[3.1] GLADIATOR 1H+Shield Max Block&Spell Block Tank + a BoR version

Just wanted to stop by and weigh in on the Varunastra discussion.
I've been trying to run the numbers and found these differences so far. We would trade the 7 nodes in the Bone breaker/Skull cracker wheel for 8 nodes traveling to and allocating the Deadly diletante
wheel.

Current tree
7 points for 118% increased damage with maces, 4% attack speed with maces, 5% increased radius of area skills, 10% reduced enemy stun threshold and 40% increased stun duration.

With deadly diletante
8 points for 108% increased damage with varunastra, 24 % increased attack speed with varunastra

its also worth noting that we dont HAVE to drop the mace nodes, we could pick them up at later levels, since varunastra would benefit from the mace nodes as well, we are also able with this current tree to pick up the "by the blade" cluster with only 4 points, these 4 points would give 96% damage with varunastra. this wheel also grants accuracy and evasion, neither of which we benefit from.

As far as weapon dps i really need someone with more experience to determine varunastra with the above nodes vs Doryanis catalyst with the current mace nodes and see which would truly be better. perhaps the varunastra version of this build could be considered budget? since Doryanis runs around 45c- 2 ex and Varunastra is sitting around 10-25c

Hey there, thank you for updating the guide.



I'm going to do a Varunastra version of the build, but the one skilltree I found in the replies is taking increased damage over time and bleed damage for some reason, am I missing something?

Also would it be worth it to get myself a corrupted anvil and get one extra curse on mobs and run 2 curses on a CWDT setup together with IC and molten shell?

Could someone possibly do the best/most widely used gem setup (outside the 6l) because I'm getting a bit stomped on that, no CWDT while I would've thought the QOL on molten shell, chaos golem and tempest shield on that alone would be worth it.

with increased duration i only have to use tempest shield at the start of a map, and it refreshes itself just fine throughout. With that I can run curse on hit with it and not worry about blasphemy and run HOA and hatred.

I have to set aside a four link for heavy strike though, as sunder isn't really that great against single targets, although at a 6 link its hitting for 30k so if the boss has any enemies around them, even t12 and 13 bosses are melting in a few seconds.

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tploki1987 wrote:

Hi. I really love this build! Have a lot of fun with it. Finally got my hands on an Aegis Aurora and I'm now working on a Weapon. Was wondering if Doryani's Catalyst would be the best weapon with Earthquake or if a rare Mace/Scepter would be better. Or are there any other good Uniques you would consider? Thanks in advance

You can always try and get a rare mace with more phys dps, it will be expensive though. There's no other unique that would give you more.

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DancingxDervish wrote:

since Doryanis runs around 45c- 2 ex and Varunastra is sitting around 10-25c

Varunastra is 1-2ex in Perandus SC.

"

I have to set aside a four link for heavy strike though, as sunder isn't really that great against single targets, although at a 6 link its hitting for 30k so if the boss has any enemies around them, even t12 and 13 bosses are melting in a few seconds.

Been running 4L heavy strike + 5L sunder and it was perfect. After getting 6L sunder the damage difference seems to be less worth it. Sunder went around 27k while 4L-heavy was 31-32k. Granted, heavy strike was stunlocking decently. But i decided to try to play without it for a while and use the slots for other toys and see how it works.

Current setup:

3L: CWDT 10 - Chaos Golem 12 - Red of your choice (atm determination or HoA)
(chaos golem grants 4% damage reduction at 12, which is the only reason i take it).
3L: Blasphemy - Red - Green. Thats either warlords mark + hatred or HoA + temporal chains.
4L: Reckoning - Venguance - MeleePhysDmg - Endurance charge on stun.
4L: Leap slam - Fortify - Tempest Shield - Increased Duration
4L: Immortal call - Vaal Haste - Vaal Molten Shell - Increased Duration

Tempest shield on base 19-20s barely ever needs recast. Golem triggers sufficiently often, or in other words, he is usually there when he is needed and doesnt stay away too long if he dies. One might rearrange the setup and have tempest without duration but leap slam with blood magic or faster attacks instead. Labyrinth leaping works great with FA imho :)

Fortify goes around 6 seconds after leap slam, a bit eh, but then if I really wanted permanent fortify i could just use vigilant strike gem instead of fortify and hit every now and then on primary (sunder is right mouse button so primary attack is free).

Vaal Gems with increased duration are grand. Vaal haste was perfect with heavy strike, but drains Sunder mana very fast.

Overall what i dont like with 6L sunder being only attack is the mana drain (while having 85% mana reserved with hatred + curse). Running warlords mark helps but may have to get a jewel with mana leech or possibly the 2-point-Revelry node (2mana per target hit) next to first Endurance charge. Same time regular mobs die instantly, and bosses are kited where mana is never an issue.

However it needs to be said that Sunder gameplay against t11+ bosses is less personal. I have the liberty to run pretty rippy mods (like bosses deal + 100% fire + 100% lightning + 300% crit multiplier etc.) which i wouldnt touch with ice crash or static ever. It doesnt matter how much damage they do if they dont get to hit you. Sunder + GV = semi kiting, abusing bleeds, leap slam mobility and very impressive sunder range.

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sirdec wrote:

Someone could explain me defence sytem with this build?

No cast when damage taken? ok so u manually Immortal Call? Anyone running Cast when damage taken?

I m playing hardcore and i think it could be good to have CWDT, no?

Max block, max spell block, max endurance charges and capped resists.

I can faceroll T9 maps with no problems. Will be doing higher maps as soon as I find them.

This build has spoiled me because it's so damn defensive and still does great damage.

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ComradeSerge wrote:

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DancingxDervish wrote:

since Doryanis runs around 45c- 2 ex and Varunastra is sitting around 10-25c

Varunastra is 1-2ex in Perandus SC.

Varunastra is 13c on poe.trade right now :)

? for some of you in here about Varunastra and if you have tested the dps to see if it is a lot better or not.

I've hit 100 on my own blocker in warbands with a 400 dps weapon. Really wondering if its better not or not. My ice crash was around 60-70k dps. I'm playing in perandus sc as my bow build atm so didn't want to just waste 5ex to buy one on standard to try it out.

Blocker is fun as hell but if you can't get the dps rolling high, not as fun for me personally in high maps for clear speed.

Yea i didnt mean to sound negative or imposing when i posted that about varunastra, i just really like using whirling blades and have both a varunastra and a 300 dps doryanis so i was genuinely curious which would be preferable. I'm enjoying this build tremendously but i don't want to fail to take advantage of varunastra if it is indeed a strong pickup.
I was hoping Comrade or another veteran would weigh in on whether or not the trade to varunastra is even worth, especially since i have yet to take this build into mid tier maps, let alone high tier.
I'm also curious whether or not newer skills would be better with varunastra, for example sunder or earthquake.. anyone out there who can run the number or even give me the formula. the part that confuses me is how increased attack speed plays out. The dilettante wheel gives 20% more attack speed than the Bone breaker/ skull crusher wheel at the expense of 10% less damage. is this worth? is it worth once the "by the blade" nodes are factored in for 96% increased damage?
I'm at a loss, again i wanted to mention that i wasn't trying to be critical, just curious.
regards,
DD