I stumbled on this build after finding a pretty decent Gyrfalcon's Force (Removes cost of Blessed Shield). I feel like the power of Blessed Shield is underrated and it is extremely powerful, especially once you acquire the weapon and stack block chance. I am comfortably farming T3 and dishing out some very solid damage, around 5 to 8 million crits on the main Blessed Shield hit and 1.5 to 2 million crits on the explosion.
One thing to really note is the text of Blessed Shield:
Blessed Shield
Secondary Cost: 20 Wrath
Hurl your shield, dealing 280% weapon damage plus 250% of shield Block Chance as damage. The shield will ricochet to 3 nearby enemies.
Requires Shield
Blessed Shield -Combust Judgment - Resolved Bombardment - Impactful Bombardment Laws of Valor - Critical Akarat's Champion - Rally
+One Filler of your choice, I like Phalanx - Bowmen for a set it and forget DPS skill
Lord Commander- Faster Bombardments and extra Phalanx damage
Things to Note:
Block % My Character Sheet Block %nearly reaches the cap for the extra damage on Blessed Shield, which you can just spam. Note this build does not use a wrath builder and I found using any of the wrath spenders actually gave me less DPS. This is the reason for Phalanx, its a set it and forget it CD and they can block some boss abilities as well.
Why +Fire Damage? Out of the Blessed Shield Options, Combust is extremely good and it procs a all the time since you are literally spamming shields. The average exploding crits hit for about 1.5 million to 2 million.
Please check out my profile for gearing suggestions, not complete as I am still missing a few things. (added profile link) http://us.battle.net/d3/en/profile/Hobo-1423/hero/44869890 Gyrfalcon's Foote is REQUIRED! Let me know if this build worked for you! It is a ton of fun and very viable.
On a side note, do you know shield block part of damage from Blessed Shield is increased only by shield block chance from shield itself, not bonus block chance from items or talents?
Are you 100% sure on that? It seems like it started hitting harder after adding block chance talents. Anyone to verify this? At work, but ill test when I get home.
"Tooltip is inaccurate, it includes external block buffs like punish, stand your ground etc.
Tested it by using towering shield at max versus without."
have tested it myself all the time. When I was using blessed shield I had 50% passive block chance, I'd use judgement and then provoke to bring it up to 75% and my shields 100% of the time increased in dps by almost a million damage.
With the datamined buffs for crusader posted today this build might be insane when they go live!!
So I don't typically try to do math numbers for games, but I wanted to take a stab at how the buffs would turn out if they went live...
3.40 wep damage (340%)
+ 2.50*.650 (block chance) = 1.625 (250% * 65%)
3.40 + 1.625 = a Total Blessed Shield wep damage - 5.025 or 502% wep damage!!! That would be crazy!
But keep in mind, Shield costs 20 wrath and ricochet 2 times, when, for example Blessed Hammer can hit multiple (say, many) targets at once, and costs 2 times less.
Although, to be honest, I played justice+shield build myself, while levelling, and switched to blessed hammer later, due to shield weak aoe. But with new buffs it can be really viable. Intresting thing is when you stay always on range, your block will be at cap, since you dont actually block things, and damage will be really great.
But I dont get, how do you generate wrath for shield spam?
Yeah, I'm really hoping to find another Gyrfalcon's Foote. The only one I got had a TERRIBLE roll. Sub 2k damage, no strength, low vitality, bad primaries. I was sooo disappointed.
I have the jekangbord already, and it's an awesome item, put together with Gryfalcon's this could be an incredible build
Maybe not the best place to ask, but still - how it is possible to get such legendaries, since there are a lot of them, low drop chance - and you need exactly this one. You cant trade it now, right? So the only way to get it is grind-grind-grind-... So, getting few legendaries a day you need one from 200 or 300 current legendaries? This can take ages, or I am wrong somewhere?
Also, do you get legendaries to your class only? No int or agi items for crusader?
My advice, gamble for shields (only 5 shards) and pray for Jekangbord-Blessed Shield ricochets to4–6additional enemies. That is INSANE! Also some might argue that shattered shield is higher DPS rune. Definitelly try it out. I already got my Jekangbord, waiting for that gryfalcons Now if only it was a 2-handed flail and not 1-hander. I guess it would be too much overpowered with that...
I did actually have this shield, but I rolled a low Block Chance, switching to my shield with 25% base block and 11% extra chance had a big effect on my DPS. I also found that the shields only hit each mob ONE time, so the effect is wasted on an elite pack typically.
Yeah, I'm really hoping to find another Gyrfalcon's Foote. The only one I got had a TERRIBLE roll. Sub 2k damage, no strength, low vitality, bad primaries. I was sooo disappointed.
I have the jekangbord already, and it's an awesome item, put together with Gryfalcon's this could be an incredible build
I wish mine was a bit better too, I have been using blood shards to gamble for another one. Best of luck in your search to find one!!
Maybe not the best place to ask, but still - how it is possible to get such legendaries, since there are a lot of them, low drop chance - and you need exactly this one. You cant trade it now, right? So the only way to get it is grind-grind-grind-... So, getting few legendaries a day you need one from 200 or 300 current legendaries? This can take ages, or I am wrong somewhere?
Also, do you get legendaries to your class only? No int or agi items for crusader?
I would suggest always playing with friends, maybe another crusader so you are getting the same type of drops that you both can trade/use. Also gamble the hell outa the 1h weps and you will see it eventually! RNG is RNG butyou will eventually see one.
I found 2 Jekangboards so far, 1 with 10% block, another with 'life per wrath spent' and extra armor...
Also, that is one thing I really miss with this build, life per wrath spent is so great for healing.
There is a spot in the build for any skill you want. If you do need some extra healing for wrath spent, I would suggest Heaven's Fury with the no CD rune. You can spam it 3-4 times for some hefty, fast heals and some solid damage...if only it was FIRE damage hehe.
With a such high block chance, you will be surprised how much damage you don't take, its pretty solid imo.
Changes now LIVE! This is likely going to be one of the hardest hitting (non cheese Thorns build) out there!! I'll post my new numbers when I get home from work. Anyone else have a chance to try this build? Really looking for some feedback on how awesome it is....
Blessed Shield
Increased base skill damage from 280% to 340% weapon damage
So the numbers are in! 8 - 12 million crits on Blessed Shield and around 2-4 million crits on explosion from combust! Almost a broken spec after the changes, so much damage flying out constantly.
Anyone else have a chance to try it yet?
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One thing to really note is the text of Blessed Shield:
Blessed Shield
Secondary Cost: 20 Wrath
Hurl your shield, dealing 280% weapon damage plus 250% of shield Block Chance as damage. The shield will ricochet to 3 nearby enemies.
Requires Shield
My entire Skill Breakdown is as follows:
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/crusader#SgROfQ!UZRf!ZaYYbb
Blessed Shield -Combust
Judgment - Resolved
Bombardment - Impactful Bombardment
Laws of Valor - Critical
Akarat's Champion - Rally
+One Filler of your choice, I like Phalanx - Bowmen for a set it and forget DPS skill
Block % My Character Sheet Block %nearly reaches the cap for the extra damage on Blessed Shield, which you can just spam. Note this build does not use a wrath builder and I found using any of the wrath spenders actually gave me less DPS. This is the reason for Phalanx, its a set it and forget it CD and they can block some boss abilities as well.
Why +Fire Damage?
Out of the Blessed Shield Options, Combust is extremely good and it procs a all the time since you are literally spamming shields. The average exploding crits hit for about 1.5 million to 2 million.
Please check out my profile for gearing suggestions, not complete as I am still missing a few things. (added profile link)
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/profile/Hobo-1423/hero/44869890
Gyrfalcon's Foote is REQUIRED!
Let me know if this build worked for you! It is a ton of fun and very viable.
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/forum/topic/12426382595
"Tooltip is inaccurate, it includes external block buffs like punish, stand your ground etc.
Tested it by using towering shield at max versus without."
have tested it myself all the time. When I was using blessed shield I had 50% passive block chance, I'd use judgement and then provoke to bring it up to 75% and my shields 100% of the time increased in dps by almost a million damage.
3.40 wep damage (340%)
+ 2.50*.650 (block chance) = 1.625 (250% * 65%)
3.40 + 1.625 = a Total Blessed Shield wep damage - 5.025 or 502% wep damage!!! That would be crazy!
Although, to be honest, I played justice+shield build myself, while levelling, and switched to blessed hammer later, due to shield weak aoe. But with new buffs it can be really viable. Intresting thing is when you stay always on range, your block will be at cap, since you dont actually block things, and damage will be really great.
But I dont get, how do you generate wrath for shield spam?
I have the jekangbord already, and it's an awesome item, put together with Gryfalcon's this could be an incredible build
Also, do you get legendaries to your class only? No int or agi items for crusader?
Best of luck!
Also, that is one thing I really miss with this build, life per wrath spent is so great for healing.
With a such high block chance, you will be surprised how much damage you don't take, its pretty solid imo.
Blessed Shield
Increased damage from 105% to 270% weapon damage
And yes, I am afraid this thing to be nerfed. To spam such high damaging ability is just too good.
But until then, lest enjoy
Anyone else have a chance to try it yet?