Halberd ZvZ PvP Build

Overview

Weapon: Axe

Focus: Melee DPS

Mode: ZvZ

Strengths

• Reduces enemy healing potential
• Consistent bleed damage

Weaknesses

• Mana sustain

This build is up to date for the November 6, 2024 Horizons Patch #1.

Overview

This Halberd ZvZ PvP build focuses on stacking bleed with Rending Spin and spreading it even more with Tear Apart which reduces enemy healing received and deals a good amount of damage while being relatively hard to kill. You will typically find yourself in the frontline and amidst the thick of the fights with this build.

Equipment

Main Hand Weapon

Elder's Halberd

Head

Elder's Knight Helmet

Alternatives ⇅

Cape

Elder's Lymhurst Cape

Alternatives ⇅

Armor

Elder's Jacket of Tenacity

Alternatives ⇅

Shoes

Elder's Royal Sandals

Potion

Major Resistance Potion

Alternatives ⇅

Food

Deadwater Eel Stew

Alternatives ⇅

Keep in mind: Gear shown in this build is meant as a reference. Choosing the correct tier of gear is very tricky as there are many variables. Some of them being your budget, your spec and minimum Item Power requirements of your guild if used for ZvZ.

You should always check prices based on IP of the items. For example, a masterpiece quality 4.3 Elder's Cryptcandle could be cheaper while providing roughly the same IP as an 8.0.

Usage

Elder's Halberd

Rending Spin — Use this skill to apply stacks of bleed. Your goal is to apply as many stacks as possible while avoiding taking too much damage, allowing you to engage alongside your zerg. Rending Rage is also a very good option since it provides a bit of extra mobility. The healing reduction counterpart of the bleed stacks is also highly beneficial.

Raging Blades — This skill deals mediocre damage but provides a significant damage buff if you hit enemies with it. Ideally, you want to target at least 3 or 4 enemies to maximize the damage boost for subsequent skills.

Tear Apart — This skill inflicts significant damage when used in conjunction with various buffs and is particularly effective because it spreads bleed stacks, which also reduce healing for all affected targets, assuming you spread 3 bleed stacks. Overall, it's highly effective, although the timing can be challenging to execute.

Aggressive Rush — A nice damage buff, but you can also opt for Increased Defense for added defense.

Elder's Jacket of Tenacity

Dynamic Defense — It's important to use this skill on a target that wields a physical damage weapon type so that you receive the damage buff.

Balanced Mind — Straight up increases your damage and defense, which is great for when you pull off your Tear Apart combo. Some people prefer Quick Thinker.

Elder's Knight Helmet

Displacement Immunity — You'll typically use this skill when engaging a clump of enemies to avoid getting interrupted, but remember you can also use it to support allies even if your Defenseless Rush is on cooldown and you can't follow up with damage yourself.

Toughness — The standard choice for this build. Some people opt for Tenacity, but prioritizing your defensive stats is usually more important.

Elder's Royal Sandals

Defenseless Rush — Be cautious when using this skill as it increases the damage you receive, and remember that you can disable it early, right after you execute your damage combo.

Aggression — The standard choice for halberd builds. Remember that you can always switch to Courier after winning big fights.

Elder's Lymhurst Cape

Energy Reserve — Halberd always struggles with energy sustain, so utilizing Energy Reserve will immensely alleviate this issue. Alternatively, you could consider a Scholar Cowl with Energy Shield, but Displacement Immunity is often more beneficial for supporting your zerg.

Rotations

Optimal DPS ↴

• Stack the bleed component of Rending Spin on as many targets as possible. Utilize Defenseless Rush as both a movement and damage-increasing skill to reach a clump of enemies, while also hitting enemies with Raging Blades to stack a damage increase of up to 40%. Activate Dynamic Defense for an additional damage increase. Auto-attack any enemy three times beforehand so you can auto-attack once more for the 8% damage buff in the combo. Remember to reapply the bleed from Rending Spin if its close to running out. During the window where you have all these buffs active, aim to use Tear Apart in the midst of as many enemies as possible, ensuring that at least one of them has 3 bleed stacks to further spread the bleeds.

Consumables

Major Resistance Potion — Feel free to use this potion as a general damage reduction cooldown, even if you haven't been caught in a clump. However, be cautious when it's on cooldown. You can also substitute it with Major Gigantify Potion, but it typically offers less value.

Deadwater Eel Stew — This food compensates for its expense by offering a good combination of damage and cooldown reduction. A suitable budget option is still Beef Stew.