Interested in any thoughts on the meta for this. Currently bog standard melee gear:

Helm: Hellwarden/Protector's Stone (Archfiend's Tiara of the Magus would be ideal because it gives you another point in Blood Oath)
Ammy: Highlords
Armor: Enigma
Weapon: EDeath Colossus Sword (tons of other options)
Weapon Swap: CTA (from cube)/Insight on switch for tele-
Shield: Phoenix Monarch (or Meph book)
Shield Swap: (Spirit Monarch)
Gloves: LOH
Belt: Arachnid
Ring #1: FCR/Dual Leech
Ring #2: Raven
Boots: Gores
Inventory: Cube, 6 x Demon GCs, Torch, Anni

Skills:
1 Point in : Lethargy, Levitation Mastery, Bane, Echoing Strike, Blade Warp, Psychic Ward, Summon Goatman, Death Mark, Summon Tainted, Summon Defiler, Blood Boil, Consume, Bind Demon.
Max: Mirrored Blades, Purge, Eldritch Blast
Demonic Mastery and Cleave up to 20 with +skills
Rest of points in Blood Oath
Summon Defiler needs to be able to link 5 souls with hard/soft points (lvl 13).

Prioritizing the potential AOE of Defiler soul link and tankiness of blood oath over adding additional points in cleave for damage. Between the 360 degree cleave, purge explosions, defiler links, and Amp from a cursed/fanatacism Heph it's possible to clear the screen incredibly quickly (comparable to many s-tier builds, MUCH faster than other melee-focused builds). As far as main weapon, tried using EDeath Decapitator, Eth Arioc, EBOTD War Pike, Grief PB EBOTD Colossus Blade, various other things I had lying around. Grief PB is solid, as is EBOTD CB. Best so far is EDeath Colossus Sword. It's possible there's a better option (I dont' have an EDeath Thunder Maul, for example), but I think this gives you optimal mix of attack frames, range, and damage. Also, currently sacrificing consume to run 2x defilers. Thinking the added AOE links will make up for a fairly small damage decrease. Would love any feedback/what everyone else is using and what works best for you.

Helm hellwarden/ 2lock 20fcr 2soc with 15ias 15all res
amulet 2warlock 10+fcr
ring 1x sling or 10fcr ML/LL etc
ring 2x 10fcr LL/LL
Weapon eth cs fort
armor - enigma
shield - ars meph
belt - gheeds wager 20fcr
boots - horizon
gloves - horizon

max skills: elder blast, blade warp, hex purge, psychic ward and finally cleave. 1 on each of the skills you mentioned. Remainder either levitation mastery or blood boil depending on tankyness. Need to test it out how he handles.

Eldritch blast will hit harder than cleave but you need sustain in between elder blasts. That is my reasoning for this build having just built an eldritch blast warlock and noticing the shortcomings. Also eldritch blasts will last only 42 sec with one skill in psychic ward. This gear setup will aslo hit 125fcr breakpoint.

I just tried it, pretty fun and tanky while hitting good damage. I'm currently lvl 85, hit the 125fcr breakpoint for teleports. Needed fana hephasto to hit the next ias breakpoint, only one frame slower than with a dagger i believe. I don't have a cursed fana hephasto yet for max damage. Minimum life leech required and no mana. As it stands merc has blessed aim for the AR. Will test out p8 tonight hopefully. My favorite warlock build so far, maybe not highest damage.

Just realized i fld up because fort is not indestructible lol... Will have to rethink it.

This post was edited by redbaronx on Mar 13 2026 11:58am