INTRODUCTION
The reason behind this build is to create 2H melee cold Cadence because I have not seen it anywhere. My first try was using Alkamos’ Warsword but it has shown to be weaker than my alternate theorycraft with Bane of the Winter King despite it not having any physical converted to cold damage. As a second class I have chosen Nightblade for cold damage support - cold RR + Lethal Assault. Build has both % damage absorption (Menhir’s Bulwark) and reduction (War Cry) from Soldier. Cadence generally has weaker AoE so I also use gloves that give Cadence more targets for better AoE. Blizzard proc from devotions also helps with AoE. Items are either chosen for flat cold damage bonuses or for bonuses to Cadence. The amulet converts physical damage to cold for Cadence but only for its third hit. This build can do SR 80.
I have other Cadence builds here. I have other cold melee builds here. All my builds are here.
Here is a list comparing all my Cadence builds from best to worst. All are at least SR 65-66 capable.
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Oleron – great build, 2H melee physical, good offensively and very powerful defensively
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Aether Crusher – great build, 2H melee aether, offensively a little weaker than Oleron, defensively noticably weaker than Oleron
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Ultos – great build, 2H melee lightning, offensively noticably weaker than Aether Crusher, defensively a little weaker than Oleron
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Chaotic Crusher – great build, 2H melee chaos, offensively similar to Aether Crusher, defensively noticably weaker than Aether Crusher
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Amatok – great build, 2H melee cold, offensively a little weaker than Chaotic Crusher, defensively a little weaker than Chaotic Crusher
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Ele Mental – good build, 2H melee elemental, offensively a little weaker than Ultos, defensively a little weaker than Aether Crusher
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Empyrion – good build, 2H melee fire, offensively a little weaker than Amatok, defensively a little weaker than Amatok
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Rattosh – good build, 2H melee vitality, offensively similar to Amatok, defensively a little weaker than Empyrion
GRIMTOOLS https://www.grimtools.com/calc/lNkQgglV
Build uses two monster infrequent items - Gargoyle Waistguard and Iron Maiden’s Shoulderguard. You want affixes for resistances and OA, DA.
Stats of the build
OFFENSE
nice DPS 140k - 220k
28 % crit damage
OK base OA - around 2900 OA (around 3200 OA with Fighting Spirit)
55 DA reduction to enemies from Annihilation
OK cold RR from Veil of Shadow, Rumor, Ravager’s Deathgaze and Revenant (Executioner’s Edge) - up to - 100 % + Viper
DEFENSE
good life - close to 14 000 health
OK base DA - around 2900 DA
up to 233 OA reduction to enemies from Rumor, Veil of Shadow and Annihilation
OKish lifesteal 16 % (could be better but it is still fine)
maxed resistances with reasonable overcap
decent physical resistance 27 %
good armor around 2500
good CC resistances
% damage reduction from War Cry
% damage absorption from Menhir’s Bulwark
Ghoul
Menhir’s Will
Prismatic Rage
Serenity
image from the game with passive buffs + Pneumatic Burst
image from the game with passive buffs + Pneumatic Burst, Deadly Momentum, Lethal Assault and Fighting Spirit
SR, CRUCIBLE
I play SR with camera pointed away from enemies and I try my builds only in SR 65-66 and SR 80. I play around 10 SR runs per character.
This build can do SR 80. No boss is a problem but killing Kuba is slower and Zantarin can be sometimes hard to leech from. Green fumble pools also weaken you so avoid them.
I don’t play Crucible so I don’t have a time number for it.
