Shield Build

Epic - Mercenary (Sword and Shield): Shield Build [Balanced] icon
BalancedMercenarySword and ShieldEpic tier
A recommended balanced Mercenary loadout built around the Sword and Shield. Slot the skills and talents below, then gear toward the listed equipment.

Talent picks

Shield Buildup icon

Shield Buildup

Sword Tip stacks gained from normal attacks and Impalement are replaced by Shield Pressure. Upon reaching 6 stacks of Shield Pressure, you gain 1 stack of Momentum. Momentum can accumulate up to 2 stacks. Shield attacks from skills also grant 2 stacks of Shield Pressure on hit. When you have Momentum, you can press and to consume 1 stack of Momentum and unleash Shockwave Strike.

Perfect Defense icon

Perfect Defense

After Block, there is a very brief window to trigger Perfect Block, but using Block consumes Energy. After a successful Perfect Block, you can immediately enter the Momentum status. Block has a lower base Energy cost in trio mode. Additionally, a special Block skill can be cast during the Breakaway window. This skill can only be used to trigger Perfect Block and cannot maintain the shield for long.

Foresight icon

Foresight

The Whirling Cut (Bounce) skill becomes available on Sword and Shield. Whirling Cut (Block): Raise the shield for an omnidirectional Perfect Block, then perform a fierce slash dealing Physical Damage. Use this skill again to cast Whirling Cut. Whirling Cut (Block) has a shorter base cooldown in trio mode.

Block Damage Boost icon

Block Damage Boost

All Perfect Blocks grant you a shield and briefly increase damage dealt and your Movement Speed.

Equipment set

How to get this build's gear

Loadout planner →

Each piece below, and the shortest route to it — bought, forged, or farmed. Drop chances are the best rate recorded for that piece across every source; open the piece for the full table.

PieceHow to get itMarket
Commander Sword and Shield iconCommander Sword and ShieldDrops from 19 sources · up to 19.65%455g
Bloodwrath General Armor iconBloodwrath General ArmorDrops from 19 sources · up to 19.53%435g
Bloodwrath General Helmet iconBloodwrath General HelmetDrops from 19 sources · up to 19.53%378g
Bloodwrath General Bracers iconBloodwrath General BracersDrops from 19 sources · up to 19.53%374g
Ragon's Ring iconRagon's RingDrops from 19 sources · up to 19.53%449g
Ragon's Pendant iconRagon's PendantDrops from 19 sources · up to 19.53%416g
Bloodwrath General Greaves iconBloodwrath General GreavesDrops from 19 sources · up to 19.53%380g
Bloodwrath General Pants iconBloodwrath General PantsDrops from 19 sources · up to 19.53%384g
Rusty Crude Hammer iconRusty Crude HammerMarket only

The 8 pieces currently listed on the market come to 3,271g. The other 1 has no listing, so the real cost of the full kit is higher than that figure. Compare gear value →

Open in planner

Loads this build's gear and talent picks into the planner, where you can swap pieces and spend the rest of Mercenary's points yourself.

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