Gladiator PvP Build: Unyielding Duelist
A greatsword build focused on crowd-control resistance and lifesteal. Win long 1v1 duels by outlasting burst classes and punishing them with Aerial Lockdown.
Skill Rotation
Open every fight with this sequence, then fall back to the core-skill priority below while cooldowns recover.
- 1Tendon Slice
- 2Aerial Lockdown
- 3Sure Strike
- 4Ferocious Strike
- 5Body Smash
Core Skills & Levels
| Skill | Level | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Aerial Lockdown | 10/10 | Your main CC combo starter. |
| Tendon Slice | 10/10 | Snare that keeps kiters in range. |
| Sure Strike | 8/10 | Unblockable follow-up after a knockdown. |
| Unwavering Devotion | 5/5 | CC immunity; save for Sorcerer sleeps. |
| Wall of Steel | 5/5 | Blocks the Assassin opener. |
| Ferocious Strike | 7/10 | Filler while waiting for cooldowns. |
Stigma Setup
- CoreBlood Thirst
- S2Iron Will
- S3Sundering Blow
- S4Combat Preparation
Stat Priority
- >>>>>PvP DefenseHighest priority
- >>>>Health
- >>>Power
- >>Magic Resist
- >Accuracy
Best-in-Slot Gear
Weapon
Conqueror's Greatsword
Enchant to +15. Socket PvP Defense manastones.
Armor
Abyss Conqueror Plate Set
5-piece bonus: +10% PvP defense.
Accessories
Conqueror Earrings, Rings & Necklace
Prioritize Health rolls.
Wings
Wings of the Abyss Lord
Highest flight time available for your rank.
Manastones
Grade 5 PvP Defense Manastones
Fill remaining slots with Power.
Glyph
Glyph of Gladiator Resolve
Unlocks after completing the Daeva ascension quest.
Upgrade Path
Lv 1 to 30
Leveling
Follow the main story and put points into Aerial Lockdown and Tendon Slice first. Gear does not matter yet; wear quest rewards.
Lv 30 to 45
Daeva Ascension
Unlock wings and your first stigmas. Equip Blood Thirst immediately. Farm Fabled gear from story dungeons.
Lv 45 to 50
Abyss Entry
Earn Abyss Points in rifts and fortress sieges. Buy Conqueror accessories first.
Endgame
Optimization
Enchant everything to +15, fill all manastone slots with PvP Defense and Health, and unlock your class glyph.
Pro Tips
Strengths
- Extremely hard to kill
- Reliable CC chain
- Great in sieges
Weaknesses
- Can be kited by Rangers
- Lower burst than meta picks
- Never open with Unwavering Devotion. Wait for the first stun attempt.
- Use Tendon Slice before Aerial Lockdown so targets cannot dash away.
- Pair with a Chanter for Word of Wind and you will rarely lose a duel.
Other S-Tier PvP Builds
Shadow Ambush
The current open-world PvP king. Open from stealth with Ambush, stun-lock with Shadowfall and finish casters before they can react.
Updated for patch 1.6.0
Kite & Snare
Permanent snares, silences and traps make this the best anti-melee build in the game. Shut down Gladiators and Assassins before they ever reach you.
Updated for patch 1.6.0
Frostbind Control
Frost build that chains Winter Binding, Sleep and Ice Chain to lock down enemies while dealing heavy damage. A top pick for arenas.
Updated for patch 1.6.0