Tera Online Level 65 DPS Warrior Build and Strategy Guide [PVE]

General PvE Warrior DPS guide for level 65 patch. I’m not going to hold your hand 100% of the way and tell you there is only one way to play it; what you use should depend on the situation. I’m also not always right, but here’s my opinions:

Important things:

1) Gear, Accessories and Stat Rolls

2) Crystals

3) Glyphs (and master glyphs)

4) Skills and Rotations (will depend on glyphs)

5) Consumables

Each of the aspects above play an equal role in your overall effectiveness with any class so don’t neglect any of them. But your skill and hands-on experience is by far more important than your equipment. Item level is not a representation of skill.

1) Gear, Accessories and Stat Rolls:

This is not a guide on getting gear itself, do your own research on what you want to get - there are a lot of resources out there.

Build your core DPS stats around white damage (non-crit damage). This means you want power, Warriors already have good base crit rate and they get a boost from Assault Stance. Some say attack speed is good for Warrior but you don’t need too much of it unless you’re tanking. Prioritize power on your jewelry - going full PvE power set or a hybrid of power/crit is going to be the best way to go. Make sure you roll your gear correctly. No matter what gear you have it will suck unless you have it rolled to suit your needs.

Intense is the best weapon type for PvE. Don't choose Keen for PvE unless you are an Archer or Sorcerer and you need to compensate (low base crit rate DPS classes).

Here are some good rolls for your gear:

• Weapon: Enrage dmg, overall dmg, back dmg, (and crit rate or attack speed if you have a 4th roll). Do not roll for crit dmg.

• Chest: Max HP, decrease enraged dmg, decrease (overall) dmg, (and increase incoming healing if you have a 4th roll).

• Chest (Class Skill): Blade Draw dmg.

• Gloves: Power, crit rate, attack speed are the only way to go.

• Boots: Movement speed, endurance, whatever you want on 3rd.

• Necklace: Crit rate. Make sure you have a necklace with built-in +6% attack speed.

• Rings: Crit rate and crit dmg if you can use semi enigmatics.

• Earrings: Max HP and Reduce duration of stun (or decrease poison damage - either is fine) if you can use semi enigmatics.

• Brooch: Power.

• Belt: Preferably double power.

• Innerwear: The best power bonus you can afford.

2) Crystals

Weapon: Focused, Bitter, Savage and Pounding. (Pounding is more consistent than Forceful now) Warriors shouldn't ever need to use Carving crystals.

Armor: 4x Hardy

Jewelry: 4x Powerful

3) Glyphs

First thing’s first, get Master Glyphs. To earn Master Glyphs, simply run Sabex Armory (level 61) and Macellarius Catacombs (level 64). Master Glyphs are going to be easy to get now, and you should not ignore them. Get them, there is no excuse now and they help you significantly.

Here’s my build, done manually since glyph builder is bugged:

Evasive Roll: Swift (4) + Unending (3)

Rain of Blows: Power (5)

Combative Strike: Sanative (2)

Pounce: Swift (2)

Death From Above: Swift (3) + Energy (2)

Blade Draw: Power (4) + Brilliance (2) + Persistence (5) + Advantage (3)

Charging Slash: Energy (3) + Powerlink (4) (50% bonus version)

Backstab: Advantage (2)

Scythe: Carving (6) + Sharpness (5)

Reasons: Not everyone will agree with some of the decisions but it works great for me. Evasive roll and DFA can proc extra attack speed which is awesome. And no, these separate glyphs do not stack together. I chose Lingering on Traverse Cut simply to take the pressure off using it, you will use it naturally before the time is up. I also get MP reduction on Blade Draw, I usually avoid these types of glyphs but here it can actually be worth it when Blade Draw has a reset streak. And once I had done it 16 times in a row and even with a good healer your MP will be in the gutter. The one most people question here is Powerlink for Charging Slash. When you get the master glyph for this it’s a 50% dmg boost on Combative Strike. So if you use Charging Slash (then Blade Draw if it’s up) the Powerlink will still be there for you to use Combative Strike even if it’s not the next skill you use. You should already have the Sanative glyph for Combative Strike in your build. Edge building glyphs to get to your Scythes faster - optional if there are multiple exp Warriors in party. You don’t need Lingering on Combative strike ever, you’ll be spamming that a lot. It also gets overwritten by a Lancer’s Debilitate - more on that later.

4) Skills and Rotations

This is strictly a Warrior DPSing guide, check my Warrior tank guide if you want tanking. There are 3 main skills you want to use as soon as possible: Scythe, Blade Draw and Rain of Blows. Everything you do will be based around setting those skills up.

• First thing to do is get Combative Strike > Traverse Cut going. The debuffs will boost the entire party’s DPS by 15.55%. And if you have a sensible Lancer in your party who is using Debilitate, this will become 20.05%. Something I need to point out is a Lancer’s Debilitate will overwrite your Combative Strike and take priority as a debuff. This means their Debilitate will take off your Combative Strike. As long as Debilitate is up, your Combative Strike will not activate its debuff. Debilitate is 3% x 3 stacks which is 9% (double your 4.5%). Combative Strike and Pounce will both chain into Traverse Cut and give you all 13 hits.

• Scythe - As soon as you hit 10 Edge, make sure you are behind the boss and then Scythe immediately. This skill is your priority even if Blade Draw ready. But make sure your Traverse Cut and Combative Strike / Debilitate debuffs are up. Which they better be. You should be building up Edge as fast as you possibly can. This only has a 15 second CD, take advantage of it.

• When you have 8 Edge, use Backstab (+2 Edge) to finish off building Edge and be in position for Scythe. 

• How to get to your Blade Draw (spam as they come off CD):

Charging Lunge (must hit a target) > Blade Draw (fastest chain)

Combative Strike / Pounce > Traverse Cut (can cut it short) > Blade Draw

Rising Fury (last hit) > Blade Draw

DFA / Evasive Roll > Vortex Slash > Blade Draw (only use if you happen to DFA / Evasive Roll)

• If Blade Draw is not accessible, get a chain that goes into Rain of Blows.

Pounce > Rain of Blows

Combative Strike > Rain of Blows

• Pop in 1-2 auto attacks if you need MP. If you really need MP, use the glyph on this. But if you are using that glyph as well as the MP reduction on Blade Draw and are charmed and buffed. The only other way you’re running out of MP is if Blade Draw has been blessed by RNGesus or your healer is busy healing someone who thinks their face is a shield (hopefully, this is not you). Or your healer is asleep.

Edge building skills (+1 Edge each when you land them on target):

Charging Slash

Combative Strike

Rain of Blows

Death From Above

Rising Fury (last hit only)

Poison Blade (the only real use for this skill)

Blade Draw (additional +1 Edge with glyph)

Backstab (additional +1 Edge with glyph)

Remember that the Edge UI takes about a second to update after you hit.

Some skills will actually reduce incoming damage on Warrior, know them:

Rising Fury (20%)

Rain of Blows (30%)

Torrent of Blows (50%)

Pounce (50%)

Your iframes (super important to know):

Evasive Roll

Death From Above

Backstab (if well-timed)

It’s possible to iframe 6 times in a row as a Warrior without stopping (utilizing RE regeneration on skill use).

Optional Skills:

• Reaping Slash is a skill I would completely avoid unless you are with an experienced party of two or more Warriors. If you do plan to use this, use Combative Strike or Rain of Blows to chain into it for faster execution. It consumes Edge to add a debuff on the target that allows any Scythes used on the target to deal more damage - but you need a build up of Edge for Scythe. Don't worry about this skill until you are very comfortable with Warrior. Fun fact: it will not consume Edge if you use it on a target that has only 1-2 Edge built on it.

• Poison Blade is filler for building Edge when other skills are on CD. The DoT is terrible.

• Torrent of Blows while DPSing is only for it’s dmg reduction and good RE regeneration.

• Leaping Strike is purely for repositioning and evasion in PvE. The damage is terrible and there is a slight animation lock.

• Deadly Gamble can really help with shield/burn phases. Don’t forget about this skill it's pretty good especially right before a good Scythe attack. Just make sure you have it off CD for when you really need it.

• Battle Cry can stun, but it’s slow to activate. There is no other use for this as a DPS Warrior as it does NOT regenerate RE like a Lancer’s shout does.

• Mangle - In PvE I never find myself using all 4 auto attacks in a row to get this debuff on the enemy which doesn’t last long, and many bosses are resistant anyway. It also sips on your MP. Leave this off.

• Staggering Counter is a skill I’m not a fan of since you have to be hit and it's very difficult to use as a stun for boss mechanics.

• Cascade of Stuns has use, but the PvE scenarios are limited. It will NOT stun on its own.

• Smoke Aggressor - Mostly useless. Use when you need a distraction or something idk.

• Smoke Flanker and Cross Parry - Get out of Defensive stance please.

• Binding Swords really feels useless and clumsy. This is nothing like a Lancer's giga-leash.

5) Consumables

• You should have your own set of charms: Power, Enduring, Infused.

• Bring HP potions & draughts as well as MP elixirs & restoratives. I don’t care who you are, you should bring a handful of these always. Each has a separate CD. Tier VIII or better, we’re level 60+ this shouldn’t be a problem if you don’t spam them.

• Nostrum of Energy V and Scroll of Savagery V (or better) are necessary. Savagery is always best for a melee DPS.

• Noctenium Infusion is not a MUST in most dungeons but it will help you greatly in any case.

• You can also bring Scrolls of Dash to give you extra combat movement speed if you need to relocate in a hurry (such as Rift’s Edge gate at final boss).

• Warding scrolls are nice, but not needed.

• Bring Panaceas, don’t be a scrub.

Closing notes: 

• Remember to turn on your stance!

• Know all of your skills and what they do even if you rarely use them. Know what generates Edge, what mitigates damage, what can be used for movement, etc.

• The first use of Rising Fury is a great movement skill.

• Never ever neglect Edge. It should never sit at 10 stacks for more than 5 seconds even if there is only 1 Warrior in the party.

• Rising Fury (last hit) and Torrent of Blows generate significant RE in a pinch.

• Second hit of Rising Fury can produce a KD. Scythe will also be able to KD when patched.

• Chain your skills whenever possible. It puts you in less danger, speeds up DPS, devours MP and impresses the ladies.

• Remember that you can chain your chain skills together for chain-ception.

• You will be surprised at how well a Warrior can DPS when played right.

Credits: Special thanks to BowlingBall for making this guide.

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