*When your Judicator set procs
**Credit for the picture goes to Brightstar2003 on DevianArt
Foreword
Hey everyone, this is going to be my last build guide post before retiring. Making endgame builds in Grim Dawn has been my hobby for almost five years now and while my journey here had its ups and downs I thoroughly enjoyed it. Since it’s indeed my last build guide, I thought of telling a little bit about myself - a person behind the controversial forum personna you know as Mad_Lee. I am a Russian-Israeli filmmaker, based in Berlin, Germany. I am 36 years old, married, I love books and movies and good music. Besides computer games my second favorite hobby is boxing (which I’ve been doing for over 10 years now) and of course I love traveling whenever I get a chance.
Well, enough about me, let’s talk a bit about this build. Avenger Archon is far from something original and new. @banana_peel made his version quite some time ago, as I am sure many other builders did too. Even I fiddled with the concept in the times of “magical” physical damage meta. Lately I have been coming back to Avenger Archon trying all different kinds of specs, even the one that had Storm Totems for more aoe. While all the specs are more than viable (because of how strong the set and physical damage are), they all fell a bit less than fully optimal. Well that was before I tried using good old Judicators.
The Build
1.2.0.2 Update!
No need to farm for new items or anything, but we are changing our devotions to answer the challenges of the new patch. Build feels much tankier and smoother than before with the same damage output.
<<<< GRIMTOOLS >>>>*
OLD Grimtools Patch 1.1.9.8
OLD Grimtools Patch 1.1.9.5
*craft for slow resistance, stun resistance and armor
**For the Ravager fight you can use 3x Steelbloom Powder augments in jewelry
Hammering down important questions
Judicators rings are bis here? Really? Why?
Well, it allows us to skip Scales (because we have flat RR on the ring set bonus) and go full damage in devotions. It also has in-build damage reduction and huge OA bonus that synergizes really well with crit damage from Divine Mandate. Even health regeneration bonus synergizes really well with our build.
But how can you say it’s the strongest Avenger build if Avenger Warder by @RektbyProtoss is obviously tankier.
His Avenger Warder is indeed tankier (and a great choice for super safe Hardcore play), however, you would only really feel this extra tankiness if you choose to go into Shards 90+ or facetank Callagadra. For 95% of the game content Avenger Archon has more than enough tankiness and damage wise it’s in a different league altogether (no disrespect to rekt’s Warder, it was built with different goals in mind).
Why aren’t you stacking armor on it? Surely it will synergize well with such high physical resistance.
Unfortunately, Archon doesn’t have means to stack armor (unlike Warder) without sacrificing too much damage. And in the end, having racial damage components yields a higher overall damage output and a higher sustain which ultimately gives build more survivability than armor stacking. You can of course make a high armor version of this build but the only part of the game content it will help with is facetanking Callagadra. For literally everything else this setup is better.
Gear/Skills and Devotions/Leveling
When it comes to gear all items are pretty much set in stone here. You can get by with different affixes on greens, but for optimal results try to replicate my grimtools as closely as possible.
Devotions are enabled by Judicators ring set. However, if you are missing the ring set, you can use a more conservative devotion map with Empyrion instead of Bear and Oleron.
Skill distribution is also pretty standard, going for Divine Mandate allows us to max out recently buffed Mogdrogen’s Pact as well as Haven and Rebuke. Primal Bond spec is also quite viable but, in my opinion, less optimal than Divine Mandate + Judicators spec.
For leveling check beginner guides, this is an endgame build
Gameplay
In Crucible
Build facetanks everything in buffed Crucible. “Naked” extra spawn Crucible is also quite doable, but positioning and targets prioritization will be crucial.
In Shattered Realm
Build smashes everything until Shard 90 where you have to be a bit more careful when fighting packs and dangerous Nemeses like Fabius. In SR 75-76 DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT use Vire Might against Mad Queen - Volcanic Stride triggers her machine gun bullet hell which can destroy even this tank.I did Shard 100 with it couple of times, but died quite a few times while doing so, so it’s possible but requires mutator fishing and extra careful approach.
Celestial fights
Ravager is easy with pharma. Chugging Lifestealer and Hungerer Oils while having Aether Cluster on your panel just in case will also help.
Callagadra is doable with hit and run tactics. Don’t overstay your welcome tho and be sure to only fight her during Ascension.
Mogdrogen fight is very easy since he helps us by spawning adds and proccing Judicator proc. Just don’t forget to overcap Lightning resist by ~80% with the use of augments and Lightning resistance potion.
Just watch the videos to learn how to play the build.
Stats
All screenshots are taken with Savagery charges, Ascension and Judicator and Avenger set proc up
General (with all the procs up)
Defense (with all the procs up)
Videos
1.2.0.2 SR 75-76 (4:59 run, short rooms)
1.1.9.7 SR75-76 6:25 run (no short rooms)
1.1.9.5 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 LUCKY 4:15 run run
1.1.9.5 Crucible Gladiator 150-170 “naked” extra spawn 5:28 run
1.1.9.5 Shard 90 full run one death
1.1.9.5 Ravager kill 1:11 kill with OA augments
1.1.9.5 Shard 100 boss room with multiple deaths
In Conclusion
Thanks everyone, it’s been fun! I will probably update some of my old guides once 1.1.9.6 is out but overall it’s the end of my journey here.
B-SIDES OR UNRELEASED BUILDS
Those are the builds that I created and tested but weren’t good enough for me to post them as separate guides.
and 🧟♂ in every build.
Now I can use the full potential of my Heidi 
thank you