If you have the gear it isnt, if your at 300k dmg as a crusader its pretty good. Hammer builds at the same dmg is significantly slower. Maybe you don't remember what it's like when you fist ding 70 before you get gear? This is a build that's not gear intensive, and does not require any specific legendaries. If you have the gear Im sure you could clear t4/T5/T6 easily enough with this build as well. Im just starting T3 myself now due to the efficient speeds of killing with this build for lower gear levels I've climbed quicker in the last two days than I had in the previous week and a half combined. It may not be for everyone and you may scoff at t1 but when your starting out and have shit gear t1 is slow for most specs, but not for this one.
I have pretty decent gear, my armor is in the guide info, and I crush t3. I can do t4 and t5 but its just a little slower and requires higher resists. I've found t3 to be the most optimal farming speed for where my gear is at the moment. I'm glad everyone is having such a great time with the build though. Its nice to hear that my guide is having an effect on people enjoying the crusader class.
I find the same spec with Blessed Shield and Jan shield to do way higher dps. but it requires the shield.
I agree, if you get the legendaries for those builds they will probably outperform this build. But then this build doesn't require specific legendaries which is its strength. I got the Glyphs foot or whatever it is called helped me with a blessed shield spam build that outperforms this build. It's not nearly as fun in all honesty though it gets kinda boring just spamming my shield, so even though it's more effective once I get some better gear I'll likely come back to this build.
I think that the heavens fury build could be good if you get that specific legendary as well. Does anyone know if there's a legendary that affects Fist of Heaven? That would be amazing if so and would make this build even better.
Side note: Ice climbers, and Reaper's Wraps (which can be farmed) make this build infinitely better.
if you got any tips, appreciated (btw i got the GyrfaIcon's thing but it s so boring to use that im using this buiId over bIessed shieId spamming, for more singIe target dps -0 which the BS buiID Iacks, so i find that eIites are actuaIIy easier on ur buiId )
AS is a nice stat if you are looking for responsive attacks from your character. It comes out to a very small increase in dps though. AS is largely a quality of life spell that only impacts your ability to build wrath slightly faster and spend it slightly faster. This is an increase in dps but one I find to be less than what is worth in from the investment into the stat. Personally I like CDR as our "attack speed" stat because CD effects 4 of our abilities. More attack speed does not mean you get to hit your hard hitting buttons more often, in fact it delays them because you are investing into attack speed. As a class I don't find that we need to hit frequently to do our damage, we need a big meaty 2h that can bring the pain that scales off of our % weapon damage on so many of our skills.
For instance, with 40% CDR I hit provoke very often, which gives 30 + 5wrath per target hit. This can be compared to the amount of wrath you get from your spender. I'm not so good with D3's math that I can calculate this out for you, but with next to no AS on my gear I very very rarely have wrath problems. And If I do, it's only a matter of a few seconds till I can taunt again.
I believe the Hallowed 2 set is AR and % attack speed? I do not know if that is worth losing out and 400+ dps and double STR/stats that a 2h weapon could provide (you mentioned your 1h axe). I'm of the option that very few 1h are viable (but there are some) and that you need a 2h weapon for the crusader to really shine.
As for passives, those are very personal. I can agree with Renewal, its great for healing if you are finding wrathful lacking. I personally don't like to run to many healing passives and like to get 1-2 offensive passives, Utility passive, Healing passive. Paragon points are largely personal preference, I simply listed the way I enjoy spending them :).
I'm glad you and others are enjoying the build though. Hope my feedback helps :D.
Nice build, I have ben working on a similar build with CC Reduction and Holy Damage. I feel like people haven't realized the potential for elemental damage, but as I see it now, It can out perform or be better than CC or CD in some instances. Check out my build and gear
Punish hits with your weapon auto attack. The attack animations for melee on crusader are weapon swing and shield hitting.... they alternate.
Even on zeal/slash some of the hits come from the shield. Just pointing that out. Also Smite isn't a shield attack either, this isn't DII. Smite throws a holy beam from the mainhand. [Yes it looks whack.]
You can use the Hallowed Shield (i'm jealous, I don't have that set) as the %holy damage there is awesome. The Hallowed has a nice set bonus, but I'm not sure the 2p is > than the stats a 2h weapon bring. If you could find a 2h with holy damage that would be your best bet in the long run. I think CD is still a huge stat, I wouldn't recommend dropping that anywhere if you can avoid it, though AS is what I would drop for CDR.
The best places to find CDR is:
Helm:Socket
Shoulder: CDR Roll (one of the best places, the %skill here I don't like (condemn/HF) because we only hit these buttons so often. I prefer more frequent use (CDR) to a small increase in %skilll here)
Gloves: IMO our Trifecta gloves are STR/CC/CD/CDR. Not super ideal here, but plausable.
Rings: Again with Trifecta rolls, or here is where I would drop CC. Stay at ~40%CC but crit rolls the lowest here
Shield: Rolling Affixes on shields SUUUCKS. Blizz needs to address this because there is about 27 different things that can roll here. Can still get up to 10% CDR here
Paragon points: 50 points is 10% CDR. Compared to 5% crit, 10% AS and 50% CD, CDR has a really high value. CC prob has the lowest as 5% crit is actually really small compared to what 10% CDR and 50% CD bring to the table.
Edit: to actually answer your question, 100% CD is a lot. I do not think giving that up, if possible, is the best way to go. But I would recommend getting around 25-35% CDR. I'm starting to believe that getting a decent amount of these stats is the way to go, I do not know that a 50-60% CDR build is really viable given all that you would need to give up. I think I'm around 39% CDR and I love it.
Also CDR is not addititive. This means that 8% from gloves and 12% from helm socket =/= 20% CDR. Its like 18.xx%. Not sure on math here.
I love this build, always have been a big fan of FotH.
I just have had ZERO luck with getting a good/decent weapon to drop with +Holy Damage.
It actually performs well without the holy dmg on the weapon and then you can substitute that passive for another one such as finery and see a more or less equivalent increase if you're running max gems on your gear.
I love this build, always have been a big fan of FotH.
I just have had ZERO luck with getting a good/decent weapon to drop with +Holy Damage.
It actually performs well without the holy dmg on the weapon and then you can substitute that passive for another one such as finery and see a more or less equivalent increase if you're running max gems on your gear.
That is great advice, thank you. I was trying really-good-rolled Rare 2H w/ Holy Damage and Holy Cause vs. Legendary w/o HD and using Finery instead, Finery (and the Leg I'm using) are better for me by far due to higher speed, free damage secondary affix on Leg, etc.
Still gunning for a 2H Leg w/ HD though. Then it'll be a better 1 to 1 test of Holy Cause + HD vs. Finery.
I wouldn't think it would be mandatory.. the +15-20% Holy Damage of Golden Scourge is a good extra as few weapons I've seen have +elem damage % other than like Maximus, replace Holy Strength passive with say Finery, I bet it'd be close to comparable damage as a non-holy 2H. Maybe?
Having smite hit 6 targets is pretty good too, but Smite in general is lower damage than Slash, Justice, or Punish - hence why you never see it used in builds.
Golden Scourge might be close. 2h-1h damge difference is roughly 25-30% damage difference. So 20% holy damage and a roll in the 2200 might be close. I do think smite is a lack luster builder. perhaps with holy cause + finery without heavens strength and 20% holy damage, it might be really close.
The down side here is that % weapon damage is huge, and it will drastically lower all your abilities. Try both, see what you think.
Got the mats, crafted the Golden Scourge, got a decent roll, put a Socket in it - sitting at +67% Holy Damage, definitely does a little less damage than my 2H, but not that much and the effect on Smite DOES stack with the Armor of the Kind Regent, so my Smite hits like 6 targets at once. It's certainly the best 1H Leg I've yet used, by far.
It will be fun to use until I can get a Prophecy or some such. I'll probably swap Smite for Slash-Zeal for single target/boss fights though.
Currently doing this build on Hardcore with a Blade of Prophecy and MAN is it fun. Currently on T2, but in a group I'm plenty confident I could bring it safely into T3. I feel very dangerous going without a law, but I've somewhat mitigated that by only popping AC on packs with Frozen, Arcane, or Barbed Lurker groups.
The only change I made for Hardcore is rolling with Punish as my wrath generator instead, as the 15% block I get off of it is very important to me, at least until I've got a Justice Lantern. No Holy weapon means I'm not running Holy Cause either, because Renewel (13k healing per block) is just WAY stronger for healing with a high block rating. Against Electrified or Fire Chains packs I am, for all intents and purposes, immortal. It's pretty great.
Got the mats, crafted the Golden Scourge, got a decent roll, put a Socket in it - sitting at +67% Holy Damage, definitely does a little less damage than my 2H, but not that much and the effect on Smite DOES stack with the Armor of the Kind Regent, so my Smite hits like 6 targets at once. It's certainly the best 1H Leg I've yet used, by far.
It will be fun to use until I can get a Prophecy or some such. I'll probably swap Smite for Slash-Zeal for single target/boss fights though.
How are your condem blasts? I would say that the fast cooldown of condemn is where this build really shines, and that hits soooooo hard with a 2h. I wonder what the difference would be between say a random legendary 2h without holy, and that flail 1h with holy. I don't have that so I can't do any testing would you be able to post any numbers? I'd suggest timing a single target run like Grom and comparing the two, then timing an aoe boss like siege and comparing the two or something of that effect.
Got the mats, crafted the Golden Scourge, got a decent roll, put a Socket in it - sitting at +67% Holy Damage, definitely does a little less damage than my 2H, but not that much and the effect on Smite DOES stack with the Armor of the Kind Regent, so my Smite hits like 6 targets at once. It's certainly the best 1H Leg I've yet used, by far.
It will be fun to use until I can get a Prophecy or some such. I'll probably swap Smite for Slash-Zeal for single target/boss fights though.
How are your condem blasts? I would say that the fast cooldown of condemn is where this build really shines, and that hits soooooo hard with a 2h. I wonder what the difference would be between say a random legendary 2h without holy, and that flail 1h with holy. I don't have that so I can't do any testing would you be able to post any numbers? I'd suggest timing a single target run like Grom and comparing the two, then timing an aoe boss like siege and comparing the two or something of that effect.
It's hard to say. Character sheet damage took a big hit going from 2H to the Golden Scourge, but the extra 17% Holy Damage on all abilities kind of makes up for it. It is nice to move a bit faster not being slowed down by HS!
The Golden Scourge w/ a gem has more damage (raw on character sheet) than any of my 2H without a gem in them, but obv the 2H's do more damage with a gem in. I'll have to put a gem back into my best 2H and test kill speed between the two.
My initial guess and just based on the "feel" of Torment 1 bounties/rifts the damage of a 2H is > the amount lost using the 1H even with the +holy damage. Smite is pretty lame, yeah I can hit LOTS of targets at once with this combo, but the range sucks w/o the rune for 30 yard and Slash hits a lot harder + gives you the attack speed buff...
I'd say it's not really worth spending the time getting the mats for Golden Scourge. Just keep grind'n for a Prophecy / Fate of the Fell. I've got a Mortal Drama and Maximus, but neither rolled very well. My best 2H is a decently rolled Stalgard's Decimator.
I think that the heavens fury build could be good if you get that specific legendary as well. Does anyone know if there's a legendary that affects Fist of Heaven? That would be amazing if so and would make this build even better.
Side note: Ice climbers, and Reaper's Wraps (which can be farmed) make this build infinitely better.
For instance, with 40% CDR I hit provoke very often, which gives 30 + 5wrath per target hit. This can be compared to the amount of wrath you get from your spender. I'm not so good with D3's math that I can calculate this out for you, but with next to no AS on my gear I very very rarely have wrath problems. And If I do, it's only a matter of a few seconds till I can taunt again.
I believe the Hallowed 2 set is AR and % attack speed? I do not know if that is worth losing out and 400+ dps and double STR/stats that a 2h weapon could provide (you mentioned your 1h axe). I'm of the option that very few 1h are viable (but there are some) and that you need a 2h weapon for the crusader to really shine.
As for passives, those are very personal. I can agree with Renewal, its great for healing if you are finding wrathful lacking. I personally don't like to run to many healing passives and like to get 1-2 offensive passives, Utility passive, Healing passive. Paragon points are largely personal preference, I simply listed the way I enjoy spending them :).
I'm glad you and others are enjoying the build though. Hope my feedback helps :D.
-http://us.battle.net/d3/en/profile/NSIMS-1611/hero/44311080
Even on zeal/slash some of the hits come from the shield. Just pointing that out. Also Smite isn't a shield attack either, this isn't DII. Smite throws a holy beam from the mainhand. [Yes it looks whack.]
I just have had ZERO luck with getting a good/decent weapon to drop with +Holy Damage.
Still gunning for a 2H Leg w/ HD though. Then it'll be a better 1 to 1 test of Holy Cause + HD vs. Finery.
Having smite hit 6 targets is pretty good too, but Smite in general is lower damage than Slash, Justice, or Punish - hence why you never see it used in builds.
http://us.battle.net/d3/en/item/armor-of-the-kind-regent
Which I have. And I have the plan for Scourge just need the Hilt of the Silver Wolf. If I get one made, I'll test it and let you know!
The down side here is that % weapon damage is huge, and it will drastically lower all your abilities. Try both, see what you think.
It will be fun to use until I can get a Prophecy or some such. I'll probably swap Smite for Slash-Zeal for single target/boss fights though.
The only change I made for Hardcore is rolling with Punish as my wrath generator instead, as the 15% block I get off of it is very important to me, at least until I've got a Justice Lantern. No Holy weapon means I'm not running Holy Cause either, because Renewel (13k healing per block) is just WAY stronger for healing with a high block rating. Against Electrified or Fire Chains packs I am, for all intents and purposes, immortal. It's pretty great.
I'm still leveling my crusader but I'm loving FotH and HF so I'm definitely coming back to this as I'll hit 70.
The Golden Scourge w/ a gem has more damage (raw on character sheet) than any of my 2H without a gem in them, but obv the 2H's do more damage with a gem in. I'll have to put a gem back into my best 2H and test kill speed between the two.
My initial guess and just based on the "feel" of Torment 1 bounties/rifts the damage of a 2H is > the amount lost using the 1H even with the +holy damage. Smite is pretty lame, yeah I can hit LOTS of targets at once with this combo, but the range sucks w/o the rune for 30 yard and Slash hits a lot harder + gives you the attack speed buff...
I'd say it's not really worth spending the time getting the mats for Golden Scourge. Just keep grind'n for a Prophecy / Fate of the Fell. I've got a Mortal Drama and Maximus, but neither rolled very well. My best 2H is a decently rolled Stalgard's Decimator.