D3 Crusader Fortress

my current build...

http://www.diabloprogress.com/hero/rich-2550/Leira/47424919
http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/profile/Rich-2550/hero/47424919

Last night I made the switch from a 2h (about 1.05m dps) to a 1h (670k dps). My attack speed is now about 2.0 and I attack really fast in an effort to take advantage of 15% chance on hot to smite for 2120% as holy damage. It's just not proccing as much as I would thought so now Im thinking I made a mistake going this route and should go back to my 2h (which luckily I kept)

im at a point now where Im not really enjoying my crusader anymore, the dps is just not THAT impressive compared to my main, WD. I can spam blessed hammer for large groups but its really not that impressive, and when it comes to single target dps, I think that is where the crusader really battles.

Thoughts? Suggestions?
 
Find a different damage dealer, blessed hammer is not good at all
If you want to keep using that smite gem, get the other gem that increases your attack speed. Then use slash with the attack speed rune. I would then use shield bash for now as your main spender, until you get more set pieces at least
 
Yes blessed hammer imo is for a starters build and not end game, atm you need mid game to end game build. I would suggest you to try the blessed shield build with Gyrfalcon's Foote and Jekangbord. I found that I have no serious problems T5. This will let you keep your holy skills damage and your smite gem will proc nicely! I am will to give you a demo tonight or chat on TS. After you have that you can work towards your end gear for a shotgun build, You can always skip mid game gear but you have not play a crusader if you have not tried the blessed shield spam build. my 2c:)
 
my current build...

http://www.diabloprogress.com/hero/rich-2550/Leira/47424919
http://eu.battle.net/d3/en/profile/Rich-2550/hero/47424919

Last night I made the switch from a 2h (about 1.05m dps) to a 1h (670k dps). My attack speed is now about 2.0 and I attack really fast in an effort to take advantage of 15% chance on hot to smite for 2120% as holy damage. It's just not proccing as much as I would thought so now Im thinking I made a mistake going this route and should go back to my 2h (which luckily I kept)

im at a point now where Im not really enjoying my crusader anymore, the dps is just not THAT impressive compared to my main, WD. I can spam blessed hammer for large groups but its really not that impressive, and when it comes to single target dps, I think that is where the crusader really battles.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

I've never used Blessed Hammer, seems lack luster. Your skills seem a bit all over the place. Also you still have no CDR even though you running a lot of cooldown skills. I would consider crafting captain crimson or bornes sets, the 500 str bonus you getting from the 2 sets you are currently running aren't as important as getting better cooldowns on your skills.
 
thanks for all the tips, appreciate it.

probably not going to be able to play tonight, heading out, but friday night I will have to mess around a bit.

i need to use that attack speed gem with the CDR, would appear its a very popular one.
 
I'm seriously enjoying my crusader at the moment...finally the build has come together.
 
In general, I like this build more, its seems more focused, you just need some better gear.

The phalanx build might actually be the best end game build for a crusader. The damage scaling of high GR's is just crazy, so this build is more of a ranged sader build which works really well, especially because it's a build you can use the furnace with and it seems to have better synergy with the legendary gems. Alkaizer who is currently topping the US season leaderboards for both barbs and crusaders is using this build.

I'm kinda surprised you not doing a some sort of fire build using the maximus I saw you found last night. If you get you full Akhans set before you find that Phalanx shield I would seriously consider going for the fire FoH build.

Crusaders might not be the strongest class, but from what I can tell, they are the class with the most different viable T6 builds. I still think there may be more revelations in time to come. Blizzard should aim and making all classes like that.
 
Im quite enjoying the Fire Build personally. My Sader isn't all that well geared yet,but can hold his own in T2 so will get there
 
Im quite enjoying the Fire Build personally. My Sader isn't all that well geared yet,but can hold his own in T2 so will get there

Fire build is what I ran on my non-season sader. It is such a great build in the beginning because in actual fact it doesnt really require many pieces of very specific gear. By just crafting you can get the build in a good place. There a lots of weapons that work and of course items like cindercoat and magefist just make fire builds that much more awesome.
 
In general, I like this build more, its seems more focused, you just need some better gear.

The phalanx build might actually be the best end game build for a crusader. The damage scaling of high GR's is just crazy, so this build is more of a ranged sader build which works really well, especially because it's a build you can use the furnace with and it seems to have better synergy with the legendary gems. Alkaizer who is currently topping the US season leaderboards for both barbs and crusaders is using this build.

I'm kinda surprised you not doing a some sort of fire build using the maximus I saw you found last night. If you get you full Akhans set before you find that Phalanx shield I would seriously consider going for the fire FoH build.

Crusaders might not be the strongest class, but from what I can tell, they are the class with the most different viable T6 builds. I still think there may be more revelations in time to come. Blizzard should aim and making all classes like that.

How would I go with a fire build if Im using Pony? Pony is physical, unless you mean respec all my skills... again...

Fire FoH build... Gonna google that now
 
Fire build is what I ran on my non-season sader. It is such a great build in the beginning because in actual fact it doesnt really require many pieces of very specific gear. By just crafting you can get the build in a good place. There a lots of weapons that work and of course items like cindercoat and magefist just make fire builds that much more awesome.

Yeah,resource gen can just be a bit spotty initially given lack of CDR but its definitely fun
 
I used Fate of the Fell and the shield that gives 50% cooldown reduction on Heavens Fury for my last dead Crusader. I socketed the lightning, poison and smite gems in rings and amulet. T5 was easy, Died in a high level Greater Rift 2 nights ago with 21 M toughness... one shotted by an elite pack... eish. Don't underestimate the elites in a high level Greater Rift. I didn't even ahve time to hit the Akarats Champion or potion buttons.
 
How would I go with a fire build if Im using Pony? Pony is physical, unless you mean respec all my skills... again...

Fire FoH build... Gonna google that now

Yeah, you would need to swap out the ponies for FoH. There's an old pre 2.1 youtube clip made by mannercookie that really goes through the build in depth (look for firelight build). And by in depth, I mean a 1 hour clip that takes you through progressing from T1 to T6, what to gamble for along the way, what stats to focus, what to look out for etc etc. Most is still applicable I'd imagine.
 
Yeah, you would need to swap out the ponies for FoH. There's an old pre 2.1 youtube clip made by mannercookie that really goes through the build in depth (look for firelight build). And by in depth, I mean a 1 hour clip that takes you through progressing from T1 to T6, what to gamble for along the way, what stats to focus, what to look out for etc etc. Most is still applicable I'd imagine.

Same vid I watched when I specced Fire last week hehe
 
Looking so much better, you've made some good progression this week.

I'm not expert in the build you running so you venturing a bit out of my field of expertise, but here's my thoughts.

Do rifts non-stop to get bloodshards and gamble the last pieces of the Akhans set you need. You've reached a point I think that there's nothing else more important than this for your progression.

Finally, CDR is super important. Like one of the most important affixes you can get. You will soon notice that you only feel like you doing damage when your AC is up. Also, once you start pushing higher difficulties you will probably run Prophet rune on your AC for the survivability and you will only die when your AC is on cooldown. Getting more uptime on your AC will give you bigger increases in dps than simply increasing your sheet dps.
 
Looking so much better, you've made some good progression this week.

I'm not expert in the build you running so you venturing a bit out of my field of expertise, but here's my thoughts.

Do rifts non-stop to get bloodshards and gamble the last pieces of the Akhans set you need. You've reached a point I think that there's nothing else more important than this for your progression.

Finally, CDR is super important. Like one of the most important affixes you can get. You will soon notice that you only feel like you doing damage when your AC is up. Also, once you start pushing higher difficulties you will probably run Prophet rune on your AC for the survivability and you will only die when your AC is on cooldown. Getting more uptime on your AC will give you bigger increases in dps than simply increasing your sheet dps.

thanks :)

I assume that the shield is also important though? It's essentially double dps as it sends out two waves of ponies, not one.

so the question is, gamble shield or last Arkhan pieces?

edit : also battling to see where I should be rolling more CDR on my gear
 
thanks :)

I assume that the shield is also important though? It's essentially double dps as it sends out two waves of ponies, not one.

so the question is, gamble shield or last Arkhan pieces?

edit : also battling to see where I should be rolling more CDR on my gear

That is a good question...unfortunately I dont really have enough experience with your build to be able to determine what will be more important for you at this stage...I would go for the set 1st I rate, because it's important for any crusader build, your call though.

For the last part, you probably not gonna like this, I didnt, but you gonna need to sacrifice sheet goodness to get more CDR. Paragon points - CDR 1st
Shoulders - if you not struggling to survive reroll that vit into CDR.
Rings/Gloves - sometimes CDR is better than CD and CC. (shock, horror!)
Edit: Weapon! Need a CDR weapon.
 
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