Abyss PvP Build - Great Axe / Rapier

I didn’t think Rapier and Great Axe would be such a good build.. excellent mobility, damage and healing power make this a well rounded setup with some super nasty burst combos!

Riposte into Execute is the combo of choice, giving this build a very good finish move against anyone under half health. Having access to two gap closers and blood lust allows this build to easily stick to opponents while also having fantastic get aways!

350 INT is a must to up that damage on all your skills, after that you have the choice to invest in DEX for more rapier damage and FOC for that cooldown reduction. I recommend going for at least 150 CON so your durable enough for melee combat, but you can always go higher or lower depending on preference.

Dexterity

• 25: +5% critical hit chance. +10% skinning speed.

• 50: +5% damage while at full health. +20% haste for 3s after skinning.

Intelligence

• 25: +5% damage increase to backstabs and random critical hits. +10% harvest speed.

• 50: +5% damage increase to targets inflicted with a damage over time effect. +5% chance for 1 azoth when harvesting.

• 100: +10% damage to light and heavy elemental attacks. +50 encumbrance.

• 150: +15% to elemental damage. -10% weight of harvested items.

• 200: +10 mana on critical hit. +20% harvest speed.

• 250: +30% duration to applied damage over time effects. +10% yield increase when harvesting.

• 300: +7% damage to targets below 50% health. 25% reduction in Azoth travel cost.

• 350: +10% ability damage. +10% chance at finding rare items while harvesting.

Focus

• 25: +5% ability cooldown reduction. +5% chance to catch larger fish.

Constitution

• 25: All health consumables are 10% stronger. +10% Logging speed.

• 50: +10% physical armor when at or above 50% health. 10% reduction on durability loss for tools.

• 100: Increase max health by 10%. +50 encumbrance.

• 150: -10% to critical damage taken. -10% weight of logging items.

For The Abyss I would pick Mending Execute as the final perk, since you will be able to pull 5-6k heals from it on a big hit! Crippling Reap is also a great choice, or a damage perk of choice like Trenchant Strikes!

That rapier is nearly perfect, maybe switching the shirking for an attunement perk would be a bit better. You can also run Sundering Riposte on the rapier too!

Ideally the armor would be Either Aversion Perk / Thrust Conditioning / Shirking Heals. Shirking Heals is the way to go this patch, offering a ton of healing power as long as your dodging well. You definitely want Shirking Energy on the legs and I highly recommend trying to fit in 4x Refreshing on either your armor or jewelry!

I also recommend fitting in Crippling Reap and Sundering Riposte if you can!

The Ankh would be a massive option on this build to boost your Shirking Heals perks, otherwise I don’t recommend the other Artifact Jewelry. My ideal amulet would be Healthy / Thrust or Fire Resistance / Stamina Recovery. The ring is a bit under leveled but has great perks (possibly add lifestealing). My ideal earing would have Regenerating instead of Refreshing Toast or Nimble!

As always use the best food you can find, honing stones, and health / mana / regeneration / OP new super potions introduced in the expansion!

Great Axe

Rapier