KotBS SnB Bis Gear

[LordDor]

I've searched for this type thread (As stated in the Topic) and can't seem to find one that sticks to an actual SnB build. They always seem to move to the KotBS 2H build BIS gear or are older threads that don't take into account the Sovereign gear.

I'm currently approaching rr70 and looking for recommendations/advice on BIS gear for a SnB build.

I'm looking to stay more with Pug Warbands than anything else and want to be a good support for the WB.

IS full Defensive Sovereign the way to go or a combination of two or more sets?

I'm currently in full Invader gear,
with Ravack's Warmantle Cape,
Genesis Remanent, Fragment and Aspect of Everlasting,
Invader Sun Seal,
Sentry's Sword of Glory and Heater of the Subjugator

Tactics are Rugged, Banish Darkness, Dirty Tricks and Focused Mending

Morales are Demolishing Strike, Raze, Distracting Bellows and Immaculate Defense

Renown is Defender IV, Deft Defender II and Futile Strikes III

Block is at 43
Parry at 19
Dodge at 16
Disrupt at 13.5
Armor is around 3700

Where do I go from here????

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I am NOT looking for a 2H build there is plenty of advice out there for those. If I've missed the SnB thread please direct me in the right direction.

Thanks in Advance.

[ShadowWar]

So I think what I have to offer will be suitable for you. When I run SnB for warband ORvR, this is what I do. I'm an RR86 Knight and have played around with a lot of different builds, and theory crafted a lot with others, and this is what works for me/us. I'll give my reasoning towards the end, so feel free to take what you think works for you and alter as needed.

For mastery/morales/tactics
Here's my default build: https://builder.returnofreckoning.com/c ... 6,8057,503.

For renown points
This is what I think I go with (it's been a while so it may vary slightly): https://builder.returnofreckoning.com/r ... ;4;2;0;0;0.

For auras
Run "To Glory!", "Stay Focused!", and "Gather Your Resolve!".

For your gear
Full defensive sov is a must. For your shield, it's "Shieldbearer's Heater of Reverance" it gives 3% block and 3% parry - hard to beat with anything else. For my sword, I use the Fortress Longsword. For the three jewelry slots, Triumphant Ring (I still need to buy a second one for this - the Sentinel Ring is fine until you get yours), Genesis Fragment of the Everlasting, and Rough Gunbad Diamond (I think there's a better one but it's expensive AF, and I hate doing PvE, so I haven't swung for it yet). For your pocket items, you want the Pocket Keg and Sigmarite Prayer Book. All your talisman's should go to initiative.

For your potions
Armor pot - use the best you can, there are 4 that tend to be up for me, the standard green and blue from normal crafting, and then the green and blue from using the 200 vials for crafting which are crazy expensive to purchase, so I strongly suggest being an apothecary and making them yourself.
Stat pot - either the blue toughness pot, or the liniment that gives toughness and reduced chance to be crit

Explanations
Order warbands are White Lion heavy, because they have insane mobility and instant damage application with incredible burst. The downside is that they are VERY starved for AP. "To Glory!" helps to overcome that gap, and at the same time the AP drain if you're diving into the enemies lines with that WL you're guarding is going to be very helpful. Resists are always needed, especially when you are running with a BW, that resist debuff is huge. The heal benefit from focused mending is solid on stay focused is helpful, but I honestly still think it's the weakest of the three as it doesn't have a good debuff with it. The recent change to healers makes it's impact a lot stronger now though.

As for the gear, I think the most controversial part there may be the initiative talismans. Everything is pretty bog standard: jack up your defensive percents. Initiative as a defensive stat, does just tht, it's too good to pass up. Giving you more parry and reduced chance to be crit is amazing, and I tend to run around -20% if using the liniment. Players like big numbers, crits give that to them - deny them the pleasure whenever you can. Beyond the schadenfreude, you even out the spikes and make everyone's lives easier. The reason for full defensive sov is for "Leading the Charge" it's an insanely powerful ability in coordinate WB play. If you have multiple tanks running it, it allows for bonks in and our attacks as it triggers for everyone around you, not jsut your WB/group. One of the best abilities in the game, IMHO.

For your tactics, the only difference from what you suggested is Coordination for Banish Darkness. A big part of the value of BD is the CD reduction with a 2-hander, you're paying the cost of that and not getting a return. Coordination, however, triggers off of Shield Rush, which you should be using in a regular rotation to keep your block percent up, and this will boost your parry as well a very strong amount.

The renown points are maliable, but I find this gets my defensive percents as high as possible. Destro has too many casters, and disrupt is hard to come by in the standard Knight build, so I find it highly valuable.

Again, feel free to adjust for your play needs, but this is more or less where I've been at for a while, and I tend to be one of the last ones on the field, and often pour oil on keep defenses, trying to live through the sea of Witch Elves that get sent to stop me from doing just that.

Good luck, and have fun!

[LordDor]

ShadowWar

Thank You so very much for your insight.

[Battlefield]

I can say that for some reason now the disrupt doesn't work well against geared players. I did 47% on the Knight and it was weak compared to what it was a few years ago.

[Morpheus]

You would certainly like 100 % better