Forcewave Warlord
A two-handed melee build built around Forcewave. Push through as pure Soldier first, then add Oathkeeper later purely for resistance reduction and buffs. Before gear lets you spam it, lean on Forcewave's cooldown and Blitz to bridge the gap, then switch to full Forcewave spam once the Tremor modifier is available. Designed to stay tanky without giving up damage — the source guide demonstrates a full campaign clear, every challenge dungeon, Shattered Realm shard 15, and multiple nemesis kills.
Forcewave
The cited guide is from v1.1.8.0 and has not been re-verified on the current v1.2.1.6. As originally demonstrated: full campaign clears on Veteran/Elite/Ultimate, all challenge dungeons cleared on Ultimate, Shattered Realm shard 15 reached, the nemeses Grava'Thul/Kubacabra/Moosilauke/Valdaran defeated, and a Lokarr kill (as of v1.1.9.1).
Beginner ★★★★★
Gear need ★★☆☆☆ (few required items — beginner-friendly)
Skills & Priorities
8The main attack, prioritized from the very start. Run it on cooldown until your gear catches up, then switch over to the Tremor modifier once a good two-handed weapon is available.
Forcewave's modifier — the key that turns it from a cooldown skill into something you can spam.
Soldier's exclusive buff. A purely offensive skill that raises physical/internal trauma damage and OA, with no defensive component. Along with Field Command and Squad Tactics, it's where points go on the way to level 50.
An always-on aura that raises OA, DA, and armor.
A debuff that lowers enemy damage output. The actual resistance reduction comes from its Terrify modifier (3 points for 18% RR); switch to Break Morale once gear provides +3 to all Soldier skills.
An Oathkeeper aura providing OA, energy regeneration, and related buffs (resistance reduction is Celestial Presence's job, not this one). Also grab 1 point in its Resilience node.
A permanently-attacking, invincible summoned pet, used as the binding target for Dire Bear's Maul proc. Its Celestial Presence add-on (unlocked at 50 points in Oathkeeper) is the actual source of physical/fire/bleeding resistance reduction.
A movement skill that also lands hits, used as the binding target for Oleron's Blind Fury proc.
Devotion Route (In Order)
13- 1.1 point in Crossroads (Order).
- 2.Complete Assassin's Blade (5pt / requires Order 1, grants Ascendant +3, Order +2). Bind its Assassin's Mark proc (100% on critical hit) to Forcewave.
- 3.Complete Lion (3pt / requires Order 1, grants Order +3).
- 4.1 point in Crossroads (Primordial).
- 5.Complete Eel (3pt / requires Primordial 1, grants Primordial +5).
- 6.1 point in Crossroads (Ascendant).
- 7.Complete Hammer (3pt / requires Ascendant 1, grants Ascendant +4).
- 8.[Core] Complete Dire Bear (6pt / requires Ascendant 5, Primordial 5 — accumulated Ascendant 8, Primordial 6 meets the gate; grants Ascendant +1, Primordial +1). Bind its Maul proc to Summon Guardian of Empyrion.
- 9.Complete Owl (4pt / requires Ascendant 1, grants Ascendant +5).
- 10.Complete Empty Throne (4pt / requires Ascendant 1, grants Ascendant +5).
- 11.Complete Toad (4pt / requires Ascendant 1, grants Ascendant +3, Eldritch +3).
- 12.Complete Panther (4pt / requires Order 1, grants Order +2, Primordial +3).
- 13.[Core] Complete Oleron (7pt / requires Ascendant 20, Order 7 — accumulated Ascendant 22, Order 8 meets the gate; grants nothing). Bind its Blind Fury proc (100% on critical hit, melee weapon required) to Vire's Might. This uses 46 of 55 devotion points; the remaining 9 are free.
Gear
- ▸Push Forcewave from the very start as Soldier, bridging with cooldown-based casts plus Blitz until a good two-hander turns up.
- ▸Obsidian War Cleaver (with +skill to Forcewave and Internal Trauma; drops from Act 4 Chthonian Dreadguards/Vanguards/Tyrants, and sometimes appears in the Bastion of Chaos roguelike dungeon's rotating shop) is the target weapon.
- ▸Keep resistances at 80% with gear and components as you go.
- ▸Add Oathkeeper around level 46, investing in War Cry/Terrify for resistance reduction and Menhir's Will/Fighting Spirit for survivability.
- ▸Amulet: Mogara's Fangs (+1 Soldier skills). Medal: Mark of Harvoul (+skill to Break Morale and others).
- ▸Chest: Wendigo Tempered Cuirass, Elite tier (Coven of Ugdenbog faction). Shoulders: Dreeg Combatant Spaulders, Elite tier (Cult of Dreeg faction).
- ▸Rings: Coven Storm Seal. Gloves/boots: the Elite tier of Rhowari Handguards and Rhowari Greaves round out the Rovers faction pieces.
- ▸Pants: Solael-Sect Legguards (a limited drop from the Guardian of Solael in the hidden "Hidden Path" quest).
- ▸Relic: Doom (+1 Soldier skills).
Playstyle & Notes
- ▸Just keep spamming Forcewave. Before Tremor is online, close distance with Blitz between cooldowns.
- ▸Strip resistances with Terrify/Break Morale and Celestial Presence before committing to the fight.
- ▸Keep Summon Guardian of Empyrion out — it keeps attacking (and triggering its bound proc) even when you're not managing it.
- ▸Feel free to walk into danger; armor and DA are built to absorb it.
Built around 80% resistances plus armor and DA. Physical resistance is hard to stack, and Internal Trauma damage in particular tends to stay undercovered — patch it with specific gear and augments.
Physical resistance is hard to stack, so enemies leaning on Internal Trauma damage are a rough matchup. Until a good two-hander (like Obsidian War Cleaver) is in hand, Forcewave stays on cooldown and damage lags.
Farm Act 4 Chthonian-type elites for Obsidian War Cleaver, or run the Bastion of Chaos roguelike dungeon's rotating vendor. Solael-Sect Legguards drop from the Guardian of Solael in the hidden "Hidden Path" quest. Build up Coven of Ugdenbog, Cult of Dreeg, and Rovers reputation in parallel for faction gear.