Thanks for the details in the guide! It’s very helpful! Just started playing again when AoM came out. Had a decent stash before, but no AoM gear. Never really farmed crucible either. I’m farming it now though! First mythical drop was the stonefist. Was sad until I found this build. Busted out my old WB and was farming Challenger with little issue with only the stonefist upgrade starting at lv 86 (had to go get the 5 new devo points). I did have the Menhir’s Baston too. Everything else is just the normal version. Have the detailed item options helped a lot as I do have the full (non-mythical) Justicar set (tri-elemental Sabo not cutting it anymore ) wouldn’t have thought to try that out.
Build flies through wave 160 on Challenger, but struggle any time Archmage Alexander pops. Sometimes that is even on 161… Sucks! Any way to stop that guy? Been just running 150 gladiator now and is pretty smooth even with the non-mythical gear. Did get the mythical boots last night when I dinged 94 which even allows me to equip them!
Anyways, just a long way of saying things for this build, especially the details within. Its awesome!
ATM, i’ll focus on trying to beat 150-170 waves in Crucible at Gladiator. I already can farm it at Challenger (and it actually feels more difficult, than 130-150 Gladiator even). I must admit, 150-170 waves in Gladiator and completely overtuned, the difficulty is ridiculous, and the rewards are totally not worth it (on challenger, i received the almost same rewards for 150-170, as i’d got for 130-150, pathetic).
Archmage Alexander was very easy for me, with 90% aether resist (amulet+consumable) i suppose his Meteor loses a lion’s share of its deadly power. Maybe, he can reduce Aether resist and youarent overcapped?
Gravatul and Reaper of the Lost, on other hand… those guys hit way too hard imo.
I haven’t even attempted Gladiator 150+ yet. I can handle to 160 reliably on Challenger, and I agree even that is harder than 130-150 on Gladiator. Been having no issues with Gladiator up to 150. Even popped two IM’s an Fab and had no issue.
On Challenger I have 88% with 19 over capping on aether. Still can’t seem to get by a round with Alex in it. But have had two reapers, Grava and Kabra at 160 and was handled them fine. Got to 161 and Alex popped with that giant ghost crab thing and hit points just plummet. Go through both circuit breakers, heal and pots then die. Seems to happen every time with him. I seem to get stunned more when he’s around too. I don’t know. This is my current set up: http://www.grimtools.com/calc/8NKmmnOV
Don’t have some of the faction augments yet, need to work on those. Haven’t taken my WB to AoM yet, so faction grinding will take some time… Just been trying to amass some items form crucible.
I’m thinking of beginning this character, I don’t have Cairn ammy but do have the other that’s similar stats with some HP too.
Really i just want to get a witchblade up as it seems like a particually good physical character with lesser gear requirements and used in a number of strong endgame builds. Also I haven’t built a forcewaver yet so new gameplay is new!
You really need that AoM stuff, it’s awesome. Focus on getting more resists (to have good overcaps), get consumables for extra aether resist (Malmouth resistance) and 8% lifesteal (barrowholm). Use components and augment to get resistances, that was top triority for me.
I fought with Alexander at 161 wave in Challenger. His meteor’s hit barely could remove 1/3 of my HP, sure nothing dangerous…
I have problems either with enemies that have absolultely ridiculous resistance reductions (Anasteria, Thalonis+Sharzul, etc), that pierce my overcaps. Or, enemies that hit way too hard even despite of resists (Gravatul, Reaper, Marcell).
And on challenger, i fouhht in Crucible of the Void, the fastest one in my opinion. For Gladiator 150-170, it seems that Crucible of the Sands in the best. It’s low, but its “maze” structure allows for more kiting and fighting with fewer enemies at the time.
I guess I’ll have to run AoM. Do have the pot recipe from another toon though. Plus the mandates so that should help. I’ve just been using the wasp pots as I’ve farmed twin peaks a ton!
Maybe it’s just a conscience I die on levels with Alex and maybe it’s some other mob. So much going on…
What makes the void faster? I’ve been sticking to the dead like your original post. Works pretty well. Can funnel mobs by the vendors when needed or just trash them in the open as needed too. Easy to jump over to sharzul on 149 as well and take care of him before others. Would you say dead is still fastest for 150? Get better loot and easier than 160 on challenger and sounds like I need to up my resists more before trying 170 again.
I just dont like central area in Crucible of the Dead (a bit clunky), in Crucible of the Void it’s a bit wider, also, 2 banners have a bit higher overlap area. But maybe, it’s just my personal prefference?
Hi! I’m new to the game and found your build/guide and it looks great, thanks! There is one thing I’m wondering though. You mentioned forcewave and that it will basically take through the game. but I’m wondering if you might have a list of skills/which order to go for them?
The guide is nice. It reminded me my 2-h physical forcewave battle mage build, that finished the DLC main content on absoulute today. I would like to share short description on my build, hope it can be useful and/or bring new ideas for someone. I don’t want to create new topic similar to this one, so will post it here. The build doesn’t use Octavia’s helm since I still did not get the blueprint (same sad story was for Justicator set). The relic has completion bonus +4% for DA.
Damage types: physic, IT, pierce
Active skills: blitz, ground smash, rebuke, Oleron’s might, battle cry, forceweave, nullification, mirror of Ereoctes
Buffs/Auras: Counter strike, Field command, Oleron’s rage and Citadel.
Well, first you should get Tremor, max Forcewave itself, get 1point in Blitz and rush for Oleron’s Rage (and max it). The reason is simple - extra movement speed is bonkers while leveling. Then, max Rending Force + Internal Trauma. Then max CoF. Then rush for Aspect of Guardian. Then take Decorated Soldier, Scars of Battle and all other skills you need. At 100 level, unlearn Oleron’s Rage (and points in mastery required for it) and get Possession.
Force be with you!
I’ve seen quite similar Battlemage build in work already, but i believe that Witchblade suits it better.
Happy new year to you and all who reads this guide!
At the beginning it was just a fun build of battle mage - I was inspired by the idea to create the Dovakin (Dovahkiin) in the world of Cairn. The Forcewave looked perfect to me - like famous dragon shout “Unrelenting Force” (Fus Ro Dah) and etc.
I don’t know if my variant has more weak points compare to the Witchblade. Iteresting to analyze it. I remember several moments to be a challenge for my character.
Look at the build. Do you see fire damage gear besides the Handguards? Going for the Mythical one would be a huge DPS loss.
The gloves are just too good for this build, even being a level 75 item. Besides the huge CS, +Forcewave and +Blitz points, it also gives a lot of HP and Pierce Resistance.
Indeed, that’s the reason.
Not to mention, that flat fire damage will be mostly converted into physical anyway (with Octavius set pieces) - around 2/3.
Sure, Handguards of Justice have relatively weak armor value (compared to lvl 94 items),
For same reasons, i use such lvl 84 items as Mythical Stonefist Rebuke, Mythical Sigil of Bear King, etc. Mythical Stonefist Rebuke has weaker stats that lvl94 weapons, such as Mythical Leviathan. But, Mythical Stonefist Rebuke was made specifically to fit physical forcewave build, that’s why it is so powerful. Same for Mythical Sigil of Bear King - made exactly for this build as well.
Every loot is random, except from some specific Legendary/Rare (that are not used in this build), and green stuff (the MI ring, but it’s clearly the last item you should focus on)
For farming, use either (by order of difficulty):
the well known farming places with a lot of Rare/Unique bosses like the Hive from Twin Falls or Cronley Hideout
the Steps of Torment (require some gear to finish this one reliably)
) wouldn’t have thought to try that out.
