The BERSERKER (Warfare+Rune) Topic !

[Vice-Roi]

Hey Guys,

Here is the Berserker topic. I created it to gather all ideas of build and make that class the most optimal possible. That class will surely be squishy, and the main purpose is going to make it viable for Legendary.

I made a "test" build with the lvl 40 instant character and here are the repartition :

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1213330406

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1213330302

This is just a Test, but here are some of my thoughts about that build that will need way more improvements :

- It seems "Onslaught" will be better than "Rune Attack" for left click with the Berserker. It allows to stay fully on STR/DEX build, letting INT out. I go for dual-wield, taking advantage of the "Reckless Offense" that seems really strong. (And you really imagine a Berserker with a shield ?)

- I took "Thunder Strike" to replace the charge I used to play with my Conqueror. It grants even more mobility and instant contact with mages/archers

- The "Dodge" ability seems essential since Berserker don't have many options to reduce damages taken.

- "Sacred Rage" and "Runeword : Absorb" also seem to be good options to be quite more resistant

I'm clearly not a good "builder", don't hesitate to share your ideas for the Berserker here ! And may Odin be with you.

[SilentMeteor]

I think you can either go Onslaught and ignore int as you already mentioned, or go Rune Attack and invest as much int as possible. I cannot tell which one is better, but the previous one obviously is easier to gear. You just go with normal warrior items and all fine. The latter one would require some calculation on stats and potentially some specific legendaries to fully realize its potential.

[Vice-Roi]

Exactly. But I think the attack speed given by "Onslaught" synergies better with "Reckless Offense". In my run, I'll go full STR/DEX.

[Numroth]

One thing to note is that if you will go runeword instead of onslaught your elemental dmg cant crit. Atm with my lvl 68 rune / defence i deal 3k crits while my 90% of dmg is elemental ( phys dmg covnersion to elemental ) i have no idea how much dmg the ele deals but without any resist reductions to enemies its insane how much dmg it deals.

[Magni]

Rune Weapon is more for a Rune+mage mastery battlemage build IMO.I'm currently playing Rune+Earth for eample, and while I'm pretty squishy, the sheer amount of elemental damage output is crazy.

[HellSlayer]

I do think onslaught is best. But that makes rune mastery very very shallow :(
I hope devs would tweak it somehow.

[LAURELINAD]

What's the point of using warfare+rune? Rune mastery is all about Rune Weapon skill (turning your physical damage to elemental) if you aren't gonna use it on your LMB there is no point of choosing this mastery in my opinion. If you're looking for a glass cannon; warfare+rogue would do a lot better than mixing with rune.

[HellSlayer]

The point is.. rune mastery is new.. so I want to use it :D but my fav mastery is probably warfare.
Might replay full game, tried at lvl 40 start. its just doesnt seem well.

Not sure maybe ice shards with rune mastery would work well? Im not good at creating builds.

[Vice-Roi]

The main interest of picking Warfare with rune is "Reckless Offense". This skill is particularely strong in a dual-wield build.

[LAURELINAD]

I think anything with rune except defense is terrible when it comes to survivability. Rune's passive shield skill and the other one which's active for 600 seconds works perfectly with defense and also defense hasn't got a LMB attack skill so using rune weapon to increase damage is really good, already you have high strength and physical damage coming from defense and turning that to elemental damage is really good.

In legendary difficulty, you get purple legendary items and your attack speed goes extremely fast so you don't even use attack skills like shield charge or thunder strike they do nothing but slowing you down. If you're planning to spend time on legendary and building an immortal character don't choose your mastery for attack skills, choose them for passives which increase your survivability and dps.

[SilentOxyd]

Originally posted by Magni:

Rune Weapon is more for a Rune+mage mastery battlemage build IMO.I'm currently playing Rune+Earth for eample, and while I'm pretty squishy, the sheer amount of elemental damage output is crazy.

Hi, wie ist deine Skillung? Dein Beitrag hört sich gut an!

[Magni]

Originally posted by Wellenwolf:

Originally posted by Magni:

Rune Weapon is more for a Rune+mage mastery battlemage build IMO.I'm currently playing Rune+Earth for eample, and while I'm pretty squishy, the sheer amount of elemental damage output is crazy.

Hi, wie ist deine Skillung? Dein Beitrag hört sich gut an!

Rune:

- Truly important:
-> Rune Weapon and it's upgrades as high as possible; priority is Transmutation > Energy Drain > Rune Weapon > Energy Charge, but IMO you'll want to eventually max out everything; this is really powerful between the spell buffs, huge elemental damage, reducing enemy offensive skills and providing a bit of energy and health drain
-> Sacred Rage + Frightening Power (max); huge life-saver skill due to the rather massive bonuses and CC it provides when you need them most
-> Reckless Offence to open up dual-wielding (one point, max if you have points to spare)
-> Runeword:Explode + Runeword:Burn (max Explode, one point into Burn unlessyou have points to spare); AoE and burn damage every few attacks on a fast dual-wield build? Hell yeah!
-> Thunder Strike + Unleash (max out or 1 point each however you want): Guaranteed AoE, minor CC, great for closing in with archers and spellcasters, also gives you a bit of electrical damage, which can be useful sometimes

- Optional
-> Energy Armor (as high as you can afford with your energy budget); it's kinda meh and an energy hog, but you're starved for survivabiltiy options
-> Rune of Life (1 point); one point here is a big quality of life improvement for the extra movement speed alone
-> Seal of Fate (1 point only) + Aftershock (as high as possible); iffy to time right, but great for debuffing dangerous enemies

Notes: Runeword:Absorb would be great if it worked while dual wielding. As it is, it doesn't give you anything with this build unfortunately. The Menhirs and Runic Mines are pretty useless, too, and you should have enough strength (going 2int/1str on most level-ups) to make Runeword:Feather and buffed-up Rune of Life redundant.

Earth:

- Truly Important:
-> Earth Enchantment+Brimstone (max); another big damage boost and source of fire/burn damage
-> Volativity (max); huge passive boost to physical, fire and burn damage
-> Heat Shield (one point or max); one point for the significant amount of physical damage resistance, max out if you want to go cheap on fire resistance for your gear
-> Stone Form (one point); your last ditch life insurance
-> Ring of Flame + Soften Metal (one point into RoF, max Soften Metal); reducing enemy offensive ability is the main thing you're after here

- Optional:
-> Eruption (however many points you can afford); big AoE nuke spell, very useful against groups of ranged enemies and if Sacred Rage is triggered, you can damn near spam this

Notes: Found Stone Skin rather meh and not worth the points. Molten Rock isn't really worth it and doesn't mesh with Stone Form's role as an emergency-onlybutton. The Core Dweller isn't really going to work with requiring way too many points spent. Volcanic Orb or Flame Surge IMO require too manypoints invested to be a good alternative to Eruption.

[SilentOxyd]

leider nicht in dt. :( aber danke

[Vice-Roi]

This topic is about Berserker, not Stonespeaker. Please stick to the topic and speak in English.

@Laurelinad : Even with max speed, I find it useful, even for bosses in Legendary. It allows to instant return to the melee after avoiding an attack without losing any stacks of Onslaught. It can also clean trash mobs invoqued in the fight for example.

[Grim]

Invest in the below as you lvl up
Rune:Explode (max) + Burn (1point) by doing this you'll add good aoe to Dual wield.
Reckless Offence (max)
Rune of Life (1point) for that movement speed + 5% str boost

[Vice-Roi]

Sounds like a good idea. I'm currently lvl 45 and I didn't invest any points in "Explode/Burn". I rather invested in "Tumult" 6/6 and I begin to do so in "Cross Cut".

Most enemies dies instantly except magical creatures (like the water nymphs-I don't remember their name), so explode is clearly something I'll invest in.

I have "Reckless Offense" at maximum level, and "Rune of Life" the same, it gives 10%+ STR and good resistance to vitality dmgs, a good reason to max it I think (Typhon agrees !).

I'll give my build at the end of normal difficulty btw !