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Steelheart - Spear + Sword PvP Build

Under construction.webp This build has been archived and should not be used in-game.
Overview
Class: Crusader
Weapons: Spear 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 Sword + Spear PvP build focuses around dealing considerably damage while also maintaining good self-healing thanks to Bloodleech AuraUsed frame.webpBloodleech Aura However, this build truly shines in its CC abilities and the incredible mobility provided by spear's Death From AboveUsed frame.webpDeath From Above, capable of fearing a group of enemies from far away. While this build takes a little bit of time to get used to, it is still very straightforward and even new players could get the hang of it rather quickly.


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 - Hastened Arc
Counter BarrierUsed frame.webp
Counter Barrier
Counter Barrier - Cooldown ▼
Tempest StrikeUsed frame.webp
Tempest Strike
Tempest Strike - Effect Duration ▲
Annihilating SlashUsed frame.webp
Annihilating Slash
Annihilating Slash - Movement Speed Slowed
Annihilating Slash - Consecutive Use
Annihilating Slash - Range Increase
Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webp
Abyssal Cleave
Abyssal Cleave - Ascending Cleave
Abyssal Cleave - Effect Duration ▲
Bloodleech AuraUsed frame.webp
Bloodleech Aura
Bloodleech Aura - Cooldown ▼
Bloodleech Aura - Effect Boost
Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webp
Abyssal Cleave
Abyssal Cleave - Ascending Cleave
Abyssal Cleave - Effect Duration ▲
Shield StrikeUsed frame.webp
Shield Strike
Shield Strike - Piercing Strike
Death From AboveUsed frame.webp
Death From Above
Death From Above - Tormentor's Guise
Death From Above - Additional Victims
Immortal PrideUsed frame.webp
Immortal Pride
Immortal Pride - All Defense ▲
Passives
Aegis ShieldActive frame.webp
Gerad's PatienceActive frame.webp
Resilient MindActive frame.webp
Retaliatory StrikeActive frame.webp
Nimble StepsActive frame.webp
Malice SurgeActive frame.webp
Morale BoostActive 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 while also offering great CC through the use of skills like Tempest StrikeUsed frame.webpTempest Strike to stun enemies and deal damage, so upgrading it along with Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webpAbyssal Cleave is an obvious choice to improve stun and Prone durations, making it much easier for your team to follow up on the stunned enemies.

Nex up, you should focus on upgrading Counter BarrierUsed frame.webpCounter Barrier and Shield StrikeUsed frame.webpShield Strike 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 by improving overall defenses. The same goes for Unyielding SentinelUsed frame.webpUnyielding Sentinel as this buff boosts your CC resistance to ridiculous levels while also improving Heavy Attack chance by a great deal. You should aim to always be with your group in order to make use of these buffs 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. ImpenetrableActive frame.webpImpenetrable & Aegis ShieldActive frame.webpAegis Shield are the main two defensive passives while Nimble StepsActive frame.webpNimble Steps is a must-have for any PVP, allowing you to push through without being CC'd.


Equipment

Blade of the Resistance
Blade of the Resistance
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
Primary
Halberd of the Resistance
Halberd 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
Heroic Tactical Spear of the Resistance
Heroic Tactical Spear of the Resistance
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
Primary
Shaikal's Tentacle Spear
Shaikal's Tentacle Spear
Heavy Attack Chance
Critical Hit Chance
Hit Chance
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
Bracers of Unrelenting
Bracers of Unrelenting
Max Health
Skill Damage Resistance
Collision Resistance
Sapphire Dimensional Band
Sapphire Dimensional Band
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Etched Alabaster Band
Etched Alabaster Band
Skill Damage Boost
Max Health
Buff Duration
Flamewrought Bindings
Flamewrought Bindings
Max Health
Collision Resistance
Skill Damage Resistance

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
Magic Defense
Shield Block
Penetration Chance
Melee Evasion
Cooldown Speed
Endurance
Max Health
Debuff Duration
Movement Speed
Damage Reduction
Melee Critical
Hit Chance
Mana Regen
CC Chance
Bonus Damage
Buff Duration
Ignite Damage
Damage
Melee
Hit Chance
Skill Damage Boost
Melee
Hit Chance
Movement Speed
Cooldown Speed
Max Mana
Damage
Skill Damage
Resistance
Mana Cost
Efficiency
Melee Critical
Hit Chance
Added Attack Speed
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

Spear: Invest the first 8 into Charge for extra Endurance and Shield Block Penetration Chance. One point goes into Destroy for the extra critical chance. Use the last 6 points in Face Off to improve Skill Damage resistance and cooldown speed.

Sword: Investing 9 points in Provoke & Counter offers great Shield Block Chance and Stun Resistance along with more defenses. Allocate the rest of your points into Collision to boost chance and resistance alike.


Rotations

AOE Rake Lockdown ↴
Chain HookUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Shield StrikeUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Annihilating SlashUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Tempest StrikeUsed frame.webp
  • This is your primary way of AOE locking down enemies in groups. Use Chain HookUsed frame.webpChain Hook to pull in groups of stacked enemies to you before jumping and using Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webpAbyssal Cleave to force the targets you pulled into Prone where their Purification Stone doesn't work and cannot clear the effect. Follow up with a Shield StrikeUsed frame.webpShield Strike before using Annihilating SlashUsed frame.webpAnnihilating Slash to slow them down and make it impossible for them to get away before your team kills the group. You can also follow up with Tempest StrikeUsed frame.webpTempest Strike and push the enemies either towards your team or into a wall to stun them further.
Backline Dive Rotation ↴
Unyielding SentinelUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Immortal PrideUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Death From AboveUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Counter BarrierUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Annihilating SlashUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Tempest StrikeUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Bloodleech AuraUsed frame.webp
Arrow right.webp
Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webp
  • This rotation relies on having the opening to push deep into the enemy backline and create chaos.
  • Start by pre-buffing with Unyielding SentinelUsed frame.webpUnyielding Sentinel and Immortal PrideUsed frame.webpImmortal Pride before using Death From AboveUsed frame.webpDeath From Above to jump in the backline where a group of enemies are stacked together. Instantly use Counter BarrierUsed frame.webpCounter Barrier to help negate incoming damage before using Annihilating SlashUsed frame.webpAnnihilating Slash to keep enemies from running away.
  • Find the largest stack of enemies and use Tempest StrikeUsed frame.webpTempest Strike to stun them before activating Bloodleech AuraUsed frame.webpBloodleech Aura to further boost your healing. Abyssal CleaveUsed frame.webpAbyssal Cleave can also be used if you can find another clump of enemies, make sure that you jump when using the skill to apply Prone instead of stunning as Prone cannot be cleansed by Purification Stones.

Storm BlitzUsed frame.webpStorm Blitz: This is your main movement skill and can be used to dash around the battlefield from target to target in order to get a better engage angle. You can also use it on party members to clear their CC and save them from possible death.

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.


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

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