So here i am... with my usual dual-wield build below..

hmm... decent EHP.. armor >5k, AR >5k, HP in excess of 75k (ok this is a bit overkill)

Note the DPS at 225k (with battlerage buff, but without WOTB or Overpower)

but most importantly i already have an 29% elite SOJ that has -4 HOTA (well they cost <300 mill these days), because you know... being able to HOTA close to non-stop is a big deal.



And this is the usual passive build i guess most people tend to get as well if you are doing HOTA build... yes? no? yes? no?



So now to be a better tanker, i look for a Shield that has high Strength, AR, CC, and -HOTA

and equip it!



but crap! my DPS (with battlerage buff, but without WOTB or Overpower) drops from 225k to 156k!!!
But on the bright side, i have a nice increase to AR, and Armor, and can actually block dmg!

But let me change passives as follows


* To refresh you, this often unused skill,- berserker rage gives you 25% increased dmg when at max fury. But you can use it now since you 2 hota reduce gear, which means pervertly you have max fury when hota-ing even without animosity!

So from an initial sheet DPS of..


Once berserker rage kicks in when you are max fury (hota-ing something)


During then, if brawler kicks in when you get surrounded by more than 3 creeps, then



There you go!!! Big increase in EHP, no decrease in DPS although arguably berserker rage & brawler is not turned on 100% of the time.

Some other notes:-
a) If you are already using Brawler currently, then you will still drop DPS in this build
b) Note the axe i am replacing with my shield costs 500+ mill vs 70 mill respectively
c) mainhand weapon type does not matter since Weapon Master passive is not used (so a plus point is that you don't have to confine yourself to mainhand weapon of axe/mace. The lost of CC can be offset by the shield's cc)
d) may be hard to find a good shield as AH is limited
e) being able to dance on arcane/poison without a care is priceless!



This post has been edited by wlcling: May 29 2013, 01:29 AM