I used to play end game smiter/V-T back in the day, didn't see one elite smiter or v/t using a phase blade. Why? Because of all those dex points. You literally had every single point to VIT.

SvS, if you had less life = game over.

I don't disagree there, I meant for a general purpose build.

pvm = pb grief
pvp = zerk grief

PVM difference is negligible. Having a phase blade just means tons of unnecessary points into dex and way less life. You don't need all those points into dex to get max block.

Might aswell get a Zerk for all cases.

Really no debate here.

if u like repair go for zerk in uber hunts

edit: really no debate here

This post was edited by ThoroBR on Oct 21 2021 01:34am

Ah yep, you got me. Sorry didn't consider the in game gold repair costs. Debate over.

Go with pb for smiter
Both pvm and pvp

ppl in this thread claimed pb was always best

others claimed zerk was always best


others said "pb pvm, zerk pvp", this is more correct, but still lacking explanations


the damage from the weapon (i.e. 15ed 3ar) is used in the charge, but not the smite

charge uses ar, and also the base damage from the weapon: smite does not



as others mentioned here: pb does not consume durability; also it's easier to reach the max ias bp using less restrictive gears

to be "properly" built with your grief in a pb, 30%-40% ias is the same: you will hit max ias easily, and the ias on grief is irrelevant

to be "properly" built with your grief in a zerker, you MUST HAVE 40% or you will be unable to hit the bp and still be geared properly

(my advice pertains to end-game pvp. for a 'proper' uber smiter no such thing. many trash gears set-ups which can do it easily..)


since grief +damage DOES affect smite, unless you have a 40/400 grief zerker, (crazy expensive..), then you are better off with even a 30-39/400 grief pb (much more affordable)




some pvp'rs would prefer, say, a 40-395 zerker over a 400 damage pb : this is because the ATTACK RANGE ADDITION MODIFIER is 2 with a zerk, and 1 with a pb

this MATTERS A LOT to a smiter in pvp, especially vs a whirlwind user who wants to stay riiiiight on the edge of you so his ww hits you but you can't reach him with smite



in the end, there are some situations where pb is superior, and others where grief is superior


about the added damage to charge it is small: switch to e death rune word or e death clever if you want crazy charge: have it in second hand sometimes: (using your alt account/alt pc barb for your 55 bo)
(& third for sorc chant for charge instead of just demon limb if you really want to go crazy)

there is little use factoring in of the additional damage to charge which comes from the 15% ed (and the irrelevant 3ar) : as someone already correctly mentioned, it isn't a big real at all


..the reason people said "it only matters if it's perfect"

is because people pay ungodly amounts of FG for 100% true perfect items

but u r right

very certain you have enough dex for phase BEFORE reaching max block

it does not take less than 136 for max block, iirc, even using a sacred targe
(therefore you will have the same amount of life using phase blade or zerker)

boosting extra into hs is pointless for a mediocre def increase and perhaps 2-3% blocks
(i'd rather use it for other auras like salv or even a passive light or cold max res boost like you get from res cold/light auras (or fire also if you choose))

that extra def is only good in melee vs melee anyways and even with super high def exiles (which you can't get anymore..) + their def. aura it was still the lifetap which kept you alive vs melee barbs not the def
(yes, it helped. obviously. just saying..)




however, the opposite argument of what you made is actually true

138 str for zerker ax, in some builds, will cause you to waste str, thus giving you less points for vit, and therefore less hp than a phase blade

these type of builds will usually be using a gaze for dr (ofc they all use dungos),

coa(ber ber) @ 31 dr + 15 dungo = 46

vamp(ber) @ 28 dr + 15 dungo = 43 : viable.. (pb = more hp than zerker here)

.08 vamp(ber) @ 33 dr + 15 dungo = 48 (supreme: more hp than coa setup by far! in this case you will use a pb also)

This post was edited by readTheBible on Oct 21 2021 04:22am