Build:Berserker - Greatsword Burst

The community gave this build a rating, making it top-tier: Great

Focused on: Strike damage

Designed for: Open World and Open World General

Expansions required:

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on February 15, 2022 and is up to date for the March 19, 2024 patch.

Overview

A open world warrior build with extremely high area damage and burst.

Template Code

[&DQIEGzM+EhXyEgAAqAAAAKESAADXEgAAwhIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]

Copy Template Code

Skill Bar

Greatsword

Axe/Axe

Utility

Weapon Variants

• Mace (mainhand) - defense/cc
• Mace (offhand) - very high cc
• Shield - defense/cc
• Rifle - the only real ranged option
• Sword (mainhand) - offers high mobility; a great option for mobility in a zerg

Skill Variants

Heal Skills

• "To the Limit!" - general use: a big heal that maxes adrenaline
• Defiant Stance - defense: counter-pressure, performs best against hard solo content.

Utilities

• Signet of Stamina - defense: more dodges.
• Kick (warrior utility) - offense: CC that activates Peak Performance
• Bull's Charge - offense/mobility: CC that activates Peak Performance
• Dolyak Signet - defense: stability and damage reduction
• "Shake It Off!" - defense: best condition clear and stunbreak
• Signet of Might - offense: high DPS option
• Endure Pain - defense: immortality for a few seconds
• Banner of Discipline - offense: boost ally damage; great for zergs
• Banner of Strength - offense: boost ally damage; great for zergs
• Banner of Defense - defense: boost ally defense; great for zergs
• Banner of Tactics - utility: boost ally heals and boons; great for zergs
  • If taking banners, ensure Doubled Standards is taken.

Elite Skills

• Battle Standard - ally rez + boon support

Specializations

• Brave Stride - stability
• Savage Instinct - An excellent stunbreak that includes a short invulnerability period.
• Eternal Champion - helps mitigate the lost defense from Berserk

Juggernaut Variant

This variant offers extremely high sustain and defense at a drastic reduction in DPS. This variant follows a tiered progression based on how much defense you need.

1. Replace Berserker's Power with Might Makes Right
2. Replace Bloody Roar with Eternal Champion
3. Replace Discipline with the Tactics variant below.

Equipment

Ascended gear and stat infusions are not required; you can use exotic gear with the same stats.

This set uses gear similar to Build:Berserker_-_Power_DPS, making it good for general PVE.

Head
Berserker

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Berserker

Legs
Berserker

Feet
Berserker

Backpiece
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Greatsword
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Axe
Berserker

Axe
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

• Sigil of Superior Sigil of Air, Sigil of Superior Sigil of Accuracy - budget DPS
• Rune of Superior Rune of Infiltration, Rune of Superior Rune of Strength - budget dps
• Knight - defensive trinkets

Consumables

Food

• Any ascended food is superior to any other food you could use. Steak for power, flatbread for conditions. Budget versions of these foods exist and are acceptable.
• - farming
• , - DPS
• - defense

Utility

• (and variants) - farming
• , - dps

Usage

Damage

• Use "For Great Justice!" off cooldown
• This build operates with a basic skill priority, but requires some finesse due to its Adrenaline mechanic.
• Use Head Butt to start fights. Immediately follow it with Outrage to break the self-stun.
• Throughout the rotation, use Rage skills to prolong the duration of Berserk. Only use Head Butt if Outrage is available.

The basic greatsword priority is as follows:

1. Head Butt ⇒ Outrage to open fights, and throughout the fight to maintain Berserk
2. Arc Divider - use this off cooldown.
3. Blood Reckoning at 0 adrenaline to instantly refresh Arc Divider
4. Hundred Blades
5. Whirlwind Attack
6. Bladetrail
7. Fill with auto-attacks.

For axes, the priority is similar:

1. Head Butt ⇒ Outrage to open fights, and throughout the fight to maintain Berserk
2. Decapitate off cooldown
3. Whirling Axe
4. Cyclone Axe
5. Dual Strike
6. Throw Axe
7. Fill with auto-attacks.

• On Axe/Axe in particular, the goal is generally to avoid auto-attacking as much as possible.

Defense

• Whirlwind Attack can be used to evade attacks and reposition.

Crowd Control

• Head Butt
• Wild Blow