | Movement / AS |
Banner | Light / MD | AS / MD | AS / Movement |
- Magic Damage and Crit are always valuable for burst.
- Attack Speed matters hugely for Run-and-Gun — cap it sensibly.
- Movement + energy regen enable safe speed farming.
Progression roadmap — early → mid → endgame
- Early: learn charge timings and get comfortable with movement penalty while firing. Invest lesser gems in attack/movement speed to stay survivable.
- Mid: decide burst vs sustained; chase empowered gems (Pyrodisc/Explosive) and a class gem that fits your playstyle. Start tuning Light for higher PR.
- Endgame: focus cosplay/mystic gem upgrades, tune emblems and allies for your group role, and add HP/Stability if you need Combat Block buffer in long Delves.