6k (~14-15k with double breach) seems a bit low (not super low, but a bit low), most builds (generalist builds) that I know tend to aim for ~8-9k pen before breach. Posting your build would help a lot with answering some of the following questions.

Are you running things like mace/maul (if using melee weapons)?
Are you running the sharpened trait on the damage (front) bar?
What skill lines (and base class) are you running?
What sets are you currently wearing?
Do you have a lot of crit damage and crit chance or do you have more weapon/spell damage?

Zama666 wrote: »

Turtle_Bot wrote: »

6k (~14-15k with double breach) seems a bit low (not super low, but a bit low), most builds (generalist builds) that I know tend to aim for ~8-9k pen before breach. Posting your build would help a lot with answering some of the following questions.

Are you running things like mace/maul (if using melee weapons)?
Are you running the sharpened trait on the damage (front) bar?
What skill lines (and base class) are you running?
What sets are you currently wearing?
Do you have a lot of crit damage and crit chance or do you have more weapon/spell damage?

HI @Turtle_Bot tankz for chiming in

Templar
I am trying 1h&shield and also trying out Deadland Defender (I like to bash) - mace pen trait
Roksa the Warped
not sure what else to run...help
I have 7 divines gold
Thinking of running some sort of staff with pen trait

I know this is not the most dangerous build, but I also want to survive!

Anyone use Lamp's Knights?

Ok, this clears up a lot.

If you want to run a bash build, I would suggest looking into some bash builds specifically instead of trying to mix a bash build with a generalist build, since bash builds are their own build and don't really mix well into a generalist build.

Also to note, that 1 hand + shield line doesn't care what type of weapon you run since unlike dual wield or 2 handed there's no passive that changes based on type (axe/sword/mace/dagger) of weapon equipped.

I do know that deadlands demolisher is one of the core sets for bash builds and there's another set that buffs bash attacks as well that I can't remember the name of right now, so have a look into those as a base for a bash build.

I don't think the staff passives will work since if I recall correctly they only apply to destruction staff abilities so bash attacks with a staff won't get the bonus pen.

I'm not an expert on bash builds though, but I believe @Kaelthorn_Nightbloom (sorry for the ping if I am incorrect here) plays a bash build and tested Lamp Knights Art on a bash build already with mixed results, so they may be able to help more (if they are the person I am thinking of).

Lamp Knight is basically always a net loss in damage. Resistance caps at 50% @ about 33k resistances. Debuffs bring most players down to about 20k (if they were close to resist cap).

At most that means you're getting about 4% damage done with Lamp Knight if the enemy is running well over 33k armor - but more often than not it's a net nerf to your damage.

Plenty of other Pen Sets that are far better; Shattered Fate, Alkosh, Stuhn's Favor, Crimson Oath, etc etc.

Have not used Lamp Knight's yet although I'm sure a use for it could be found.

My opinion is this. Do not fret over one particular aspect ... too much. Having some, is better than none. Do you want high pen and no Crits/Dmg, I don't care how you setup your Dmg, I'm just saying. The answer is no. Why is this so. Because success for me at least, is based on averages. It's not 'oh no I can't kill this one random guy'. Those are the exceptions, those are anomalies, cause you're not going to kill them anyways, at least not alone. Success is found in patterns. And patterns tell a story. A better question to ask, is what do I really need? As others have said, look at your Dmg first, set that where desired, then branch off from there and get your pen. How much pen should I aim for?

Major Breach = 5948
Sharpened Weapon Trait = 3276
Minor Fracture Pot = 1320

Without even trying and with no other bonuses, that's 10.5k Pen right there. Although pots are situational and you may wish to use something different. But having the 9k pen is important because this by itself negates two of the easiest and most common defensive bonuses in the game, Major/Minor Resolve. So, it's not just a question of is 9k enough, it's the fact that it is a must, especially for solos or in any situation where no one else in a group is providing pen. Even if that's all the pen you have, 9k/10k is a very attractive figure because mobs in PvE have 9.1k and most if not all bosses in PvE have 18.2k. This 9k/10k figure covers them as well.

Making a build successful starts on a foundation for success and not excess.

PvP meta you are doing either onslaught or you are running about 18k pen + major/minor breach for around 27k.

• all impen
• balorgh (assume 150 ult) = 3450
• Frontbar pen set like stuhns = 5312 + 1487...........alternatively you can run a %dmg set like Essence Thief to achieve the same damage
• Sharp frontbar = 3276
• Maul = 2974

Then there are some extra stuff like 1 light or the passive cp pen. For a stat like pen you really only need it on your frontbar so ideally you make frontbar specific choices first like sharpened, maul, and frontbar set. Then if you need more pen you would add in more constant sources like a monster set or mundus last.