if you want DPS, you will still want Plaguebearer’s … of Abyss, with perfect rolls.
Just finished crucible on gladiator 3 times in row without dying using jinraQ build(thanks btw). Used tyrant bonecleaver of alacrity. Didn’t swapped black star for badge since i don’t have one, and still used dread skulls instead of jawbones. Just some impressions: the only dangerous enemies in crucible are anastaeria on wave 137, shrzull on 149 and of course that stupid shotgun skeleton, so used kiting against them a liitle bit. Also I used Menhir’s Bastion relic on waves 130-150. Yes you lose dmg but it adds stupid amount of survivability, almost like mini cluster or better. Overall farming crucible with this build is pretty easy, might even recommend it over traditional routes after hotfix 2. Also kinda surprised that there was very little talk about empowered legplates of valor. They have great hp bonus and can almost single handedly boost bleed res to max. From my impressions of the abyss suffix would be nice but tyrant together with Menhir’s Bastion is more than enough to keep you alive. Can definitely go for offensive suffix.
You dont need to cap bleed res, actually. And you dont need piercing res either. Those legs are OK, but you can get much better rare/MI
Finally made a well rolled Mehir’s Bastion, and after trying it, I think it’s more than worth the minor damage lost from previous Oleron’s Wrath. The physical resist alone is very enticing, and an extra on demand “oh shit” button that also synergizes with our Markovian set is just too good to pass up, considering our damage is already top tier in the first place. Thanks MortalKombat and MrOleg for bringing it to my attention.
I have one question. Does the 15% physical damage part of Vicious Jawbone apply to things like Falcon Swoop, Targo’s Hammer and Blitz? If it does, wouldn’t that make Vicious Jawbone better than Dread Skull?
2% more attack speed only benefits Cadence, 3% run speed doesn’t really do anything for a build that likes to facetank, and assuming you do crucibles instead of running around the campaign searching for MI monsters.
It does. But your total %increased physical damage will be something like 1200-1500%. So, extra 15% wont add much.
Dread skull is great because it provides movespeed (which we lack). BTW, you may also use second Arcane Spark (for better energy control). Not all go for Scales of Ulcama.
Yes, you lose some damage, but you gain no less in tankiness. And that’s more important VS hard content like Crucible.
Ok, thanks for confirming. I will still stick with my Jawbones since I’ve already stated that I dislike too many “useless” stats on my gear. Not saying that either one is better or worse, just saying I like it that way.
I’ve tried Arcane Spark before, even when paired with 2x Ectoplasms, and it still wasn’t half as good as simply going Scales of Ulcama.
My experiences on mana issues:
Just Arcane Spark : You’re mana potion CD often can’t keep up.
2x Ectoplasms : You’re mana potion CD should be able to keep up, barely.
Spark + 2x Ectoplasms : Still need mana potions.
Scales of Ulcama : Use 1 mana poition every like…5 crucible runs maybe.
Not to mention Scales gives some health, a little damage, and even life leech along with mana leech, while not too demanding on constellation points, only 1 yellow point more which it can sustain by itself if completed.
Yes, you lose some damage, but you gain no less in tankiness. And that’s more important VS hard content like Crucible.
Yeah, I was already looking for ways (mainly in devotions) on how to improve survivability. A simple relic change will do just fine, so thanks again. 
That crash must have raised your blood pressure a bit. It would have for me.
Fabius seemed to to be unable to target you between maiden and tower, or he was afraid:).
This is such a powerful and faceroll class combination.
What stats are a good roll for Menrhis Bastion relic?
A good roll for a relic or item is anything around 15% (I think) above the stats you see on Graceful Dusk for example where they are averaged. You can get even lower than those.
On menhir i’d want phys resist and block chance as high as possible
Physical Resistance max is 6%
Increases Shield Block Chance max is 5%
Shield Damage Blocked max is 36%
Also, the completion bonus is very important. There are 10 different combinations you can get, +1 to Deadly Momentum +1 to Squad Tactics is the best one I think.
That crash must have raised your blood pressure a bit. It would have for me.
Fabius seemed to to be unable to target you between maiden and tower, or he was afraid.
This is such a powerful and faceroll class combination.
My Grim Dawn has crashed so many times (crashes are almost guaranteed whenever I decide to try and record or stream) that I honestly felt kind of happy that I at least recorded the important part 
Cardboard computer is cardboard 
Sounds veryx hard to get a good roll… should i trade one? 
I got deadly momentum and squad tactics on Oleron’s Wrath and I can tell you it’s a bitch to get it, with good stats to it, especially the flat bonus damage.
You might have to settle. It’s worth making anyway it seems, at least for crucible.
@jinraQ? But is it really beacuse of an older PC? Because there are others that have these problems that have beastly PCs.
I also have problems. Change an area between acts or a character and it’s a guaranteed crash.
Actually, the one with Deadly Momentum will already be good. If it has above average block chance and phys resist - it’s already amazing.
- There is no “Mana” in GD. You spend “Energy” for skill usage.
- That’s not really true. I had 2 Ectoplasms and Arcane Spark, without Scales. I didnt used energy potions often - maybe, 1-2 per 10 waves (which is completely OK).
Dont forget, that Arcane Spark also provides +36 OA, which is pretty signficant bonus itself. Especially if you lack OA like me :).
However, i thought a lot about how to get Scales of Ulcama, but dont lose too much at the same time. In the end, i came to a following build:
http://grimcalc.com/build/GIxq09R
I managed to get Oleron, Targo the Builder AND Scales of Ulcama. Sailor’s Guide is there too (that extra physical, slow, freeze, cold and lightning resists, and movespeed are very good). I pput my last point into “head” of Oleron, because i think it’s more powerful offensively, than 5% HP node is defensively. After all, it’s decent weapon trauma damage, which is greatly multiplied by Cadence, Blitz and all reductions to physical resistance. And 15 bonus OA (which i desperately lack).
With that build, and ectoplasms switched for Corpse Dust, i’ve managed to got 16.8k HP without buffs (and that’s with Grasp of Unchained Might).
Is scales of Uclama really worth it? curious really because i’ve never used it appart for it’s fist node. Mana is fine even witch a blade arc build with 2x ecto and arcane spark. Is the proc it has good? I realise COF might make it better but still I’m curious.
Would you not be better off dropping primordial crossroads, bear 40% node and lowr right Targo for Hawk? You are already beefy enough and do huge damage. You could improve crits and see how it works
3 noding it for HP is okay, but I prefer to just 1 point it like you. The energy regen can be found elsewhere and I consider the skill to be rather useless you can boost vitality up and reduce resistance for it. I think even with vulnerability and some sort of vit boost it’s not going be much of a heal. I am curiosu to see what MK says though
Kombat don’t correct someone who referred to energy as mana ffs 
Before Scales of Ulcama I was using 2 ectos on rings and arcane spark on medal to keep energy (mana!) going. Switching over to Scales I was able to remove both ectos in exchange for a roiling blood & corpse dust.
I keep arcane spark on medal cause I like the OA and I think without that extra tiny, little omph from arcane spark I would be using pots more often (not that that is necessarily a bad thing - a full energy bar after a long hard fight is a red flag that something is being wasted IMO.)
Disclaimer: I am not currently trying to complete ultimate crucible though! But I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
@MortalK, I like that devotion build. I’d like to get me some Bob the Builder action + Scales. But I dunno…I mean if we start using menhir’s bastion too…ffs…how unkillable do we really wanna be? Immortal? Where’s the fun in that?
I’m not ready to go for more defense in my devotions. I like the right arm of berserker too much…40 OA & 50% phys damage for 3 points seems pretty damn nice.
Also, Menhir’s Bastion…more fukin pierce resistance makes me just wanna choke on my own puke.
I like to see my life & energy bars move around some (NOT TOO MUCH MIND YOU!) but again, if they aren’t moving, then I’m not optimized.
But again, please note my disclaimer*
Edit: Having just now completed crucible on challenger mode…I can see how I would totally switch devotions to include Bob the Builder & possibly add Menhirs in order to get anywhere in gladiator. So there’s that.
Quick question for leveling - is it worth going Cadence at some point or is it better to stick to Blade Arc until 75 by which time you can equip Markovian’s?
I used 1h + shield with cadence the whole way. Didn’t have a problem.