How's Fighter Vanguard Performing in 2020?

[Ganak]

For those of us who love S&B DPS focused Fighter Vanguards (all 13 of us), how do you feel the Fighter Vanguard enhancement line is performing circa Jan 2020?


I run a Dwarf pure 20 Fighter with tier 5 Kensai and tier 4 Vanguard, with DWA and a Tower Shield, and have been doing so since launch. Some years have been great to the build and some (most) have been terrible, but I run him all the same. My current build is very much influenced by Strim.

The build experienced a period of under the radar uberness two years or so back when you could auto stun 50% of the time, before it was nerfed. Good times.


Today, I still feel its a super underrated DPS build using Vanguard, but the Tier 5 enhancements are **** as compared to Kensai
.


How's it working for others?

[Assassination]

Ganak,

I'm currently running and enjoying a version of this build. I"m a pure fighter with 41 pts in Kensei, 31 in vanguard, and 16 pts in Aasimar tree.

I'm hopeful that update 45 will improve this build. The new strikethrough mechanic may make this build shine with my fav weapon da bastard sword.

The build works well but of course struggles to keep up with the seriously broken inquizie tree, and the blazing fire sorcs. In the right party without inquizies

killing everything in the dungeon it is a kick to play. I really like stunning blow, and shileld. Using tactics is fun...

[Ballrus]

For those of us who love S&B DPS focused Fighter Vanguards (all 13 of us), how do you feel the Fighter Vanguard enhancement line is performing circa Jan 2020?


I run a Dwarf pure 20 Fighter with tier 5 Kensai and tier 4 Vanguard, with DWA and a Tower Shield, and have been doing so since launch. Some years have been great to the build and some (most) have been terrible, but I run him all the same. My current build is very much influenced by Strim.

The build experienced a period of under the radar uberness two years or so back when you could auto stun 50% of the time, before it was nerfed. Good times.


Today, I still feel its a super underrated DPS build using Vanguard, but the Tier 5 enhancements are **** as compared to Kensai
.



How's it working for others?

Need check. Waiting for U45 to see whats gonna happen.

Stunning blow, trip and the new sunder working with Strikethrough looks good.

If the increase in stat mod apply to b swords and d axes, it will be good. If no, the loss of Glancing Blows will be a nerf.

The nerf/bugfix on core 6 doomed vanguards, maybe if they apply this Strikethrough on shiled bashs, vanguards can be a bit more fun again.


Keep the shields up!

[unbongwah]

FYI apart from replacing glancing blows with Strikethrough, Update 45 will make various improvements to hand-and-a-half builds, particularly if you go deep into the dwarf racial trees.

• Greater Two Handed Fighting will improve Bastard Sword and Dwarven Waraxe to 1.6x your relevant Ability Score Modifier to damage
• You can add up to +25% Strikethrough chance to dwarven axes from Dwarven Axe Training line
• Tactics feats like Stunning Blow will be "Strikethrough compatible" meaning they will be able to hit 2-3 targets simultaneously

Separately, the dwarf racial bonus to HPs will become 5% Quality: +1% over current bonus but doesn't stack with other Quality bonuses.

[Xandez]

Running a Bladeforged 1st lifer no tomes build (1pal/1wiz/18fig) for shiz and giggles inspired also by StrimToms Vanguard post/video.

Currently @23 working with my Destinies and im feeling decent (all things considered).
So far, have been able to easily solo all quests on hard and some even on elite.

Using khopesh/tower shield but im sure the 1.5 weps will be more attractive after u45 hits