Greatsword Gigachad

Solos only, gigachads only. If you want to play it safe, pick Mercenary. If you want to two-shot people and look incredibly cool doing it, you're in the right place.

1. Overview & Core Philosophy

This build revolves entirely around the Greatsword stance for the Withered Knight. We are maximizing our physical damage output and relying entirely on precise parrying and the Grappling Hook to close gaps. You have minimal defensive utility—your defense is killing them before they kill you.

Unlike more passive tank builds, this setup focuses on overwhelming enemies. You want to apply pressure to force opponents to panic or retreat.

The Wither Loop:

1. Charge: Use light attacks to charge your sword with "Judgment" (typically after three hits).
2. Mark: Apply the "Wither Mark" to your target.
3. Detonate/Execute: Use heavy attacks to detonate the mark for massive burst damage.

2. Skill Loadout

Primary Weapon: Greatsword of the Abyss

The absolute best-in-slot for this build. It naturally has high raw physical damage and scales incredibly well with our chosen affixes.

Active Skills

• Skill 1: Radiant Retribution / Grappling Hook
  • Usage: Essential for catching fleeing Shadowstrix or closing the gap on Sorcerers. Do not waste this on tanks.
• Skill 2: Abyssal Cleave / Breakthrough Charge
  • Usage: Your main AoE burst and gap closer. Use this after a successful parry stagger or when you need to quickly change positioning in a teamfight.
• Skill 3: Withered Step / Thorn Guide
  • Usage: A short teleport that leaves a decoy. Use this to dodge telegraphed nukes. Thorn Guide is an excellent alternative if you need more stickiness against highly mobile targets.

3. Best Gear & Affixes

You want to prioritize burst damage and mobility. Do not build health regen—you rely on lifesteal and burst.

| Slot | Recommended Item | Key Affixes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Helmet | Executioner's Visage | +15% Damage vs Staggered, +Crit Rate | | Chest | Light Plate of the Vanguard | +Movement Speed, +Physical Power | | Gloves | Grips of the Titan | +10% Swing Speed, +Armor Penetration | | Boots | Strider's Treads | +15% Sprint Speed, Stamina Cost Reduction |

Stat Priority:

1. Critical Hit Damage & Rate - To guarantee those two-shot kills.
2. Wrath / Valor - Wrath increases damage when below 50% HP. Valor boosts attack and defense penetration, allowing you to shred through armored targets.
3. Physical Power
4. Stamina Regeneration

4. Playstyle & Combos

The golden rule: Never swing first against a faster opponent.

1. The Engage: Wait for the enemy to commit to an attack.
2. The Parry: Time your block perfectly. The Greatsword’s unique "Parry" ability is essential. Unlike the stationary shield block, the Greatsword parry allows you to negate frontal damage while maintaining movement.
3. The Punish: Upon a successful parry, the enemy will be staggered. Immediately follow up with a heavy attack into Abyssal Cleave. This combo will instantly delete 70-80% of a squishy target's health bar.
4. The Chase: If they survive and try to heal, immediately use Grappling Hook to reel them back in and finish them.

Matchups

• vs Shadowstrix (Hard): They are fast. Bait out their stealth opener, parry it, and they are dead. If you miss the parry, you will likely lose.
• vs Sorcerer (Easy): Dodge their slow projectiles with Withered Step, grapple them, and they fold like paper.
• vs Mercenary (Skill Matchup): A battle of attrition. They have more health and shields. Do not blow all your stamina on their shield. Play patiently, look for the parry, and punish their heavy swings.

Stay aggressive, stay confident, and remember: Gigachads don't retreat.