S22 Bombardment Thorns Crusader

Rating

by Wolfram last updated Oct 21, 2020 ( Season 21 )

Seasonal

Hybrid

BBCode Link

Edit

Skills

Punish Celerity
- Punish
Generate: 5 Wrath per attack

Strike your enemy for 335% weapon damage and gain Hardened Senses, increasing your Block Chance by 15% for 5 seconds.
Celerity

When you block with Hardened Senses active, you gain 15% increased Attack Speed for 3 seconds.
Bombardment Barrels of Spikes
- Bombardment
Cooldown: 60 seconds

Call in an assault from afar, raining 5 spheres of burning pitch and stone onto enemies around you, dealing 2850% total weapon damage to enemies within 12 yards of the impact zone.
Barrels of Spikes

In place of the burning spheres, barrels of spikes are hurled. Damage of each barrel is increased by 200% of your Thorns.
Akarat's Champion Prophet
- Akarat's Champion
Cooldown: 90 seconds

Explode with the power of your order, increasing your damage by 35% and increasing your Wrath regeneration by 5 for 20 seconds.
Prophet

Gain 150% additional Armor while Akarat's Champion is active.

The first time you take fatal damage while Akarat's Champion is active, you will be returned to full health.
Laws of Valor Unstoppable Force
- Laws of Valor
Cooldown: 30 seconds

Active: Empower the Law, granting you and your allies 15% increased Attack Speed for 5 seconds.

Passive: Recite the Law, granting you and your allies 8% increased Attack Speed.

Only one Law may be active at a time.
Unstoppable Force

Active: Empowering the law also reduces the Wrath cost of all skills by 50% for 5 seconds.
Condemn Vacuum
- Condemn
Cooldown: 15 seconds

Build up a massive explosion, unleashing it after 3 seconds, dealing 1160% weapon damage as Holy to all enemies within 15 yards.
Vacuum

As the explosion charges up, it sucks in enemies. The closer it is to exploding, the more enemies it sucks in.
Steed Charge Draw and Quarter
- Steed Charge
Cooldown: 16 seconds

Mount a celestial war horse that allows you to ride through enemies unhindered for 2 seconds.
Draw and Quarter

Bind 5 monsters near you with chains and drag them as you ride, dealing 185% weapon damage as Holy every second.

Heavenly Strength
- Heavenly Strength
You can wield a two-handed weapon in your main hand while bearing a shield in your off hand.

Your damage dealt is reduced by 20%.
Hold Your Ground
- Hold Your Ground
You can no longer Dodge, but your Block Chance is increased by 30%.
Lord Commander
- Lord Commander
The cooldown of Steed Charge is reduced by 25% and Bombardment by 35%.

Damage dealt by Phalanx is increased 20%.
Iron Maiden
- Iron Maiden
Your Thorns is increased by 50%.

Items

Helm of Akkhan

Set Helm

21 - 24 Armor

Primary Stats

+626 - 750 Strength
+626 - 750 Dexterity
+626 - 750 Intelligence
Sockets (1)

Armor of Akkhan
Helm of Akkhan
Pauldrons of Akkhan
Breastplate of Akkhan
Cuisses of Akkhan
Sabatons of Akkhan
Gauntlets of Akkhan
Talisman of Akkhan
(2) Set: Judgment has no cooldown and gains the effect of every rune.
(4) Set: Attacks from Phalanx Avatars reduce the cooldown of Akarat's Champion by 0.5 seconds, and also apply Condemn when attacking enemies that are affected by Judgment.
(6) Set: While Akarat's Champion is active, you deal 1500% increased damage and take 50% less damage.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Burden of the Invoker

Set Shoulders

59 - 68 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
+5334 - 7696 Thorns Damage

Thorns of the Invoker
Crown of the Invoker
Burden of the Invoker
Pride of the Invoker
Shackles of the Invoker
Zeal of the Invoker
Renewal of the Invoker
(2) Set: Your Thorns damage now hits all enemies in a 15 yard radius around you. Each time you hit an enemy with Punish, Slash, or block an attack your Thorns is increased by 350% for 2 seconds.
(4) Set: You take 50% less damage for 20 seconds after damaging an enemy with Bombardment.
(6) Set: The attack speed of Punish and Slash are increased by 50% and deal 15000% of your Thorns damage to the first enemy hit.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Talisman of Akkhan

Set Amulet

Primary Stats

+626 - 750 Strength
+626 - 750 Dexterity
+626 - 750 Intelligence
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 7 - 10%

Armor of Akkhan
Helm of Akkhan
Pauldrons of Akkhan
Breastplate of Akkhan
Cuisses of Akkhan
Sabatons of Akkhan
Gauntlets of Akkhan
Talisman of Akkhan
(2) Set: Reduce the cost of all abilities by 50% while Akarat's Champion is active.
(4) Set: Reduce the cooldown of Akarat's Champion by 50%.
(6) Set: While Akarat's Champion is active, you deal 1500% increased damage and take 50% less damage.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Breastplate of Akkhan

Set Chest Armor

51 - 68 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
Sockets (1)

Armor of Akkhan
Helm of Akkhan
Pauldrons of Akkhan
Breastplate of Akkhan
Cuisses of Akkhan
Sabatons of Akkhan
Gauntlets of Akkhan
Talisman of Akkhan
(2) Set: Judgment has no cooldown and gains the effect of every rune.
(4) Set: Attacks from Phalanx Avatars reduce the cooldown of Akarat's Champion by 0.5 seconds, and also apply Condemn when attacking enemies that are affected by Judgment.
(6) Set: While Akarat's Champion is active, you deal 1500% increased damage and take 50% less damage.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Shackles of the Invoker

Set Bracers

8 - 10 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
+2401 - 2880 Thorns Damage

Thorns of the Invoker
Crown of the Invoker
Burden of the Invoker
Pride of the Invoker
Shackles of the Invoker
Zeal of the Invoker
Renewal of the Invoker
(2) Set: Your Thorns damage now hits all enemies in a 15 yard radius around you. Each time you hit an enemy with Punish, Slash, or block an attack your Thorns is increased by 350% for 2 seconds.
(4) Set: You take 50% less damage for 20 seconds after damaging an enemy with Bombardment.
(6) Set: The attack speed of Punish and Slash are increased by 50% and deal 15000% of your Thorns damage to the first enemy hit.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Gauntlets of Akkhan

Set Gloves

42 - 55 Armor

Primary Stats

+626 - 750 Strength
+626 - 750 Dexterity
+626 - 750 Intelligence
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 7 - 10%

Armor of Akkhan
Helm of Akkhan
Pauldrons of Akkhan
Breastplate of Akkhan
Cuisses of Akkhan
Sabatons of Akkhan
Gauntlets of Akkhan
Talisman of Akkhan
(2) Set: Judgment has no cooldown and gains the effect of every rune.
(4) Set: Attacks from Phalanx Avatars reduce the cooldown of Akarat's Champion by 0.5 seconds, and also apply Condemn when attacking enemies that are affected by Judgment.
(6) Set: While Akarat's Champion is active, you deal 1500% increased damage and take 50% less damage.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle

Set Belt

440 - 506 Armor

Captain Crimson's Trimmings
Captain Crimson's Waders
Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle
Captain Crimson's Thrust
(2) Set: Regenerates 6000 Life per Second
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 20%.
Reduces all resource costs by 20%.
(3) Set: Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction.
Damage taken is reduced by your percentage of cost reduction.

+ 6 Random Magic Properties
Cuisses of Akkhan

Set Pants

33 - 38 Armor

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
Sockets (1)

Armor of Akkhan
Helm of Akkhan
Pauldrons of Akkhan
Breastplate of Akkhan
Cuisses of Akkhan
Sabatons of Akkhan
Gauntlets of Akkhan
Talisman of Akkhan
(2) Set: Reduce the cost of all abilities by 50% while Akarat's Champion is active.
(4) Set: Reduce the cooldown of Akarat's Champion by 50%.
(6) Set: While Akarat's Champion is active, you deal 1500% increased damage and take 50% less damage.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Captain Crimson's Waders

Set Boots

513 - 590 Armor

Captain Crimson's Trimmings
Captain Crimson's Waders
Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle
Captain Crimson's Thrust
(2) Set: Regenerates 6000 Life per Second
Reduces cooldown of all skills by 20%.
Reduces all resource costs by 20%.
(3) Set: Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction.
Damage taken is reduced by your percentage of cost reduction.

+ 6 Random Magic Properties
Justice Lantern

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

Reduces duration of control impairing effects by 35 - 50%
+12 - 16% Chance to Block
Sockets (1)

Secondary Stats

Gain damage reduction equal to 45 - 55% of your Block Chance.

+ 2 Random Magic Properties
Unity

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

Increases damage against elites by 12 - 15%
Critical Hit Chance Increased by 3.5%

Secondary Stats

All damage taken is split between wearers of this item.

+ 2 Random Magic Properties
Flail of the Charge

Set Two-Handed Flail

8.8 Damage Per Second

Primary Stats

+946 - 1125 Strength

Secondary Stats

One of 7 Magic Properties (varies)

+(1439 - 1788) Physical Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Fire Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Lightning Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Cold Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Poison Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Arcane Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Holy Damage

Norvald's Fervor
Flail of the Charge
Shield of the Steed
(2) Set: Increases the duration of Steed Charge by 2 seconds. In addition, killing an enemy reduces the cooldown of Steed Charge by 1 second.
Gain 100% increased damage while using Steed Charge and for 5 seconds after it ends.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties
Shield of the Steed

Set Crusader Shield

9 - 10 Armor

Primary Stats

+10 - 20% Chance to Block
0 - 0 Block Amount

Critical Hit Chance Increased by 7 - 10%
+626 - 750 Strength
+626 - 750 Dexterity
+626 - 750 Intelligence

Norvald's Fervor
Flail of the Charge
Shield of the Steed
(2) Set: Increases the duration of Steed Charge by 2 seconds. In addition, killing an enemy reduces the cooldown of Steed Charge by 1 second.
Gain 100% increased damage while using Steed Charge and for 5 seconds after it ends.

+ 4 Random Magic Properties

More Details

Head
- Helm of Akkhan
- Crown of the Invoker
- Stat Priority: Socket Thorns Str Vit
Shoulders
- Burden of the Invoker
- Pauldrons of Akkhan
- Stat Priority: Thorns CDR AD Str
Amulet
- Talisman of Akkhan
- Stat Priority: Socket CDR Physical % Thorns
Torso
- Breastplate of Akkhan
- Stat Priority: Skill: Bombardment Thorns Socket Reduced Elite Dmg
Wrists
- Shackles of the Invoker
- Stat Priority: Cold Res Physical % Thorns Str Vit
Hands
- Gauntlets of Akkhan
- Pride of the Invoker
- Stat Priority: CDR Thorns AD Str
Waist
- Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle
- Stat Priority: Thorns Str Vit AR
Legs
- Cuisses of Akkhan
- Renewal of the Invoker
- Captain Crimson's Thrust
- Stat Priority: Thorns Socket Str Vit
Feet
- Captain Crimson's Waders
- Sabatons of Akkhan
- Zeal of the Invoker
- Stat Priority: Thorns Str Vit AR
Rings
- Justice Lantern
- Unity
- Stat Priority: Socket Thorns CDR AD
Weapon
- Flail of the Charge
- Stat Priority: Socket CDR AD Str
Offhand
- Shield of the Steed
- Stat Priority: CDR Skill: Bombardment Thorns AD

Legendary Gems
- Boyarsky's Chip
  Boyarsky's Chip
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Adds 16000 Thorns.
- Bane of the Trapped
  Bane of the Trapped
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Increase damage against enemies under the effects of control-impairing effects by 15%.
- Bane of the Stricken
  Bane of the Stricken
  
  Gem
  
  Secondary Stats
  
  Each attack you make against an enemy increases the damage it takes from your attacks by 0.8%.

Kanai's Cube

The Mortal Drama

Legendary Two-Handed Flail

8.8 Damage Per Second

Primary Stats

+946 - 1125 Strength

Secondary Stats

Double the number of Bombardment impacts.
One of 7 Magic Properties (varies)

+(1439 - 1788) Physical Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Fire Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Lightning Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Cold Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Poison Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Arcane Damage

+(1439 - 1788) Holy Damage

+ 3 Random Magic Properties
The Mortal Drama
Belt of the Trove

Legendary Belt

287 - 319 Armor

Primary Stats

+91 - 100 Resistance to All Elements
Reduces damage from melee attacks by 500 - 600%
+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence

Secondary Stats

Every 6 - 8 seconds, call down Bombardment on a random nearby enemy.

+ 2 Random Magic Properties
Belt of the Trove
Ring of Royal Grandeur

Legendary Ring

Primary Stats

+416 - 500 Strength
+416 - 500 Dexterity
+416 - 500 Intelligence
Attack Speed Increased by 5 - 6%
+7737 - 9214 Life per Hit

Secondary Stats

Reduces the number of items needed for set bonuses by 1 (to a minimum of 2).

+ 2 Random Magic Properties
Ring of Royal Grandeur

S22 Bombardment Thorns Crusader

With 6-piece bonus from the Armor of Akkhan set, 2-piece bonus from the Thorns of the Invoker set, 3-piece bonus from Captain Crimson's Trimmings, and 2-piece bonus from the Norvald's Fervor set, ~~this is the highest performing build in the PTR~~ this has been nerfed a lot.

The slots for Head, Shoulder, Hands, Legs, and Feet will have to be equipped with 1 Captain Crimson's Trimmings piece, 1 Thorns of the Invoker piece, and 3 Armor of Akkhan pieces. Best-in-Slot for rings are Justice Lantern (for the Block Chance rolls), and Unity (for the Increased Damage against Elites rolls). The rest are required and cannot be changed.

Full diamonds in head, torso, and legs slots. Topaz in the weapon for even more thorns (thanks to mothandras for the reminder).

Main stat focus will be as follows:

1. Sockets wherever possible for higher CDR and All Resist

2. CDR for full Akarat's Champion uptime, added damage dealt, and quicker usage of skills (all of which depend on cooldown rather than wrath).

3. Thorns for damage output.

4. Bombardment Skill Damage as Bombardment will be the main damage skill of this build.

5. Physical Skill Damage for added damage output (Thorns is always Physical in element).

6. Area Damage for better rift progression.

7. Strength for damage output and armor.

8. Vitality for toughness.

Special mentions:

Chance to block can be rolled on Justice Lantern and Shield of the Steed. This provides faster procs of the 2-piece bonus of the Thorns of the Invoker set, as well as the Justice Lantern damage reduction unique attribute, thus increasing both damage and toughness.

Damage against elites are also natural rolls on Unity and can be left on for faster rift progression.

Season 22 bonus slot for Kanai's Cube:

Use Convention of Elements for Solo. For team play, replace Unity with Convention of Elements and add The Furnace.

Potion: Bottomless Potion of the Diamond

Follower Set Up

Enchantress

Charm, Powered Armor, Disorient, Focused Mind

Smoking Thurible, Sultan of the Blinding Sand, Ess of Johan, Unity, Oculus Ring

The video shows GR100 with 1000 paragon points cap in PTR.

Paragon Priorities

Core

Movement Speed
Primary Stat
Vitality
Maximum Resource

Offense

Cooldown Reduction
Attack Speed
Critical Hit Chance
Critical Hit Damage

Defense

Resist All
Armor
Life
Life Regeneration

Utility

Resource Cost Reduction
Area Damage
Life on Hit
Gold Find

Core: Movement speed until hard cap of 25%. Then rest into Strength. Maximum resource can be completely ignored. Add Vitality to taste.

Offense: CDR for full uptime of Akarat's Champion, faster recovery of Steed Charge, Bombardment, Law of Valor, and Condemn. Also adds to damage. Attack Speed for faster strikes of Punish to increase Thorns of the Invoker 2-piece bonus procs. Crit Chance and Crit Damage are useless in a thorns build.

Defense: Resist All first as main stat gives Armor. Armor next, then Life, then lastly, Life Regen.

Utility: Resource Cost Reduction for added damage reduction. Area damage for synergy with Bombardment strikes, Life on hit for recovery, then Gold pickup radius for faster rift ball collection.

Build Guide

Active Skills:

Akarat's Champion - Prophet

To be used at the start of the rift and then to be kept up 100% of the time. The gear stat prioritization, along with the Akarat's Champion specific cooldown reduction 4-piece bonus from the Armor of Akkhan set, should provide enough Cooldown Reduction to ensure full uptime of Akarat's Champion throughout. Akarat's Champion provides increased damage from the base skill, armor and a "cheat death" passive from the Prophet rune, along with a huge boost of damage and damage reduction from the 6-piece bonus from the Armor of Akkhan set.

Laws of Valor - Unstoppable Force

To be used for a boost of damage and defense. The base law passive provides attack speed with translates into more stacks of the 2-piece bonus of the Thorns of the Invoker set, leading to higher thorns. When activated, the law provides a further boost of attack speed to the same end. Furthermore, the Unstoppable Force rune provides a large boost to Wrath Cost Reduction which in turn provides damage reduction due to the 3-piece bonus of the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set.

Condemn - Vacuum

To be used to group enemies. The damage of Condemn will be negligible in this build.

Can be replaced by:

Provoke - Hit Me

The taunt and the Wrath generation of the base skill will provide little to no utility in this build except for a slight grouping effect. This skill will primarily be used for a boost of defense from the increased block chance which procs the unique attribute of Justice Lantern.

Bombardment - Barrels of Spikes

To be used when a boost of damage is needed, mainly on elites and the Rift Guardian, especially when the Physical Element rotation of the Convention of Elements comes around. While the majority of Bombardments will come from the cubed Belt of the Trove (every 4 seconds), this skill will provide, other than the aforementioned boost of timed damage, the rune. The Barrels of Spikes rune will be inherited by the Bombardments from the Belt of the Trove.

Steed Charge - Draw and Quarter

This will be used very frequently to proc the 2-piece bonus of the Norvald's Fervor, which provides a huge boost of damage during the skill and for 5 seconds after. Ensure full uptime of this damage buff. This will also be used to move quickly around the map to easily locate favorable mobs and elite packs. The skill can be manually cut short by using Punish - Celerity on force attack.

The rune can be either Draw and Quarter or Rejuvenation. Draw and Quarter will be for grouping of mobs and elites while Rejuvenation will provide healing.

Punish - Celerity

This will be used just after the Steed Charge when engaging mobs and elite packs or to end the Steed Charge manually. When hitting an enemy with Punish, it provides Hardened Senses, which procs the unique attribute on Justice Lantern for more damage reduction. If used in tandem with the skill variant of Provoke - Hit Me, the Crusader can achieve 100% Block Chance, which translates to 55% damage reduction on an optimal Justice Lantern. Furthermore, Punish - Celerity contributes to the build up of the 2-piece bonus of the Thorns of the Invoker set, firstly by the act of hitting an enemy on its own, and also increasing attack speed when blocking, and therefore feeds into the act of hitting enemies quicker.

Passive Skills:

Heavenly Strength

Allows Crusaders to use 2-handed weapons in one hand, and equip a shield on the other. Required to equip the Norvald's Fervor set.

Iron Maiden

Provides a huge boost to Thorns.

Hold Your Ground

The increase to Block Chance procs off the unique attribute of Justice Lantern for more damage reduction and provides boosts to damage due to the 2-piece bonus of the Thorns of the Invoker set.

Lord Commander

Reduces cooldown of Steed Charge and Bombardment, leading to quicker skill rotation cycles and greater timed damage from manual casts of Bombardment. With Lord Commander, try to achieve CDR of at least 59% to ensure that Bombardment can always be cast in time for the physical rotation of Convention of Elements (thanks to Ic0n0clast).

Can be replaced by Finery before achieving high main stat for straight up Strength.

DiabloFans