Hel creating melee character focused on pike/polearms

[Kanzen]

Hi Guys,

 

I wanted to create a melee fighter but focus at using polearm/pikes.

 

I dont if any one tried that but I am thinking what class will be best to use in that scenario. Fighter / Barbarian or maybe rogue

 

Also what particular weapons you consider getting for this character in the category of pikes/polearms. Thanks in advance

[MaxQuest]

Also what particular weapons you consider getting for this character in the category of pikes/polearms. Thanks in advance

It's not like there is much of a choice between uniques from these two weapon types..

 

There is the classic barbarian build with Tall Grass. It's less dpsy/bursty than Tidefall/BoteP/DW Sabres builds, but it has the ability to inflict prone on crit; plus the predatory property makes it a bit easier.

 

There are also a few niche/situational builds like:

- Tal Grass fighter with Overbearing Guard and bonus Engagements

- The Wind's Arm fighter, who debufs enemy concentration; and is used to help an interruption barbarian

- Wizard with the summoned Citzal's Lance (which is considered a pike iirc)

[Torm51]

Also 2nd line Pike rogue with hit Crit (using Tall Grass). To prone enemies and sneak attack them to high hell.

[Blades of Vanatar]

Tallgrass MeleeRanger is nice as Ranger has decent ACC.

[Boeroer]

Barbs with pikes (reach weapon) have one huge advantage that is often overlooked: they can place the center of the carnage much better than with a normal melee weapon. For them it's a lot easier to reach more enemies with a strike.

 

Also, since barbs start kind of squishy but grow sturdier and sturdier with every level, it's a good way to avoid getting attacked in the early game (attack from behind the front line). Later you can be a really great flanker. Once the enemies build a bulk you come from the side and poke right into their middle. If enemies got CC'd a bit (blind is a great affliction) then it's easy for the barb to prone them all with Tall Grass + Carnage.

 

Rogue + pike is also a good option. Herr the main advatage is the avoidance of direkt contact with the enemy.

 

Fighter is better off with dual wielding or a nice non-reach two hander in my opinion.

 

Wizard with pike is nothing special until you can summon Spirit Lance, which is awesome. But you don't have to use a pike as backup weapon. Spirit Lance works with every Weapon Focus. So a quarterstaff or any other two hander (pollaxe?) would do, too. Wind's Arm comes very late, but Zephyr aura (debuffs concentration) and Expose Vulnerabilities (also debuffs concentration) stack.

Edited July 22, 2017 by Boeroer

[rheingold]

id definitely recommend a barb with high perception, Int and tall grass. The reach with a pike helps immensely with carnage and predatory and durgan steel, well it's brutally effective. Not as much dps as dual wielding wetoki and another axe, but tall grass critts a noticeable amount more. Great crowd control and a decent amount of damage. Also tall grass can be accessed early and lasts untill the end of the game. Only issue, it's necessary to pick up a back up weapon with a different damage type.

[Boeroer]

Tall Grass and Hours of St. Rumbalt is a nice pair (if you don't plan to use the sword on somebody else).

[Boeroer]

ROFL - I meant WITH somebody else!