The Thornwarden

Fumbles
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The Thornwarden
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Skills -- Early Game -- Mid Game -- Ubers -- End Game Gear




Introduction
In M2017, Pummel was replaced with Thorn Strike, which is this builds bread n' butter. Thorn Strike is a weapon damage skill that lays a cone-shaped blanket of spikes on the ground. This build is great for new players as it requires little skill-switching, allowing for more focus on game mechanics. This guide won't cover all end-game content but it will prepare players for mid/end game farming areas, while collecting most of the charms.



DISCLAIMER
One of the goals with this build was budget friendliness. This means that the early game section won't have unrealistic suggestions like empyrean bands because its a waste of arcane crystals and time. There are plenty of choices for gear slots but again the goal was to stay cheap. Use what you like if it suits you.




Pros
Just as fun as Tantrum was
High damage output trivializes several ubers
Extremely cheap to play
Minimal skill-switching



Cons
Some end-game content not included because I'm bad at this game
Mostly involves spamming one skill
Quov Tsin's Bone Nova
Lacks defense for a "melee" build




SKILLS

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MISCELLANEOUS

Mark of the Wild
Innate skill (Not affected by skill level bonuses)
Adds attack speed (skill) - physical damage - elemental spell damage


Pagan Rites
Spell - Engulfs corpses in flames, healing you with each sacrifice
%life healed per corpse - Improved % per skill level


Elfin Weapons
Adds crushing blow to attacks
Improved crushing blow with skill level

Treewarden


Treewarden Form
Transform into a massive treant with a crushing attack
Adds: 50% slow - physical damage % - flat life - bonus% to strength & vitality


Thorn Strike
Impale your enemies on a burst of spines
75% weapon damage - Bonus flat damage per base level


Wildfire
Spell - Melee attack which emits chaotic waves of fire
Improved fire damage per base level - Strength increases fire damage


Circle of Life
Passive - Regenerates life when you kill any enemy in Treewarden form
Grants life after each kill - 10% improved effect per base level


Idol of Scosglen
Buff - Turn into stone for a short time, releasing devastating shockwaves
35% damage reduction while active - 20% defense bonus per base level - reduced cooldown per base level

VENOM


Poison Flash
Spell - Short ranged radius blast that poisons nearby enemies
Used briefly while leveling


Mythal
Debuff - Field of wild magic that pierces resistances
Pierces 20% of enemy resistance - Increased duration & decreased cool down with base level


Acid Fiends
Summon - Ferocious acid creatures with a poison attack
Venomous Aura - adds elemental spell damage, attack & movement speed - Minion life & damage improved with base level

REWARD


Faerie Fire
Buff - Protects you and leaves a trail of dazzling lights that damage enemies
Spark trail deals 40% weapon damage - hits 13 times per second - Skill duration improved with base level - Avoid chance improved with base level


Force of Nature
Passive - Grants spells a damage bonus and adds elemental damage to your weapon
Adds spell damage per #strength - 20% increased elemental damage per base level


Goodberry
Passive - Summon berries that can be eaten to gain bonuses
Regenerates 100% life in 30 seconds when eaten - Adds flat life based on slvl (2 hour duration)


Life Shield
Passive - Enhances your goodberries with a defense bonus
Adds % Defense based on skill level






EARLY GAME

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► General Tips


► Gear + Skills


► Hatred Walk-through



MID GAME

This section will contain challenge related information only. Normal questing is the same so it isn't necessary. As long as resistances are capped and summons are used, Terror is pretty straightforward.

► Gear + Skills


► Breakpoints


► Class charm stuff



TERROR COWS
After killing Baal, Terror cows is an easy way to reach level 120. This isn't much different than Hatred so use the same strategy. Use a staff on switch with + to Druid skills to summon Acid Fiends. This also applies to Faerie Fire and Goodberry at level 90. Use xp pots made from perfect emerald + portal scroll to speed this part up. Expect some deaths and use this opportunity to find some sacred bases. Look for rares and save the Charsi quest reward for later if possible. Use shrines to craft a war axe with at least good ED%. Find another to continually upgrade the weapon slot. Switch to the craft when stats permit. Ancient armor is the eventual goal for
Erawan

Erawan
Body Armors

'LemKoCham'
Runeword Level: 83
15% Combat Speeds
5% Chance of Crushing Blow
+(144 to 171)% Enhanced Defense
(27 to 30)% to Strength
(27 to 30)% to Vitality
Physical Resist (13 to 15)%
(15 to 20)% Bonus to Defense
, it isn't a dire need at this point but it will make the BRC much easier. A sacred large shield or better should also be crafted prior to the Fauztinville portion of BRC. T6 light plated boots are fine for
Megalith
Megalith
Boots

'LoFal'
Runeword Level: 73
+1 to All Skills
25% Cast Speed
15% Block Speed
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Defense
+(10 to 20) to all Attributes
5% to Dexterity
Regenerate Mana +30%
Physical Resist 5%
, upgrade to greaves when possible. For
Icarus
, T6 gauntlets or light gauntlets are fine, upgrade to sacred gauntlets later. If you can't equip something due to stats, just use a base with a lower requirement or -requirement jewels. These are items to work towards after reaching 120.




DESTRUCTION


Check resistances and use socket fillers/orbs to hit +75 all. Look for good sacred bases to make gear later on. The ubers below are listed in an order they can comforably be acquired. For the sake of not repeating it over and over again, casting MotW and buffing with a + Druid skills staff for Goodberry and Faerie Fire applies to all ubers below.







Ubers

► Horror Under Tristram

► Infernal Machine

► Judgement Day

► The Binding of Baal

► Death Projector

► Heart of Sin

► Horazons Sanctum

► Lord Aldric Jitan

► Akarat

► Legacy of Blood

► Cathedal of Light

► Assault on Mount Arreat






Black Road Challenge


With the runewords and crafts listed in the mid game spoiler, the BRC is pretty manageable. As always, make sure breakpoints/resists are capped. Now is a good time to respec and re-max the skills, pulling points from Acid Fiends where necessary. The Trials of Contrition and Fear are exactly the same as previously listed in their uber spoilers above. Kill the bosses and cube the class charm by itself. For the Trial of Greed, collect at least 666,666 gold and have it on your character while cubing the class charm. This won't work if the gold is in your stash.

The Trial of Knowledge is mostly a defense check. Having the high tier sacred bases for runewords and crafts is important here. At least 65k defense is recommended. Brains from each of the 5 robot bosses need to be acquired and simultaneously cubed with the class charm. If it weren't for necrobots this would be much easier but they are everywhere and are physical immune so rather than slowly push through to each boss, use Idol of Scosglen to skip everything. Use portals frequently and always summon Acid Fiends and Edyrem between trips to town. Spamming Thorn Strike on non-immune mobs along the way will help save on pots. Since blink has half the cool down that Jitan's Gate does,
Pax Mystica
Pax Mystica
Staves

'Tir'
Runeword Level: 10
+1 to All Skills
+7% to Spell Damage
+(2 to 5) to Blink
Elemental Resists +(11 to 15)%
(11 to 13)% Magic Find
is the preferred method of teleporting. Link to the map of Fauztinville here. After completing all 5 challenges, cube the class charm with two arcane crystals. Then respec and enjoy Life Shield.

At this point its a good time to kill baal. He summons minions of destruction and occasionally act bosses. The act bosses grant him immunity when he is near them. Kill anything he summons right away and then continue with Baal. He also uses a spell that starts out as a black puddle at your feet. When you see these, move a few steps away to avoid the larger aoe that follows.







► Bull Prince Rodeo

► Rathma Square

► The Black Road

► Island of the Sunless Sea

► Kurast 3000 BA

► Tran Athulua

► Lord of Lies

► Khalimgrad

► Duncraig

► Xazax

► Quov Tsin

► Kingdom of Shadow

► Ghosts of Old Bremmtown

► Viz-jun

► The Triune

► Other ubers coming soon



End Game Gear

Skills
Max: Force of Nature - Goodberry - Life Shield - Treewarden Form - Circle of Life
Idol of Scosglen (20 pts)
1 pt: Acid Fiends
Elfin Weapons - leftovers

or (with Wolf Stance)
Max: Force of Nature - Goodberry - Life Shield - Treewarden Form - Circle of Life
1 pt: Idol of Scosglen - Acid Fiends
Elfin Weapons - leftovers

Attributes:
Strength - enough for gear - can put leftovers here
Dexterity - enough for 25k+ attack rating
Vitality - can put leftovers here
Energy - 0



Weapon: Crafted war axe - ED%/flat dmg/spike nova/flat ele dmg -
Nimmenjuushin
Nimmenjuushin
War Axe (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: (98 - 110) to (221 - 284)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength:
464
Item Level: 105
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Strength)%
8% Chance to cast level 10 Claw Tornado on Striking
+(4 to 5) to Druid Skill Levels
+12% Bonus Damage to Mark of the Wild
(151 to 175)% Duration Bonus to Mark of the Wild
30% Attack Speed
50% Hit Recovery
+(101 to 150) to Maximum Damage
(8 to 15)% Life stolen per Hit
+(115 to 140)% Enhanced Damage
(21 to 30)% to Strength
Requirements -20%
Socketed (6)
-
The Dark Descent
-
Triune

Shield: Crafted gothic shield - ED%/DR%/block%/skills/druid skills -
The Flying Saucer
The Flying Saucer
Small Shield (Sacred)

Defense: (3627 - 3957) to (3907 - 4262)
Chance to Block: 1% + Class%
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 500
Required Dexterity: 499
Item Level: 120
1% Chance to cast level 60 Cryo Beam on Striking
1% Base Block Chance
30% Movement Speed
-25% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-25% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(120 to 140)% Enhanced Defense
Physical Resist 5%
Socketed (4)
-
Avatar

Avatar
Shields

'IgnFulGla'
Runeword Level: 100
+1 to All Skills
45% Cast Speed
45% Hit Recovery
-(27 to 30)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(27 to 30)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-(27 to 30)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
(16 to 25)% Magic Find
Requirements +25%

Body Armor:
Erawan

Erawan
Body Armors

'LemKoCham'
Runeword Level: 83
15% Combat Speeds
5% Chance of Crushing Blow
+(144 to 171)% Enhanced Defense
(27 to 30)% to Strength
(27 to 30)% to Vitality
Physical Resist (13 to 15)%
(15 to 20)% Bonus to Defense
-
Khazra Plate
Khazra Plate
Ancient Armor (Sacred)

Defense: (8603 - 9489) to (10651 - 11748)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength:
2310
Item Level: 120
Level 1 Demon Blood Aura
+60% Damage to Demons
5% Chance of Crushing Blow
10% Deadly Strike
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
(20 to 25)% to Strength
(20 to 25)% to Vitality
Physical Resist 10%
Requirements +200%
Socketed (6)
(huge life) -
Hellfire Plate

Hellfire Plate
Body Armors

'IgnJahGurRhal'
Runeword Level: 115
+1% Innate Elemental Damage per 250 Strength and Dexterity
15% Chance to cast level 9 Life Spark on Melee Attack
20% Attack Speed
+250 Fire Damage
-(11 to 15)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
Maximum Life +(3 to 5)%
Maximum Elemental Resists +(1 to 2)%
Fire Resist +(10 to 20)%
Lightning Resist +(10 to 20)%
Cold Resist +(10 to 20)%
Poison Resist +(10 to 20)%
Physical Resist (7 to 10)%

Helm:
Natha
Natha
Druid Helms

'GulEl'
Runeword Level: 65
4% Chance to cast level 2 Arrow on Striking
20% Attack Speed
50% Hit Recovery
(31 to 50)% Bonus to Attack Rating
+(58 to 86)% Enhanced Defense
+5 to all Attributes
Physical Resist 10%

Gloves:
Icarus
-
Glor-An-Fhaidha's Firebark

Boots:
Megalith
Megalith
Boots

'LoFal'
Runeword Level: 73
+1 to All Skills
25% Cast Speed
15% Block Speed
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Defense
+(10 to 20) to all Attributes
5% to Dexterity
Regenerate Mana +30%
Physical Resist 5%
-
Clawfeet

Belt:
Ahriman
Ahriman
Belts

'VezGhal'
Runeword Level: 115
+1 to All Skills
+15 Spell Focus
Adds 100-300 Fire Damage
Adds 100-300 Lightning Damage
Adds 100-300 Cold Damage
+(31 to 50) to all Attributes
Maximum Elemental Resists +1%
Elemental Resists +(31 to 40)%
Requirements +10%
(plated belt) -
Lilith's Temptation
Lilith's Temptation
Plated Belt (Sacred)

Defense: (3680 - 4089) to (4031 - 4479)
Required Level: 100
Item Level: 105
3% Chance to cast level 2 Time Strike on Striking
+(170 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
-100 to Life
(60 to 100)% Magic Find
Requirements -100%
Socketed (2)

Amulet: Rare + 3-4 skills with banish/attributes/flat life/fhr -
Black Dwarf
Black Dwarf
Amulet

Required Level: 110
Item Level: 105
+2 to All Skills
20% Cast Speed
20% Hit Recovery
+(15 to 25)% to Lightning Spell Damage
-(5 to 20)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
+(15 to 25)% to Cold Spell Damage
-(5 to 20)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(21 to 29) to Supernova
(30 to 40)% Bonus to Defense
-5 to Light Radius

Rings: Rare +1 skills with proc/pierce/mf etc -
Assur's Bane


Buff: Craft/rare druid stave with +13 druid skills - for Goodberry
Motw:
Instinct



Instinct
One-Handed Axes

'IgnGurTyrZod'
Runeword Level: 115
+6 to Druid Skill Levels
+(48 to 60)% Bonus Damage to Mark of the Wild
+(18 to 20)% Bonus Elemental Damage to Mark of the Wild
110% Attack Speed
(150 to 250)% Bonus to Attack Rating
+(45 to 55)% to Fire Spell Damage
-50% to Enemy Fire Resistance
Physical Resist (10 to 15)%
+(215 to 265) Life after each Kill
+
Marchosias' Deception



Sockets
Weapon: Perfect Rainbows - orb ed% and deadly strike on craft
Shield: Tir crafted jewels with fhr/ias for breakpoints - resists/mf/ar%/stats (-req if desired) - orb ed% and frw on craft
Body Armor: Tir crafted jewels with fhr/ias for breakpoints - resists/mf/ar%/stats (-req/indestructible if desired) - orb ed% before making runeword
Helm: Tir crafted jewels with fhr/ias for breakpoints - resists/mf/ar%/stats - orb ed% before making runeword - frw/tcd after
Gloves: Tir crafted jewels with fhr/ias for breakpoints - resists/mf/ar%/stats - orb ed% before making runeword
Boots: Tir crafted jewels with fhr/ias for breakpoints - resists/mf/ar%/stats - orb ed% before making runeword
Belt: Tir crafted jewels with fhr/ias for breakpoints - resists/mf/ar%/stats (-req/indestructible if desired) - orb ed% before making runeword
Buff gear: Nih runes




A BIG THANKS TO..



Suchbalance - For making Treewarden great again!
Rishab - For the Wiki, Bestiary, maps and making discord almost as good as the shoutbox.
Marco - Pac-Man XL
Sirus628(Nugwa) - End game collaboration.
szumigajowy - Uber maps.
Heathen - 'stuff'
The rest of the MXL team - For everything they do behind the scenes that goes unnoticed.




THANKS FOR READING!
Edited by Fumbles 5 years.
Fumbles
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Tkorpi
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Good Work ;)
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Pinball
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Not prefer using Scoglen set in end game section? Bad guide confirmed.

And Clawfeet, Nimmen's price will jump high af after this guide too :lol:


Did read the whole guide. Good talking about playthrough but it could be better if you can have some videos about the char in action.
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iamq1803
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Good work overall, but it has some minor errors. For example, Xazax uber's reward is Xazax's Illusion not Soul of Kabraxis.
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databer
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Nice build
Fumbles
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iamq1803 wrote:Good work overall, but it has some minor errors. For example, Xazax uber's reward is Xazax's Illusion not Soul of Kabraxis.


thanks, fixed.
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JetJet
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Pinball wrote:Not prefer using Scoglen set in end game section? Bad guide confirmed.

And Clawfeet, Nimmen's price will jump high af after this guide too :lol:


Did read the whole guide. Good talking about playthrough but it could be better if you can have some videos about the char in action.

Treewarden set isn't that great. compared to some items on this list.
Bowulk
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As Helm I would also list
Coldhunger
Coldhunger
Wolf Head (Sacred)

Defense: (1842 - 2082) to (1915 - 2165)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 500
Item Level: 105
4% Chance to cast level 40 Ice Lance on Striking
+(1 to 2) to Druid Skill Levels
Adds 13-38 Damage
Adds 30-35 Cold Damage
(14 to 17)% Life stolen per Hit
-(29 to 35)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Defense
+(41 to 50) to Dexterity
+(41 to 50) to Vitality
Cold Resist +(30 to 50)%
Socketed (4)
as it provides some nice CC/dmg especially when paired with
Black Dwarf
Black Dwarf
Amulet

Required Level: 110
Item Level: 105
+2 to All Skills
20% Cast Speed
20% Hit Recovery
+(15 to 25)% to Lightning Spell Damage
-(5 to 20)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
+(15 to 25)% to Cold Spell Damage
-(5 to 20)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(21 to 29) to Supernova
(30 to 40)% Bonus to Defense
-5 to Light Radius
and
The Flying Saucer
The Flying Saucer
Small Shield (Sacred)

Defense: (3627 - 3957) to (3907 - 4262)
Chance to Block: 1% + Class%
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 500
Required Dexterity: 499
Item Level: 120
1% Chance to cast level 60 Cryo Beam on Striking
1% Base Block Chance
30% Movement Speed
-25% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-25% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(120 to 140)% Enhanced Defense
Physical Resist 5%
Socketed (4)
.
Otherwise good job :)
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GregMXL
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Legend.
Nice guide. I have a feeling you're going to be the owner of many guides with main skills that get end up getting nerfed to hell. :wink:
I don't mean to dwell...but I can't help myself.