Dark Knight (Fighter 8/Blackguard 4/Weapon Master 28): Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "=== Notes from DA's Build Guide === - A variant of the True Weapon Master with slightly more robust saving throws at the cost of -1 AB, -3 Damage, -1 Devastating Critical DC, and -80 HP. Slightly more dueling ability due to the better saving throws, but still not a true duelist build. Good for CTF and Open World PvP. Decent for PvE Farming and Shard Runs. - Compared to the True Weapon Master, the Dark Knight has a slightly better edge against spellcasters due to the...")
 
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=== Notes from DA's Build Guide ===
=== Notes from DA's Build Guide ===
- A variant of the [[True Weapon Master]] with slightly more robust saving throws at the cost of -1 AB, -3 Damage, -1 Devastating Critical DC, and -80 HP. Slightly more dueling ability due to the better saving throws, but still not a true duelist build. Good for CTF and Open World PvP. Decent for PvE Farming and Shard Runs.
- A heavy-hitter with high saving throws. A bad duelist. Good for PvE. Would require some finesse in CTF PvP and Open World PvP due to its below-average HP.


- Compared to the True Weapon Master, the Dark Knight has a slightly better edge against spellcasters due to the increased damage from Divine Might and the higher saving throws. If you roll this build, my advice is to treat it more like a skirmisher and hit targets of opportunity instead of face-tanking enemies while you tear them up (some Weapon Masters can face-tank simply because they outdamage their enemies and have a decent amount of HP rather than being strong defensively).
- 600 HP. This is the Grey Knight's biggest weakness.


- This build has Divine Might for +6 Divine damage for 1 minute (with +9 CHA), so its spike damage is higher than the True Weapon Master. +7 if you spring for +12 CHA.
- 40/31/29 Fortitude/Reflex/Will. Excellent saving throws and you can cap any of them against DC spells. 60 Fortitude cap means you have decent Stunning Fist resistance.


- Blackguard also gives a +1 BAB bonus, keeping you at 66 AB (a True Weapon Master has 67 AB).
- 61 AB. +2 Aid/Bless = 63 AB. Short term buffs (Divine Favor and Prayer) will bring you to 67 AB (equal to a True Weapon Master).


- Blackguard gives you +1d6 Sneak Attack damage. Nothing spectacular, but damage is damage.
- Divine Might gives you +8 Divine Damage and Divine Favor gives you +3 Magic Damage for a total of +11 unresistable damage. There are numerous enemies in high-end PvE where this will make you a superior damage dealer compared to other melee builds.


- Blackguard gives you access to Taunt. Your Taunt is not very high, but you can potentially catch enemies who did not fortify their Concentration.
- Similar to the Dark Knight, my advice is to treat the Grey Knight more like a skirmisher and hit targets of opportunity instead of face-tanking enemies. Don't try to face-tank a Weapon Master in a crit-duel because they have a huge HP advantage and they will win more than 50% of the time.


- You will occasionally see Paladin variants of this build. The difference? Blackguard requires an investment of 10 skillpoints to achieve 5 Hide and gives you +1 BAB, +1d6 Sneak Attack Damage, and a self-cast Bull's Strength for a short duration. Paladin gives you Immunity to Fear and a very weak Lay on Hands. The AB alone is what what makes the Blackguard variant better. Additionally, Smite Good is probably going to be more useful than Smite Evil in PvP since it's much more rare and people are less likely to protect against it.
- Consider dropping STR to 14 and raising CON to 10 and taking Blind Fight at level 36. You lose -1 AB and -2 STR, however.


- You can receive as much as a +5 bonus to saving throws from Dark Blessing. Your saving throws are mediocre (but better than that of most Weapon Masters) at 32/26/20 Fortitude/Reflex/Will.
- Gear: +12 STR/CON/CHA, Haste, Fortitude. Saving Throws and Discipline as needed.
 
- Neither you nor a True Weapon Master can land a Devastating Critical on each other due with maxed Fortitude, so it will come down to raw damage and lucky rolls in a toe-to-toe fight (the True Weapon Master's HP advantage will ultimately give it a slight advantage).
 
- You have the option of taking Spellcraft instead of Taunt for a +4 saving throw bonus against direct spells. Personally, this is what I would do with this build since the Taunt is too weak to hurt mages, Clerics, and Druids (who are MUCH bigger threats than almost anything else you will encounter).  Additionally, since you don't need Taunt, you can take Fighter 6/Blackguard 4 pre-epic instead of Fighter 7/Blackguard 3, and this will net you an additional +1 Fortitude (your cap will now be 53).
 
- I chose to dump the remaining 32 points into Heal since there's nothing else useful that can be done them.
 
- One of the big drawbacks to this build compared to the True Weapon Master is the -80 HP hit (660 HP total).
 
- Gear: +12 STR/CON, +5 Armor/Natural/Deflection/Dodge, Haste, Fortitude. You have a choice between +9 and +12 CHA, but +12 will only give you +1 more Divine Damage and 1 use per day in comparison due to the 13 base CHA (an odd number). +7/# DR if you can afford it (you are very tight on PP with this build).
 
- Special thanks to Soubrette for catching an error in the level progression!


=== Level 1 ===
=== Level 1 ===
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|-
|-
|style="text-align: center"|Human
|style="text-align: center"|Human
|style="text-align: center"|Fighter
|style="text-align: center"|Paladin
|style="text-align: center"|17
|style="text-align: center"|15
|style="text-align: center"|13
|style="text-align: center"|13
|style="text-align: center"|10
|style="text-align: center"|8
|style="text-align: center"|13
|style="text-align: center"|Min
|style="text-align: center"|13
|style="text-align: center"|13
|style="text-align: center"|14
|style="text-align: center"|14
|}
|}


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|-
|-
|1
|1
|Fighter
|Paladin
|
|
|Power Attack, Dodge, Cleave
|Power Attack, Cleave
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|-
|2
|2
|Fighter
|Paladin
|
|
|Weapon Focus
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Hide
|Discipline, Taunt
|-
|-
|3
|3
|Fighter
|Paladin
|
|
|Mobility
|Weapon Focus
|Tumble, Discipline, Hide
|Discipline, Hide, Intimidate, Taunt
|-
|-
|4
|4
|Fighter
|Paladin
|Strength
|Strength
|Weapon Specialization
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Hide
|Discipline, Taunt
|-
|-
|5
|5
|Fighter
|Paladin
|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Hide
|Discipline, Hide, Intimidate (4), Taunt
|-
|-
|6
|6
|Fighter
|Paladin
|
|
|Expertise, Spring Attack
|Dodge
|Tumble, Discipline, Hide
|Discipline, Taunt
|-
|-
|7
|7
|Fighter
|Paladin
|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Hide
|Discipline, Hide (5), Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|8
|8
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|Strength
|Strength
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Intimidate (4), Taunt
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|9
|9
|Blackguard
|Blackguard
|
|
|Whirlwind Attack
|Mobility
|Tumble, Discipline, Taunt
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|10
|10
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|11
|11
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|12
|12
|Blackguard
|Paladin
|Strength
|Strength
|Divine Might
|Spring Attack
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal, Taunt
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|13
|13
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|14
|14
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|15
|15
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|
|
|Great Cleave
|Expertise
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|16
|16
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|Strength
|Strength
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|17
|17
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|18
|18
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|
|
|Improved Critical
|Whirlwind Attack
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|19
|19
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|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|20
|20
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|Strength
|Strength
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|21
|21
|Weapon Master
|Weapon Master
|
|
|Great Strength I
|Improved Critical
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|22
|22
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|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|23
|23
|Weapon Master
|Weapon Master
|
|
|Epic Weapon Focus
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|24
|24
|Fighter
|Weapon Master
|Strength
|Strength
|Great Strength II, Epic Weapon Specialization
|Great Strength I
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|25
|25
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|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|26
|26
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|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|27
|27
|Weapon Master
|Weapon Master
|
|
|Great Strength III, Epic Prowess
|Great Strength II
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|28
|28
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|Strength
|Strength
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|29
|29
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|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline, Heal (32)
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|30
|30
|Weapon Master
|Weapon Master
|
|
|Great Strength IV, Overwhelming Critical
|Great Strength III
|Tumble, Discipline
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|31
|31
|Weapon Master
|Weapon Master
|
|
|
|Epic Weapon Focus
|Tumble, Discipline
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|32
|32
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|Strength
|Strength
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|33
|33
|Weapon Master
|Weapon Master
|
|
|Great Strength V, Devastating Critical
|Great Strength IV
|Tumble, Discipline
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|34
|34
|Weapon Master
|Weapon Master
|
|
|
|Epic Prowess
|Tumble, Discipline
|Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
|-
|-
|35
|35
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|
|
|
|
|Tumble, Discipline
|Discipline, Concentration (28), Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|36
|36
|Weapon Master
|Weapon Master
|Strength
|Strength
|Great Strength VI, Armor Skin
|Great Strength V
|Tumble, Discipline
|Discipline, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|37
|37
|Weapon Master
|Weapon Master
|
|
|
|Armor Skin
|Tumble, Discipline
|Discipline, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|38
|38
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|
|
|
|
|Discipline
|Discipline, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|39
|39
|Weapon Master
|Paladin
|
|
|Great Strength VII, Epic Toughness
|Divine Might
|Discipline
|Discipline, Taunt, Tumble
|-
|-
|40
|40
|Blackguard
|Paladin
|Strength
|Strength
|
|
|Discipline, Taunt
|Discipline, Taunt, Tumble
|}
|}
__FORCETOC__
__FORCETOC__

Latest revision as of 08:02, 20 February 2025

Notes from DA's Build Guide

- A heavy-hitter with high saving throws. A bad duelist. Good for PvE. Would require some finesse in CTF PvP and Open World PvP due to its below-average HP.

- 600 HP. This is the Grey Knight's biggest weakness.

- 40/31/29 Fortitude/Reflex/Will. Excellent saving throws and you can cap any of them against DC spells. 60 Fortitude cap means you have decent Stunning Fist resistance.

- 61 AB. +2 Aid/Bless = 63 AB. Short term buffs (Divine Favor and Prayer) will bring you to 67 AB (equal to a True Weapon Master).

- Divine Might gives you +8 Divine Damage and Divine Favor gives you +3 Magic Damage for a total of +11 unresistable damage. There are numerous enemies in high-end PvE where this will make you a superior damage dealer compared to other melee builds.

- Similar to the Dark Knight, my advice is to treat the Grey Knight more like a skirmisher and hit targets of opportunity instead of face-tanking enemies. Don't try to face-tank a Weapon Master in a crit-duel because they have a huge HP advantage and they will win more than 50% of the time.

- Consider dropping STR to 14 and raising CON to 10 and taking Blind Fight at level 36. You lose -1 AB and -2 STR, however.

- Gear: +12 STR/CON/CHA, Haste, Fortitude. Saving Throws and Discipline as needed.

Level 1

Race Class Abilities
Strength Dexterity Constitution Intelligence Wisdom Charisma
Human Paladin 15 13 8 13 14 14

Level Progression

Level Class Ability Increase Feat Skills
1 Paladin Power Attack, Cleave N/A
2 Paladin Discipline, Taunt
3 Paladin Weapon Focus Discipline, Hide, Intimidate, Taunt
4 Paladin Strength Discipline, Taunt
5 Paladin Discipline, Hide, Intimidate (4), Taunt
6 Paladin Dodge Discipline, Taunt
7 Paladin Discipline, Hide (5), Taunt, Tumble
8 Blackguard Strength Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
9 Blackguard Mobility Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
10 Paladin Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
11 Paladin Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
12 Paladin Strength Spring Attack Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
13 Paladin Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
14 Paladin Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
15 Paladin Expertise Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
16 Paladin Strength Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
17 Paladin Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
18 Paladin Whirlwind Attack Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
19 Weapon Master Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
20 Weapon Master Strength Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
21 Weapon Master Improved Critical Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
22 Weapon Master Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
23 Weapon Master Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
24 Weapon Master Strength Great Strength I Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
25 Weapon Master Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
26 Weapon Master Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
27 Weapon Master Great Strength II Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
28 Weapon Master Strength Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
29 Weapon Master Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
30 Weapon Master Great Strength III Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
31 Weapon Master Epic Weapon Focus Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
32 Weapon Master Strength Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
33 Weapon Master Great Strength IV Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Tumble
34 Weapon Master Epic Prowess Discipline, Concentration, Taunt
35 Weapon Master Discipline, Concentration (28), Taunt, Tumble
36 Weapon Master Strength Great Strength V Discipline, Taunt, Tumble
37 Weapon Master Armor Skin Discipline, Taunt, Tumble
38 Paladin Discipline, Taunt, Tumble
39 Paladin Divine Might Discipline, Taunt, Tumble
40 Paladin Strength Discipline, Taunt, Tumble