Build:P/W Tactics Melee Imbagon

This build is in the testing phase. Please join the discussion and rate this build if you have experience with this or closely related builds. This build has been designed for the following use: PvE general

This melee sword/axe variant of the Imbagon build attempts to provide a balance of tanking, increased DPS, and team-wide protection through one of several Elite options from the Leadership or Tactics lines.

Attributes and Skills

Paragon / Warrior 8 + 1 + 1 Leadership 12 Tactics 10 Swordsmanship You gain 2 Energy for each ally affected by one of your Shouts or Chants (maximum 5 Energy). Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional. "For Great Justice!" CoreWarrior. Unlinked"For Great Justice!"ShoutFor 20 seconds, whenever you gain adrenaline, you gain 100% more. Gain 2 energy.545 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional. "There's Nothing to Fear!" NightfallParagon. Sunspear rank "There's Nothing to Fear!"ShoutFor 4 seconds and 1 second for every 2 ranks in Leadership, all party members within earshot take 20..35% less damage. Affected party members are healed for 35..60 Health when this Shout ends. Gain 2 energy per affected ally (maximum of 5 energy). PvE only.1520 "Watch Yourself!" CoreWarrior. Tactics 12"Watch Yourself!"ShoutParty members within earshot gain +21 armor for 10 seconds. This shout ends after 10 incoming attacks. Gain 2 energy per affected ally (maximum of 5 energy).44 "Save Yourselves!" (Kurzick) FactionsWarrior. Kurzick rank "Save Yourselves!" (Kurzick)ShoutFor 4..6 seconds, all other party members gain 100 armor. Gain 2 energy per affected ally (maximum of 5 energy). PvE only.8 Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional. Optional CoreNo Profession. UnlinkedOptionalOptionalOptional.   Template code

Optional 1 is your Elite (and usually your skill for increased adrenaline gain):

• Soldier's StanceNightfallWarrior. Tactics 12Soldier's StanceElite StanceFor 13 seconds, you have a 75% chance to block. You attack 33% faster while under the effects of a shout or chant.515 for a mix of defense and IAS (the latter of which effectively increases adrenaline gain).
• Soldier's FuryNightfallParagon. Leadership 10Soldier's FuryElite EchoFor 27 seconds, if you are under the effect of a chant or a shout, you attack 33% faster and gain 33% more adrenaline, but you have -20 armor.515 for IAS and increased adrenaline gain at the cost of -20 armor.
• Gladiator's DefensePropheciesWarrior. Tactics 12Gladiator's DefenseElite StanceFor 10 seconds, you have a 75% chance to block incoming attacks. Whenever you block a melee attack this way, the attacker suffers 29 damage.530 for melee tanking and damage reflection instead of IAS and adrenaline gain; consider using with Dwarven Stability to increase its short duration.

Optional 3:

• Enduring HarmonyNightfallParagon. Leadership 10Enduring HarmonyEchoFor 27 seconds, Chants and Shouts last 50% longer on target non-Spirit ally.5110 to extend the duration of your own shouts on yourself
• Aggressive RefrainNightfallParagon. Leadership 10Aggressive RefrainEchoFor 18 seconds, you attack 25% faster but have -20 armor. This echo is reapplied every time a chant or shout ends on you.25220 for IAS if you picked Gladiator's Defense.

"Stand Your Ground!"NightfallParagon. Command 7"Stand Your Ground!"ShoutFor 12 seconds, all party members within earshot receive +24 armor when not moving.1020 should be your primary choice for Optional 7 unless it is already equipped on one of your heroes (lower Leadership to 6+2 and put 6+1 into Command). Other options include:

• Signet of AggressionNightfallParagon. UnlinkedSignet of AggressionSignetIf you are under the effects of a Shout or Chant, you gain 2 strikes of adrenaline.15 or "To the Limit!"PropheciesWarrior. Tactics "To the Limit!"ShoutFor each foe within earshot (maximum 1..5..6), you gain one strike of adrenaline. For 10..18..21 seconds, your maximum Health is increased by 10..50..63.515 for extra adrenaline.
• Enduring HarmonyNightfallParagon. Leadership 10Enduring HarmonyEchoFor 27 seconds, Chants and Shouts last 50% longer on target non-Spirit ally.5110 if you picked Gladiator's Defense for your Elite and Aggressive Refrain for Optional 3.
• An attack skill, if you want to bring one. Examples include Savage SlashCoreWarrior. Swordsmanship 10Savage SlashSword AttackIf this attack hits, it interrupts the target foe's action. If that action was a Spell, you deal 27 extra damage.5½15 (sword), Cyclone AxeCoreWarrior. Axe Mastery 10Cyclone AxeAxe AttackPerform a spinning axe attack striking for +9 damage to all adjacent opponents.54 (axe), Crude SwingPropheciesWarrior. Hammer Mastery 10Crude SwingHammer AttackAttack all adjacent foes. Each foe you hit is struck for +14 damage.55 (hammer), or Soldier's StrikeNightfallWarrior. Tactics 12Soldier's StrikeMelee AttackIf this attack hits, you deal +34 more damage. If you are under the effects of a Chant or Shout, this attack cannot be blocked.54 (any).

Optional 8:

• Ebon Battle Standard of HonorEotNNo Profession. Ebon Vanguard rank 5Ebon Battle Standard of HonorWard SpellYou plant an Ebon Battle Standard of Honor at your current location. For 20 seconds, non-Spirit allies in this area strike for +15 damage and an additional +10 vs. Charr.
  PvE only.10120 for increased melee damage. Recommended, especially if your team uses melee minions.
• Dwarven StabilityEotNNo Profession. Deldrimor rank 5Dwarven StabilityEnchantment SpellFor 30 seconds, your Stances last 100% longer. If you activated this Skill while drunk, you cannot be knocked down.
  PvE only.5¼30 to double the duration of your stance.

Equipment

• Armor: Leadership Crest, Minor Rune of Leadership, Minor Rune of Command, Rune of Superior Vigor, 1x Rune of Vitae, and 5x Centurion's Insignias. Swap Minor Rune of Command for an additional Rune of Vitae if not using "Stand Your Ground!".
• Weapon: Zealous/Furious Sword/Axe of Fortitude/Defense
• If not using a hammer: Tactics Shield of Fortitude with perfect "I Can See Clearly Now" or "Run For Your Life!".

Usage

• Use Enduring Harmony, Aggressive Refrain, and/or Dwarven Stability (whichever ones you brought) before entering combat
• Use "For Great Justice!", "There's Nothing to Fear", and your Elite stance at the start of battle and whenever they are not on cooldown (energy gain from your zealous weapon and adrenal shouts should make energy management a non-issue)
• Spam "Watch Yourself!", "Save Yourselves!", and your attack skill (if you brought one) as they light up
• Use Ebon Battle Standard of Honor if you brought it to help your minions.

Counters

• Anti-shout skills
• Anti-adrenaline skills
• Blindness
• Anti-melee

Variants

• You could bring Focused AngerNightfallParagon. Leadership 10Focused AngerElite SkillFor 45 seconds, you gain 100% more adrenaline.1060 as your Elite, but note that in this case you'd essentially running a melee version of the original Imbagon build and should refer to those builds instead, replacing Spear Mastery attribute points and skills with the attribute for your melee weapon and completely dropping Tactics in favor of something else.

Notes

• If using an axe or hammer, put 10 into Axe Mastery/Hammer Mastery instead of Swordsmanship.
• When bringing an ST Ritualist hero, consider equipping Brutal Weapon for increased melee DPS.
• When bringing an SoS Ritualist hero, consider equipping Splinter Weapon for increased AoE damage.
• Bonetti's DefensePropheciesWarrior. Tactics 12Bonetti's DefenseStanceFor 10 seconds, you have a 75% chance to block melee and projectile attacks. You gain 5 Energy for each successful melee attack blocked. Bonetti's Defense ends if you use a skill.8 synergizes nicely with Soldier's Fury but comes with the unfortunate side effect of ending when you use a skill, making it a poor choice for this build that relies upon spamming shouts.

See Also

• The original build upon which this build is based is generally superior.
• P/W Soldier's Fury Spear is superior in terms of damage output does so at range; however, it is not as effective at melee tanking (when using Soldier's Stance or Gladiator's Defense).
• The P/D Focused Anger Scythe and Hundred Blades builds provide superior offensive capabilities at the cost of some team-wide protection.