Read in other threads about how the berserker nerfs slowed down gameplay, many have been playing core again.
This revolves around high mobility and crazy amount of dodges through energy sigil/signet/food/vigor. It’s nothing earth-shattering new, just some tweaks to the same traitlines/gear/food we are confined to.
Strengths:
- Very high mobility, only thieves can keep up. Often i’ll use this to pull thieves out of the group, kill them then go back in to kill the rest.
- lots of iFrames.
- Decent lockdown on non-thieves via rampage, sword immob into hundred blades.
- Forceful greatsword!! Warrior feels so much more fluid with this 20% reduction in skills, it really makes it a lot more fun to play.
Weaknesses:
- higher reflex/awareness of play needed, can’t ROFL eating all attacks like the meta shifted warriors into post HoT.
- loss of cleansing ire means we need to take full advantage of our dodging and mobility, you can panic button your signet of stamina in an emergency, or shrug it off with rampage.
- loss of eternal champion through berserker/access to stability.
- primarily single target DPS.
- limited access to fury if you use the rampage version vs SoR version
Optional changes:
- if you use a lot of terrain to your advantage when kiting, i.e. jumping up and down cliffs – take death from above and swap elite to signet of rage.
- marauders where the assassins trinkets are would give 1000 more health and a bit more power at the loss of 4% crit damage and 2% crit chance. I just linked the build with my current setup as I don’t like wasting any stats with .XX of a percent.
- Using bloodlust where the air sigil is in sword. I use air as it makes up some of the damage loss you get from taking sword over axe.
- if the 100 power/10% boon duration utility is too costly, use a plain sharpening stone. Unfortunately you will only gain 28 or so power and lose 10% boon duration.
Few tips off the top of my head for those who haven’t played sword on power:
- Sword F1 then immediately weapon swap into hundred blades.
- Final thrust is your “eviscerate”.
- Rampage can be used for mobility with the leap (#5) and rush (#3). Make sure to pop healing signet before entering rampage. Also great for extra access to stability/increased damage reduction.
- Your dodge rolls do damage and are unblockable. You can use it offensively to keep up damage while iframing; i.e. jump dodging through an opponent while in greatsword, then whirlwinding backwards. Something like this would allow you to land the damage from dodge, gain might, then connect all hits on whirlwind – while completely invulnerable.
- your F1 Bursts restore endurance and adrenaline – further allowing you to dodge even more.