Thinking man's warrior PVP build (VK/RB)

[mattya802]

Yup swap in a 2 hander for bigger devours and use soul pillage whenever rdy. Kicks the **** out of blue bars. (everyone but the mana lifetapping chloros)

Or any high ranked Clerics. Oh wait....

[nocks]

You can build a pretty interesting mana-drain build by mixing Void Knight and Champion. Combine Perfect Timing with a Devouring Blow and you can get 400-900 mana every time you use it.

However, I still think that simply killing the cleric (or silencing and purging) is a better tactic. They just have too much mana.

[TheKomissar]

Okay, this has been troubling me for a LONG time.

In every VK PvP spec I see, they always spec 5/5 into Surge. As near as I can tell, all Surge does is increase threat generated. Why do PvP'ers spec into this so deeply? It's consistent, everyone does it. If I recall, hell, even Zin's ragestorm spec does it. Why? I don't get it.

Is there some hidden aspect to PvP threat I've entirely missed?

Don't get me wrong, this is one of my favourite builds of all time, but I entirely don't understand why people so adamantly spec 5/5 into Surge. What am I missing?

[Sekhmet The Fierce]

Okay, this has been troubling me for a LONG time.

In every VK PvP spec I see, they always spec 5/5 into Surge. As near as I can tell, all Surge does is increase threat generated. Why do PvP'ers spec into this so deeply? It's consistent, everyone does it. If I recall, hell, even Zin's ragestorm spec does it. Why? I don't get it.

Is there some hidden aspect to PvP threat I've entirely missed?

Don't get me wrong, this is one of my favourite builds of all time, but I entirely don't understand why people so adamantly spec 5/5 into Surge. What am I missing?

Old versions of the spec, which spec'd into Surge to improve damage to Discharge and other pact consuming skills. The skill has now been reworked into extra threat regen and Discharge's damage been upped to compensate. This change occured with the release of 1.6 for the tanking update.

I've spec'd away from that now. I assume most have now and spend those points better, but original threads and the builds tend to remain the same with the unchanged builds.

[TheKomissar]

Old versions of the spec, which spec'd into Surge to improve damage to Discharge and other pact consuming skills. The skill has now been reworked into extra threat regen and Discharge's damage been upped to compensate. This change occured with the release of 1.6 for the tanking update.

I've spec'd away from that now. I assume most have now and spend those points better, but original threads and the builds tend to remain the same with the unchanged builds.

Good God, thank you. That's been driving me crazy wondering what I've been doing wrong.

[Saimin]

So if we drop Surge, what's the new spec for this build?

[Sekhmet The Fierce]

So if we drop Surge, what's the new spec for this build?

I have put those points for keeping pacts up longer. Quite handy actually.

[Soulsurfing]

Same, my points are in there to keep pacts up longer. There's nowhere else useful to really put them. This is why VK is so horrible in that it takes tons of filler points to get to "the good stuff".

The reflect ability might be good except it's just 1 ability, for 3 points. The timing to even pull that off would leave it a very rare event, and given a mage can hurl a 4k crit at you, it doesn't seem fair that my 3 point reflected ability is based off gimpy tank damage. It should reflect his own 4k crit back at HIM! Now THAT would be worth having.

[Sekhmet The Fierce]

Same, my points are in there to keep pacts up longer. There's nowhere else useful to really put them. This is why VK is so horrible in that it takes tons of filler points to get to "the good stuff".

The reflect ability might be good except it's just 1 ability, for 3 points. The timing to even pull that off would leave it a very rare event, and given a mage can hurl a 4k crit at you, it doesn't seem fair that my 3 point reflected ability is based off gimpy tank damage. It should reflect his own 4k crit back at HIM! Now THAT would be worth having.

Actually, make it a proper finisher, such as for each point spent reflects an increasing % of magic damage back onto the target. 25%/50%/75% or it could function like Predictable Movements so the next number of magical hits is reflected back onto the caster, 1 hit/2 hits/3 hits for n seconds, etc. Long CD ability, but it would make for some awesome "trolololol" moments.

[Gordonfreman]

Actually, make it a proper finisher, such as for each point spent reflects an increasing % of magic damage back onto the target. 25%/50%/75% or it could function like Predictable Movements so the next number of magical hits is reflected back onto the caster, 1 hit/2 hits/3 hits for n seconds, etc. Long CD ability, but it would make for some awesome "trolololol" moments.

Since it is that low in a tanking tree a more generic threat or survivability talent would be more appropriate.
Possibly a passive talent that causes reactive damage on magical damage taken, with increased threat.
Or a modifier for Reckless Strike, that ability needs some love.

But on topic @OP I love this build, rocking out with my 2h and finding some really good survivability with this build. P2

[Soulsurfing]

Yup, months later, still haven't found anything as solid for pvp. Sad state of warrior PVP.

[TheKomissar]

My variant of this build, if anyone's interested in an up-to-date spec.

http://rift.zam.com/en/stc.html?t=1c...zz..tGc0zsMRzR

[Valnak]

My variant of this build, if anyone's interested in an up-to-date spec.

http://rift.zam.com/en/stc.html?t=1c...zz..tGc0zsMRzR

I just wanted to comment that elemental flux 5/5 is extremely underrated, especially below r8 (38?).

I really enjoy being able to pull people across maps by chaining rift summon on them. Being able to proc planar blade without critting helps this a lot, especially now that everyone will have -10% to be crit.

[Bloodbourne]

I just wanted to comment that elemental flux 5/5 is extremely underrated, especially below r8 (38?).

I really enjoy being able to pull people across maps by chaining rift summon on them. Being able to proc planar blade without critting helps this a lot, especially now that everyone will have -10% to be crit.

It's essentially 15% crit... minus the extra dmg

[nocks]

I would also think about adding the Amplified Soulstone to your Sigil now, because it has been fixed and should provide some substantial DPS increase to this build. Well, I haven't actually tested it yet, but it says it's been fixed. If that's true then it will help out with the DPS this build sorely needs.