Shield Build

Legendary - Mercenary (Sword and Shield): Shield Build [PvE] icon
PvEMercenarySword and ShieldLegendary tier
A recommended pve Mercenary loadout built around the Sword and Shield. Slot the skills and talents below, then gear toward the listed equipment.

Recommended skills

Whirling Cut iconWhirling CutStonebreaker Slash iconStonebreaker Slash

Quick-use items

Potent Healing Elixir iconPotent Healing ElixirThrowing Axe iconThrowing AxePotent Shadow Dust iconPotent Shadow DustPotent Spellbound Key iconPotent Spellbound Key

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.

Shield Strike Taunt icon

Shield Strike Taunt

Hitting enemies with a shield attack briefly taunts them. This effect has a cooldown.

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

Bond of Friendship iconBond of FriendshipChampion's Armor iconChampion's ArmorChampion's Helmet iconChampion's HelmetChampion's Bracers iconChampion's BracersAncestral Blessing Ring iconAncestral Blessing RingTri-phase Knot Pendant iconTri-phase Knot PendantChampion's Boots iconChampion's BootsChampion's Pants iconChampion's PantsRusty Crude Hammer iconRusty Crude Hammer

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
Bond of Friendship iconBond of FriendshipDrops from 9 sources · up to 51.38%900g
Champion's Armor iconChampion's ArmorDrops from 9 sources · up to 16.61%945g
Champion's Helmet iconChampion's HelmetDrops from 9 sources · up to 16.61%1,020g
Champion's Bracers iconChampion's BracersDrops from 9 sources · up to 16.61%960g
Ancestral Blessing Ring iconAncestral Blessing RingDrops from 9 sources · up to 16.61%1,035g
Tri-phase Knot Pendant iconTri-phase Knot PendantDrops from 9 sources · up to 16.61%1,020g
Champion's Boots iconChampion's BootsDrops from 9 sources · up to 16.61%1,035g
Champion's Pants iconChampion's PantsDrops from 9 sources · up to 16.61%960g
Rusty Crude Hammer iconRusty Crude HammerMarket only—

The 8 pieces currently listed on the market come to 7,875g. 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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