M Reforged Chains of Oleron used to have +1 to all skills in Soldier and +1 to all skills in Oathkeeper, making it a carefree choice to physical Warlord. However, it’s now no longer a good choice. It has fallen behind its competitors too much. I reviewed the forums and mad_lee’s and banana_peel’s Youtube Channel, and found hardly any endgame physical soldier build using this belt. In most cases a physical soldier build uses Ugdenbog Girdle and M Gladiator’s Distinction. There are, however, 3 builds that I found using M Reforged Chains of Oleron. They are:
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A Spellscourge Battlemage ([1.1.9.3] Devastating Spellscourge Battlemage, Max Block Cooldown Tank (Video))
It’s more like a for-fun build rather than a general farming build. I don’t mean to offend but 2600 OA is too low to a physical build. -
and 3. Non-set and Markovian Blitz WL by banana_peel(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmnMfBVq3zA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyUZ0slP878)
With the popularity of Chains of Anguish among physical builds, these two builds seem to have their updates too.
This means M Reforged Chains of Oleron is almost a dead gear in the aspect of pick rate.
Then let’s compared it with its main competitors:
- M Reforged Chains of Oleron vs Ugdenbog Girdle
M Reforged Chains of Oleron has much fewer % resistance, lower % physical damage. It does not have any OA/DA, CC res, or %armor. Let alone a positive conversion. Its only advantages are some flat physical damage and a touch of crit damage. However, a physical build has more urgent needs for % resistance and OA than flat physical damage and crit damage. Thus when people really need +1 to soldier, they will most likely choose Ugdenbog Girdle.
- M Reforged Chains of Oleron vs M Gladiator’s Distinction
This comparasion is generally among some 2H physical builds (Gutsmasher EoR WL, BA Witchblade, Cadence DK, etc). In those situations, +1 to Soldier are not that important, but M Gladiator’s Distinction provides much much better stats when equiped with a 2H weapon, in every aspect. Besides, M Gladiator’s Distinction provides 100% vit2phys conversion, which are extremely important to physical Witchblade and DK because they have high flat vitality damage. Thus there is no reason for using M Reforged Chains of Oleron.
- M Reforged Chains of Oleron vs Chains of Auguish
Well, I should say, when the debuff proc is cleverly eschewed, Chains of Auguish is too much stronger than M Reforged Chains of Oleron. Especially Chains of Auguish provides high ADctH that physical builds urgently need.
In conclusion, M Reforged Chains of Oleron is too stats-lacking to be a considerable option.
Additionally, if you regard it as a retal belt, the reality will be even more horrible.
M Reforged Chains of Oleron vs M Ulzuin’s Torment
Damn. See how helpless M Reforged Chains of Oleron is?
At last, I’m giving some suggestions based on my knowledge and experience. Either of the following options will help. Sort by recommendation level(from high to low):
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Add OA/DA that are similar to suffix “Of Attack”/“Of Readiness”. The flat physical damage can be adjusted (reduced a little) accordingly. This means M Reforged Chains of Oleron will have similar OA/DA, a little higher damage, but poorer % resistance than Ugdenbog Girdle. Or lower damage, much poorer % resistance, but some extra OA/DA. Then M Reforged Chains of Oleron and Ugdenbog Girdle can compete fairly, and there can be a better Builds Diversity.
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Totally regarding M Reforged Chains of Oleron as a hybrid physical/retal belt. In this case it should catch up with M Ulzuin’s Torment, more or less. Increase its retaliation damage and % retaliation damage to the same level as M Ulzuin’s Torment, and if possible, add a small touch of OA (like 28-42).
Personally I think there has to be some changes to M Reforged Chains of Oleron to make it optional. The two suggestions I mentioned above are based on my comparison between these belts and considerations of making M Reforged Chains of Oleron better in SOME cases than its competitors (on the other hand, it’s still weaker in the other cases. For example, the build has some problem in stacking % resistance (warborn set builds, for example)).
Thanks for reading.