The Axehead a DPS Sword and Board Build

[maddmatt70]

Update 14 vastly improved sword and board and two handed melee in comparison to other fighting styles. The combination of cleave, momentum swing, lay waste,(which work better for S&B or THF characters then TWF) and the epic destinies unyielding sentential, legendary dreadnaught, and fury of the wild which favor the sword and board or two handed fighting style means for power gamers it is time to make less two weapon fighting characters although rogues are the exception to that rule. What changed for sword and board characters is the doublestrike which can get quite high and how well cleave/momentum swing/law waste/whirlwind/great cleave works for sword and board. The Axehead is in accordance with the thinking of making more sword and board or two handed characters.

The Axehead has 34% doublestrike, all the relevant dps feats, 1164 hit points, 129 physical resistance rating, 76 intimidate, and 7% dodge. Basically the Axehead does similar or comparable dps to a two weapon fighting melee and is able to take a lot more damage when compared to two weapon fighting melee i.e. its better then two weapon fighting builds. It is a dps build that can tank epic elite content and mitigates the parties overall damage taken.

The Axehead is in Sword and Board mode all the time. It is also in the Legendary Dreadnaught epic destiny 99% of the time. It's playstyle is to generally runs into a room and spams intimidate and then do cleave/ momentum swing/great cleave/lay waste onto a group of mobs.

The Axehead is dwarf, but a sword and board Half-Elf using bastard swords is also very good and is the alternative build.

Level 20 Dwarven fighter

Assumes full ship buffs and in Stalwart Defender Stance 3.
Hit Points: 1122: 1.2*935 = 20 (heroic) + 200 (Fighter Levels) + 350 (Con ) +50 (Epic Levels) + 50 (Legendary Dreadnaught) + 70 (Toughness Feat) + 20 (Toughness item enhancement) + 50 (enhancement) +10 (gh favor) +45 shroud item +30 (greater false) +40 (yug pot).

AC: 85.
AC w/combat expertise: 91
AC w/ Barkskin: 94.
Ac w/ Armor Boost: 109.

Dodge:
7% dodge= (4% dun Rohbar ring + 3% Alertness).

Physical Resistance Rating:
123 (46% damage reduced) = 29 (heavy armor) + 10 (shield mastery)+ 15( Improved shield mastery w/tower shield)+ 20 (Using shield in Stalwart 3)+ 20 (Stalwart defender 3)+ 15 (legendary Shield Master) + 9 (bear Cloak) .
143 (50% damage reduced) = with combat expertise.


Healing Amp: 1.716 = 1.1 (ship)* 1.2 (Tower ring) * 1.3 (Claw Glove).
Double Strike: 31% doublestrike = 8% (improved shield mastery) + +6 % (enhancement from shield) + 7% (legendary shield mastery), 10% (fighter Capstone).
Saves vs. Spells:
Fort 44 = 12 (base)+ 15 (con) +3 SD + 5 resist + 2 luck +4 gh +3 vs. spells dwarf
Will 27 = 6(base) + 4 (wis) +3 SD + 5 resist+ 2 luck+4 gh +3 vs. spells dwarf
Reflex 24 = 6 (base) +3 SD +5 resist +4 gh +3 vs. spells dwarf

Intimidate: 79 = 23 (ranks) + 5 (epic levels) +5 (claw gloves) +20 intimdate (Brawn Sprit) + 5 (charisma modifier) +3 (intimidate enhancement)+ 6 (stalwart defender 3) + 2 (good luck) +2 (favor) +4 (greater heroism) +4 guild slotted.
Intimidate: 85 when wearing +6 charisma goggles and 97 with two twists.
Note: greater then 77 intimidate is not needed in game right now other then on the epic elite lord of blades which is not actively played in game.

Base Stats:
18 str (16)
10 int( 2)
8 wis
10 Dex (2)
18 con (10)
10 cha( 4)

46 str 18 base + 6 level ups + 3 tome +7 ehance + 2 insight +3 class + 6 competence +2 ship
13 int10 base +3 tome
19 wis 8 base + 3 tome +6 enhancement +2 ship
16 Dex 10 base +4 tome +2 ship
38 con 18 (base) + 3 tome +2 insight con +6 con + 1 racial con + 6 competence stance + 2 ship
21 cha +6 enhance +3 tome +2 ship




Feats:
1 Toughness
3 Shield Mastery
6 Improved Shield Mastery
9 two handed
12 improved two handed
15 greater two handed
18 Icrit slash
Fighter bonus feats:
1 Weapon focus
2 Weapon specialization
4 greater weapon specialization
6 sunder
8 stunning blow
10 cleave
12 great cleave
14 combat expertise
16 power attack
18 Quick Draw
20 Power Critical
21 Epic Toughness
24 Overwhelming critical

Enhancements:
(6) Armor Class Boost 3
(3) Fighter Item Defense 2
(8) Stalwart Defender 3
(6) Fighter Toughness 3
(3) Improved Intimidate 3
(2) Dwarf Tactics 1
(1) Fighter Stun blow 1
(10) Fighter Haste Boost 4
(12) Fighter Strength 3
(3) Fighter Weapon Specialization Dwarven Axe 2
(2) Fighter Weapon Alacrity
(6) Dwarf Axe Damage
(6) Dwarf Shield Mastery 3
(3) Racial toughness 2
(1) Dwarven Spell Defense 1
(2) extra action boost 1
(2) Dwarven Con 1
(6) Fighter Shield Mastery



Destiny: Legendary Dreadnaught
(3) Legendary Tactics
(1) Extra Action Boost
(3) Momentum Swing
(2) Improved Power Attack
(2) Improved CE
(2) Lay Waste
(3) Crit Damage
(2) Anvil of Thunder
(2) Devastating Critical
(2) Headman’s Chop
(2) Master’s Blitz
Twists:
1 Legendary Shield Mastery
2. Sense Weakness
3. Brace For Impact

Gear:
Helm: +6 charisma of alertness
Trinket: Epic Brawn Spirit w/good luck
Goggles: Tharnes Goggles/+6 cha skills Shroud Air Air Air
Armor: +5 Primal Planeforged Half-Plate of Greater Luck w/lg gluild slot and intimidate in it
Cloak: Adamantine Bear
Necklace: Shintao
Belt: Epic Belt of Moranon with greater false life
Bracer: Claw
Glove: Claw
Ring1: Shintao w/20% healing amp
Ring2: Seal of House Dun RoBar stun +10 +4 dodge % + 2 insight str
Boots: +45 shroud hit point of smoke (20% blur with displacement clicky
Weapon: duegar axe of weapon master +10 shatter
Shield: Alchemical tier 1: fire, tier 2: air: tier 3 fire w/good.

[Zerkul]

There are some flaws in the build.

First of all you did useless investment in PRR. 129 PRR will award you 47.22% DR while a simple 114 gives you 44.33% so just 3% difference. You could slot in the equipment incorporeal which is 10% and improves your melee survivability much more than 6PRR+9PRR from cloak.

Secondly, there is nothing for your to hit bonus in the equipment and you might finish to graze hit a lot.

Third, your healing amplification it's not that good ... survivability-wise if you don't exploit the possibility of dwarves to cap higher dex bonus (and dodge %) on armors to have higher damage mitigation, it's much better to get more heal amp and go human. Your Silver flame pot will heal you for 340 damage more or less, mine heals me for almost 500 hitpoints which makes the difference between life and death.

Fourth, the AC does mitigate the damage even in EE content. If you manage to get above 100 you're already mitigating a decent sum of the incoming damage that get's reduced then from PRR.

Legendary Shield Mastery gives 7% not 9% doublestrike.

Damage and HPs will be solid as you built it. You can consider a triple acid DA for CC that works very good even in EE.

[slimkj]

Nice build. Thanks for laying it out for us. I very well may give this a whirl on my dwarf monk's fighter lives.

[maddmatt70]

There are some flaws in the build.

First of all you did useless investment in PRR. 129 PRR will award you 47.22% DR while a simple 114 gives you 44.33% so just 3% difference. You could slot in the equipment incorporeal which is 10% and improves your melee survivability much more than 6PRR+9PRR from cloak.

I concur as I probably will not twist the damage reduction twist and instead something else, but just not have figured out what that something else is. I probably could slot in incorpeal somewhere, but I like bear cloak. I also do not have access to the cloak of the night.

Secondly, there is nothing for your to hit bonus in the equipment and you might finish to graze hit a lot.

I am not seeing really any misses on EE so I disagree with this point.

Third, your healing amplification it's not that good ... survivability-wise if you don't exploit the possibility of dwarves to cap higher dex bonus (and dodge %) on armors to have higher damage mitigation, it's much better to get more heal amp and go human. Your Silver flame pot will heal you for 340 damage more or less, mine heals me for almost 500 hitpoints which makes the difference between life and death.

Well of course healing amp on a dwarf is not that great. I am not sure you are right about 340 healing silver flame as I think it is a little bit more, but regardless I could twist in a healing amp twist instead of the damage reduction for e.g.. H-elf with bastard swords as I pointed out at the top is an alternative build and quite frankly a little better because H-elfs are better then dwarves. What is nice though is that dwarves actually are decent at this build.

Fourth, the AC does mitigate the damage even in EE content. If you manage to get above 100 you're already mitigating a decent sum of the incoming damage that get's reduced then from PRR.

Of course AC does mitigate and if I were tanking the elob or something like that I can switch to Unyielding Sentenial, but the purpose of this build is dps with some damage mitigation. It is not a true tank build and bumping up AC will hurt some aspect of this build's dps in one way or another. By the way I have another Sword and Board which is 100% tank basically dex based 18 pally 2 monk light armor with sword and board wearer (does have decent smites and whirlwind).

Legendary Shield Mastery gives 7% not 9% doublestrike.

Damage and HPs will be solid as you built it. You can consider a triple acid DA for CC that works very good even in EE.

Gotcha thanks for tip and will fix, although this character does have a very good stunning blow dc..

[emptysands]

I concur as I probably will not twist the damage reduction twist and instead something else, but just not have figured out what that something else is. I probably could slot in incorpeal somewhere, but I like bear cloak. I also do not have access to the cloak of the night.

Tier 3 Epic Ring of the Stalker is an option, maybe better in some ways than the Dun Ro'bar. You've got stunning on your shield, so you don't need it on a ring.

[Zerkul]

I'm currently using the Epic Ring of Stalker that gives me incorporeal, sneak attack and seeker +6. That's a good item defensive wise and dps wise... Remember that stunned or in general helpless mobs are susceptible to sneak attacks.

For what concern AC even if you achieve a number that gives you in EE a damage mitigation of let's say 15% it's still far superior to 9 PRR considering that the curve that determine's the %DR has a <0 f' that means the more PRR the less is the increase in % ... The best form of damage mitigation you can get in EE content is a good combinations of misschance, displace, incorporeal and PRR: overspecialization gives less survivability. Hope i've been clear cause often i'm not. To see how performs AC check this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54cafJI2tM0 ... here i'm playing with 116 AC unbuffed. With Sentinel i have 139 AC which gives me a slightly better survivability but not worth the loss of melee power from dreadnought.

I'm currently using Sense Weakness, Legendary Shield Mastery and Shield Prowess as twists: Sense Weakness > 3% extra double strike all the time because a 3% represent a little increase of DPS over the 31% you alread have. Furthermore Sense Weakness gives you that extra DPS edge over the mobs you stun either using triple acid DA or anvil of thunder or even the stunning blow.

This is the raise of melee power. This is the melee revolt! Beware squishy casters!

[maddmatt70]

I'm currently using the Epic Ring of Stalker that gives me incorporeal, sneak attack and seeker +6. That's a good item defensive wise and dps wise... Remember that stunned or in general helpless mobs are susceptible to sneak attacks.

For what concern AC even if you achieve a number that gives you in EE a damage mitigation of let's say 15% it's still far superior to 9 PRR considering that the curve that determine's the %DR has a <0 f' that means the more PRR the less is the increase in % ... The best form of damage mitigation you can get in EE content is a good combinations of misschance, displace, incorporeal and PRR: overspecialization gives less survivability. Hope i've been clear cause often i'm not. To see how performs AC check this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54cafJI2tM0 ... here i'm playing with 116 AC unbuffed. With Sentinel i have 139 AC which gives me a slightly better survivability but not worth the loss of melee power from dreadnought.

I'm currently using Sense Weakness, Legendary Shield Mastery and Shield Prowess as twists: Sense Weakness > 3% extra double strike all the time because a 3% represent a little increase of DPS over the 31% you alread have. Furthermore Sense Weakness gives you that extra DPS edge over the mobs you stun either using triple acid DA or anvil of thunder or even the stunning blow.

This is the raise of melee power. This is the melee revolt! Beware squishy casters!

yeah I do not want to twist in shield prowress or the like. In update 16 when they add more destinies should be able to get legendary, hail, and sense weakness that is my longterm goal. I am quite well aware of the ac numbers as I said previously. The stalker ring is a nice item and perhaps if I am fortunate to pull or trade for a quality omnisence helm I can tweak my gear a bit.. All the intimidate talk really is bleh nobody runs epic elite dq2 or epic elite lob so shrug no reason to spec for higher then a 75 intimidate currently in game..

[Zerkul]

yeah I do not want to twist in shield prowress or the like. In update 16 when they add more destinies should be able to get legendary, hail, and sense weakness that is my longterm goal. I am quite well aware of the ac numbers as I said previously. The stalker ring is a nice item and perhaps if I am fortunate to pull or trade for a quality omnisence helm I can tweak my gear a bit.. All the intimidate talk really is bleh nobody runs epic elite dq2 or epic elite lob so shrug no reason to spec for higher then a 75 intimidate currently in game..

Well i've done alredy 5-6 EEADQ2 and i'm currently trying to 3man it with melees. I can tank queen quite consistently without intimidate, you just need an instant more to grab her. It's less safe but still viable.

[maddmatt70]

Tier 3 Epic Ring of the Stalker is an option, maybe better in some ways than the Dun Ro'bar. You've got stunning on your shield, so you don't need it on a ring.

Varz I might have gotten my tiers on my sieild confused. Its 6% doublestrike from air, +10 seeker from fire so I think I flopped the shield tiers

[Pilgrim1]

Any thoughts on splashing 2 druid for animal forms?

Wolf gives you a 30% attack rate boost or bear gives you a second intimidate timer. Plus you get rams might and a few other goodies.

[maddmatt70]

Any thoughts on splashing 2 druid for animal forms?

Wolf gives you a 30% attack rate boost or bear gives you a second intimidate timer. Plus you get rams might and a few other goodies.

I like the fighter capstone of 10% doublestrike better, but for alot of builds 2 druid is nice for sure.

[jandhaer]

I love any reason to make a dwarf, so GL on the tweaking hope it all works out :-)

[Zerkul]

Any thoughts on splashing 2 druid for animal forms?

Wolf gives you a 30% attack rate boost or bear gives you a second intimidate timer. Plus you get rams might and a few other goodies.

I'm not druid expert but the only way splashing druid could be useful is if those 2 levels balances the loss of the capstone. 30% extra attack speed for the wolf form doesn't automatically means you do more attacks than S&B: someone should make a short vid and check the swings per minute in order to figure out which melee style is best for DPS purpose.

[emptysands]

I like the fighter capstone of 10% doublestrike better, but for alot of builds 2 druid is nice for sure.

One reason why I'm thinking Light armor Dwarf 14 Paladin/4 Fighter/2 Monk - 10% doublestrike from Zeal, plus evasion and then the extra feats to make it work. Until the enhancement update is release it will be DoS II, but hopefully the plan is to switch to Dwarven Defender/SD III.

Much of the end-game power now comes from Epic Destinies. So the choice of heroic class split and only SoD II is more forgiving.

So in my mind Paladin 14 is close to Fighter 20 for dps. Pure Fighters get more feats for tactics and OC, but Paladin's get CHA to saves and option to have evasion.

Greater Weapon Specialization (+4) and Fighter Specified Weapon Specialization II (+2) vs Divine Favor (+3) + Extra Smites/LoH.

Although could potentially get Weapon Specialization at Fighter 3.

[Ape_Man]

I see this and Zerkul's build and it makes me realize two things:

1. It's about time I finish leveling up a 2 year old level 12 dorf fighter that I got bored of.

2. It's a damned shame Monkey-Grip never made it past beta

[maddmatt70]

One reason why I'm thinking Light armor Dwarf 14 Paladin/4 Fighter/2 Monk - 10% doublestrike from Zeal, plus evasion and then the extra feats to make it work. Until the enhancement update is release it will be DoS II, but hopefully the plan is to switch to Dwarven Defender/SD III.

Much of the end-game power now comes from Epic Destinies. So the choice of heroic class split and only SoD II is more forgiving.

So in my mind Paladin 14 is close to Fighter 20 for dps. Pure Fighters get more feats for tactics and OC, but Paladin's get CHA to saves and option to have evasion.

Greater Weapon Specialization (+4) and Fighter Specified Weapon Specialization II (+2) vs Divine Favor (+3) + Extra Smites/LoH.

Although could potentially get Weapon Specialization at Fighter 3.

I am not sure the 4 fighter adds alot - I mean feats are always nice for sure. My 18 paladin 2 monk is currently a drow (just biding my time until the enhancement pass then perhaps swapping race or build). I have the following feats on him and he is dex based:
Shield Mastery
Improved Shield Mastery
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Combat Expertise
Whirlwind
Weapon Finesse
Toughness
Force of Personality
Icrit Pierce

The character is not a big hitter, but hits for more then I thought with the combination of Whirlwind (works well), some doublestrike, and exalted smite 3. Yet it has no save lower then 60, 20ish dodge, 140ish ac, high PRR, 1k+ hp. The one nice thing about exalted smite is it is charisma and pally level based damage and that combined with Whirlwind is pretty solid. For tank pally builds what does 4 fighter really add a little bit more dps sure and a few tactics but I do not see the point.

The other poster Zerkul does not get what my goal is with my level 20 fighter it is not to make a tank that does solid dps. My goal is to make a dps oriented monk, but with less save capabilites (no evasion and lower saves) and instead more PRR and hit point capabilities (has much more PRR and hit points then a monk). Think monk and not tank. With the dps buffs to sword and board we can make monks with shields basically now.

[emptysands]

I am not sure the 4 fighter adds alot - I mean feats are always nice for sure. My 18 paladin 2 monk is currently a drow (just biding my time until the enhancement pass then perhaps swapping race or build). I have the following feats on him and he is dex based:
Shield Mastery
Improved Shield Mastery
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Combat Expertise
Whirlwind
Weapon Finesse
Toughness
Force of Personality
Icrit Pierce

The character is not a big hitter, but hits for more then I thought with the combination of Whirlwind (works well), some doublestrike, and exalted smite 3. Yet it has no save lower then 60, 20ish dodge, 140ish ac, high PRR, 1k+ hp. The one nice thing about exalted smite is it is charisma and pally level based damage and that combined with Whirlwind is pretty solid. For tank pally builds what does 4 fighter really add a little bit more dps sure and a few tactics but I do not see the point.

The other poster Zerkul does not get what my goal is with my level 20 fighter it is not to make a tank that does solid dps. My goal is to make a dps oriented monk, but with less save capabilites (no evasion and lower saves) and instead more PRR and hit point capabilities (has much more PRR and hit points then a monk). Think monk and not tank. With the dps buffs to sword and board we can make monks with shields basically now.

Yeah Monk on a tank for me is Light armour, 2 feats + evasion. Wisdom bonus is not as much a contribution as the PRR/AC from Light Epic armour.


18/2 vs 14/4/2:

Paladin Bulwark of Good IV: +1 AC
Paladin Divine Might III: +2 dmg
Paladin Exalted Smite IV: +1 Crit Range, not so important if you go Fury/LD for dps mode and not super important to generate tank mode hate/threat any more.
Paladin Defender of Siberys III <= Planned to take Dwarven Defender, but for now the extra PRR/HP/AC/etc is not needed.

Smite difference is 7+3*level or 3*(18-14) = 12. However, I've thought about just dropping Exalted Smite for just Divine Sacrifice in my build. APs as always are very tight.


vs

3 Feats: For me this was important. GTHF feats much dps than Exalted Smite IV/etc. Especially "aoe" glancing blows.

Feat/Weapon Specialization: Actually not taken, but could.
Fighter Strength I: Cheap way to even an odd STR bracket.
Fighter Armor Mastery I: Depends on dodge/MDB levels. But Dwarven Shield Mastery II(2)+Fighter Armor Mastery I(1)+Mobility(2)+Lithe(6) in Hide of the Goristro(14), means I could hit 25 MDB for max Dodge. Or maybe more practically Dwarven Shield Mastery I1(1)+Fighter Armor Mastery I(1)+Mobility(2)+Hide of the Goristro(14) = 18 for times when Lithe is not twisted and I want a cheaper AP option. All changeable by enhancement/twist reset.
Fighter Toughness II: Probably not taken, but could.

I find the 3 extra feat the difference between GTHF and no GTHF, and the option of being able to hit 105 intimidate.

Given:
Required: (4) Shield Mastery, Improved Shield Mastery, Combat Expertise, PL:Barb (or Toughness)
Defensively Useful (3): Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack
DPS Important (3): PA, IC:Slash, Cleave (for LD)

If I was 18/2 I'd then have 1 spare feat, probably for SF: Intimidate or Stunning Blow. So 4 Fighter means I get THF/ITHF/GTHF.

At the moment I'm also considering switching SF: Intimidate/Stunning Blow and Spring Attack for Great Cleave and OC. If they fixed Improved Shield Bashing consider that as well.

[MRMechMan]

First saw Zerkuls build(similar to this one) in action in a shortman EE chains of flame run. Was shocked at how much raw DPS this build had, and also with how little healing it took to keep up, despite quite obviously having a large portion of agro.

And now has soloed EE chains with it, not shocked given how well the build performed in a group run.

[Anthios888]

Love this build concept

[Anthios888]

Honestly, how often do you bother with Combat Expertise? I know that tanking is a huge function of the build, but do you feel you need it? It looks as though you don't have whirlwind attack.