Frost Axe Bulwark (from First Tour Guardsman's video)
Bulwark build by munkrej, made for Hotfix 15.1.
Based on a video by First Tour Guardsman. Posted with credit and not endorsed by First Tour Guardsman.
First Tour Guardsman's Patch 15 Bulwark: Heroic Frost Axe whirl slashes with Shock and Awe and Purity of Purpose for huge area damage.
Class perks
Intimidating Aura, Shock and Awe, Steel Within, Focused Restoration, Purity of Purpose, Glory's Shield, Merciless Resolve, Emergency Countermeasure
Prestige perks
Auxiliary Reload, Overcharge, Powerful Shot, Masterful Defence
Wargear
- Secondary: Bolt Pistol (Ophelian Liberation - Beta) - Perpetual Precision, Head Hunter, Gun Strike Reload, Increased Capacity, Head Hunter, Elite Hunter, Head Hunter, Extended Magazine, Divine Might
- Melee: Power Axe (Frost Axe) - Perpetual Strength, Coup de Grâce, Perpetual Strength, Counterattack, Hard Target, Power Wave, Tactical Retreat, Cleaver, Rebound, Discharge
Loadout variants
- Chaos: Plasma Pistol, Power Axe - Rate of fire Plasma Pistol to stagger minigun Terminators. He says to build its tree as you like so the pistol perks are left open.
Guide
## Credit
Build by First Tour Guardsman from his video "Bulwark MAX DAMAGE Heroic Frost Axe Builds Has Absurd Horde Clear in Patch 15": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot6dCmIURR8
The build is explained in the first 8 minutes, followed by true solo showcases against Chaos and Tyranids. Watch the video for his full reasoning and support the creator: https://www.twitch.tv/firsttourguardsman
## How it works
The Frost Axe's Howl of Fenris turns every execute into a power charge. The next whirl slash then hits about twice as hard with a much larger radius and slows enemies by 70%. Charges do not expire and the axe has Endless Slash built in.
The axe runs the lower lane from Perpetual Strength through Coup de Grace, Counterattack and Hard Target to Tactical Retreat and Power Wave. That widens the backstep wave. It ends in Cleaver, Rebound and Discharge for an area stagger on overhead strikes.
Shock and Awe with Emergency Countermeasure adds damage inside the shock area plus an armour break. Purity of Purpose and Glory's Shield add banner damage over time, a longer banner and damage reduction for the team.
Steel Within cuts health damage below half health. He rates it above Armour Reinforcement, especially against Chaos.
Merciless Resolve gives knockback immunity so whirl slashes are not interrupted.
The Firepower Bolt Pistol goes down the top lane to Elite Hunter. That also triggers on melee executes then finishes with Head Hunter, Extended Magazine and Divine Might.
## Choices he mentions
- Chaos: rate of fire Plasma Pistol for stagger. He leaves its tree to you (Chaos loadout).
- Riposte and Perpetual Strength instead of the Rebound and Discharge end of the axe tree. Riposte can also replace Power Wave.
- Advanced Conditioning instead of Focused Restoration pairs well with the extra contested health from whirl slashes.
- Invigorating Icon or Concussive Force instead of Glory's Shield.
- Standard Bearer instead of Powerful Shot for invulnerability when the banner lands.
Build by First Tour Guardsman from his video "Bulwark MAX DAMAGE Heroic Frost Axe Builds Has Absurd Horde Clear in Patch 15": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot6dCmIURR8
The build is explained in the first 8 minutes, followed by true solo showcases against Chaos and Tyranids. Watch the video for his full reasoning and support the creator: https://www.twitch.tv/firsttourguardsman
## How it works
The Frost Axe's Howl of Fenris turns every execute into a power charge. The next whirl slash then hits about twice as hard with a much larger radius and slows enemies by 70%. Charges do not expire and the axe has Endless Slash built in.
The axe runs the lower lane from Perpetual Strength through Coup de Grace, Counterattack and Hard Target to Tactical Retreat and Power Wave. That widens the backstep wave. It ends in Cleaver, Rebound and Discharge for an area stagger on overhead strikes.
Shock and Awe with Emergency Countermeasure adds damage inside the shock area plus an armour break. Purity of Purpose and Glory's Shield add banner damage over time, a longer banner and damage reduction for the team.
Steel Within cuts health damage below half health. He rates it above Armour Reinforcement, especially against Chaos.
Merciless Resolve gives knockback immunity so whirl slashes are not interrupted.
The Firepower Bolt Pistol goes down the top lane to Elite Hunter. That also triggers on melee executes then finishes with Head Hunter, Extended Magazine and Divine Might.
## Choices he mentions
- Chaos: rate of fire Plasma Pistol for stagger. He leaves its tree to you (Chaos loadout).
- Riposte and Perpetual Strength instead of the Rebound and Discharge end of the axe tree. Riposte can also replace Power Wave.
- Advanced Conditioning instead of Focused Restoration pairs well with the extra contested health from whirl slashes.
- Invigorating Icon or Concussive Force instead of Glory's Shield.
- Standard Bearer instead of Powerful Shot for invulnerability when the banner lands.