SilverAce99's "Return Fire" Crusader | Category: Diablo BlogJanuary-15-2015 10:00 AM PST (9 years ago) |
The Crusader is a stalwart defender, batting aside endless hordes of demonic and undead foes with their massive signature shields. Foes best beware a Return Fire Crusader, as striking this iron wall isn’t just going to sting—it’s going to burn. About the Build:Shields, blocking, and generally being a walking impenetrable bastion are at the heart of the Crusader class. Meeting one of these devout warriors on the battlefield implies a certain kind of story. With an unflinching reaction to just about anything that evil can throw their way, they are just as likely to send a packed punch that pays its dues in droves. It’s divine retribution at its best.
Intrigued and inspired by the concept of Thorns, SilverAce99#1196 was determined to find a way to embody this form of retaliation. The Return Fire Crusader is the fruit of his efforts, “essentially a fire-based Thorns build that does not use Thorns at all.†The key to achieving this is with the Primary skill Punish (Roar) and pumping your Block Chance through the roof. Enemies will regret the day they chose you as a target, finding themselves on the receiving end of endless punishment. The Skills:This robust build focuses on a whole lot of self- (and coincidentally group-) buffing that makes a few commonly overlooked Runes shine. Active Skills:
Passive Skills:
Alternative Skills:
The Items:As previously mentioned, this is a flexible build with a lot of room for variation and customizing to fit your needs. It can equally be tailored to the items you happen to have around, and many of the most beneficial items are easy to come by.
Core Items:
Complementary Items:
Alternate Items
Recommended Legendary Gems:
Recommended Stats:
Recommended Difficulty and Game Mode:SilverAce has been experimenting with this build in Torment III and IV, ideal for quick bounties and entry level Nephalem and Greater Rifts. I’ve been running this build easily through Torment VI, and it’s sure to become a staple in my repertoire from the norm as I get a few more appropriate pieces of gear. I’m curious to see just how far I can push its limits. The nature of this build is risky, and I wouldn’t advise jumping into Hardcore without fair warning. If you’re feeling particularly brazen, though, it could prove a fun (if dangerous) experiment! Why We Like This Build:The Return Fire Crusader is a wonderful change of pace. It embodies the concept of this staunch warrior of the Zakarum faith, digs into overlooked skills and items, and makes them work. While this is unlikely to be the build you’re clearing top leaderboards with, it’s a fun diversion and satisfies the craving for sword-and-boarding it. It’s also a style that delivers satisfying results; just stack that Block up and watch them melt!
Getting into some of these terrifying situations and coming out on top is a fantastic feeling. I’ve never been excited as a melee hero to run into a pack with Fire Chains, but the constant procs from Punish (Roar) and the ensuing chaos? Totally worth it. Tell Us What You Think!What does your disciple of Akarat embody? Do you take monsters head-on or sling divine fury from across the map? Have you ever experimented with a Block-based build? Let us know in the comments! The new patch brought a few new toys and tweaks to existing builds as we all anticipate the start of Season 2. Got a new build with 2.1.2? Then send it in! We’ll be back next week with our first Wizard build of 2015. |