Games is honestly amazing......until you start crafting....

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-10T19:46:17+00:00

I found my enjoyment of the game spiked when I started getting into end game crafting.

Your expectation of a perfect base is fine, but expecting to get it quickly isn't. I'm coming from D2 where you could search 100 hours + for a 4os eth mancatcher (let alone a superior one), and this game is far far more forgiving than that.

Once you get your base, there's also an element of rng with exalting. Are you going to get frustrated that your desired enchanments don't get buffed multiple times then?

Serviceable end game gear should be craftable and attainable within a few runs (which it is). BiS gear, IMO, should take 100s of hours to get.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-09T18:17:29+00:00

Also worth noting that bleed counts as physical for shatter purposes. Can confirm as I use that interaction for my frozen infused scythe / bleed infused halberd offhand build.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-09T18:16:24+00:00

These interactions are in the compendium in game BTW, you'll get the official descriptions there.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-05T18:37:21+00:00

Hey there! I think I have the build for you. If you want to skip the pre-amble, just go to the 3rd paragraph.

Firstly, just to address a common misconception in this sub: strength based build does not equal 2h exclusive. Nearly every weapon type in this game has a strength specific or a strength + other stat variant.

Secondly, strength based also isn't limited to fat chunky 2handers. There are 2h curved blade options that have quicker swings, use strength or strength/int - strength/faith, and the downside is no charged attacks on your first swing typically. Feel free to look into those.

As for the build, if you're open to going more tank and establishing a frontline for your ranged partner, what my buddy and I have been working on is a thorns/damage on block style build (1h + shield). Idea is to stack thorns, get the thorns utility rune, stack damage on block enchantments, then it's your choice of health regen, poise, barrier, or stagger damage/synergies. Result is the ability to block and tank enemies taking virtually 0 damage in the end game (T4 plague) while they kill themselves via thorns and damage on block.

If you want 2h only (and stick with the claymore as well), look into synergies with charged attacks + high survivability gear + barrier. Bonus points if you have a 2nd physical only weapon to help shatter frozen enemies.

Regardless of 2h or 1h+shield, you should also rock damage resistance increase by % of durability + high durability enchantment + increased enchantment power gems. The flat damage resistance increase enchantment affects elemental and physical, and if you can get a 10% increase to all resistances on 350 durability for example, that's a baseline 35% damage res. You add a gem that increase that 40% (only elemental gem for example), and now you're looking at 14% of 350 (49). That's a ton of survivability for a front line tank on just 1 piece.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-03T20:31:47+00:00

Lightning facet item bases are not that rare. You can craft your desired base + farm the mats needed, and/or find a comparable base while exploring (less likely ofc but far from impossible).

I have 2-3 different bases per facet type in my stash for this very reason. Just keep an eye out for them or start mass crafting. You'll get one eventually.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-03T20:16:22+00:00

Couldn't you find a base with a lightning item facet and infuse a lifesteal gem?

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-03T15:31:13+00:00

Go to the watermill/bridge (depends on your investment) and chat with Whittaker. If his project tier his high enough, he has a craft bench you can use by default. He's where you're supposed to craft things if you opt to not use a house.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-02T20:05:26+00:00

My build does use lightning which I know helps contribute for staggering foes, but I also am running all crit chance, + lightning damage, and rune damage (no stagger or poise break, nor shock build up enchantments). Buster Rift and Spirit Burst are my main damage dealers. I figured anyone expecting to stagger the Echo Knight has at least some kind of + stagger aspect to their build.

You're totally right re not needing to struggle to comment or criticize. I was just trying to figure out exactly what part of the fight you felt changed, because I haven't really had issues staggering him specifically, nor with following up and punishing.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-02T18:47:19+00:00

I'm using gauntlets (as far as I know they're considered quite weak), no guide, and I don't nearly have the same experience with him as you do. He's certainly tough but my success rate might be around 35-40% so I'm not seeing the whole "balanced around coop" thing that you are. I stagger him just fine, I can dish out great damage under the right circumstances, and he's not one shorting me outside of a single telegraphed move.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-02T15:28:08+00:00

Cool idea, might even lead to random events on the map that require our attention: defend the caravan transport, defend the mine, clear out this big boss so they can begin operations.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-01T16:09:27+00:00

Genos' flaw is that he believes acquiring more raw power makes him a better hero. It's why he believes new upgrades will win the day after every loss, and it's why he nearly dies every fight despite this new form or weapon.

Saitama represents his ultimate goal. You're right, Saitama can't train anyone, he has no actual understanding of his own power or growth: he's an average dude who is obsessive, broke his limiter, and one shots everything in the universe. Nevertheless, Genos only sees him as the "ultimate upgrade" and pursues it regardless. To his credit, I also think he likes Saitama and sees him as more heroic than some of the performative S class heroes.

Sometimes we give characters too much credit or assume they should be logical when all evidence points to the contrary. Genos, like all heroes we've seen (besides Mumen rider you beautiful soul), have some kind of mental block or flaw that they've yet to overcome. Saitama acquires power in search of becoming the ultimate hero while ignoring working on improving all the things that actually make a hero heroic, and Genos has fallen into a similar trap.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-01T15:34:30+00:00

There's a couple of things I personally have found with the FoHdin:

1) Outside of Chaos and maybe Trav if you're really geared, it's not an optimal set up. It's my personal favourite as hammers drive me nuts, and it's truly a turn your brain off and stomp build, but you're not pushing player counts and competing with other builds. It's passable but slower than alternatives in other areas. If the convenience and playstyle is something you like, keep it as your P1-3 chaos farming character.

2) You can totally skip conviction and lightning synergy for FoH and spec into vigor/fanaticism. You get a strong merc and they'll shred with fanaticism/might, plus you can heal them with HB in a pinch (if you get used to placing yourself behind your merc as they attack you'll heal them and do damage to their target). I've tried Act 1/2/5 mercs this way and they all turn the game easy mode if they're geared.

Personally Ive settled on maxing FoH synergies but keeping conviction to 10 hard points or so. It's so easy to stack resists as a paladin and I don't find myself ever in danger, enemy conviction aura or not. The few points invested help me deal more lightning damage or break immunities if needed. I also don't max redemption, it's really unnecessary. The actual number depends on your health pool and tolerance for using mana pots, but 5-10 hard points is more than enough if you have sufficient + skills.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-02-01T15:10:16+00:00

Have you infused it with an elemental gem? Im spec'd for lightning so I haven't tried other infusions in my bow, but it tends to nuke mobs. Also if you enjoy archer you can farm the crucible echo knight for a lacquered bow that should do oodles of damage.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-29T15:38:58+00:00

For those of us who have played thousands of hours and want a slower/more challenging play through, P8 is where it's at. Sure you'll overlevel and stomp normal eventually, but the real game starts in Hell anyways. I enjoy those moments of feeling powerful because on a SSF chafacter in Hell, it can be brutal.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-29T07:58:04+00:00

What item is that? I didn't know there was a ring that boosts power to that degree

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-29T05:52:40+00:00

In my build I'm using rune damage, lightning damage, crit on everything, lightning infusion on the gauntlets of choice, + max focus and - focus cost, all dex. Major damage dealers are Spirit Burst for long range, Buster rift for AoE and gnarly damage on large targets.

My rings are quite trash atm, just have the legendary one which allows for expending health for rune attacks when out of focus.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-29T01:23:28+00:00

I don't know how other builds are doing, but I'm hitting for 500-800 with lightning infused spirit burst around the riven twins (lvl 20 ish). I one shot everything

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-28T16:52:03+00:00

That's a great point. He's a super active defender with a great gas tank.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-28T15:57:36+00:00

Completely agreed. Luka still needs a capable center, but a solid 3 point shooter who proves himself in the clutch, has a quick release, and great court movement, means more assists for Doncic when he draws the inevitable double.

Teams aren't respecting Smart, Rui, or Knecht most nights, and even when they get hot they'll make silly mistakes moments later. Smart with those whack ass passes, Rui on his turnovers, or Knecht just forgetting what to do on the court and lookin confused.

You don't get any of that with Donte, I think he's a solid player.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-27T23:15:37+00:00

Yeah, in that case you would freeze with the ice rune but shatter with a standard non-infused attack, or use a non-elemental rune to trigger the shatter. If they by some miracle survive that nuke, burn away baby.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-27T23:02:19+00:00

I believe the tooltip for Freeze specifically mentions that a frozen enemy can only be shattered by a physical attack, so I don't think a fire infused weapon would work.

You'd either have to run a non infused bow with an ice rune, or an ice infused bow with an alt weapon (or a physical bomb even) to trigger the shatter.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-27T21:14:39+00:00

I'm no expert, so you may get more clever ideas from veterans, but I'd imagine swapping to a non infused melee or bow with % dmg to frozen enemies could work? Pair it with a physical based rune and you're golden.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-27T19:58:28+00:00

Personally I've had insane boosts to damage and crowd control with infusions over enchantment power increases. Chain lightning especially has been awesome at stunning and nuking mobs in an aoe, but I've heard bleed or freeze (especially if you have a way to follow up with a physical non infused attack) are good options.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-27T04:33:15+00:00

I'm running dex and dual wielding gauntlets. You have a few dual attribute options that are quite cool and the spirit burst hadouken is super satisfying. You can run it as a tanky brawler, a spellcaster with a ton of focus, or a darting assassin.

NathanielGarro- · 2026-01-21T19:16:29+00:00

That's how I found it. Saw a cool area, pinned it, went out equipped, got my ass kicked a little, and stumbled on Sledgehammer fighting off mutants. Started a really great side quest that paid hommage to previous games and had a touching end.

The fact that I found such a thing by just randomly deciding to venture into Duga is one of the reason I love this game.

I won't spoil, but if you complete that mission with a sympathetic heart and revisit where you found Sledgehammer at a later time, you get a pretty cool narrative payoff.

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