Legendary Gems

Boyarsky's Chip

Gain Thorns damage and taunt the first enemy hit by your primary skills for 2 seconds.

Gogok of Swiftness

Increase attack speed and cooldown reduction by 1% and gain dodge for 4 seconds stacking up to 15 times.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Thorns of the Invoker

(2) Set Bonus:

Your Thorns damage now hits all enemies in a 15 yard radius around you. Each time you hit an enemy with Punish, Slash, or block an attack your Thorns is increased by 90% for 2 seconds stacking up to 10 times.

(4) Set Bonus:

You take 50% reduced damage for 20 seconds after damaging an enemy with Bombardment.

(6) Set Bonus:

The attack speed for Punish and Slash are increased by 100% and deal 67,500% of your Thorns damage.

​

Weapon: Pigsticker

Pigsticker is the fastest weapon in the game for the Thorns stacks from the Thorns of the Invoker set.

Crusader Shield: Akarat's Awakening

Gain a 25% chance to reduce all cooldowns by 1 second when blocking.

Chest: Aquila Cuirass

Gain 50% damage reduction above 90% primary resources.

Belt: Omnislash

Slash in all directions.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

​

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

With a very fast attack rate this life on hit potion will help you survive.

​

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is used to pick up the toughness for the Thorns of the Invokers set.

​

Powers

Weapon: Echoing Fury

Engulfs the wielder into a frenzy that increases attack and movement speed.

Armor: Belt of the Trove

Call down a Bombardment every 4 seconds to trigger Thorns of the Invoker's defensive.

Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements

Occasional 200% elemental damage increase.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Strength > Socket > Vitality > Life on Hit

Body: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > Life %

Hands: Strength > Vitality > Attack Speed > Cooldown Reduction

Shoulders: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Life % 

Legs: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > All Resistance

Waist: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Life %

Bracers: Strength > Vitality > Life on Hit > All Resistance

Feet: Strength > Vitality > Movement Speed > All Resistance

Amulet: Socket > Strength > Attack Speed > Cooldown Reduction

Rings: Socket > Strength > Attack Speed > Cooldown Reduction

Thorns of the Invoker Tips

1. You can reroll Thorns on your secondary modifiers for higher damage with this build.

2. This build is very strong offensively but somewhat weak defensively and is much more powerful once you have a significant amount of Vitality paragons.

3. When using the Thorns of the Invoker Set, Thorns Damage, Attack Speed, Strength, and Cooldown Reduction are your most important stats for damage. Thorns can't critical strike so you should try to avoid Critical Strike Chance and Critical Strike Damage on your items.

4. The Vo'toyias Spiker shouldn't be used for this build despite it's Thorns damage increase because it doesn't work with the Thorns of the Invoker 6 set bonus which is your primary source of damage.

Note: The Thorns of the Invoker Set Crusader is capable of 108+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

​

2. Aegis of Valor with Captain Crimsons Set (Heaven's Fury) Level 105+

The second place spot goes to the Aegis of Valor Fist of Heavens/Heaven's Fury hybrid Crusader which is capable of using a powerful ranged attack while still having strong defenses.

​

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Powerful

Gain a 20% damage buff after killing an elite and 15% increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Gogok of Swiftness

Increase attack speed and cooldown reduction by 1% and gain dodge for 4 seconds stacking up to 15 times.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Aegis of Valor

(2) Set Bonus:

Attacking with Fist of the Heavens increases Heaven's Fury damage for 5 seconds stacking up to 3 times.

(4) Set Bonus:

Hitting with Fist of Heavens returns 5 Wrath and reduces damage taken by 1% stacking up to 50 times.

(6) Set Bonus:

Increase the damage of Fist of the Heavens and Heavens Fury by 20,000%.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.

​

Weapon: Fate of the Fell

Heaven's Fury has 2 additional rays and deals 500% increased damage.

Crusader Shield: Shield of Fury

Stacking 25% increase to Heaven's Fury damage.

Bracers: Bracers of Fury

Heaven's Fury deals 400% increased damage against blinded, immobilized, or stunned targets.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

​

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

With a very fast attack rate this life on hit potion will help you survive.

​

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond is offensive and defensive and will give more uptime on Akarat's Champion.

​

Powers

Weapon: Darklight

Fist of the Heavens now attacks twice and deals 1000% increased damage.

Armor: Aquila Cuirass

Gain 50% damage reduction when above 90% resources.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of the Royal Grandeur

One less set item to complete sets.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > % Damage to Heaven's Fury

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Strength > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Strength > Vitality > Resource Cost Reduction > % Damage to Heaven's Fury

Legs: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > All Resistance

Waist: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Life %

Bracers: Strength > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Holy Damage %

Feet: Strength > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Fist of the Heavens

Amulet: Socket > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance > Strength

Rings: Socket > Critical Strike Chance > Strength > Vitality

Aegis of Valor Tips​​

1. Use Judgment with the Resolve rune to gain 8% Critical Strike and a 400% damage increase from the Bracers of Fury, Laws of Valor (Critical) for a 50% increase in critical strike damage, and then cast Heaven's Fury. Judgment and Heaven's Fury both share a 20 second cooldown making them easy to use together.

2. Resource Cost Reduction will increase your toughness when using the Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set by a significant amount and is highly recommended on your shoulders.

3. Fist of Heavens is considered a projectile skill and some enemies such as Malthael, Sand Dwellers, and Dune Dervishes can reflect projectiles back at you so be very cautious around these enemies on hardcore or your character could die in a few short casts of a projectile skill.

4. The Divine Fortress passive which provides Armor can be changed to the Finery passive for Strength and Armor on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Aegis of Valor Set Crusader is capable of 105+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

​

3. Armor of Akkhan Set with Captain Crimson and Aughild's Set (Condemn) Level 105+

The Armor of Akkhan set changed to a Condemn build instead of a Bombardment build in Season 27 and takes the third place spot.

​

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.

Enforcer

Increases pet damage and reduces pet damage taken by 90%. Also increases Condemn damage done by pets.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Armor of Akkhan

(2) Set Bonus:

Judgment has no cooldown and gains the effect of every rune.

(4) Set Bonus:

Attacks from Phalanx Avatars reduce the cooldown of Akarat's Champion by 0.5 seconds, and apply Condemn when attacking enemies that are affected by judgment.

(6) Set Bonus:

While Akarat's Champion is active you deal 1500% increased damage and gain 50% damage reduction.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.

Set: Aughild's Authority

(2) Set Bonus:

Reduces damage taken by 15% and increases damage dealt by 30%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Reduces damage taken from elites and increases damage dealt to elites by 30%.

​

Weapon: Blade of Prophecy

Two Condemned enemies also trigger Condemns Explosion and the damage of Condemn is increased by 800%.

Crusader Shield: Unrelenting Phalanx

Phalanx now casts twice.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: Eternal Union

Phalanx Bowman follow you indefinitely.

Amulet: Talisman of Akkhan

Completes the Armor of Akkhan set.

​

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

This life on hit potion will help you survive and increase your life recovery.

​

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for a higher life percent and additional toughness.

​

Powers

Weapon: Frydehr's Wrath

Condemn has no cooldown and its damage is increased by 800%, but instead costs 40 Wrath.

Armor: Tasker and Theo

Increases your pets attack speed by 50%.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of the Royal Grandeur

One less set item to complete sets.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Strength > Socket > Vitality > All Resistance

Body: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > % Increased Condemn Damage

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Strength > Vitality  > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > % Increased Condemn Damage

Legs: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > All Resistance

Waist: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Life %

Bracers: Strength > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Holy Damage %

Feet: Strength > Vitality > Movement Speed > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance > Vitality

Rings: Socket > Critical Strike Chance > Strength > Vitality

Armor of Akkhan Tips​

1. The Eternal Union ring makes Phalanx Bowman permanent so there isn't a need for cooldown reduction which allows you to focus on critical strike for higher damage.

2.  Tasker and Theo increases the attack speed of Phalanx and the number of Condemn explosions.

3. The Vigilant defensive passive can be changed to Finery for 1.5% strength per gem socketed in your gear on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Armor of Akkhan Set Crusader is capable of 105+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

​

4. Crusader Legacy of Dreams (Blessed Shield) Level 101+

The Legacy of Dreams Blessed Shield Crusader is a strong contender and is ranked fourth on the top builds for Hardcore Crusaders.

​