Hardcore & Softcore Builds
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
Gives high increased Thorns damage and taunts 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.
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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%.
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Weapon: Pigsticker
Pigsticker is the fastest weapon in the game for generating Thorns stacks from 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.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a very fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Diamond
A Flawless Royal Diamond gives cooldown reduction for all of your cooldowns including Akarat's Champion.
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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
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.
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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 can reroll 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 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 set bonus which is your primary source of damage.
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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.​
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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 Condemns from Phalanx and reduces your pets' 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%.
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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 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%.
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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 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.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of Regeneration
This life regeneration potion heals you and helps you survive.
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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.
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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 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.
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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 don't need to stack cooldown reduction which allows you to focus more on 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 increases the number of Condemn explosions triggered on enemies.
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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.​​
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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%.
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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 increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.
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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 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.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a very fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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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.
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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.
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.
2. Laws of Valor with the Unstoppable Force rune counts as 50% resource cost reduction when using the Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set which greatly increases your toughness for its 5 second duration.
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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.
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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%.
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Equipment
Weapon: Gyrfalcon's Foote
The resource cost of Blessed Shield is removed and the damage of Blessed Shield is increased 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 the gem 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 on death.
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.
Belt: The Witching Hour
Provides increased attack speed and critical hit damage.
Boots: Ice Climbers
Immune to freeze and immobilize effects. Negates the negative effects of Stone Gauntlets.
Ring: Convention of Elements
Rotates 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.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a very fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Diamond
A Flawless Royal Diamond gives cooldown reduction for all of your cooldowns including Akarat's Champion.
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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.
Seasonal: Unity
Splits damage taken with a follower when they are equipped with a Unity and a "follower cannot die" relic.
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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.
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 so be careful around these mobs or you could die in a few short casts of a projectile skill.
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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 the rankings.​
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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.
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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 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.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a fast attack speed this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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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.
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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% primary resources.
Ring/Amulet: Ring of Royal Grandeur
You require one less set item to complete sets (minimum of two set items).
Seasonal: Eberli Charo
Gives Heaven's Fury a 50% reduced cooldown.
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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. Judgment and Heaven's Fury both share a 20 second cooldown which makes them easy to use together.
2. Use Judgment for increased critical hit chance and the 400% damage increase from the Bracers of Fury, then Laws of Valor with the Critical rune for 50% increase critical hit damage, and finally cast Heaven's Fury.
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 the Fist of the Heavens skill.
4. Resource cost reduction increases your toughness and cooldown reduction increases your damage when the Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set is equipped.
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Recommended Mercenary
Templar
Weapon: Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker
Slows enemies attacks and movement speed.
Templar Relic: Enchanting Favor
Your Templar cannot die.
Shield: Freeze of Deflection
Blocks have a chance to freeze enemies for 1.5 second.
Helm: Blind Faith
Chance to blind enemies on hit.
Shoulders: Homing Pads (Emanates)
Town portal is uninterruptable and while casting town portal you gain a protective life shield.
Gloves: Gloves of Worship (Emanates)
Shrine effects last 10 minutes.
Bracers: Nemesis Bracers (Emanates)
Pylons spawn an elite enemy.
Waist: Cord of the Sherma
Chance to create a chaos field that blinds and slows enemies for 4 seconds.
Boots: Ice Climbers
Immune to freeze and immobilize effects.
Ring 1: Unity
Splits damage taken with the other wearer of this ring.
Ring 2: Wyrmward
Lightning damage has a 35% chance to stun.
Amulet: The Flavor of Time (Emanates)
Pylon effects last twice as long.
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Feel free to check out the other sections of the site for more on Diablo III:
Diablo III Advanced Tips and Tricks
And that's all for the Crusader Top 5 Builds Guide. Better items await you in Greater Rifts!
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