[1.1.9.1] [HC] Nightclaw Tactician, pierce 1h Blade Arc, Ravager, SR 65, Cr170

[RektbyProtoss]

INTRODUCTION

Nightclaw: increased bonuses to Blade Arc and Savagery to +3 and added 45% of Lightning dealt as Pierce. Adjusted values on the skill proc. Added 40 Pierce damage and 100% of Physical dealt as Pierce modifiers for Blade Arc.

Nightclaw got changed in patch 1.1.9.1 to now convert all physical damage to pierce on Blade Arc. That and one of my viewers requesting me to theorcraft a build around it made me actually also try it out ingame, so here we are. With the right rolls and right affixes on your greens you can push this build to 80% physical resistance and 200% attack speed. However the base damage of 1 handed Blade Arc and especially pierce Blade Arc is really mediocre, so the build is tanky but has really underwhelming dps.

^ingame stats with all permant buffs up including Word of Renewal, without temporary buffs. DPS shown is Blade Arc, highest crit 218k.

GRIMTOOLS

1.1.9.1: https://www.grimtools.com/calc/a2dXdR12

PERFORMANCE

YT playlist

Highlight video from patch 1.1.9.1:

• vs dummy ~45s

• SR 65-66 on patch 1.1.9.1

• Gladiator Crucible 1-150 naked (only three tier 1 stormcaller beacons) & 3x 150-170
  on patch 1.1.9.1. It can do 1-150 naked, however…
  150-170 #1 (only 2 blessings) in 15 min 19 sec
  150-170 #2 (standard 4+3) 10 min 33 sec
  150-170 #3 (standard 4+3) 11 min 25 sec
  Don’t use this char to farm 150-170!

LEVELING

I talk a bit about how to level with 1h Blade Arc in the highlight video above.
Otherwise feel free to level with 2h Forcewave like in my guide.

SPEEDLEVELING

VoDs of me speedleveling this build with 2h Forcewave:

• Part 1
• Part 2

Feedback & Final Words

While the Character can facetank ravager and clear Crucible Gladiator waves 1-150 basically naked, it really struggles damage wise in waves 150-170 and clearing SR 65-66 in a reasonable time. DPS of one handed pierce Blade Arc is pretty abysmal and maybe this weapon should instead be played on a pierce/bleed hybrid build. Maybe a different class like Warder would also perform better for that, no clue.
Overall I like the build, but 1h pierce Blade Arc really needs a buff imo. Maybe I’m just building it wrong, so as always any kind of feedback is apprechiated!
Feel free to check out my other builds in my HC build collection!

[fordprefect]

Good work! Yeah 1H BA is very mediocre. I emphasized this issue with three example as feedback so we’ll see in 1.1.9.2, I hope they increase the flat damage value on these item.

Btw did you try unchained might? or Flat and % from Shadow’s Grasp overperform it?

[Norzan]

Btw did you try unchained might? or Flat and % from Shadow’s Grasp overperform it?

Can’t use it because Unchained Might gives Conviction 50% pierce to phys and the build is using Conviction (you can use them if you’re Blademaster though).

@Superfluff said he was gonna do a 1H Pierce BA Blademaster.

[fordprefect]

Can’t use it because Unchained Might gives Conviction 50% pierce to phys and the build is using Conviction (you can use them if you’re Blademaster though).

Yeah right stupid me, forgot that mod exist, my bad

I think with Pit Master’s Axe on off-hand; Nightclaw on main it can be done Pierce/Bleed DW but 1H BA, or with Targo to stack trauma though it will definitely require a lot of sustain. I did 3, only one worked fair enough which was Vitality/Bleed Warder. Didn’t try pierce damage.

[Valinov]

Here was my meme blademaster I tooled up with it… I havent had the time to create/test it yet though https://www.grimtools.com/calc/YVWe8WGN

[Evil_Baka]

https://www.grimtools.com/calc/a2dBOR5Z is what I came up with but it’s a super double rare MI setup that goes all-in on damage.

[fordprefect]

Now seeing the the idea of using DW/with main-hand base skill looks very weird Bud %283 WD BA seems good.

I did try to make a Bleeding Warlord with Pit Master’s Axe https://www.grimtools.com/calc/m23O4AE2 but failed terribly. No leech what so ever. tanky but really hard to play.