Leviathan's "Zoosader" Crusader | Category: Diablo BlogMay-15-2014 10:00 AM PDT (10 years ago) |
The Crusader's background and history certainly played a role in the development of her abilities. For example, as members of a divine martial order, Crusaders are never truly alone and can trust their companions to have their backs in battle. This idea manifests in skills like Phalanx, Bombardment, Akarat's Champion, and Steed Charge. Today, Leviathan#1356 shares a build that capitalizes on these stalwart associates, with a tendency for big bursts and rapid resource regeneration. About the Build:It's been said that sometimes the best defense is a good offense, and Leviathan's "Zoosader" build epitomizes this anecdote. Phalanx takes the forefront in this set of skills, and additional pet summons from complimentary items such as Haunt of Vaxo and the Asheara's Vestments allow the Crusader to summon a contingent of troops to stand by her side in combat. In addition to allies, this build also focuses on quick and effective burst damage. "The goal is to have access to area-of-effect (AOE) skills at all times to clear trash mobs quickly and then to utilize sustained burst to take down Elite packs before they ever have a chance to overwhelm us," Leviathan writes in. "Many people believe that the key to Hardcore is a strong defense, but I'd maintain that having just as strong an offense is essential, too."
To support this burst-oriented play, Leviathan focuses on high resource regeneration by utilizing one-handed weapons and selecting skills with short cooldowns, ensuring that these big push moments come in regular strides. After all, the less your enemies have the option to target you, the less damage there is to mitigate. The Skills:Before we get too far into the details, it should be noted this build was submitted before Patch 2.0.5 went live earlier this week. As a result, while I've preserved the original build below, I've also added comments regarding recent changes that reflect how this week's patch affects its concept and execution. Active Skills:
Passive Skills:
The Items:The Zoosader is a social creature, and needs all the friends she can get to fight alongside her! The recommended items below offer her a veritable menagerie of assistance and help her survive the toughest of rumbles, while burst play is supported through additional resource regeneration options.
Core Items:
Complementary Items: These items compliment the core items, and mostly focus on increasing efficiency.
Recommended Stats:
Recommended Difficulty and Game Mode:When this build was submitted, Leviathan was regularly using it in Hardcore and farming Torment III on his own. Certainly, with the appropriate levels of Damage and Toughness, Zoosader can hold its ground in any difficulty (and any game mode), and flourishes when tackling challenges from Bounties or Nephalem Rifts.
Of course, we always recommend taking careful steps, especially in Hardcore, when trying something new. Be sure to feel out where your gear level is before diving headfirst into any build! Why We Like This Build:Pet-based builds can be really appealing for a number of reasons. Not only is it cool to have a cadre of companions following along, but the Crusader makes for a thematically strong commander. Also, while the Crusader herself is a tough, imposing force to be reckoned with, having an army following alongside her and supporting her along the way just makes her all the more intimidating. The burst aspect of this build is equally appealing, as it provides a sense of rhythmic play, something that I personally enjoy. Jumping headlong into danger is very intimidating for many players who are new to Hardcore, but knowing this type of playstyle is both feasible and viable can assuage some of those concerns.
I've had a lot of fun experimenting with this build on my own Crusader. If you'd like to see it in action, tune in to tonight's livestream, I'll be playing it all day! Tell Us What You Think!Leviathan's Zoosader is a slight concept twist on a character you might not have imagined. Pets are usually the realm of Witch Doctors and Demon Hunters, but the Crusader has the ability to dip her toe in that pool and propser. A thematic build that's both conceptually and mechanically sound, the Zoosader works as advertised and performs admirably. Are you ready to share your thoughts? What would you change if you had a Zoosader? Have you already given it a shot, and want to share your findings? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to send me your builds at TheorycraftThursday@blizzard.com. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what you've got to share after Patch 2.0.5 and beyond! |