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Kanai's Cube

• 

  • Hack

  

  Legendary Axe

  • 3.25 Damage Per Second
  • Secondary Stats
  • • 75 - 100% of your Thorns damage is applied on every attack.
    • One of 2 Magic Properties (varies)
    • +66 - 132 Minimum Damage
    • +88 - 176 Maximum Damage
  • + 3 Random Magic Properties
  Hack
• 

  • Aquila Cuirass

  

  Legendary Chest Armor

  • 51 - 68 Armor
  • Primary Stats
  • • Sockets (1)
  • Secondary Stats
  • • While above 90 - 95% primary resource, all damage taken is reduced by 50%.
  • + 3 Random Magic Properties
  Aquila Cuirass
• 

  • Ring of Royal Grandeur

  

  Legendary Ring

  • Primary Stats
  • • Attack Speed Increased by 5 - 6%
    • +152 - 224 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

All my builds are tested with a 1700 paragon level character (full paragon points on all stats with 1.000 on main stat), with almost perfect items and extra 4500/6500 main stat from Caldessan ... with those facts, you can imagine the translate to your own carácter

Before going to the build itself, lets talk about how thorns damage works , as it is an independent mechanic on Diablo

Thorns are a secondary stat available on almost every item (there are exeptions, like many weapons), and its damage is not applied by the character. It hits back enemies when them hit us

Thorns damage is calculated multiplying our thorns by 25% of our main stat. So, if we have 300.000 thorns and 24.000 strenght, our thoens damage would be 300.000 X 6.000, 1.800 millions

Thorns damage is plain, it doesn't critic. But grows with physical elemental damage and is also afected by buff efects, like Strongarm wrist per example. For more info, the following link is a bit outdate, but still great: https://us.battle.net/forums/en/d3/topic/12945294787

We can use efective thorns builds based on four different sets: Invoker, Akkan, Norvald and Legacy of Nightmares sets.Each one means a completely different playstyle, focusing on pools, elites or farm

This one, Espinoso, goes with Invoker, Akkan and endless walk sets, but you can check others thorns builds here:

Espinado (Invoker and Endless Walk, focusing on single targets) https://www.diablofans.com/builds/98742-espinado-grift-100-physicall-thorns-with-invoker

Nail (Legacy of Nightmares, farm focus) https://www.diablofans.com/builds/98786-nail-farm-physicall-thorns-with-legacy-of

Estampida (Norvald and Akkan, mix for solo and farm) https://www.diablofans.com/builds/98772-estampida-grift-88-physicall-thorns-with-akkhan

Bombardero (legacy of nightmares, for solo) https://www.diablofans.com/builds/98804-bombardero-gr83-physicall-thorns-with-legacy-of

Paragon Priorities

All my builds are tested with a 1700 paragon level character (full paragon points on all stats with 1.000 on main stat), with almost perfect items and extra 4500/6500 main stat from Caldessan ... with those facts, you can imagine the translate to your own carácter

With this mix of Invoker and Akkan sets, we are trying to hit as much and as faster than possible, apart from beeing hitted. Active skills will go deep on that, multiplying the effects of Hack axe

- Akarat's Champion is explained by itself, adding the original bonus of the skill ( 35% damage, 150% armor and a desth cheat) and also the bonuses from Akkan's set (50% incoming damage reduction and 1500% damage), there is no need to say that it must be ALWAYS ACTIVE. Our CDR and shield AkaratAwakening will do the trick

- Bombardment is a demolishing skill. Launch it with a good amount of thorns increase thanks to Invoker bonus and just after Iron Skin, the total damage output will be amazing

- Iron Skin is not just a very good defensive skill in this case. Also multiplies by 3 our thorns damage, so make sure you launch it before Consecration, Laws of valor and specially Bombardment for better results

- Consecration is a great tool for this build, as it heals an area while we are fighting, but also applies thorns twice per second ... and each of those its also proc the thorn effect from our Hack axe

All other active and passive skills are quite clear, so no need to explain them

This build mixes full Akkhan set with 2 pieces from Invoker's. Akkhan will always be active (Akkan's set reduce the cooldown by 50% and AkaratAwakening with our own cooldown will do the permakkhan trick), reduceing our damage income and multiplying by 15 our thorns damage, already boosted up to 3500% by the bonus effect from Invokers

Endless walk set will enforce Espinoso static playstyle, increasing the damage by 100% when not moving and reducing your damage income when moving

Cooldown stat will be almost mandatory on all possible items (about 45/50% should be great), as well as strenght and thorns, of course ... attack speed and life on hit are also very usefull stats to replace vitality or Resistances on some items

Also, damage on the weapon is not needed at all, remove it on the mistic for areadamage, attack speed or life on hit

The gem on the helmet, always diamond, for cooldown. Rubies on chest and legs, as elemental resistances should be already around 1.200 (if not, add diamonds on legs)

And a last concern: always play without follower. He will attract enemies and you need them all hitting you

Note: There is a version, if you feel your defense is a bit poor. Replace your hand weapon from PigSticker to Hack, and switch the kanai weapon from Hack to BloodBrother. Doing that your defense will improve a lot and alsoyoue fight against single targets will grow a bit ... but your overall damage will drop. Anyway, the real difference to this version is just 1/2 levels less than the original, so you can keep the one that fits you better