(https://i.imgur.com/3sI1AXa.png)
This guide give some clues for building a dual-wield spellbreaker with permanent battle standard. It is intended for farming or hardcore playstyles.
The build relies on a balance between offensive power from warfare and defensive aura from spirit mastery.
Strengths
dynamical playstyle that pushes forward
feeling of still gaining power after lvl 70
quick farmer when perma battle standard and ultimate core skill levels are achieved
Weaknesses
DW tree takes time to shine, not before lvl40
lost of deathchill aura is one step towards death. It's wise to keep an eye on it (Mimer's maze, gilded mages)
gear intensive but not unachievable
Skills at lvl 80 - Warfare mastery
(https://i.imgur.com/gbRzmuy.png)
Core skill trees are Battle standard, Onslaught and Dual-Wield.
Why no points in war horn tree ? it's a great skill when playing self-found but unnecessary with good gear. 1 pt can be handy for leveling though, depends mosty on gameplay style preferences.
Note that casting war horn is a waste of time when you can cast battle standard instead. Moreover, warwind strike is efficient if monsters are all around close to you, not scattered around by doom horn.
Details
The value refers to max (respectively ultimate) level of the skill.
Offense- Weapon training: brings 222 (350) OA and 16% (25%) Attack speed.
- Dual wield tree: allows 52% (75%) chances to hit with 2 weapons at once, AOE 2 to 3 targets and +50% physical damage sometimes.
- Battle rage tree: triggered (8% chances) when hitted by ennemies with a cooldown of 12s for 10s. Gives a huge physical bonus and works as Ares' wrath, making this passive skill great for killing speed.
- Battle standard tree: +88 (120) flat OA and +166 (274) physical damage per hit to any weapon, either low of very fast.
- Onslaught tree: +52% (76%) physical dmg at full charge, and +16% (25%) Attacl speed if at least one charge is present.
- War wind tree: +21% (49%) physical damage, AOE up to 7 (9) targets, and some bleeding damage.
- Ancestral Horn: summons 5 ancestral warriors for a 24s duration. Each one deals 130 to 174 dmg (157 to 215).
Defense- Dodge Attacks: 21% (30%) chances to dodge attacks.
- Battle standard tree: 36% (45%) damage absorption.
- Onslaught tree: 15% (20%) physical and pierce resistances.
Debuff- Battle standard tree: -40% (60%) damage,-40% (60%) physical resistance within 12m radius.
- Onslaught tree: -28% (44%) DA, 56 (90) reduced armor and -35% (55%) mov speed, at full charge.
Support- Battle standard tree: +1 to all skills, and -50% Energy cost.
- Onslaught tree: +16% (25%) movement speed if at least one charge is present.
- War wind tree: +300% movement speed.
Skills at lvl 80 - Spirit mastery
(https://i.imgur.com/nlkHJWF.png)
Core skill trees are Deathchill aura and Dark covenant. The aura allows the spellbreaker to make the best use of warfare offense without the need of a shield. The liche king, although cosmetic with few points, is handy for pulling from time to time, and for its soul blight ability.
Details
Offense- Summon outsider/liche king: basic attack and 33% reduction to ennemy's health.
- Dark covenant tree: +50% (75%) dmg for a 21s (30s) duration.
- Spirit ward tree: +65% (119%) dmg to undead, + 46 (70) dmg to undead.
Defense- Spirit ward tree: 45% (62%) less dmg from undead within 6m radius.
Debuff- Deatchill aura tree: -25% (33%) total speed, 36% (45%) reduced dmg, -36% (45%) armor absorption, -81% (119%) LL/bleeding/vitality resistances within 3.7m (4.5m) radius.
- summon liche king: Soul blight ability allows -15% (30%) reduced resistances for 8s within 6m radius.
Support- Death ward: activates when health drops below 15%. 680 (990) HP restored and 77% (94%) dmg absorption for 3s.
- Dark covenant tree: +10% total speed, 21 (30) energy regeneration/s for a 21s (30s) duration.
Progression
The aim is to keep a balance between offensive power and means of protection. Although really tempting for AOE, leveling warwind early isn't a good idea.
WW energy requirements imply leveling dark covenant in parallel, and other priorities are better. Some AOE ability is allowed anyway with the DW tree.
L 1 - 30 (https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc400540054005.html?mastery=Spellbreaker&master1=2&master2=3&sa=2&m1=15-1-0-0-8-0-1-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0&m2=32-1-0-8-0-1-6-0-0-0-1-1-0-6-0-1-1-0-0-6-1-0): onslaught tree, Ravages of time
L30 - 50 (https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc400540054005.html?mastery=Spellbreaker&master1=2&master2=3&sa=4&m1=32-1-0-0-8-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-1-0-0-1-0-0-1-1-0&m2=32-6-0-8-6-1-6-0-6-0-10-1-6-6-0-1-1-0-6-6-1-0): DW tree, battle standard, weapon training
L50 - 70 (https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc400540054005.html?mastery=Spellbreaker&master1=2&master2=3&sa=12&m1=32-6-0-0-8-0-8-0-6-1-6-0-8-0-1-8-1-0-1-1-1-0&m2=32-6-1-8-6-8-6-0-6-1-10-8-6-6-0-6-8-0-6-6-1-0): Dark covenant + WW tree (energy), dodge attacks, deatchill aura, spirit ward tree
L70+ (https://www.kirmiziperfect.com/titancalc-anniversary-edition/TitanCalc400540054005.html?mastery=Spellbreaker&master1=2&master2=3&sa=30&m1=32-6-0-0-8-0-8-0-6-4-6-0-8-0-1-8-1-0-8-1-1-0&m2=32-6-12-8-6-8-6-0-6-12-10-8-6-6-1-6-8-0-6-6-16-0): Ancestral horn, death ward (if hardcore), battle rage finally for big numbers in farming gear.
Hardcore setup
A permanent Battle standard is a game breaker, so all gear efforts have to focus on CDR. Talisman of the Jade emperor seems the best artifact with its -25% recharge. Actually hardcore mode is much more easier with 3 other artifacts: Sigil of the bast, silver heart and golden belt, depending on the zone. Finally, from skill analysis, it appears, like for most classes, that core skills benefit greatly from ultimate skill level. Battle standard brings +1 skill, so +3 have to be found on gear. Therefore hardcore gear setup has to be found under 3 constraints:
- 80% CDR without Talisman of the Jade emperor
- +3 skills on gear
- all resistances positive, when possible >50%, in particular 80% stun resistance is required
It's like squarring the circle. Here is one setup, the 80% CDR come from Tracker's hood, Brinsingamen and Ring of the three:
(https://i.imgur.com/Zw2ozbN.png)
Ritual cleaver x2: 40% physical dmg x2, adcth, elemental and vitaly dmg resistances, attack speed
Ring of the Three: -12% recharge, vitality dmg resistance
Star of Elysium: 700 health, 15% physical dmg, pierce and poison resistances
Brinsingamen: +2 to skills, -27% recharge, 10% physical resistance
Tracker's Hood: -42% recharge
Mantle of Sa'jun: low armor value but lots of resistances
Gauntlets of the Necrolord: +1 skills, 12% attack speed, lots of resistances
Trollwrestler Greaves: 23% strength, 37% mov speed, lots of resistances
Sigil of the Bast: 100 less dmg from beasts and beastmen
or Silver Heart: 100 less dmg from undead and demons
or Golden Belt: 80 less dmg from giants
Why 80% CDR and not 70%, wouldn't be easier ?
Because 70% means a battle standard each 18s whereas 80% reduces the cooldown to 12s. This is the difference between a jerky and a flowing style since in hardcore, the spellbreaker has to fight under the dmg absorption zone from battle standard.
Farming setup:
In that case, talisman of the jade emperor can be used, which simplifies gear requirements. Also, less constraints on resistances allow to wear good green weapons to improve dps. Note that a lot of tries are necessary to seek the best combination for its own playstyle and a good killing speed. Here is one setup among others:
(https://i.imgur.com/dekDUr5.png)
Tyrant's Aesir War Club of Havoc socketed with Anubis' wrath: 43% physical dmg, 26% total dmg, 12% adcth, 35 attack speed
Blacksteel Executionner socketed with Anubis' wrath: 265 reduced armor, 25% chances of 37RR, 12% adcth, 35 attack speed
Mark of Ares: 10% chances of +497% physical dmg
Star of Elysium: 700 health, 15% physical dmg, pierce and poison resistances
Brinsingamen: +2 to skills, -27% recharge, 10% physical resistance
Tracker's Hood: -42% recharge
Mantle of Sa'jun: low armor value but lots of resistances
Gauntlets of the Necrolord: +1 skills, 12% attack speed, lots of resistances
Hervor's Fine Steel: 17% physical resistance, 235 DA, vitality dmg resistance, 20% less from undead
Talisman of the Jade Emperor: -25% recharge, 50% elemental resistance
Farming setup: Battle standard + Dark covenant boosts
At full charge, attack speed cap is nearly achieved.
(https://i.imgur.com/SK59LMY.png)
Video
In this video, the same farming gear is used, except for Hades and Loki encounters that require a fine tuning. Some of the items are taken from immunity thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFIfneO08aY&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFIfneO08aY&feature=youtu.be)
Edit: a few corrections.