Beginner Fighter Build in Ashes of Creation
Greetings glorious adventurer! So you have chosen to be up close and personal with your enemy.
The Fighter feels fast, strong, relentless. They work well with Tank archetype, because of the Staggered debuff, which boosts some of Fighter’s abilities – Crippling Blow, Cataclysm.
With this guide, we hope to ease your adventures in Verra as you level up.
Disclaimer: this guide is designed around working in party.
Skills
Forms and their usage
Form of Ferocity – Increases the attack speed, based on your current Combat Momentum, up to 15%. Using Overpower or Brutal Cleave will add Bleed effect on your target(s). Perfect for PVE encounters.
Form of Celerity – Increases the movement speed, based on your current Combat Momentum, up to 20%. Using Overpower or Brutal Cleave will add Staggered effect on your target(s). Use it If there is noone else in the party, who can provide the Staggered debuff (or if solo).
Form of Fluidity – Increases the Disable Resistance, based on your current Combat Momentum, up to 40%. Using Overpower or Brutal Cleave will add Shaken effect on your target(s). Ideal for PVP scenarios.
Rotations
Single target – Form of Ferocity -> Blitz -> Overpower -> Rupture -> Berserk -> Lethal Blow -> Form of Celerity -> Crippling Blow -> Maim
AOE – Form of Celerity -> Blitz -> Brutal Cleave -> Berserk -> Cataclysm -> Maim with Slicing Maim -> Battle Cry -> Whirlwind
Tip: If in a party with Tank, you can skip switching into Form of Celerity. The tank should provide Stagger debuff on your targets.
Tip: If in a party with Cleric, it would be wise to synchronize Battle Cry and Chains of Restraint. This combination will result in mass root.
Stamina Skill Tree
To remain tactically versatile, the fighters must traverse the battlefield quickly. First tree will provide additional movement speed and resistance to control effect while sprinting. Blocking without shield is not efficient way to reduce incoming damage, therefor the third tree will be left for last.
If a Fighter overcommits to pursuing the enemy, rolling away from danger would be the best course of action.
Melee Weapon
There are only Two-hand swords available for the Fighter archetype.
First choice – Deadly Finisher: Bleed. Overall, more damage is done and Fighters are benefiting from the debuff – Rupture, Lethal Blow.
As the Fighers are a melee oriented archetype, it is given that the majority of their time doing damage will be with their melee weapon. In order to boost the damage, you should focus on upgrades such as All weapon Combo attacks deal more damage and gain penetration.
Second choice – Refreshing Followthrough. Helps restore mana while attacking with your weapon. If the mana is not an issue – Keen Edge(especially for PVP).
Weapon Training: Critical Damage and Weapon Training: Penetration – both of them are important. Critical damage will provide more output against light armored targets. Penetration will be beneficial against heavy armored targets. One point in each should provide a balanced build.
Third choice – Deadly Finisher: Wound. Reducing the healing on target is major factor in PVP and against some mobs in PVE. Also, stacks of Wounded will increase the damage done of Rupture.
Range Weapon
Use a short bow to quickly replenish your mana while attacking with the help of Refreshing Followthrough. The fast attacks allow for quicker stacking on Bleed and Snare debuffs.
At some point you may consider dropping Refreshing Followthrough from the Melee weapon for the Keen Edge and use your Ranged whenever your mana is low.
Equipment
Disclaimer: The process is slow! All items which are displayed below are obtainable. Armor and weapons mainly drop in various POIs. Recipes are dropping as well, therefor you can obtain higher rarity if you get high enough crafting skill and have the necessary materials.
The medium gear set bonus, the value of armor and magic resistance that comes with it are ideal for the Fighter’s play style and needs.
As for level 20 gear – Bloodrunner from Tower of Carphin. Leatherworking can provide gear such as Gryphon Tunic.
Stats
What kind of stats should you be looking for if you are a Fighter and you want to perform well?
- Strength – increases physical power rating, physical accuracy rating, physical penetration rating
- Dexterity – increases physical critical chance rating, physical attack speed, physical evasion rating
- Constitution – increases the maximum health points, armor, physical critical avoidance rating
- Mentality – increases magical resis, magical critical avoidance rating, max mana
Side note: Wisdom provides Magical Evasion Rating. However, the current stats and values are too low and it is hard to tell if Evasion (for both Physical and Magical damage) can be considered as a viable defense option.
In situations where you an get an upgrade with higher level or rarity item, focus on these stats, preferably in that order:
- Strength and Dexterity will improve your damage output.
- Constitution will help you against physical damage and will increase your health pool.
- Mentality will help you with the mana pool and will reduce the incoming magical damage from PVE and PVP.
Final Thoughts
This archetype is ideal for players who love fast-paced, direct engagements. Fighters bring powerful physical attacks, tactical versatility, making them indispensable in both solo and group PvE and PvP scenarios.
