Top 5 Crusader Builds Guide

Crusader Top 5 Builds Guide

1. Thorns of the Invoker with Aughild's Set (Slash)

The top spot goes to the Thorns of the Invoker Slash Crusader which was greatly buffed in a previous season and is now the top Crusader build for the current season.

Legendary Gems

Boyarsky's Chip

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

Bane of the Trapped

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

Gogok of Swiftness

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

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 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 by 30% and reduces your damage taken from elites by 30%.

Weapon: Pigsticker

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

Crusader Shield: Akarat's Awakening

Gives a 25% chance to reduce all cooldowns by 1 second when you block.

Belt: Omnislash

Slash attacks in all directions.

Ring: Convention of Elements

Rotates through 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 will help you survive.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond provides cooldown reduction for all of your cooldowns.

Powers

Weapon: Echoing Fury

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

Armor: Belt of the Trove

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).

Season 33: 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

Thorns of the Invoker Tips

1. You should reroll Thorns which is a secondary modifier for higher damage with this build.

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 can't score critical hits so you should try to avoid Critical Hit Chance and Critical Hit Damage on your items.

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

2. Armor of Akkhan Set with Captain Crimson and Aughild's Set (Condemn)

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

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

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

Enforcer

Increases pet damage including your Condemn damage done by pets and reduces their damage taken by 90%.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increases by 25%.

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 casts Condemn on enemies that are affected by the Judgment skill.

(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 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:

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

(3) Set Bonus:

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

Weapon: Blade of Prophecy

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

Crusader Shield: Unrelenting Phalanx

Phalanx now casts twice.

Ring: Convention of Elements

Rotates through 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 and will help you survive.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

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

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 the attack speed of pets by 50%.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

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

Season 33: The Furnace

Gives 50% increased damage against elite enemies.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Strength > Socket > Vitality > Critical Hit Damage

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 so you shouldn't need cooldown reduction which allows you to focus more on critical hit chance and critical hit damage for more damage.

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

3. Roland's Legacy Set with Captain Crimson's Set (Sweep Attack)

This set is strong both offensively and defensively and has an extremely fast attack speed with Sweep Attack. This 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

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

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increases by 25%.

Equipment

Set: Roland's Legacy

(2) Set Bonus:

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

(4) Set Bonus:

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

(6) Set Bonus:

Every use of Shield Bash or Sweep Attack 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 increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.

Weapon: Golden Flense

Sweep attack restores 6 Wrath for every enemy hit and has 300% increased damage.

Crusader Shield: Denial

Sweep Attack 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 through 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

This a very fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

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

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

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

Season 33: Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Strength > Socket > Vitality > % Damage to Sweep Attack

Body: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > All Resistance

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

Shoulders: Strength > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > Resource Cost Reduction

Legs: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > All Resistance

Waist: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Life Percent

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

Feet: Strength > Vitality > % Damage to Sweep Attack > All Resistance

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

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Strength > Vitality

Roland's Legacy Tips

1. Use Shield Glare with the Divine Verdict rune and Laws of Valor with the Unstoppable Force rune before using Sweep Attack for 20% increased damage and a 50% reduced Wrath cost for your Sweep Attack.

2. Laws of Valor Unstoppable Force counts as 50% resource cost reduction when using the Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set which greatly increases your toughness for its 5 second duration.

4. Crusader Legacy of Dreams (Blessed Shield)

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

Legendary Gems

Legacy of Dreams

Legendaries increase damage and reduce damage taken without sets equipped. Double this effect for Ancients.

Gogok of Swiftness

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

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

Equipment

Weapon: Gyrfalcon's Foote

Removes the resource cost of Blessed Shield and increases its damage by 350%.

Shield: Jekandbord

Blessed Shield ricochets to 6 additional enemies and has its damage increased by 400%.

Helm: Leoric's Crown

Doubles the effect of gems socketed in this item.

Chest: Aquila Cuirass

While above 90% primary resources your damage taken is reduced by 50%.

Shoulders: Pauldrons of the Skeleton King

Chance on death to be revived with 25% life and causes nearby enemies to run in fear.

Legs: Blackthorne Jousting Mail

Gives a 20% elemental damage increase.

Bracers: Strongarm Bracers

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

Hands: Stone Gauntlets

Getting hit increases your armor by 50% stacking up to 5 times. The negative effects of these gloves are negated by the recommended Ice Climbers boots.

Belt: The Witching Hour

Provides increased attack speed and critical hit damage.

Boots: Ice Climbers

Immune to freeze and immobilize effects.

Ring: Convention of Elements

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

Ring 2: Justice Lantern

Gives increased block chance and damage reduction equal to 55% of your block chance.

Amulet: Hellfire Amulet

Gives a free random passive skill from the character class that creates the amulet.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Leech

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

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

A Flawless Royal Diamond provides cooldown reduction for all of your cooldowns.

Powers

Weapon: Akkhan's Leniency

Enemies hit by your Blessed Shield increase your Blessed Shield damage by 40% stacking up to 100 times.

Armor: Akkhan's Manacles

Increases your Blessed Shield damage by 500% for the first enemy hit.

Ring/Amulet: Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac

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

Season 33: Unity

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

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Strength > Socket > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

Body: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > All Resistance

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

Shoulders: Strength > Vitality > Area Damage > All Resistance

Legs: Sockets > Strength > Vitality > All Resistance

Waist: Strength > Vitality > All Resistance > Life Percent

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

Feet: Strength > Vitality > % Damage to Blessed Shield > All Resistance

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

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Strength > Vitality

Legacy of Dreams Blessed Shield Tips

1. The Ice Climbers boots negate both of the negative effects on the Stone Gauntlets gloves.

2. Blessed Shield is considered a projectile skill and some enemies such as Malthael, Sand Dwellers, and Dune Dervishes can reflect projectiles back at you making you take a ton of damage very quickly so be careful around these mobs or you could die in a few short casts of a projectile skill.

5. Aegis of Valor with Captain Crimsons Set (Heaven's Fury)

The Aegis of Valor Fist of Heavens and Heaven's Fury Crusader was heavily nerfed back in Season 30 and now comes in at the fifth place spot in our rankings.

Diablo 3 LoD Crusader Blessed Shield (2)

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

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

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

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:

Increases the damage of Fist of the Heavens and Heavens Fury by 15,000%.

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 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 gains 2 additional rays and deals 500% increased damage.

Crusader Shield: Shield of Fury

Gives 30% increased damage to Heaven's Fury each time it deals damage stacking up to 10 times.

Bracers: Bracers of Fury

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

Ring: Convention of Elements

Rotates through 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

This life on hit potion heals you and will help you survive.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Diamond

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

Powers

Weapon: Darklight

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

Armor: Aquila Cuirass

Gives 50% reduced damage taken when above 90% resources.

Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur

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

Season 33: Eberli Charo

Gives Heaven's Fury a 50% reduced cooldown.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Hit Chance

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

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

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

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 > % Damage to Fist of the Heavens > All Resistance

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

Rings: Socket > Critical Hit Chance > Strength > Vitality

Aegis of Valor Tips

1. Use Judgment for increased critical hit chance and a 400% damage increase from the Bracers of Fury, Laws of Valor (Critical) for 50% increase critical hit 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 increases your toughness and Cooldown Reduction increases your damage when the Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set is equipped.

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 careful around these enemies or your character could die in a few short casts of Fist of the Heavens.