User:SuperJ/Gladiator's Armor

This build is centered around the damage that both Sliver Armor and Gladiator's Defense give. Using effective blocking skills with maintainable enchantments and stances, this is a good alternative to farming Raptor Nestlings or other melee foes.

Skills
[build prof=W/E Tactics=12+1+3 Earth=12][Drunken Master@10][Magnetic Aura][Dwarven Stability@10][Gladiator's Defense][Air of Superiority][Glyph of Swiftness][Sliver Armor][Renewing Smash][/build]

Equipment
All of the equipment shown here should provide you with a total of 46 extra energy. Combined with Air of Superiority as E-Management, you should have enough to last through all the raptor mobs.

Runes & Insignias

 * Rune of Superior Tactics.
 * 5 Radiant Insignias
 * Attunement Runes on everything else. This provides 17 extra energy.

Armor

 * Any Max Armor with +1 Tactics headpiece.

Weapons

 * Any Staff with +10 Inherent Energy, Halves Skill Recharge of Spells 20%, Halves Casting Time 10%, 20% Enchant Wrapping, a +5 Energy Staff Head, or a +15E -1E Regen Inscription OR a weapon/offhand combo with close to the same stats. Droknar's Energy Storage Staff is a good choice.
 * Any Hammer.

Items

 * Any Tier 5 Alcohol (Firewater, Aged Dwarven Ale etc.) (Optional, for increased speed buff from Drunken Master)

Raptors ([[Image:Assassin.gif|Assassin]])

 * Make sure your Edification buff is on. This will provide you with at minimum +5 energy.
 * Make sure you are in Hard Mode
 * Exit out of Rata Sum into Riven Earth and get the Asuran Bodyguard buff from the Sky Krewe Member next to the resurrection shrine.
 * Walk down close to the Raptor Nestlings inside the cave, being aware of the Angorodon and the larger Raptor patrols. If you aggro either of these patrols, it is easier to resign and start over.
 * When close enough to the Nestlings, use your Tier 5 Alcohol & stance into Drunken Master. Begin aggroing all of the Nestlings inside the cave, making sure you aggro Rekoff Broodmother last. Pull everything near the Jar of Invigoration so you can use it as an emergency energy gain if needed (+30 Energy).
 * When all have been aggroed, stop and cast Magnetic Aura, immediately followed by Dwarven Stability & Gladiator's Defense. Next is Air of Superiority followed by Glyph of Swiftness ---> Sliver Armor. This all together should cause massive damage to all that are attacking you.
 * To keep Gladiator's Defense up, switch to your hammer and use Renewing Smash to recharge it instantly. Pick up and drop the Jar of Invigoration if you haven't gained enough energy to switch to your hammer and use Renewing Smash. This should be done while under the effects of Sliver Armor and Gladiator's Defense to avoid being interrupted.
 * To keep up Sliver Armor, use Glyph of Swiftness before each cast to ensure the shortest time of recharge. Always have at least Gladiator's Defense up when casting Sliver Armor. Re-apply Dwarven Stability & Air of Superiority as needed. Make sure Dwarven Stability is up before you use Gladiator's Defense.

Counters

 * Stance Removal (Wild Strike)
 * Foes breaking through your blocks
 * Hexes/Interrupts/Health Degen

Variants

 * If Rekoff is giving you trouble, replace Drunken Master with Sneak Attack to blind Rekoff Broodmother and prevent her from removing Gladiator's Defense with Wild Strike.
 * Replace Drunken Master with Ebon Battle Standard of Honor for quicker kills. This also gives the raptors less time to run as they will die much faster.
 * Replace Glyph of Swiftness with Kinetic Armor if you are getting hit too hard.