Questions on sword and board

So I played Grim Dawn a ton before my computer decided to blow up and I lost all my progress. So now I am back and still loving the Soldier mastery. I really like nightblade to complement my build with PB and veil of shadow. My question really is about devotion, although if you have any suggestions on my build please I love feedback.

My type of gameplay is blitz in, forcewave all that I can, smash you in the face with cadence. Simple but effective. The damages I really like are Physical/Internal trauma and some bleeding. But I am really liking retaliation as well. So this is my theory craft for my char

http://grimcalc.com/build/cG8nwqu

The only problem I am noticing with this is my lack of resistances in devotions. I have a ton of armor and shield block chance/damage.

I was also thinking of this http://grimcalc.com/build/rsq9uG1

I lose all my retaliation, but gain a ton of resistances.

So which way do you think I should go?

Well, you have decorated soldier for all rez, scars of battle for bleed and phantasmal armor for some pierce. And you will get the other res from gear, components, augments.

Hey,

A lot of what can be said, you may found in the build from the link below. I think it will provide good inspiration for what you need.

http://grimdawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30989

Thanks guys!!

http://www.grimdawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42424&page=40

The best Sword&Board build in GD. Hell, it’s the BEST build among them all!

of course, you can have good results with pure Soldier mastery even, but playstyles involving Piercing (Nightblade 2-nd class) or elemental (Arcanist 2-nd class) playstyles arent so well supported by gear and passives…

How is piercing not supported? are you refering strictly to sword and board?

Krsboss made a physical build and still works. One could make a pierce/phys S&B build with weapons like reavers claw with proper gear and devotions. Might not be the best with regards to damage like the witchblade but still doable.

Edit: And saying it’s the best is a bit much. I know CoF is basically a “win” button for most classes. But there are combinations that may equal or even surpass the witchblade to some extent. Playing one at the moment:D