The best Greatsword-Sword and Shield build makes the most of the high CC and sustain that the weapon class combination comes with, in Throne and Liberty. It’s one of the best loadouts to pilot when clearing mob content and will be the perfect frontline for most party set-ups.
So if you like playing the role of the tank for your Guild then here is an amazing Greatsword-Sword and Shield build option that you should be trying out.
Greatsword-Sword and Shield build overview (CC and Shred)
For the “CC and Shred” Greatsword-Sword and Shield build you will need to prioritize maximizing Strength to increase sustain as much as possible. So take that stat to 50 and then invest points in Perception to maximize the CC you deal and the buff enhancements that your character receives.
You will also have a lot of AoE skills up your sleeve which will let you have an easier time deleting mobs and letting your party’s DPS members focus their abilities on key targets. However, while the build has a lot of CC and sustain, it struggles against bosses.
Single-target damage is rather lacking which is why the weapon combination fails to take out priority targets. Additionally, the lack of range attacks can also make this build difficult to pilot during certain encounters.
Best Skills and Specialization for the Greatsword-Sword and Shield build in Throne and Liberty
Here are the best Skills and Specializations that you should be focusing on for this build:
Active Skills:
 Gaia Crash |  Critical Hit ▲ Attack Speed ▲ Frost Cleaving | ||||||
 Shield Strike |  Piercing Attack | ||||||
 Valiant Brawl |  Cruel Smite | ||||||
 Annihilating Slash |  Range ▲ Consecutive Use | ||||||
 DaVinci’s Courage |  Instant Healing Damage Reduction Duration ▲ | ||||||
 Devastating Tornado |  Bonus Damage Cooldown ▼ Resistance ▲ Ice Tornado | ||||||
 Strategic Rush | – | ||||||
 Willbreaker |  Evasion ▼ Damage Area Change | ||||||
 Provoking Roar | Bonus Damage Cooldown ▼ Effect Duration ▲ | ||||||
 Counter Barrier |  Additional Damage Boost | ||||||
 Immortal Pride | – | ||||||
 Stalwart Bastion | – |
As mentioned, the build will focus more on clearing waves than focusing on single-target DPS. This is why you will need to prioritize Active Skills like Devastating Tornado, Annihilating Slash, Provoking Roar, Gaia Crash, Shield Strike, Valiant Brawl, and Willbreaker. They synergize perfectly with some of the Passive Skills that you will have with the build, especially Morale Boost.
As you will be soaking up a lot of damage for your team, you will need to have abilities like Stalwart Bastion and Counter Barrier. These go perfectly with Counter Barrier which has a counterattack modifier that scales based on your Damage Reduction.
Additionally, when starting out with making the build, first focus on leveling Devastating Tornado and Gaia Crash. These are your bread-and-butter skills which you will be relying on a lot when clearing content.
Passive Skills:
- Vital Force
- Robust Constitution
- Raging Frenzy
- Impenetrable
- Resilient Mind
- Aegis Shield
- Morale Boost
- Spectrum of Agony
The Passive Skills you pick for the best Greatsword-Sword and Shield build will revolve around maximizing your survivability. Vital Force and Robust Constitution in particular synergize extremely well while Raging Frenzy and Impenetrable will make it a bit easier to clear waves.
Now to compliment your Active Skills, you will need to invest in Resilient Mind, Spectrum of Agony, Aegis Shield, as well as Morale Boost.
When starting the build focus on leveling Vital Force and Robust Constitution to improve your survivability. You will need all the sustain that you can get before you get the best weapons and gear for the build.
Defensive Skill:
- Shield Survival Technique
Best weapons for the Greatsword-Sword and Shield build
Here are the best weapons that you should be looking to farm for the Greatsword-Sword and Shield build, in Throne and Liberty:
Best Primary weapon:
| Weapon | Best Traits | Effect |
|---|---|---|
 Duke Magna’s Provoking Warblade | Max Health Health Regen Heavy Attack Chance Health Regen |  Duke Magna’s Taunt:On Valiant Brawl Hit, has a 42% chance to apply Weaken: Provoke for 3s |
Duke Magna’s Provoking Warblade is the perfect choice for the build as it will provide you with additional strength and Max HP. The Duke Magna’s Taunt effect will let you affect enemies with provoke, which will draw their aggro while Weakening them.
You will be able to obtain Duke Magna’s Provoking Warblade as a drop from the chest by the end of the Butcher’s Canyon Co-op Dungeon. Or you can craft it as long as you have the following resources for its materials:
- Dimensional Essence: Salvation x2
- Precious Manasteel x10
- Precious Magic Powder x10
- Precious Polished Crystal x12
Best Secondary Weapon:
| Weapon | Best Traits |
|---|---|
 Karnix’s Netherblade | Max Health Health Regen Heavy Attack Chance Max Health or Health Regen |
The Karnix’s Netherblade is a reliable off-hand weapon as it too will help maximize your character’s Strength and Max HP. It also deals bonus damage to Humanoid enemies, making it a great pick for most encounters.
You can obtain the epic weapon as a drop by completing the Death’s Abyss Co-op dungeon or you can craft it as long as you have the following resources:
- Dimensional Essence: Salvation x2
- Precious Manasteel x10
- Precious Magic Powder x10
- Precious Polished Crystal x12
Best Armor for the Greatsword-Sword and Shield build
| Armor | Best Traits |
|---|---|
 Heroic Helmet of the Resistance | ・Max Health ・Melee Endurance ・Ranged Endurance |
 Shock Commander Plate Armor | ・Max Health ・Health Regen ・Melee Endurance |
 Forsaken Embrace | ・Max Health ・Health Regen ・Debuff Duration |
 Heroic Gauntlets of the Resistance | ・Mana Regen ・Melee Endurance ・Ranged Endurance |
 Shock Commander Greaves | ・Max Health ・Health Regen ・Melee Endurance |
 Heroic Boots of the Resistance | ・Max Health ・Melee Endurance ・Ranged Endurance |
You will need to focus on defense when it comes to picking the best armor for the Greatsword-Sword and Shield build. The picks above have the best around defense to melee, range, and magic damage, and you can further maximize sustain by investing in HP traits.
Best Accessories for the Greatsword-Sword and Shield build
 Clasp of the Conqueror | ・Max Health ・Health Regen ・Skill Damage Boost |
 Bracers of the Primal King | ・Max Health ・Health Regen ・Skill Damage Resistance |
 Band of Universal Power | ・Max Mana ・Mana Regen ・Skill Damage Boost ・Health Regen |
 Embossed Granite Band | ・Max Health ・Health Regen ・Skill Damage Boost ・Health Regen |
 Belt of Endless Slaughter | ・Max Health ・Health Regen ・Debuff Duration ・Health Regen |
For the accessories as well, you will need to be focusing on traits and stats that boost your tankiness.
Best Weapon Mastery
Pick the following weapon masteries for each half of your build:
Greatsword:
- Charge (9 Pts)
- Incapacitate (6 Pts)
Start by putting 9 points in Charge to significantly increase your durability in battle. This tree will give you native resistances along with cooldown speed and buff durations. After that put points in to Incapacitate to increase the CC of your skills.
Sword and Shield:
- Provoke and Counter (9 Pts)
- Boss (6 Pts)
To increase survivability you will be putting 9 points in Provoke and Counter right away. Then invest in Boss to improve your DPS a bit so that it’s easier to clear waves.
Best Guardian for the Greatsword-Sword and Shield build in Throne and Liberty
| Guardian | Ability |
|---|---|
 Vampire Slayer Ezekiel | All defense +400. Deals damage over time equal to 0.6% of your Max Health every second to hostile targets within a 2.5m radius. Restores Health by 20% of damage dealt to the targets. |
As you will be playing the role of the frontline for your party, Vampire Slayer Ezekiel will be the perfect companion for the build. Its effect deals passive tick damage to enemies around you while restoring a percentage of the HP based on damage dealt. This will add even more survivability to your character making it exceedingly difficult to take you down.
Best skill rotations
1) Best rotation for boss or single-targets:
- DaVinci’s Courage > Stalwart Bastion > Immortal Pride > Willbreaker > Stunning Blow > Guillotine Blade > Death Blow
As you will be targeting bosses you do not need AoE skills and can replace them with Stunning Blow, Guillotine Blade, and Death Blow.
2) Best Mob Clear rotation
- DaVinci’s Courage > Stalwart Bastion > Immortal Pride > Counter Barrier > Willbreaker > Provoking Roar > Gaia Crash > Annihilating Slash > Devastating Tornado
Pros and Cons of the “CC and Shred” build in Throne and Liberty
Pros:
- The build comes with a lot of crowd control allowing you to dictate the flow of battle for your team.
- The incredible amount of sustain in the build will allow you to tank damage for your entire party.
- Buffs from your skills will let you have a bit more damage.
Cons:
- Does not do well against bosses making it hard for this build to solo content.
- Lack of ranged options can make navigating certain encounters tricky.
