Introduction
Blademaster (Nightblade+Soldier) is one of the classical vanilla combinations in the game. It’s evergreen(no pun intended) class. It’s really suitable for DW melee, both classes have synergy for that style. BM deals cold or pierce damage ?
Cold vs Pierce:
Both don’t have dual source of RR, pierce is not resistant often, but have fewer sources and cold can count on easy flat RR from Elemental Storm,if you don’t select Revenant and % RR from Ultos or Viper. Also cold can count on Chillstrifes cold RR.
cold BM vs other classes:
Infiltrator is overall the most solid class for cold DW melee. Trickster and BM are next on the line. Soldier as usual provide lots of juice and cookies for any build, and Shaman have elemental RR. Both classes have excellent auto attack, in this case Cadence.
Build
- permanent buffs, with Lethaul assault and deadly momentum
GRIM TOOLS LINK https://www.grimtools.com/calc/lNk8mBQ2
Here’s cheap build version by @malawiglenn, it’s showing the build with faction items primary. Lots of empty spaces for affixes/components : https://www.grimtools.com/calc/q2mlmkzN
Skills
Cadence Our main damage dealer.It is auto attack replacer,it scales with attack speed and triggers WPS(weapon pool skills). Cadence is not interacting that good with WPS, but on DW melee is not big problem.Cadence have huge Weapon Damage. It’s good to put as many as possible points in main skill and Deadly Momentum buff
Ring of Steel It’s used utility skill. Can freeze enemies and Circle of Slaughter is used for fumble
Amarasta ABB, one point in main skill and max Lethal Assault. LA is amazing buff providing damage and offensive ability
Shadow Strike Movement skill, damage part is not very important for this build
War Cry First node offers damage reduction, break morale can disrupt spells, like the nasty healers
Pneumatic Burst Our healing skill, Shadow dance also gives defensive ability and chance to avoid projectiles
Gameplay:
Charge in with Shadow Strike, use Ring of Steel for fumble, Amarasta for LA buff and sustain left key for Cadence. Heal with potion and Pneumatic Burst.
Video with gameplay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5tiOih2rx0&feature=youtu.be
Gear
I use two items from factions
- Chest, Malmouth
- Medal, Dreeg
Helm is guaranteed drops,also crafted items, most have common blueprints or are low level
- Rings, Elemental balance, super good proc. Option are blue Alkamos. Cheapest are Coven reputation
- Shoulders, used for Cadence bonus. If you don’t have them use Wendigo shoulders from Barrowholm rep
- Amulet, Essence of Beronath, if you don’t have them, you can use Elena Necklace
- Boots, Stoneplate to help you cover resistances.
Also some green monster infrequent items:
- Daggers, farmed from bosses Janaxia and Larria in act 5. Option are good rolled Malkadar blades. Still in single RR class combo like Blademaster is preferable to use them
- Pants, Kuba Chauses. Very good bonus to Lethal Assault and Deadly Momentum. If you can’t farm them settle for Solael or good blue like Valor
- Belt, attractive for the flat cold damage. It’s farm in new FG expansion content. Any useful resistances can help you. Blue Stormserpent is nice option
Random items:
-
Gloves, no high level faction ones. Use whatever you find. If you don’t have good blue or purple, craft random greens
-
Relic, low level relic. use any cold/elemental you have
Items to look for:
Silver Sentinel set, Deathmarked set, Spellbreaker’s waist, Alkamos rings, Stormtitan or Final March boots, Undying Oath medal, Night’s embrace amulet
Relics:
Best is Nidalla, Doom gives +1 to Soldier skills and Serenity is good defensively
Stats to aim for:
- at least 2.9k OA
- at least 2.7k DA
- at least 10k Health
- all resistances (Pierce,not needed) capped, overcaps are welcomed
- 2k armor
- more than 10 % physical resistance
- 180 % attack speed minimum
- More damage will improve clear speed, cold modifier at least 2k
Attributes : Enough spirit to equip Daggers/Chest. If you don’t have spirit from items, that’s 33 points. Other points in Physique for health and DA. If you need OA, put more points in cunning
Devotions
I decided to use Dying God, if you have troubles with health cost- remove it. Also Ultos and Amatok are selected for cold damage. Leviathan route sucks, Yugol also is sub optimal here.
- Red
- Viper
- Ghoul
- Sailor’s Guide
- Green
- Hawk
- Scholar’s Light
- Murmur
- Lantern
- Amatok,remove Scholar’s light
- Revenant, remove red
- Eel
- Ultos to the proc
- Dying God
Leveling
Check fantastic leveling guide by @Stupid_Dragon [DW melee] Beginner's Forgotten Blademaster or use any of my other cold DW melee guides!
End Game Build
Check this build by @veretragna [1.1.1.2] Cholol, the Breathtaking - Deathmarked Blademaster, Gladiator (6:08) and SR 80 viable
Recommended beginner builds
Builds by Nery(me)
⚔ Nery's beginner build collection Collection with my beginners builds
Builds by Stupid_Dragon
[DW melee] Beginner’s Virulent Dervish
[DW melee] Beginner’s Forgotten Blademaster
[shield melee] Beginner’s pre-Krieg Death Knight
[2H melee] Krieg Death Knight on budget, the Soul Reaver
[1.0.4.0] Beginner’s melee 2H Lightning Elementalist Old but still deserves a mention
[1.0.4.1] Beginner's ranged Tactician Old but still deserves a mention
Builds by malawiglenn
☄ Collection of malawiglenn's Beginner Friendly builds Collection with Malawiglenn builds
Build by Sir Spanksalot
🔪 Sir Spanksalot's / malawiglenn's Beginner Guide for Phantasmal Blades Reaper still not re-formatted to fit the new forum but the most important things are in there.
Builds by Maya
The Carnival - A Guide to Pets contains all you need to know about pets and contains several budget builds
Build by Udars
[1.1.3.0] Vanquisher Fire Sentinel, semi-beginner friendly and practically farmable Semi budget build around Vanquisher set
Also if you are in doubt,check my guide,how to select a build! https://forums.crateentertainment.com/t/guide-for-helping-how-to-choose-your-build/83484