This build excels in melee (like all zealot builds), but also fills this sort of off-tank/support type role similar to the Warrior Priest in Vermintide 2. We are durable, high melee damage, and our ultimate makes sure our team stays alive. To approaching hordes we are the wall between them and our squishy psyker/veteran allies. Due to the Thunder Hammer this also makes short work of enemy bosses and elites. Hordes are generally a walk in the park, even more so if your Thunder hammer has the best blessings. We are a tanky and slow moving meat grinder that dominates choke points, can clutch sticky situations by one shotting elites and lead to easy revives/saves with the use of our ultimate ability.
I think Chorus of Spiritual Fortitude really adds a lot here. It’s 6 seconds of stun immunity/invulnerability for your allies, makes enemies completely useless, and then is followed by a 15% damage boost for 10 seconds afterwards. It will also overcharge everyone’s toughness by 100(!!). The amount of close calls I’ve been in with a team that is solved by one press of this button is a thing of beauty. There is also a small window of the fear that lingers in enemies after it ends that gives you enough time to charge and heavy swing your Thunder hammer (spicy).
**What is this build bad at?**
This build is not mobile. It is not like a lot of zealot builds I see online where you are zipping around at light speed massacring everything solo. If you played Overwatch at all we are more like a Brigitte. We want to be 2nd in line usually, backing up a beefy Ogryn and serving as the shield for our veterans and psykers.
This build is also weak against snipers and struggles with mobs of ranged units. However, once you get used to popping your ult and leading your team right into the ranged attackers to beat them to death, this weakness is mostly rectified and can be balanced out by your team comp.
**Weapon Choices**
Thunder Hammer is our melee choice. With Martyrdom and the passives we’ve selected, the complaints that this is a slow weapon that is ineffective at horde clear just fall flat. Couple that with a 15% damage boost every time we ult and it turns mixed hordes into mashed potatoes. Also nothing in this game feels better to me than one shotting big beefy boys with the special-heavy combo.
Ranged choice is a little more fluid. I opt for the shotgun as I find it best at dealing with those mid-range elites and specials. I think the revolver and some of the other ranged options are just as viable, but we will only really be pulling it out in certain situations at mid range (many gunners, flamers, trappers, dogs).
**Why Chorus instead of Charge/Invis?**
I felt as if with this weapon choice and play style that charge was a little overkill as most bosses and elites already fall quickly to the power of the Thunder Hammer. Invis is the same reasoning. Chorus really smooths out a lot of the neutral gameplay that the hammer can be weak at. Protecting your team from gunners, fearing huge hordes and giving your allies 6 seconds of invulnerability for breathing room/revives, and providing a 10 second 15% damage boost team-wide is better than both of these in my opinion. It’s also just as effective at tanking up as charge because of the 100 toughness overcharge every time you pop this thing. I can’t overstate how strong this ability feels in a group that stays together.
**Martyrdom**
I have to say this for all my fellow insane zealot players. Picking Martyrdom does not mean you have to live on 1 hp like a crazed lunatic. Use the Medicae stations. Use the medic packs. For me it simply makes this build safer. If I take some hits or have to give up a med station use for an ally I know I will survive thanks to the stacks of damage reduction. And you generally only need to be missing 2-3 wounds to really start cleaving through hordes like hot butter. I don’t intentionally lower my health, but I take solace in the fact that my resolve in the Emperor is stronger when I do get low health.
**Gear**
Crucis Thunder Hammer – Best Blessings – Slaughterer, Momentum, Thrust
Agripina or Kantrael Shotgun – Blessings of choice
Curios –
1 wound – toughness – hp
1 wound – toughness – hp
Toughness – toughness – hp
**Closing Thoughts**
I’m tanky, I always feel helpful to my allies, and I shit on bosses and explode Crusher domes. Life has been good with this build. I’m sure there are improvements I can make and suggestions in the comments that will be better than what I’m rocking, but right now I’m having a shit ton of fun with this.
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