Berserker - Sword + Dagger Small Scale PvP Build
- High DMG (for a Bruiser)
- High sustain
- High mobility
- High skill ceiling
- Long cooldowns
- Off-meta
Overview
This Sword and Dagger build is designed for small-scale PVP and is perfect for those looking to build an evasion based tank, making use of the dagger for extra damage while acting as a bruiser. It is considered an off-meta build but it can definitely punch above its weight as the build is more than capable of holding its own in all types of fights. It can do well in 1v1s with certain gear setups but it isn't as good as some other DPS oriented options.
Attributes
For this build, focus on Strength and Dexterity first, as they increase your max HP and make you more resistant to ranged, magic, and melee attacks, improving overall defense. Second, invest in Perception for extra damage and defensive. Wisdom helps reduce skill cooldowns but isn't generally a great choice for this build.
Skills
You should aim to level your damaging skills first: ![]()
Brutal Incision ![]()
Cleaving Moonlight ![]()
Shield Strike as they will help a great deal in the beginning and even later on when playing this build solo, being an important part of the Berserker build, while your skills cannot be compared to DPS specific builds, you are still able to deal significant damage in PvP and remain very tanky. Don't forget your main defensive skill either as ![]()
Counter Barrier gets used very often while ![]()
Stalwart Bastion is fantastic for helping your party members.
Make sure to also invest into getting your ![]()
Shield Survival Technique to epic as blocking is the main way of defending yourself against attacks.
As far as passives go, ![]()
Spectrum of Agony should be a high priority as its combined with ![]()
Provoking Roar as it deals sustained damage while enemies attack you. Your other defensives shouldn't be ignored either with a high priorty on upgrading ![]()
Aegis Shield because of how it offers damage reduction percentage based on your shield block chance. This is also the reason why you should always go for swords with high block chance. ![]()
Impenetrable is another great defensive passive used in this build, getting better depending on how many enemies are around you at the time.
Berserker's damage increases come from the dagger passives like ![]()
Wrathful Edge and ![]()
Assassin's Instincts. However, a core part of the build is the access to ![]()
Shadow Walker which greatly increases your evasion rate every time you dodge or if you are using ![]()
Cleaving Moonlight or ![]()
Shadow Strike. Make sure to trigger this passive as often as possible in order to maintain a high evasion rate.
Equipment
Weapon Masteries
Artifacts
Rotations
- This is your main single target rotation. Open up with

Shadow Strike after 
Inject Venom and 
Counter Barrier, you have a chance to apply a silence on your target, allowing you to do the rest of your rotation with ease.
- Continue the rotation with

Cleaving Moonlight to keep 
Shadow Walker active before following up with 
Shield Strike and yet another cast of 
Cleaving Moonlight. Finish off the rotation with 
Brutal Incision. Keep in mind however that 
Counter Barrier will constantly reset your 
Shield Strike so make sure to use it every time it gets reset even throughout the rotation.
- This is another important rotation and used when you are looking to pull a target out of position and lock it down for you and your team to kill.
- Starting with

Inject Venom to apply poison every attack you make, 
Chain Hook will pull and bind the target and 
Strike Shield will weaken them. Follow up with 
Shadow Strike to silence the target and proc 
Shadow Walker. CC them with 
Ankle Strike as it makes the target prone and vulnerable before using 
Cleaving Moonlight to stack poisons on the target. Finish off the rotation with 
Brutal Incision for heavy damage.
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Counter Barrier: Always use this as you start getting focused and use your defense skill to reflect damage.
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Strategic Rush: Main mobility skill, use when your team is retreating or you got hooked. Can also be used offensively to stun players by pushing them into walls/terrain.
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Stalwart Bastion: Use when going for a push with your team or when getting pushed, the buff extends to your whole party so make sure they are in range before using it.
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Camouflage Cloak: This is your get-out-of-jail-free card. Use it when you are getting focused or have to reposition. Can also be used to reset a fight and cooldowns after bursting a target. There are many other use cases for stealth so be creative!