This build enhances Raider’s natural role as a tanky frontliner focused on Strength who can easily withstand enemy attacks and stagger foes.
This has been theorycrafted before the official release, check back later for updated Raider Builds.
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Raider
General Raider Build (Theorycraft)
RaiderIntro
Equipment Loadout
Armaments
You should two-hand weapons as the Strength scaling improves by 50%, greatly boosting damage output.
For weapons, ou generally want to stick to heavier armaments to deal massive damage in one hit, easily stagger and break stance of majority of the enemies, and take full advantage of Raider's Strength scaling. The following weapon types are recommended for Raider:
Best-in-slot
Axe Of Godfrey
Giant-crusher (if-upgraded)
Grafted Blade Greatsword
Alternatives
Great Club
Axe Of Godrick
Greatsword
Godslayer's Greatsword
Maliketh's Black Blade
Talismans
Best-in-slot
Dragoncrest Shield Talisman
Green Turtle Talisman
Alternatives
Shard of Alexander
Consumables
Best-in-slot
Alluring Pot /
Beastlure Pot
Boiled Crab /
Boiled Prawn
Exalted Flesh
Generally, you want to use consumables that help you with damage output and survivabiltiy. However, it also depends on the situation and weaknesses of certain enemies and bosses.
Dormant Powers, Passives, and Relics
Dormant Powers
Best-in-slot
Improved Physical Attack power- Improved Poise
- Improved Stance-Breaking
Alternatives
- Improved Roar & Breath Attacks
- Improved Flask HP Restoration
Relics
Yellow Relics Best-in-slot
- Taking attacks improves attack power
Delicate Luminous Scene
Red Relics Best-in-slot
- Physical Attack UpPolished Burning Scene
- Character Skill Cooldown Reduction+xPolished Burning Scene
- Taking attacks improves attack power Grand Burning Scene
Weapon Passives
Best-in-slot
Improved Attack Power When Two-Handing (13%)- Improved Charged Attacks (+12%)
- Improved Guard Breaking (+60%)
- Improved Physical Damage Negation (+15%)
- Improved Skill Attack Power (+11%)
- Improved Stance-Breaking when Two-Handing (+25%)
Alternatives
- Continuous HP Recovery (+1)
- Improved Flask HP Restoration (+20%)
- Improved Jump Attacks (12%)
Axe Of GodfreyColossal Weapon • Lvl Required 12
Dragoncrest Shield TalismanTalismans
Green Turtle TalismanTalismans
Alluring PotConsumables
Beastlure PotConsumables
Boiled CrabConsumables
Boiled PrawnConsumables
Exalted FleshConsumables
Improved Physical Attack powerDormant Powers
Improved PoiseDormant Powers
Improved Stance-BreakingDormant Powers
Delicate Luminous SceneRelics
Polished Burning SceneRelics
Grand Burning SceneRelics
Improved Attack Power When Two-Handing (13%)Weapon Passive
Improved Charged Attacks (+12%)Weapon Passive
Improved Guard Breaking (+60%)Weapon Passive
Improved Physical Damage Negation (+15%)Weapon Passive
Improved Skill Attack Power (+11%)Weapon Passive
Improved Stance-Breaking when Two-Handing (+25%)Weapon Passive
Game Plan and Pathing
Day 1
At the start of the run, Raider can deal with human-sized enemies well thanks to his Retaliate ability, but can have a difficult time against large bosses that employ AoE or chain attacks.
On Day 1, you should immediately look for nearby small camps or settlements where you can take on weaker foes. Soldiers and knights can help you easily level up to Lv 3. Focus on getting strength-scaling armaments with desirable passive effects.
The Raider has a wide variety of usable weapons (basically, any with decent Strength scaling), so you will often find a new weapon to swap to. Remember that all passive effects from weapons in your inventory are active, even if the weapon itself isn’t equipped.
Day 2
On Day 2, you should be able to take on stronger enemies, as the Raider gains considerable HP and Stamina on level up. Look for stronger boss encounters when you have both your Skill and Ultimate Art available, and go all out on them to get great loot.
By the end of Day 2, you should have a high rarity colossal weapon (with a Level 9 or 12 requirement), multiple weapons, and dormant powers that enhance your poise and stance-breaking.
Day 3
At Day 3, spend the rest of your runes and upgrade your weapons before facing the Night Lord.
During boss fights, you want to keep yourself in the middle of the fray while your Skill “Retaliate” is up, and use it to absorb heavy hits, breaking a boss’ stance in return. Be careful when both your Skill and Art are down, as the Raider has a difficult time dodging through attacks.
Additional Tips
- Raider's Skill, “Retaliate”, makes him invulnerable to incoming attacks as he strikes forward. Retaliate can be used to push through enemy attacks that are difficult to dodge.
- His ultimate art, “Totem Stela”, boosts the damage of allies and creates a pillar that can be used as a platform, allowing allies to heal on top of it and perform jumping attacks.
- The Raider benefits the most from colossal weapons with high Strength scaling, which benefit the most from his high poise, stance-breaking, and Strength capabilities.
- If the Raider absorbs a heavy hit while using the Retaliate Skill, the usual stomp is replaced by a punch that deals higher damage and can stagger most enemies and bosses. Whenever possible, use the Retaliate Skill instead of dodging to make the most of the Raider’s kit.
