Tronko
Well-known member
I'm sharing the Vanguard DPS/Support build I'm playing right now. Almost no one plays Vanguard, I think statistically S&B is the least popular fighting style. There are obviously reasons for this… 
In any case, it's a bit of a shame because I think the playstyle is really fun, with a lot of active attacks.
I chose to try Vanguard again, after years, mainly to use the new Morgrave items. The new sets will hardly be best in slot on traditional melee builds: sacrificing dino armor 3% profane doublestrike and 2d6 sneak dice is not a great idea.
But Colossus is really nice for a shield, and the hand and a half weapons, both Ignition and Demise, with all the limitations of the case, are interesting.
The build is pretty straightforward, 20 paladin vanguard. It's a DPS support with a bit of buffs, debuffs, and CC.
My melee power is 375 in reaper with Sanctified Fervor, nothing special. Playing Vanguard capstone and T5, I don't have Ascendancy.
Double strike is 101%, having the shield I can easily give up the feat and take Crush Weakness instead.
Base damage is solid, and this build really has a lot of active attacks, some very strong:
In general, the damage is there but it's not top tier. The attack speed is good (70% under boost and Madstone), the shield helps, but the insurmountable problem is the critical profile: x3 multiplier. Ouch. Vanguard t5 helps a little, you get to 16-18 x3 19-20 x6.
Obviously I'm talking about Bastard Sword, you want a favored weapon for the imbue and various bonuses.
If you're a dwarf, the Dwarven Axe is an alternative. But in that case, the range is 18-20. Not great.
It's an objective limitation of the build, switching to longsword or warhammer doesn't help, and I think hand and a half is the way to go to benefit from the THF line for more base damage and strikethrough.
In this regard, Ignition is fabulous for trash. Salt + paralysis + slay living. Warp souls, and the second upgrade that I still don't know how to unlock.
Let's talk about mobility. Meh. The base speed sucks, I didn't take sprint boost. It can obviously be taken from Falconry by removing points from KoTC and the extra lay on hands. It does have Shield Rush and Pounce that help a bit.
And the defenses? PRR is there, I get almost 400 which for a melee that is not a tank is a lot. MRR I have 174 and there is the shield. Dodge 12% (horrible) is the limit, at least for me who chose the medium armor and who didn't invest in it. It can obviously be invested by sacrificing something else, there are 6 points to spend in Vanguard and Sacred Defender for +6 dodge cap, and if you want you can use light armor (and remove the shield when you want to evade). But you need different gear slots, points, and destinies. Not recommended.
HP are low, and Blood Feast helps.
Here's a screenshot of my stats in Reaper (self-buffed).
Razor Paladin 20, DC (37) FotW (27) LD (11)
Strength can be higher using consumables buffs such as psionic/alchemical/rising fury etc. not included in the screenshot.
Razor is not absolutely the best race... I was already a razor paladin (if twf, it’s a great thing), so I did a Lesser 0. Razor paladin is obviously very expensive, and honestly the razor does not offer any particular benefits for vanguard compared to a shifter except for a little bit of strength and pounce. I love pounce, especially when I can't/don't want to invest three feats for spring attack. Beasthide is more tanky. Dwarf with Demise is also a nice alternative.
A disclaimer: at the moment rages in FotW are bugged, so I'm using shifting to have 15 charges. You don't absolutely need that many if you play with capable people and someone heals you every now and then. Usually, that's not my case.
The DC of the Vanguard's abilities are great (the new artifact boosts give +3, but honestly it's not necessary). Technically, they can be raised even further with Ancient Tactics (I use Doublestrike) and with a full cha swap for the trance (I use a 'hybrid' filigree set for the trance that also has Sanctified Fervor)
Fort bypass is 84%, with all the debuffs it's enough for me.
Strikethrough is 140%, Helpless Damage is 35%. Shield Bash is 88%
Enhancements
I really like Vanguard Capstone and t5. KotC capstone and t5 are also very strong, but if you want to play Vanguard, go all the way and use Shield Rush
Investing in KoTC up to Exalted Smite is a must, I also suggest a point for Divine Sacrifice.
As well as 11 points in Vistani for Haste Boost and 5% Doublestrike. The rest is up to you. I took 3 extra lay on hands.
If you want, you can sacrifice them (and sacrifice a few points in KoTC) for Falconry: Sprint Boost and 5% Quality hp.
Feats
1 Exotic Weapon Proficiency
3 Power Attack
6 Shield Mastery
9 Improved Shield Mastery
12 IC Slashing
15 Greater Shield Mastery
18 Improved Shield Bash
21 OC
22 Perfect Shield Mastery
24 Weapon focus
25 Crush Weakness
27 Epic DR
28 Embodiment of Law
30 Power Critical
L Scion of Arborea
31 THF Specialty
Epic Destinies
Divine Crusader T5 is a must-have in my opinion for Mighty Crusade and shield. I want FotW T4 to max Adrenaline and grab Unquenchable Rage.
Then I took LD to have at least 12 Haste Boosts.
Gear Setup
This is the most fun part, finding a way to use the new items...
Ignition and Colossus were the starting points. With two slots already taken, I decided to use Forbidden Knowledge instead of Dino Curse, so I selected three other items: I chose the artifact STR boots, gloves (extra smites and 20 Quality MRR) and goggles (20 Quality PRR).
As main set I chose Devil's Infernal Dance with University Champion's Helm (another 75 reaper fragment lost...) and University Duelist's Cloak (great item).
To complete, two pieces Winter (ring and belt with insightful sheltering) because I have them with 11 melee power on it, Bloodbark Bracers (quality doublestrike, and I save one item swap), Raptor Teeth and a Gem of Many Facets with 15% helpless damage (the second item is Ring of Baphomet).
All in all, it's not a bad setup and you also have Fire, Electricity (or whatever you want) and Alignment Absorption.
Main filigrees: Sucker Punch/One Against Many x2, Dreadbringer Melee Power x2, Treachery Melee Power x2, Long Shadow Melee Power x2, Dreadbringer Tactics DC, Dreadbringer Strength, Shattered Device Melee Power, Shattered Device Attack and Damage, Shattered Device Armor Piercing, Bravery Throughout/Shattered Device.
The sentient weapon swaps I recommend are:
Pros:
Cons:
As usual, feel free to ask for more information.
In any case, it's a bit of a shame because I think the playstyle is really fun, with a lot of active attacks.
I chose to try Vanguard again, after years, mainly to use the new Morgrave items. The new sets will hardly be best in slot on traditional melee builds: sacrificing dino armor 3% profane doublestrike and 2d6 sneak dice is not a great idea.
But Colossus is really nice for a shield, and the hand and a half weapons, both Ignition and Demise, with all the limitations of the case, are interesting.
The build is pretty straightforward, 20 paladin vanguard. It's a DPS support with a bit of buffs, debuffs, and CC.
My melee power is 375 in reaper with Sanctified Fervor, nothing special. Playing Vanguard capstone and T5, I don't have Ascendancy.
Double strike is 101%, having the shield I can easily give up the feat and take Crush Weakness instead.
Base damage is solid, and this build really has a lot of active attacks, some very strong:
- Boulder's Might for Adrenaline that with +5W and +2 Multiplier has no rivals.
- Exalted Smite, which is really huge when playing in DC. With a cooldown of three seconds, you can keep up the 10% damage buff for the whole group, including ranged in the back.
- Divine Sacrifice, +2W and +1 Multiplier. Also 3 seconds.
- Sunder Evil: -10% AC -25% fort, -3 saves I like it.
- Stunning Shield, wow. The cooldown is still a bit long, but it's basically a stun that always goes off.
- Shield Rush. Not the easiest to use, but it's huge: +6W and trip for everyone.
- Shield Smash 3W, a filler, but it's still 'free' and also adds 6 PRR and 6 MRR.
- Shield Charge 3W AoE
In general, the damage is there but it's not top tier. The attack speed is good (70% under boost and Madstone), the shield helps, but the insurmountable problem is the critical profile: x3 multiplier. Ouch. Vanguard t5 helps a little, you get to 16-18 x3 19-20 x6.
Obviously I'm talking about Bastard Sword, you want a favored weapon for the imbue and various bonuses.
If you're a dwarf, the Dwarven Axe is an alternative. But in that case, the range is 18-20. Not great.
It's an objective limitation of the build, switching to longsword or warhammer doesn't help, and I think hand and a half is the way to go to benefit from the THF line for more base damage and strikethrough.
In this regard, Ignition is fabulous for trash. Salt + paralysis + slay living. Warp souls, and the second upgrade that I still don't know how to unlock.
Let's talk about mobility. Meh. The base speed sucks, I didn't take sprint boost. It can obviously be taken from Falconry by removing points from KoTC and the extra lay on hands. It does have Shield Rush and Pounce that help a bit.
And the defenses? PRR is there, I get almost 400 which for a melee that is not a tank is a lot. MRR I have 174 and there is the shield. Dodge 12% (horrible) is the limit, at least for me who chose the medium armor and who didn't invest in it. It can obviously be invested by sacrificing something else, there are 6 points to spend in Vanguard and Sacred Defender for +6 dodge cap, and if you want you can use light armor (and remove the shield when you want to evade). But you need different gear slots, points, and destinies. Not recommended.
HP are low, and Blood Feast helps.
Here's a screenshot of my stats in Reaper (self-buffed).
Razor Paladin 20, DC (37) FotW (27) LD (11)
Strength can be higher using consumables buffs such as psionic/alchemical/rising fury etc. not included in the screenshot.
Razor is not absolutely the best race... I was already a razor paladin (if twf, it’s a great thing), so I did a Lesser 0. Razor paladin is obviously very expensive, and honestly the razor does not offer any particular benefits for vanguard compared to a shifter except for a little bit of strength and pounce. I love pounce, especially when I can't/don't want to invest three feats for spring attack. Beasthide is more tanky. Dwarf with Demise is also a nice alternative.
A disclaimer: at the moment rages in FotW are bugged, so I'm using shifting to have 15 charges. You don't absolutely need that many if you play with capable people and someone heals you every now and then. Usually, that's not my case.
The DC of the Vanguard's abilities are great (the new artifact boosts give +3, but honestly it's not necessary). Technically, they can be raised even further with Ancient Tactics (I use Doublestrike) and with a full cha swap for the trance (I use a 'hybrid' filigree set for the trance that also has Sanctified Fervor)
Fort bypass is 84%, with all the debuffs it's enough for me.
Strikethrough is 140%, Helpless Damage is 35%. Shield Bash is 88%
Enhancements
I really like Vanguard Capstone and t5. KotC capstone and t5 are also very strong, but if you want to play Vanguard, go all the way and use Shield Rush
Investing in KoTC up to Exalted Smite is a must, I also suggest a point for Divine Sacrifice.
As well as 11 points in Vistani for Haste Boost and 5% Doublestrike. The rest is up to you. I took 3 extra lay on hands.
If you want, you can sacrifice them (and sacrifice a few points in KoTC) for Falconry: Sprint Boost and 5% Quality hp.
Feats
1 Exotic Weapon Proficiency
3 Power Attack
6 Shield Mastery
9 Improved Shield Mastery
12 IC Slashing
15 Greater Shield Mastery
18 Improved Shield Bash
21 OC
22 Perfect Shield Mastery
24 Weapon focus
25 Crush Weakness
27 Epic DR
28 Embodiment of Law
30 Power Critical
L Scion of Arborea
31 THF Specialty
Epic Destinies
Divine Crusader T5 is a must-have in my opinion for Mighty Crusade and shield. I want FotW T4 to max Adrenaline and grab Unquenchable Rage.
Then I took LD to have at least 12 Haste Boosts.
Gear Setup
This is the most fun part, finding a way to use the new items...
Ignition and Colossus were the starting points. With two slots already taken, I decided to use Forbidden Knowledge instead of Dino Curse, so I selected three other items: I chose the artifact STR boots, gloves (extra smites and 20 Quality MRR) and goggles (20 Quality PRR).
As main set I chose Devil's Infernal Dance with University Champion's Helm (another 75 reaper fragment lost...) and University Duelist's Cloak (great item).
To complete, two pieces Winter (ring and belt with insightful sheltering) because I have them with 11 melee power on it, Bloodbark Bracers (quality doublestrike, and I save one item swap), Raptor Teeth and a Gem of Many Facets with 15% helpless damage (the second item is Ring of Baphomet).
All in all, it's not a bad setup and you also have Fire, Electricity (or whatever you want) and Alignment Absorption.
Main filigrees: Sucker Punch/One Against Many x2, Dreadbringer Melee Power x2, Treachery Melee Power x2, Long Shadow Melee Power x2, Dreadbringer Tactics DC, Dreadbringer Strength, Shattered Device Melee Power, Shattered Device Attack and Damage, Shattered Device Armor Piercing, Bravery Throughout/Shattered Device.
The sentient weapon swaps I recommend are:
- Bloodrage set (obviously) with LGS Affirmation
- Prowess set for the melee power boost
- Sanctified Fervor + CHA for trance and Fervor proc
Pros:
- It's an all-around melee build, with a bunch of interesting features.
- On trash you have a phenomenal weapon and fast attacks for more procs.
- With Adrenaline and Stunning Shield, you can lock down almost anyone.
- Mighty Crusade is fabulous, Beckon situationally too. And with the shield you have a good reason to put your points in T5 of Crusader.
- You really have a lot of active attacks, and they are all good. Very fun to play.
Cons:
- You use a shield, everyone will think you're a tank. Day one, on the first raid, I was sent to deal with the unicorns in Dryad
- The damage against red named is far from that of the top tier builds.
- You are as slow as the Aldabra giant tortoise, but unlike the Aldabra giant tortoise you are more squishy and if you're not careful you won't live that long.
As usual, feel free to ask for more information.
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