The Power of Pain Link in Raid: Shadow Legends
In this guide, we explore the power of Pain Link in Raid: Shadow Legends. Learn how this unique debuff reflects a percentage of the damage an affected Champion receives back to their attacker, which Champions can apply it, and where you’ll get the most value from using it across PvE and PvP.
What Pain Link does in raid
How the Pain Link Debuff Works
Pain Link is a unique debuff that causes the affected Champion to receive a percentage of the damage dealt to the Champion who placed the debuff. Unlike Reflect Damage, which damages the attacker when they hit a protected target, Pain Link transfers a portion of the damage taken by the debuff caster directly to the afflicted Champion. The percentage of damage transferred depends on the Champion or boss applying the debuff, with 15% being the standard value unless a skill specifically states otherwise.
Originally introduced through the Hydra, Pain Link has since appeared on Champion kits, opening up new strategic ways to deal damage. The debuff can be blocked, removed, or have its duration increased or decreased like most debuffs, and any placement of Pain Link will also awaken Champions under Sleep. It’s also worth noting that Champions protected by Block Damage take no damage from Pain Link, making it a direct counter to the effect.
Why Pain Link Is valuable
Pain Link is a valuable source of damage, punishing enemies whenever they choose to attack the Champion who applied the debuff. This allows your team to deal additional damage to a linked target while carrying out your normal strategy, making it especially effective for pressuring priority enemies.
It also creates an interesting decision for your opponent. They can continue attacking the debuff caster and accept the redirected damage, use skills to remove Pain Link, or avoid attacking that Champion altogether. This makes Pain Link a strong way to influence enemy targeting while adding extra damage throughout the fight.
Best areas to use Pain Link
Arena
In PvP, it can be an effective way to pressure key enemies. Opponents must decide whether to continue attacking the Champion who applied the debuff and transfer additional damage onto the linked target, use skills to counter Pain Link, or change their focus altogether. This extra layer of decision making can disrupt enemy strategies while helping your team take down priority targets.
Bosses
Pain Link can also provide a helpful source of additional damage against bosses that attack frequently, especially those using AoE attacks such as the Demon Lord. As the Champion who applied Pain Link is repeatedly hit, the linked target continues taking extra damage, helping wear the boss down alongside your team’s normal damage throughout the fight.
General PVE
It can be a useful source of additional damage in PvE, especially in encounters where enemies or bosses frequently attack the Champion who applied the debuff. Every hit on the debuff caster also damages the linked target, allowing your team to chip away at priority enemies. Extending the debuff’s duration or spreading it to multiple enemies can further increase its value.
Pain Link champions in raid
Here we’ll be highlighting the Pain Link Champions in Raid: Shadow Legends, showcasing the strengths they bring. Currently, only five Champions are capable of placing Pain Link, but we’ll continue to update this guide as more Champions with the debuff are released.
Gizmak
Gizmak was the first Champion capable of placing Pain Link, using Taunt to lure target attacks onto himself and maximise the debuff’s potential. He complements this with Unkillable and Ally Protection, allowing him to survive the incoming hits while protecting the rest of the team.
Outside of Pain Link, Gizmak brings exceptional HP Burn synergy through activation, extension, and irresistible placement, alongside strong Speed manipulation and damage, making him an excellent option for both PvE and PvP.
Amoch
Amoch combines Pain Link with protected Decrease RES and Decrease SPD against bosses, helping increase your team’s damage while making it easier to land debuffs. His healing also scales throughout the battle by increasing his own MAX HP, allowing him to sustain both himself and his allies more effectively over time.
He rounds out his kit with Block Debuffs, powerful healing, debuff to buff conversion, Leech, and buff removal, making him an excellent support Champion across a wide range of encounters.
Baerd
Baerd is currently the only Champion capable of placing Pain Link on all enemies at once, with his A3 reflecting 45% of the damage they deal to the linked targets rather than the standard 15%. He complements this with Provoke to lure attacks, Counterattack for himself and your highest C.DMG ally, and a passive that converts damage taken into team wide healing.
His A2 adds even more utility by stealing all buffs from a target, transferring his own debuffs, and then spreading them across all enemies, making him a versatile Champion.
Sydax
Sydax combines Pain Link with Decrease ATK, allowing him to increase your team’s damage while reducing the damage enemies deal. He supports this with Increase DEF, Increase SPD, and Ally Protection, helping allies survive while strengthening DEF based damage dealers.
Alongside his support, Sydax deals strong AoE damage through an attack that scales from both DEF and Enemy MAX HP, while placing Decrease DEF and Decrease SPD, making him an excellent blend of damage and utility for PvE content.
Venalicia
Valencia combines Pain Link with exceptional support, passively placing the debuff on any enemy that deals damage equal to 25% or more of an ally’s MAX HP. This punishes heavy hitters while allowing her to heal whenever attacked by enemies under Pain Link.
Alongside this, she brings buff removal, Block Buffs, Decrease DEF, a top tier team revive with skill cooldown manipulation, and a triple hit Weaken, making her an excellent support Champion for both PvE and PvP.
How to build Pain Link Champions
Accuracy & Speed Requirements
Accuracy and Speed are the two most important stats for Champions applying Pain Link, ensuring the debuff lands consistently and is applied before enemies begin attacking. As a general guideline, aim for around 25 more ACC than your target’s RES, using tools such as the Raid Stages Tool to identify the requirements for specific encounters.
Beyond this, build around the Champion’s primary role. Damage dealers such as Sydax and Gizmak should prioritise their main scaling stat alongside 100% C.Rate and high C.DMG to maximise both their direct damage and value. More supportive Champions, such as Venalicia, benefit from greater survivability through HP, DEF, and Speed, while maintaining enough Accuracy to reliably apply debuffs.
Recommended Artifact Sets
Artifact Sets for Pain Link Champions should focus on improving Accuracy and Speed, ensuring the debuff is applied consistently before enemies begin attacking. Sets such as Perception, Pinpoint, and Feral are excellent choices, while Relentless, Reflex, and Impulse can help cycle back to Pain Link skills more frequently.
Once your Accuracy requirements are met, build around the Champion’s primary role. Damage dealers such as Sydax and Gizmak benefit from offensive sets like Savage, Lethal, or Merciless, while support Champions such as Venalicia can prioritise defensive options alongside Accuracy focused sets to improve their survivability while continuing to apply debuffs.
Tips for using Pain Link Champions
Pain Link is most effective when the Champion applying it is attacked frequently, allowing the linked target to repeatedly take additional damage. Pairing it with effects such as Taunt, Unkillable, strong defensive buffs, or naturally durable Champions can greatly increase the number of times Pain Link triggers throughout a fight.
To maximise its value, apply Pain Link to priority targets and consider extending its duration or spreading it to multiple enemies where possible. While it won’t replace your primary damage dealers, it provides a solid source of damage, survivability, and enemy target manipulation across both PvE and PvP.