Logo Albion iconAlbion Online AoC iconAshes of Creation Deadlock iconDeadlock GW2 iconGuild Wars 2 TL iconThrone & Liberty

Crusader - Greatsword + Sword PvP Build

Overview
Class: Crusader
Weapons: Greatsword and Sword
Focused on: MeleeAoE and DPS
Difficulty:
Easy
Strengths
  • High Damage
  • Best Large Scale Tanky DPS
  • Good AOE CC
Weaknesses
  • High Skill Ceiling
  • Low Self-sustain
This build is up to date for the December 5, 2024 patch.

Overview

This Greatsword and Sword build is designed for large and small-scale PvP content such as Riftstones and Sieges. It's particularly effective at dealing significant AoE damage as a frontline melee combatant, while the Sword & Shield provides added protection. The build also offers agile movement, allowing for easy navigation between groups of enemies and quick retreats when necessary.


Attributes

PRIMARY
Strength Strength
+
Perception Perception
SECONDARY
Wisdom Wisdom
+
Dexterity Dexterity
With the unique stats and attributes system in Throne and Liberty, it can be difficult to determine exactly where to invest your attribute points at each stage of the game. This is because gear pieces provide attributes just like leveling up does, meaning everyone will have a different number of attribute points depending on what gear they are wearing at the time.
Given this variation, it's best to reset your attributes regularly to adjust to the new gear you acquire. Aim to reach the achievement effects, which provide extra benefits at milestones like 30, 50, and 70 points.

With this build, prioritize investing points into Strength and Perception as your primary stats. Strength not only increases your maximum HP but also enhances your defensive stats when coupled with Perception increasing your buff duration and hit chance, making it much easier to stay alive in PVP by keeping your buffs active throughout the duration of the fight.


Skills

Chain HookUsed frame.webp
Chain Hook
Stalwart BastionUsed frame.webp
Stalwart Bastion
Stalwart Bastion - Movement Speed Increase
Stalwart Bastion - Stalwart Ego
Counter BarrierUsed frame.webp
Counter Barrier
Counter Barrier - Cooldown ▼
Counter Barrier - Damage Increased
Stunning BlowUsed frame.webp
Stunning Blow
Stunning Blow - Cooldown Reduction
Stunning Blow - Damage Increased
Stunning Blow - Hit Chance Increase
Strategic RushUsed frame.webp
Strategic Rush
Strategic Rush - Effects Target ▲
Gaia CrashUsed frame.webp
Gaia Crash
Gaia Crash - Frost Cleaving
Gaia Crash - Critical Hit Chance Increase
Devastating SmashUsed frame.webp
Devastating Smash
Devastating Smash - Chance Increased
Devastating Smash - Effect Duration Increase
Guillotine BladeUsed frame.webp
Guillotine Blade
Guillotine Blade - Charges Damage
Guillotine Blade - Cooldown Reduction
Guillotine Blade - AoE Damage
Precision DashUsed frame.webp
Precision Dash
Precision Dash - Skill Distance Increased
Shield StrikeUsed frame.webp
Shield Strike
Shield Strike - Piercing Strike
Death BlowUsed frame.webp
Death Blow
Death Blow - Cooldown Reduction
Death Blow - Damage Increase
Ascending SlashUsed frame.webp
Ascending Slash
Ascending Slash - Damage Increased
Ascending Slash - Cooldown Reduction
Passives
Aegis ShieldActive frame.webp
Gerad's PatienceActive frame.webp
Resilient MindActive frame.webp
Indomitable ArmorActive frame.webp
Vital ForceActive frame.webp
Robust ConstitutionActive frame.webp
Cold WarriorActive frame.webp
ImpenetrableActive frame.webp
Defense
Shield Survival TechniqueUsed frame.webp
Guardian
Green Ranger Elowen Guardian
Food
Quality Vegetable Stir-fry
Quality Laslan-Style Fish Stew

As the build focuses on being a tanky front-line fighter, you should focus on upgrading Counter BarrierUsed frame.webpCounter Barrier and Shield StrikeUsed frame.webpShield Strike first as you make great use of them a lot early on and throughout the time you play this build. Stalwart BastionUsed frame.webpStalwart Bastion is another important skill, both for your party and yourself, helping a great deal during pushes. You should aim to always be with your group in order to make use of this and keep them alive as much as possible.

Focus on passives next as they quickly increase your resistances and allow you to remain in a fight for longer and do your job of causing chaos in the enemy group. Vital ForceActive frame.webpVital Force and Robust ConstitutionActive frame.webpRobust Constitution should be the first ones you upgrade though as they provide a nice damage boost while also increasing your HP, synergizing perfectly with eachother.


Equipment

Blade of the Resistance
Blade of the Resistance
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Primary
Broadsword of the Resistance
Broadsword of the Resistance
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Duskblood Mask
Duskblood Mask
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Cooldown Speed
Warlord's Shroud
Warlord's Shroud
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Debuff Duration
Plate Armor of the Resistance
Plate Armor of the Resistance
Max Health
Melee Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Feathered Drakeskin Gloves
Feathered Drakeskin Gloves
Added Attack Speed
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Trousers of the Resistance
Trousers of the Resistance
Max Health
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Feathered Drakeskin Boots
Feathered Drakeskin Boots
Ranged Evasion
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Necklace of Clarity
Necklace of Clarity
Skill Damage Boost
Buff Duration
Bracelet of Conquest
Bracelet of Conquest
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Sophia's Ring of Strength
Sophia's Ring of Strength
Ring of Precision
Ring of Precision
Max Health
Skill Damage Boost
Belt of Deftness
Belt of Deftness
Skill Damage Resistance
Max Health

These are the first items you should strive for through the leveling period as they are very easy to get and upgrade or trait as needed. However, you shouldn't try to trait these items too much as you won't be spending too much time playing with this setup before you start changing pieces into the Midgame. The green accessories however are very easy to trait as you can craft many of them quickly in order to get the correct traits so you should consider traiting them until you change into purples. The same goes for the blue ring as you keep it for a long time.

Karnix's Netherblade
Karnix's Netherblade
Heavy Attack Chance
Max Health
Hit Chance
Primary
Duke Magna's Provoking Warblade
Duke Magna's Provoking Warblade
Heavy Attack Chance
Max Health
Hit Chance
Visage of the Executioner
Visage of the Executioner
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Mana Regen
Blessed Templar Cloak
Blessed Templar Cloak
Collision Resistance
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Plate Armor of the Resistance
Plate Armor of the Resistance
Max Health
Melee Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Resolute Crusader Gauntlets
Resolute Crusader Gauntlets
Max Health
Ranged Endurance
Melee Endurance
Trousers of the Resistance
Trousers of the Resistance
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Max Health
Heroic Shoes of the Resistance
Heroic Shoes of the Resistance
Max Health
Magic Endurance
Melee Endurance
Guardian Torque
Guardian Torque
Skill Damage Boost
Mana Regen
Buff Duration
Ruby Bangle
Ruby Bangle
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Debuff Duration
Sapphire Dimensional Band
Sapphire Dimensional Band
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Imperial Ring
Imperial Ring
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Flamewrought Bindings
Flamewrought Bindings
Max Health
Debuff Duration
Skill Damage Resistance

This is the gear you should transition to once you're leveled to 50 and start grinding gear. It is comprised of gear you can get either from dungeons or by completing Litographs, they are relatively easy to trait up and you will spend most of the time wearing this set before advancing into the late game so traiting these items is very important and should be your main focus.

Nirma's Sword of Echoes
Nirma's Sword of Echoes
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Attack
Defense
Support
Primary
Junobote's Juggernaut Warblade
Junobote's Juggernaut Warblade
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Attack
Defense
Support
Shock Commander Visor
Shock Commander Visor
Mana Regen
Ranged Endurance
Melee Endurance
Blessed Templar Cloak
Blessed Templar Cloak
Collision Resistance
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Shock Commander Plate Armor
Shock Commander Plate Armor
Max Health
Melee Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Shock Commander Gauntlets
Shock Commander Gauntlets
Added Attack Speed
Melee Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Phantom Wolf Breeches
Phantom Wolf Breeches
Max Health
Magic Endurance
Ranged Endurance
Shock Commander Sabatons
Shock Commander Sabatons
Max Health
Ranged Endurance
Melee Endurance
Thunderstorm Necklace
Thunderstorm Necklace
Skill Damage Boost
Buff Duration
Mana Regen
Attack
Support
Defense
Bracers of Unrelenting
Bracers of Unrelenting
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Collision Resistance
Support
Defense
Attack
Sapphire Dimensional Band
Sapphire Dimensional Band
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Attack
Support
Defense
Etched Alabaster Band
Etched Alabaster Band
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Attack
Support
Defense
Flamewrought Bindings
Flamewrought Bindings
Max Health
Collision Resistance
Skill Damage Resistance
Attack
Support
Defense

This is the current endgame gear you should aim for, and while it isn't easy to acquire, it offers great power without the need of acquiring archboss gear pieces. However, items like Tevent's Fangs of FuryTevent's Fangs of Fury or other archboss weapons are superior but difficult to acquire for the majority of players. If you do manage to get the archboss weapons for your build, feel free to use them over the weapons shown here.

Rune Information Attack runeDefense runeSupport rune
While runes can be applied to different types of gear, you should make sure that you invest into the gear pieces that you plan on using for a long time. However, if the build you are using uses the same items between Mid Game and End Game, you can invest into adding runes to them as early as you get the items.


Weapon Masteries

Ranged Defense
Melee Evasion
Magic Defense
Max Health
Cooldown Speed
Bind Resistance
Buff Duration
Skill Damage
Resistance
Movement Speed
Health Regen
Mana Regen
Melee
Hit Chance
Stun Chance
Damage
Mana Regen
Stun Duration
Melee
Hit Chance
Stun Chance
Cooldown Speed
Melee
Hit Chance
Damage
Bonus Damage
Melee Critical
Hit Chance
Mana Cost
Efficiency
Added
Attack Speed
Skill Damage Boost
Melee Hit Chance
Melee Heavy
Attack Chance
Melee Defense
Health Regen
Weaken Chance
Max Health
Melee Evasion
Shield
Block Chance
Buff Duration
Damage Reduction
Stun Resistance
Shield
Block Chance
Melee Hit
Chance
Damage
Boss Endurance
Max Health
Stun Resistance
Boss Damage
Reduction
Mana Cost
Efficiency
Melee Hit
Chance
Bonus Boss
Damage
Max Health
Melee
Hit Chance
Collision Chance
Damage Reduction
Weaken Chance
Collision Resistance
Damage
Melee Defense
Cooldown Speed

Greatsword: Put 9 points into Face Off to enhance your damage output and gain some heavy attack chance. Next, spend 9 points on Incapacitate to increase damage, lengthen stun duration, and speed up cooldowns. Allocate the last 1 point to Charge for an additional benefit.

Sword: Max out Collision to reduce cooldowns and boost collision resistance and chance. Next, allocate 9 points to Provoke & Counter to improve your shield block chance and overall resistances. Prioritize spending 6 points on Provoke & Counter first to gain the shield block advantage early on.


Rotations

Single Target Kill Rotation ↴
Chain HookUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Stunning BlowUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Death BlowUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Ascending SlashUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Guillotine BladeUsed frame.webp
  • This is your primary single target damage rotation by catching enemies out of position and pulling them with Annihilating SlashUsed frame.webpAnnihilating Slash to kill quickly. Instantly use Stunning BlowUsed frame.webpStunning Blow to pin them down with a stun before following up with Death BlowUsed frame.webpDeath Blow to deal quick damage so you can follow up the CC combo with Ascending SlashUsed frame.webpAscending Slash before finishing them off using Guillotine BladeUsed frame.webpGuillotine Blade.
AoE Rotation ↴
Devastating SmashUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Gaia CrashUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Counter BarrierUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Shield StrikeUsed frame.webp
  • This is your main engage rotation. Start with Devastating SmashUsed frame.webpDevastating Smash to engage on a group of enemies that are stacked together so you can stun them all at the same time before following up with AOE damage by using Gaia CrashUsed frame.webpGaia Crash. A lot of attention will be drawn on you when you push in like this though, which is the perfect time to use Counter BarrierUsed frame.webpCounter Barrier to negate some of that damage while also using Shield StrikeUsed frame.webpShield Strike to deal damage to enemies caught in its path, repeatedly using this skill as it gets reset while you are being hit.

Counter BarrierUsed frame.webpCounter Barrier: Use when you start drawing focused attention. Utilize your defense skill to reflect damage when you're under pressure or when an engagement doesn't go as planned.

Stalwart BastionUsed frame.webpStalwart Bastion: Use when initiating a push with your team or when being pushed by the enemy. It's typically requested by your shotcaller, but you can also initiate it yourself if your shotcaller doesn't give the command.

Chain HookUsed frame.webpChain Hook: Use it to pull enemies into your group in order to kill them quickly.


Useful Information

  • Select Green Ranger Elowen as your guardian; it roots people around you and can assist in executing your rotation. If you manage to root enemies using this guardian, you can effortlessly execute both rotations and eliminate groups of enemies on your own.


Comments

MetaBattle is recruiting!
We are seeking an experienced Build Admin for Throne and Liberty with a deep understanding of the meta across most weapons and game modes. Get in touch with Galaxian on Discord if you're a good fit for the role or know someone else who is. This is a paid position.
Split Metabattle Logo