Crusader Top 5 Builds Guide

1st. Thorns of the Invoker Set (Slash)

The Thorns of the Invoker Slash Crusader was greatly buffed in a previous season which moved it up to first place in the rankings for the top Softcore Crusader builds.​

​

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases your damage against enemies under the effect of crowd control effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Boyarsky's Chip

Gives high increased Thorns damage and taunts the first enemy hit by your primary skills for 2 seconds.

Gogok of Swiftness

Increases attack speed and cooldown reduction by 1% and gives you a chance to dodge stacking up to 15 times.

​

Skills & Passives

Skills

Slash - Zeal

Steed Charge - Draw and Quarter

Iron Skin - Reflective Skin

Laws of Justice - Immovable Object

Akarat's Champion - Prophet

Bombardment - Barrels of Spikes

 

Passives

Fervor

Iron Maiden

Fanaticism

Indestructible​

​

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

(6) Set Bonus:

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

Set: Aughild's Authority

(2) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt by 30% and reduces your damage taken by 15%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt against elites and reduces your damage taken from elites by 30%.

​

Weapon: Pigsticker

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

Crusader Shield: Akarat's Awakening

Gives a 25% chance to reduce all cooldowns by one second when you block an attack.

Belt: Omnislash

Slash now attacks in all directions.

Ring: Convention of Elements

Rotates damage types and gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

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 the very fast attack speed of this build this life on hit potion helps you survive.

​

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond gives cooldown reduction for your cooldowns like the Akarat's Champion skill.

​

Powers

Weapon: Echoing Fury

Gives a frenzy buff on kill that increases your attack speed and movement speed stacking up to 5 times.

Armor: Belt of the Trove

You now calls down a Bombardment every 4 seconds which triggers the Thorns of the Invoker set defensive.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Seasonal: The Furnace

Gives 50% increased damage against elite enemies.

​

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Strength > Socket > Vitality > Life Per Hit

Body: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > Life Percent

Hands: Strength > Vitality > Attack Speed > Cooldown Reduction

Shoulders: Strength > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > All Resistance

Legs: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > All Resistance

Waist: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Life Percent

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

Feet: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Strength > Attack Speed > Cooldown Reduction

Rings: Socket > Strength > Attack Speed > Cooldown Reduction

Note: You should raise the priority of defensive stats like Vitality and life recovery if you have low paragons.

 

Thorns of the Invoker Tips

1. You should reroll your secondary modifiers to high Thorns damage for increased damage.

2. When using the Thorns of the Invoker set, Thorns damage, attack speed, strength, and cooldown reduction are your most important stats for damage. Thorns damage can't critically hit so you should try to avoid rolling critical hit chance rolls and critical hit damage rolls on your equipment.

3. The Vo'toyias Spiker shouldn't be used on this build despite its increased Thorns damage because it doesn't work with the Thorns of the Invoker set bonus which is your main source of damage.

​​

2nd. Armor of Akkhan Set (Condemn)

The Armor of Akkhan set was changed to a Condemn build instead of a Bombardment build way back in Season 27 and takes the second place spot in the Softcore Crusader rankings.

​

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increases your damage against enemies under the effect of crowd control effects and gives a 30% slow aura.

Enforcer

Increases the damage of pets which includes your Phalanx from Condemn and lowers pets' damage taken.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

​

Skills & Passives

Skills

Justice - Sword of Justice

Phalanx - Bowmen

Judgment - Resolved

Laws of Valor - Critical

Akarat's Champion - Prophet

Condemn - Unleashed

 

Passives

Finery

Indestructible​

Heavenly Strength

Holy Cause

​

Equipment

Set: Armor of Akkhan

(2) Set Bonus:

Judgment no longer has a 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 cast Condemn on enemies that are affected by Judgment.

(6) Set Bonus:

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

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

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

(3) Set Bonus:

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

Set: Aughild's Authority

(2) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt by 30% and reduces your damage taken by 15%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Increases your damage dealt against elites and reduces your damage taken from elites by 30%.

​

Weapon: Blade of Prophecy

Condemned enemies now also trigger its explosion and the damage of Condemn is increased by 800%.

Crusader Shield: Unrelenting Phalanx

Phalanx now casts twice.

Ring: Convention of Elements

Rotates damage types and gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Ring 2: Eternal Union

Phalanx Bowman follow you indefinitely.

Amulet: Talisman of Akkhan

Completes the Armor of Akkhan set.

​

Potion

Bottomless Potion of Regeneration

This life regeneration potion heals you over a short duration and helps you survive.

​

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond provides cooldown reduction for all of your cooldowns and gives increased damage when the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set is equipped.

​

Powers

Weapon: Frydehr's Wrath

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

Armor: Tasker and Theo

Increases the attack speed of your pets by 50%.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Seasonal: The Furnace

Gives 50% increased damage against elite enemies.

​

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Strength > Socket > Critical Hit Damage > Vitality

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

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

Shoulders: Strength > Vitality > % Increased Condemn Damage > Area Damage

Legs: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > All Resistance

Waist: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Life Percent

Bracers: Strength > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance > Holy Damage Percent

Feet: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Armor

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

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Strength > Vitality

 

Armor of Akkhan Tips​

1. The Eternal Union ring makes Phalanx Bowman permanent which means you don't need to stack cooldown reduction. You should focus more critical hit chance and critical hit damage for increased damage.

2. Tasker and Theo increases the attack speed of your pets including your Phalanx minions which then increases the number of Condemn explosions triggered on enemies.

​

3rd. Roland's Legacy Set (Sweep Attack)

This set is strong both offensively and defensively and has an extremely fast attack speed with Sweep Attack which makes life per hit and life per Wrath spent very effective for survival.

​

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

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

Bane of the Powerful

Gives 20% increased damage after killing an elite and increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies receive a stacking damage taken increase and your damage against bosses is increased by 25%.

​

Skills & Passives

Skills

Punishment - Celerity

Sweep Attack - Blazing Sweep

Akarat's Champion - Hasteful

Steed Charge - Endurance

Shield Glare - Divine Verdict

Laws of Valor - Unstoppable Force

 

Passives

Finery

Indestructible​

Heavenly Strength

Holy Cause

​

Equipment

Set: Roland's Legacy

(2) Set Bonus:

Hitting with Sweep Attack or Shield Bash reduces the cooldown of your Laws and defensive skills by 1 second.

(4) Set Bonus:

Increases the damage of your Sweep Attack and Shield Bash by 40,000%.

(6) Set Bonus:

Every use of Sweep Attack or Shield Bash that hits an enemy grants 75% increased attack speed and 15% reduced damage taken for 8 seconds stacking up to 5 times.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

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

(3) Set Bonus:

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

​

Weapon: Golden Flense

Sweep Attack now restores 6 Wrath for every enemy hit and gains 300% increased damage.

Crusader Shield: Denial

Sweep Attack now increases your Sweep Attack damage by 125% stacking up to 5 times.

Bracers: Strongarm Bracers

Enemies hit by knockbacks take 30% increased damage for 6 seconds.

Ring: Convention of Elements

Rotates damage types and gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

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 speed this life on hit potion helps you survive.

​

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond provides cooldown reduction for all of your cooldowns and gives increased damage when the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set is equipped.

​

Powers

Weapon: The Furnace

Gain 50% increased damage against elite enemies.

Armor: Aquila Cuirass

Gives 50% reduced damage taken when you are above 90% primary resources.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).

Seasonal: Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

Reduces the cooldown of one of your skills by one second when you hit with a resource spending attack.

​

Roland's Legacy Tips​

1. Use Shield Glare with the Divine Verdict rune and then Laws of Valor with the Unstoppable Force rune before attacking with Sweep Attack for 20% increased damage and 50% less Wrath costs. 

2. The Laws of Valor Unstoppable Force rune counts as 50% resource cost reduction for the Captain Crimson's Trimmings set bonus which makes cooldown reduction increase your toughness.

​