Warhammer: Vermintide 2

Warhammer: Vermintide 2

1,665 ratings
【Updated to Patch 5.6】【Cataclysm】Kruber all careers
By Royale w/ Cheese and 1 collaborators
Builds for Cataclysm run. Some of the breakpoints cannot be reached without perfectly rolled items. Use this Reddit post to calculate your own breakpoints.
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Introduction
Cataclysm is a difficulty for players who have finished the gear grinding and looking for high-level challenges gameplay.
This guide highlight one to three builds on each career as recommendation for non-modified Cataclysm difficulty. These builds have good skill ceiling and strong to play with practice. For more builds, check out the last section with Ranalds Gift links.


For my Cata Twitch 200% build guide, check out this spreadsheet[docs.google.com]
Extra Resource
My Cata Twitch 200% build spreadsheet[docs.google.com]

Builds & Items Spreadsheet for my Legend & Cataclysm Guides [docs.google.com]
Credit to RedBeardedGiant

Legend Builds Collection:
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2034609078
To learn basic information/strategy about Cataclysm difficulty:
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1845062917
To learn the best combo for melee weapons mentioned in this guide:
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1821186836
To learn some Vermintide Mechanic including the lvl15 stagger system:
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1816101198
To learn how to fight all Monsters:
https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1723437775
Changelog
Patch 5.4
  • Tweaked builds to be more meta focus than newer player focus.
Mercenary (Xsword/Bretonnian Longsword/Spear & Shield + Repeater Handgun/Handgun)
Talent
LVL 5
Depending on your melee weapon, choose different talent.
Bretonnian Longsword/Spear & Shield: THP on cleave gives the most consistent regen. With Bretonnian Longsword and Spear & Shield you have fast-hitting and high cleave attacks, making farming THP on horde very efficient. Plus you can farm THP on single target, like Monster/Lord.
Xsword: With Xsword build, Mercenary has amazing elite killing power. They will provide tons of THP for you. You will struggle to farm THP from Skaven horde, but their low stagger resistance and Morale Boost will help you get through that.
LVL 10
The More The Merrier provides up to 25% extra power. With the dense horde on Cataclysm, you can always gain 5 stacks whenever you need them. The raw power boost increases both your cleave and damage, making it the superior one on this row.
LVL 15
Mercenary already has very high efficiency against horde with other tools. Smiter provide a flat 20% increase melee damage on the unit you hit, making it super efficient on reaching melee elites breakpoints.
LVL 20
Reikland Reaper boosts your raw power, it increases both your cleave and damage, making it the superior one on this row.
LVL 25
Flat damage reduction suits better for a melee-heavy frontline career.
LVL 30
Raw cooldown reduction makes your career skill more spamable. Allows you to use it more aggressively and can afford bad usage of ult.

Melee weapon












With this build, melee weapon should be your main DPS source. Focus on horde units with your melee most of the time, and wait for opening to focus attack on elites.

Xsword has high headshot bonus and Tank property on its light attack. With high stagger and high damage, its only downside is the dodge range/slow charge speed, which can be compensated by high damage reduction/high THP gain of Mercenary class.

Bretonnian Longsword is a very well balanced weapon. It's one of the few Kruber weapon that has good mobility and good damage to all types of units at the same time. 1h weapon level dodge, good cleave, good single target damage, and super strong stagger. The unique heavy attack block mechanic plus your BCR gives you strong survivability. But compare to xsword/halberd, you still lose some damage and trade them for defensive tools.

Kruber Spear & Shield is a high dps shield weapon. It has good horde clear and elite combo. The special attack allows you to keep pressure on enemies while keeping yourself away from danger since you can block while using it. The powerful shield push also allows you to stagger most elites overhead with ease, dealing with elites + horde situations very easily.

Xsword Breakpoints: 10% Skaven, Smiter
One shot-headshot SV/hookrat with charged attack.
Two shot-headshot Mauler charged attack.
Three shot-headshot CW.

Bretonnian Longsword Stagger Breakpoints: 10% Skaven, Reikland Reaper
Heavy attack 1/2 stagger SV/Bestigor/Mauler/Savage all attacks
Heavy attack 1/2 stagger Monk all attacks after triggered Reikland Reaper

Spear & Shield Stagger Breakpoints: 20% skaven, 1 stack The More the Merrier, Opportunist
Push stagger Stormvermin/Bestigor/Mauler/Savage/Monk all attacks

Range weapon & Charm - Repeater Handgun





















With this build, range weapon should only be used against specials due to ammo limitation. Only shoot elites when there are ammo source nearby, or when you cannot find melee attack opportunity but needs to eliminate them ASAP.

Repeater Handgun has high ammo capacity. With the Mercenary default high crit chance and decent bodyshot breakpoints, it can deal with specials with ease.
With Decanter Mercenary can use three career skills with one purple potion and should be prioritized with purple potion.

Breakpoints: 10% infantry, 20% skaven
One shot-body shot assassin
Two shot-body shot Gas/Storm/Leech
Three shot-bodyshot hookrat

Range weapon & Charm - Handgun




















With this build, range weapon should only be used against specials due to ammo limitation. Only shoot elites when there are ammo source nearby, or when you cannot find melee attack opportunity but needs to eliminate them ASAP.

Handgun can reach all the important one-shot breakpoints for specials on Cataclysm. Plus with the fast reload speed and fairly large ammo capacity, it is one of the best special sniping weapon in the game right now.
With Decanter and cooldown talent, Mercenary can use three career skills with one purple potion and should be prioritized with purple potion.

Breakpoints: 20% infantry, 10% skaven, 10% chaos
One shot-body shot all specials except Wargor

Necklace




















BCR is way superior to stamina if you have enough stamina shield to perform pushes. Extra health is critical.
With high THP farm speed and high HP pool, Barkskin is very decent for melee-heavy front liner. If you struggle with farming THP or hit trade a lot, use Boon of Shallya.

Trinket


















Crit chance provides more damage. Stamina regen provides more push to crowd control/survivability.
Due to the massive Monster health on Cataclysm, Shrapnel works best on monster burst down. It also the best option for Patrol kill if a team can focus their fire.
Mercenary (Sword & Mace/Halberd + Repeater Handgun/Handgun)
Talent
LVL 5
THP on cleave gives the most consistent regen. With this build your melee weapons have fast-hitting and high cleave attacks, making farming THP on horde very efficient. Plus you can farm THP on single target, like Monster/Lord.
LVL 10
The More The Merrier provides up to 25% extra power. With the dense horde on Cataclysm, you can always gain 5 stacks whenever you need them. The raw power boost increases both your cleave and damage, making it the superior one on this row.
LVL 15
Mercenary already has very high efficiency against horde with other tools. Smiter provide a flat 20% increase melee damage on the unit you hit, making it super efficient on boosting melee elites killing power.
LVL 20
Reikland Reaper boost your raw power, it increases both your cleave and damage, making it the superior one on this row.
LVL 25
Flat damage reduction suits better for a melee-heavy frontline career.
LVL 30
Raw cooldown reduction makes your career skill more spamable. Allows you to use it more aggressively and can afford bad usage of ult.

Melee weapon

















With this build, melee weapon should be your main DPS source. Focus on horde units with your melee most of the time, and wait for opening to focus attack on elites.

Sword & Mace has one of the best horde clear ability among Kruber's weapon. It also has very decent normal armor damage, good stagger ability and high dodge. The only downside is the super armour damage and boss/lord damage, which can be some what compensated by your career skill, bringing these enemies to high stagger level to boost the whole team's damage or simply ledge them.

Halberd is the best overall DPS melee weapon on Mercenary. Great cleave, amazing elite/boss DPS with very decent reach. The only downside is that it requires stamina to enable some combo, and its stagger ability is one of the lowest in Kruber's weaponry. Utilize your high burst DPS with elite combo and long reach to your advantage.

Range weapon & Charm - Repeater Handgun





















With this build, range weapon should only be used against specials due to ammo limitation. Only shoot elites when there are ammo source nearby, or when you cannot find melee attack opportunity but needs to eliminate them ASAP.

Repeater Handgun has high ammo capacity. With the Mercenary default high crit chance and decent bodyshot breakpoints, it can deal with specials with ease.
With Decanter Mercenary can use three career skills with one purple potion and should be prioritized with purple potion.

Breakpoints: 20% infantry, 10% skaven
One shot-body shot assassin
Two shot-body shot Gas/Storm/Leech
Three shot-bodyshot hookrat

Range weapon & Charm - Handgun





















With this build, range weapon should only be used against specials due to ammo limitation. Only shoot elites when there are ammo source nearby, or when you cannot find melee attack opportunity but needs to eliminate them ASAP.

Handgun can reach all the important one-shot breakpoints for specials on Cataclysm. Plus with the fast reload speed and fairly large ammo capacity, it is one of the best special sniping weapon in the game right now.
With Decanter and cooldown talent, Mercenary can use three career skills with one purple potion and should be prioritized with purple potion.

Breakpoints: 20% infantry, 10% skaven, 10% chaos
One shot-body shot all specials except Wargor

Necklace




















BCR is way superior to stamina if you have enough stamina shield to perform pushes. Extra health is critical.
With high THP farm speed and high HP pool, Barkskin is very decent for heavy-melee front liner. If you struggle with farming THP or hit trade a lot, use Boon of Shallya.

Trinket


















Crit chance provides more damage. Stamina regen provides more push to crowd control/survivability.
Due to the massive Monster health on Cataclysm, Shrapnel works best on monster burst down. It also the best option for Patrol kill if a team can focus their fire.
Huntsman (Spear/Spear & Shield/S&M + Handgun)
Talent
LVL 5
Temporary HP on Stagger talent is very viable with high stagger weapon. Spear/Spear & Shield/S&M synergizes greatly with this talent.
LVL 10
Since the free shot does not require reloads, it is both a DPS increase talent and ammo sustain talent. The most consistent talent for Handgun build on this row.
LVL 15
Enhanced Power boost your damage output on all situations. It is also essential for some range weapon breakpoints.
LVL 20
Increase your reload speed. Boost your DPS and allows you to switch between melee and range more freely.
LVL 25
Increase your ammo sustainability greatly. It allows you to bodyshot elites more often.
LVL 30
Depends on your playstyle, choose different talent.
Blend In is overall the most rounded option. It allows you to sustain ammo easier since you don't consume ammo during career skill, and low cooldown invisibility lets you to reposition quickly.
Concealed Strikes provides the best consistency for both survivability and boss damage. Very safe and easy to use.

Melee weapon











If you don't own any of these DLC weapons, use Mace(same property/trait as Spear) or any shield(same property/trait as Spear & Shield).

With Handgun build, the main job of your melee weapon is to regen THP and kill close horde. Leave the elites to your range weapon.

Spear has amazing crowd control with fast sweep and high dodge. It synergies greatly with THP on stagger. With high stamina and high dodge, it is the best defensive melee weapons for Huntsman.

Spear & Shield has amazing crowd control with fast sweep and high dodge among shield weapons. It synergizes greatly with THP on stagger. The strong block of shield weapon also gives you another layer of protection, and the special attack allows you to pick up some unarmoured elites or keep pressure on monster when you are forced into close range melee combat.

Sword & Mace has one of the best horde clear ability among Kruber's weapon. It also has very decent normal armor damage, good stagger ability and high dodge. The only downside is the super armour damage and boss/lord damage, which can be compensated by your range weapon.
Use light attack - block cancel to farm THP, use push attack - light - light or chain heavy attacks to kill horde.

Spear & Shield Stagger Breakpoints: 20% skaven, Enhanced Power, Opportunist
Push stagger Stormvermin/Bestigor/Mauler/Savage/Monk all attacks

Range weapon





















With this build, Handgun is your main elites/specials/boss DPS weapon. Use your frontline and terrain as cover, focus on all tag-able units first. Only use melee when you cannot find high priority target anymore, or when you have to defend yourself/generate THP.

Currently, Handgun is the most consistent elites/special/boss killing option for Huntsman. It has amazing one shot breakpoints for specials and most elites on Cataclysm and super ammo efficient.

Breakpoints: 10% armour, 10% infantry, 10% chaos, 10% skaven, Enhanced Power
One shot-bodyshot all specials except War Gor
One shot-bodyshot SV/Bestigor
Two shot-bodyshot Mauler/Monk/Savage
Four shot-headshot CW

Necklace




















BCR is way superior to stamina if you have enough stamina shield to perform pushes. Extra health is critical.
Although career has low HP pool, with high THP farm speed Barkskin is great at providing survivability. If you struggle with farming THP or hit trade a lot, use Boon of Shallya.

Charm


















To reach the breakpoints mentioned above.
All potion effects benefit Handgun Huntsman and especially the purple potion. Concoction can give you very good DPS boost and guarantee some ult charge with any potion.

Trinket


















Crit chance provides more damage. Stamina regen provides more push to crowd control/survivability.
Due to the massive Monster health on Cataclysm, Shrapnel works best on monster burst down. It also the best option for Patrol kill if a team can focus their fire.
Huntsman (Spear/Spear & Shield/S&M + Longbow)
Talent
LVL 5
Temporary HP on Stagger talent is very viable with high stagger weapon. Spear/Spear & Shield/S&M synergizes greatly with this talent.
LVL 10
Longbow has high base headshot/crit damage, thus One in the Eye is by far the best DPS option for it.
LVL 15
Enhanced Power boost your damage output on all situations. It is also essential for some range weapon breakpoints.
LVL 20
Increase your crit chance. Boost both your Longbow damage output significantly.
LVL 25
Increase your ammo sustainability greatly. It allows you to bodyshot elites more often.
LVL 30
Depends on your playstyle, choose different talent.
Blend In is overall the most rounded option. It allows you to sustain ammo easier since you don't consume ammo during career skill, and low cooldown invisibility lets you to reposition quickly.
Concealed Strikes provides the best consistency for both survivability and boss damage. Very safe and easy to use.

Melee weapon












If you don't own any of these DLC weapons, use Mace(same property/trait as Spear) or any shield(same property/trait as Spear & Shield).

With Longbow build, the main job of your melee weapon is to regen THP and kill close horde. Leave the elites to your range weapon.

Spear has amazing crowd control with fast sweep and high dodge. It synergies greatly with THP on stagger. With high stamina and high dodge, it is the best defensive melee weapons for Huntsman.

Spear & Shield has amazing crowd control with fast sweep and high dodge among shield weapons. It synergizes greatly with THP on stagger. The strong block of shield weapon also gives you another layer of protection, and the special attack allows you to pick up some unarmoured elites or keep pressure on monster when you are forced into close range melee combat.

Sword & Mace has one of the best horde clear ability among Kruber's weapon. It also has very decent normal armor damage, good stagger ability and high dodge. The only downside is the super armour damage and boss/lord damage, which can be compensated by your range weapon.
Use light attack - block cancel to farm THP, use push attack - light - light or chain heavy attacks to kill horde.

Spear & Shield Stagger Breakpoints: 20% skaven, Enhanced Power, Opportunist
Push stagger Stormvermin/Bestigor/Mauler/Savage/Monk all attacks

Range weapon


















With this build, Longbow is your main elites/specials/boss DPS weapon. Use your frontline and terrain as cover, focus on all tag-able units first. Only use melee when you cannot find high priority target anymore, or when you have to defend yourself/generate THP.

Longbow is by far the highest elites/boss damage weapon for Huntsman. Although it is very clunky and requires high headshot rate to outperform other weapon, if you can perform consistently it can evaporate boss and lord, and for other lesser units having correct breakpoints help a lot.
Use full charge attack on all units when Hunter's Prowl is no activated. While under Hunter's Prowl, use quick arrow headshot to oneshot headshot most elites and all specials, still use full charge arrow on Mauler/Chaos Warrior/Boss.

Breakpoints: 20% skaven, 10% chaos, 10% armour, Hunter, Enhanced Power
Regular:
One shot-bodyshot Assassin/Gunrat/Firerat with full charged arrow
One shot-headshot all specials/SV/Monk/Berserker/Bestigor with full charged arrow
With Hunter:
One shot-bodyshot SV with full charged arrow
During Hunter's Prowl:
One shot-headshot all specials/SV/Monk/Berserker/Bestigor with quick arrow

Necklace




















BCR is way superior to stamina if you have enough stamina shield to perform pushes. Extra health is critical.
Although career has low HP pool, with high THP farm speed Barkskin is great at providing survivability. If you struggle with farming THP or hit trade a lot, use Boon of Shallya.

Charm















To reach the breakpoints mentioned above.
All potion effects benefit Longbow Huntsman and especially the purple/yellow potion. Concoction can give you very good DPS boost and guarantee some ult charge with any potion.

Trinket


















Crit chance provides more damage. Stamina regen provides more push to crowd control/survivability.
Due to the massive Monster health on Cataclysm, Shrapnel works best on monster burst down. It also the best option for Patrol kill if a team can focus their fire.
Foot Knight (Halberd/Bretonnian Longsword/S&M + Repeater Handgun/Handgun)
Talent
LVL 5
THP on cleave gives the most consistent regen. Especially when there is a horde for you to cleave. Plus you can farm THP on single target, like Monster/Lord.
LVL 10
Push/push attack is an essential move during combat. On horde, Halberd use push for attack speed when you don't have Swift Slaying activated, and push attack on Sword & Mace has high damage & cleave. On elites, Halberd push attack double overhead is your main elites damage, and push attack enables Bretonnian Longsword single target fastest. This talent boosting both your elites and horde damage consistently.
LVL 15
Enhanced Power boost your damage output on all situations. It is also essential for some melee and range breakpoints. It's also the best single target talent for Footknight on level 15.
LVL 20
Comrades in Arms gives you consistent damage for important damage/stagger breakpoints and you still keep the damage reduction yourself. Downside is you need a co-frontline to utilized the single target teammate buff.
LVL 25
It's Hero Time allows you to spam career skill for aggressive movement while still having cooldown to save teammates. Provides overall the best utility on this row.
LVL 30
Depends on your playstyle, choose different talent.
Numb to Pain can help with THP farm and revive with Gas/firerat/ratling or when your block is broken. It is also very useful when you are trying to take down an elite mixing in horde, or a banner.
Battering Ram provides the best patrol control and boss ledging potential. Regular footknight career skill stops at first armoured unit, but Battering Ram allows you to charge through all patrol. And ability to charge through boss also has the side effect of some times being able to stagger boss twice with one charge, making ledge much easier.
Bull of Ostland! is the best horde clear DPS option, it can provide up to 30% attack speed, and with long duration/low cooldown you can comfortably maintain 100% uptime during horde fight. However it requires large amount of units to be charged into, plus it stops at first armour target, this talent doesn't do too much on patrol or boss fight.

Melee weapon











With this build, melee weapon should be your main DPS source. Focus on horde units with your melee most of the time, and wait for opening to focus attack on elites.

Halberd has high raw damage/cleave and long reach which will help you a lot when fighting beastmen horde. With the strong push attack/light overhead, it is an all-round one for Foot Knight.

Bretonnian Longsword is a very well balanced weapon. It's one of the few Kruber weapon that has good mobility and good damage to all types of units at the same time. 1h weapon level dodge, good cleave, good single target damage, and super strong stagger. The unique heavy attack block mechanic plus your BCR gives you strong survivability. But compare to xsword/halberd, you still lose some damage and trade them for defensive tools.

Sword & Mace has one of the best horde clear ability among Kruber's weapon. It also has very decent normal armor damage, good stagger ability and high dodge. The only downside is the super armour damage and boss/lord damage, which can be compensated by your career skill, bringing these enemies to high stagger level to boost the whole team's damage.

Bretonnian Longsword Stagger Breakpoints: 10% Skaven, Comrades in Arms, Enhanced Power
Heavy attack 1/2 stagger SV/Bestigor/Mauler/Savage/Monk all attacks

Range weapon














With this build, range weapon should only be used against specials due to ammo limitation. Only shoot elites when there are ammo source nearby, or when you cannot find melee attack opportunity but needs to eliminate them ASAP.

Repeater Handgun has high ammo capacity. With decent bodyshot breakpoints, it can deal with specials with ease.

Handgun can reach all the important one-shot breakpoints for specials on Cataclysm. Plus with the fast reload speed and fairly large ammo capacity, it is one of the best special sniping weapon in the game right now.

Repeater Handgun Breakpoints: 10% infantry, 20% skaven

One shot-body shot assassin
Two shot-body shot Gas/Storm/Leech
Three shot-bodyshot hookrat

Handgun Breakpoints:10% infantry, 10% chaos, Comrades in Arms, Enhanced Power
One shot-body shot all specials except Wargor

Necklace




















BCR is way superior to stamina if you have enough stamina shield to perform pushes. Extra health is critical.
With high THP farm speed and high HP pool, Barkskin is very decent for melee-heavy front liner. If you struggle with farming THP or hit trade a lot, use Boon of Shallya.

Charm

















To reach the breakpoints mentioned above.
Proxy provides more potion efficiency since a team should play very tight on Cataclysm difficulty. Also, two people on potion effect can get out of emergency situations more easily.

Trinket


















Crit chance provides more damage. Stamina regen provides more push to crowd control/survivability.
Due to the massive Monster health on Cataclysm, Shrapnel works best on monster burst down. It also the best option for Patrol kill if a team can focus their fire.
Foot Knight (Spear & Shield + Repeater Handgun/Handgun)
Talent
LVL 5
THP on cleave gives the most consistent regen. Especially when there is a horde for you to cleave. Plus you can farm THP on single target, like Monster/Lord.
LVL 10
Staggering Force provides some essential stagger breakpoints, and opens up offensive trait on your melee weapon. Overall it gives a more consistent DPS boost and utility than the other two talents.
LVL 15
Enhanced Power boost your damage output on all situations. It is also essential for some melee and range breakpoints. It's also the best single target talent for Footknight on level 15.
LVL 20
Comrades in Arms gives you consistent damage for important damage/stagger breakpoints and you still keep the damage reduction yourself. Downside is you need a co-frontline to utilized the single target teammate buff.
LVL 25
It's Hero Time allows you to spam career skill for aggressive movement while still having cooldown to save teammates. Provides overall the best utility on this row.
LVL 30
Depends on your playstyle, choose different talent.
Numb to Pain can help with THP farm and revive with Gas/firerat/ratling or when your block is broken. It is also very useful when you are trying to take down an elite mixing in horde, or a banner.
Battering Ram provides the best patrol control and boss ledging potential. Regular footknight career skill stops at first armoured unit, but Battering Ram allows you to charge through all patrol. And ability to charge through boss also has the side effect of some times being able to stagger boss twice with one charge, making ledge much easier.
Bull of Ostland! is the best horde clear DPS option, it can provide up to 30% attack speed, and with long duration/low cooldown you can comfortably maintain 100% uptime during horde fight. However it requires large amount of units to be charged into, plus it stops at first armour target, this talent doesn't do too much on patrol or boss fight.

Melee weapon


















With this build, melee weapon should be your main DPS source. Focus on horde units with your melee most of the time, and wait for opening to focus attack on elites. With there are many dangerous elites, use your high stagger attacks/action to create space for yourself and team.

Kruber Spear & Shield is a high dps shield weapon. It has good horde clear and elite combo. The special attack allows you to keep pressure on enemies while keeping yourself away from danger since you can block while using it. The powerful shield push also allows you to stagger most elites overhead with ease, dealing with elites + horde situations very easily.

Stagger Breakpoints: 20% skaven, Staggering Force, Enhanced Power, Comrades in Arms
Push stagger Stormvermin/Bestigor/Mauler/Savage/Monk all attacks

Range weapon














With this build, range weapon should only be used against specials due to ammo limitation. Only shoot elites when there are ammo source nearby, or when you cannot find melee attack opportunity but needs to eliminate them ASAP.

Repeater Handgun has high ammo capacity. With decent bodyshot breakpoints, it can deal with specials with ease.

Handgun can reach all the important one-shot breakpoints for specials on Cataclysm. Plus with the fast reload speed and fairly large ammo capacity, it is one of the best special sniping weapon in the game right now.

Repeater Handgun Breakpoints: 10% infantry, 20% skaven

One shot-body shot assassin
Two shot-body shot Gas/Storm/Leech
Three shot-bodyshot hookrat

Handgun Breakpoints:10% infantry, 10% chaos, Comrades in Arms, Enhanced Power
One shot-body shot all specials except Wargor

Necklace




















BCR is way superior to stamina if you have enough stamina shield to perform pushes. Extra health is critical.
With high THP farm speed and high HP pool, Barkskin is very decent for melee-heavy front liner. If you struggle with farming THP or hit trade a lot, use Boon of Shallya.

Charm

















To reach the breakpoints mentioned above.
Proxy provides more potion efficiency since a team should play very tight on Cataclysm difficulty. Also, two people on potion effect can get out of emergency situations more easily.

Trinket


















Crit chance provides more damage. Stamina regen provides more push to crowd control/survivability.
Due to the massive Monster health on Cataclysm, Shrapnel works best on monster burst down. It also the best option for Patrol kill if a team can focus their fire.
Grail Knight (Sword & Mace + Xsword)
Talents
LVL 5
With DPS build, GK has amazing elites killing power. They will provide tons of THP for you. And after WoM farming THP from chaos/beastmen is very easy. You will struggle to farm THP from Skaven horde, but their low stagger resistance will help you get through that.
LVL 10
Virtue of Heroism is the best single target damage option on this row as long as the user uses heavy attack. It also works on GK's career skill, providing the most consistent single target damage boost on this row. Though unlike the tool tip suggests this talent only increases weapon/career skill damage without stagger/cleave boost, it can mostly be negated by using one high cleave heavy attack weapon.
LVL 15
Smiter provide a flat 20% increase melee damage on the unit you hit, making it super efficient on reaching melee elites breakpoints.
LVL 20
Virtue of the Penitent minimize the RNG from The Lady’s Favour the most. GK himself can use potion very efficiently, and essentially you can get 2~3 potion drop between two Boss Triggers, making killing patrol/boss super easy.
LVL 25
Virtue of Stoicism performs the best when receiving occasional large chunk of damage. On top of on kill THP, this allows GK to hit trade and eat 1 - 2 overhead when fighting large amount of elites comfortably, increasing your survivability greatly when fighting patrol.
LVL 30
Virtue of Audacity provides the best anti Chaos Warrior and Boss/Lord damage, as it can consistently kill two Chaos Warrior and stagger Boss/Lord twice and deal good chunk of damage, giving you the best chance of dealing with difficulty spikes in the game.

Melee Weapon I

















With this build, use heavy attack as much as possible. Sword & Mace is your main weapon for high moveability/pure horde units/beserker and monk/deal damage with small opening. And since this is the weapon you will have BCR on, use this instead of the other melee for blocking.

Sword & Mace has good dodge, high speed and decent cleave, very versatile. The heavy attack spam provides some of the best horde clear speed in the game, and still decent against normal armour target.

Melee Weapon II






















With this build, use heavy attack as much as possible. Xsword is your main weapon for single target DPS, especially armoured target and boss/lord. And since this is the weapon without BCR, try switch to the other melee weapon before blocking.

Xsword is Kruber by far the best anti-armour melee weapon, has high headshot/crit damage and great armour penetration. The lack of dodge range/speed can be solved by switching to the other faster melee option in this build, also compensated by GK's great health farming ability on high elite density and his regen talent.

Breakpoints: Passive, Smiter, 10% Chaos, Virtue of Heroism
Heavy attack oneshot-headshot SV/Bestigor
Heavy attack twoshot-headshot Mauler/CW

Necklace




















BCR is way superior to stamina if you have enough stamina to perform push. Extra health is critical.
With high THP farm speed and high HP pool, Barkskin is very decent for heavy-melee front liner. If you struggle with farming THP or hit trade a lot, use Boon of Shallya.

Charm

















To reach the breakpoints mentioned above.
GK has a fairly low career skill cooldown of 60sec and great boss/lord burst potential with his career skill. Concoction can consistently improve your boss/lord burst potential and patrol killing power.

Trinket


















Crit chance provides more damage. Stamina regen provides more push to crowd control/survivability.
Due to the massive Monster health on Cataclysm, Shrapnell works best on monster burst down. It is also the best option for Patrol kill if a team can focus their fire.
Grail Knight (Sword & Mace/1h sword + Xsword/2h hammer)
Talents
LVL 5
With DPS build, GK has amazing elites killing power. They will provide tons of THP for you. And after WoM farming THP from chaos/beastmen is very easy. You will struggle to farm THP from Skaven horde, but their low stagger resistance will help you get through that.
LVL 10
On Cataclysm, Virtue of Ideal has very high coverage through the run. With your 10% movement speed passive, it is fairly easy for you to kill one unit per 10 sec. Its power boost will increase your damage/stagger/cleave on all attacks, and also help you reach some important breakpoints.
LVL 15
Smiter provide a flat 20% increase melee damage on the unit you hit, making it super efficient on reaching melee elites breakpoints.
LVL 20
Virtue of the Penitent minimize the RNG from The Lady’s Favour the most. GK himself can use potion very efficiently, and essentially you can get 2~3 potion drop between two Boss Triggers, making killing patrol/boss super easy.
LVL 25
Virtue of Stoicism performs the best when receiving occasional large chunk of damage. On top of on kill THP, this allows GK to hit trade and eat 1 - 2 overhead when fighting large amount of elites comfortably, increasing your survivability greatly when fighting patrol.
LVL 30
Virtue of Audacity provides the best anti Chaos Warrior and Boss/Lord damage, as it can consistently kill two Chaos Warrior and stagger Boss/Lord twice and deal good chunk of damage, giving you the best chance of dealing with difficulty spikes in the game.

Melee Weapon I














With this build, Sword & Mace/1h sword are your main weapon for high moveability/pure horde units/beserker and monk/deal damage with small opening. And since these are the weapon you will have BCR on, use them instead of the other melee for blocking.

Sword & Mace has good dodge, high speed and decent cleave, very versatile. The heavy attack spam provides some of the best horde clear speed in the game, and still decent against normal armour target.

1h sword has great dodge and attack speed with very good horde clear speed. It is also the highest monster DPS option among all GK weapons. The extra stamina shield also allows you to block Chaos Warrior overhead without guard broken.

Melee Weapon II






















With this build, Xsword/2h hammer are your main weapon for single target DPS, especially armoured target and boss/lord. And since this is the weapon without BCR, try switch to the other melee weapon before blocking.

Xsword is Kruber by far the best anti-armour melee weapon, has high headshot/crit damage and great armour penetration. The lack of dodge range/speed can be solved by switching to the other faster melee option in this build, also compensated by GK's great health farming ability on high elite density and his regen talent.

2h hammer has the 2nd best monster DPS option for GK and provides very good anti armour damage. Compare to Xsword, its armour DPS is bit lower, but requires less opening as it uses light attacks for single target instead of heavy. The heavy attacks also provides the option to stagger high density horde or a few elites consistently.

Xsword Breakpoints: Passive, Smiter, 10% Chaos, Virtue of Ideal
Heavy attack oneshot-headshot SV/Bestigor
Heavy attack twoshot-headshot CW when you have two stacks of Virtue of Ideal

Necklace




















BCR is way superior to stamina if you have enough shield to perform push. Extra health is critical.
With high THP farm speed and high HP pool, Barkskin is very decent for heavy-melee front liner. If you struggle with farming THP or hit trade a lot, use Boon of Shallya.

Charm

















To reach the breakpoints mentioned above.
GK has a fairly low career skill cooldown of 60sec and great boss/lord burst potential with his career skill. Concoction can consistently improve your boss/lord burst potential and patrol killing power.

Trinket


















Crit chance provides more damage. Stamina regen provides more push to crowd control/survivability.
Due to the massive Monster health on Cataclysm, Sharpnel works best on monster burst down. It also the best option for Patrol kill if a team can focus their fire.
All my Kruber builds on Ranalds Gift
**Xsword Merc - Cataclysm**
Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/iqCQLxPqUmDLVkaJVP9I/view
Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/abMm4Ia3ElF83lXP76FO/view
Notes:
Xsword: 1 SHS SV/hook, 2 SHS Mauler, 3 SHS CW with charge attacks
Repeater: 1 SBS Assassin. 2 SBS rest. 3 SBS hook.
For handgun, use 10chaos10skaven20infantry. 1 SBS all specials.

**Spear/Halberd/Breton LS Merc - Cataclysm**
Spear Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/6elNiJr25Xv5aXGyfMdN/view
Spear Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/XXKBuSQPyMwSRl5QteAE/view
Halberd Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/MTToqSQgOzXby2XMjcWe/view
Halberd Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/LCDasBoHgo36f8gAzPMs/view
Breton Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/ihySqCLAPi5h7c3dSfGp/view
Breton Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/F9iAUmFOJWop7YdaZBEe/view
Notes:
Halberd run stamina + bcr, Breton LS use the same property/trait as spear.
Push attack stagger SV/Mauler/Bestigor.
Repeater: 1 SBS Assassin. 2 SBS rest. 3 SBS hook.
For handgun, use 10chaos10skaven20infantry. 1 SBS all specials.

**Twin Support Merc - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/pJXJVOO46W4vfptQraYJ/view
Notes:
Built for hit-trade in Twin mutator. Generate THP & attack speed & CC for the whole team. If want damage twin merc use normal build.
Repeater: 1 SBS Assassin. 2 SBS rest. 3 SBS hook.

**Blunder Huntsman - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/4cZplwlQ1elEhtVPOh5l/view
Notes:
Blunder: One shot all specials except hookrat at close range.

**Longbow Huntsman - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/HRmVqJLdw6Xh36ljL64e/view
Notes:
Spear: 2 SHS SV/Wargor, 3 SHS Beastgor with heavy stab
Longbow:
1 SBS horde, 1 SHS beast horde with quick arrow
1 SBS assassin/fire/ratling, 1 SHS SV/Wargor/hook, 2 SHS mauler, 4 SHS CW with full charge arrow
1 full charge + 1 quick arrow kill leech/storm/gas/hook

**Repeater Huntsman - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/dwoF0LehCTDONXncuoMx/view
Notes:
Repeater:
Mobs: 1 SBS slaverat/clan rat/ fanatic/gor, 2 SBS marauder
Specials: 1 SBS assasin, 3 SBS hook, 2 SBS rest of them
Elites: 3 SBS sv/mauler, 4 SBS Bestigor, 5 SBS monks/berzerker

**Handgun Huntsman - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/tYeUselXpwGZUZ9SoJj5/view
Notes:
Handgun:
1 SBS all special/SV/Beastgor
1 SHS wargor
4 SHS cw

**Chad Blunder Huntsman - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/6SkRQstuHIgbQo0KYfSB/view
Notes:
Less spam, more boss damage, better for twitch mode
Blunder: One shot all specials except hookrat at close range.

**Chad Longbow Huntsman - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/gPes6tTt44wBvY7KYuFM/view
Notes:
Less spam, more boss damage, better for twitch mode
Longbow:
1 SBS horde, 1 SHS beast horde with quick arrow
Before Hunter:
1 SBS assassin/fire/ratling, 1 SHS SV/Wargor/hook, 2 SHS mauler, 4 SHS CW with full charge arrow
1 full charge + 1 quick arrow kill leech/storm/gas/hook
After Hunter:
1 SBS SV with full charge arrwo
1 SHS CW with Crit + Ult + full charge

**Chad Repeater Huntsman - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/cPFOGq0VzSpoXDSllYc0/view
Notes:
Less spam, more boss damage, gain extra bestigor breakpoints, better for twitch mode
Repeater:
Mobs: 1 SBS slaverat/clan rat/ fanatic/gor, 2 SBS marauder
Specials: 1 SBS assasin, 3 SBS hook, 2 SBS rest of them
Elites: 3 SBS sv/mauler/bestigor, 5 SBS monks/berzerker

**Halberd/S&M Foot Knight - Cataclysm**
S&M Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/gljyo5PFhaEn6tcoCFRq/view
Halberd Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/87nRdRtFtancCtNUL1HZ/view
Notes:
Same build can be used for Sword&Mace.
Repeater: 1 SBS Assassin. 2 SBS rest. 3 SBS hook.

**Spear Shield Foot Knight - Cataclysm**
Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/A5GP9889DeGCOrFlCd2U/view
Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/DUG7usMaEwMBxHntEpTD/view
Notes:
Push stagger SV/Mauler/Bestigor/Monk/Savage.
Repeater: 1 SBS Assassin. 2 SBS rest. 3 SBS hook.

**Shield Foot Knight - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/6Ro4LlqOolqbaeXFuqlJ/view
Notes:
Push stagger SV/Mauler/Bestigor/Monk/Savage.
Blunder: One shot all specials except hookrat at close range.

**Power aura Halberd/S&M Foot Knight - Cataclysm**
Halberd Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/txhKpU5ZNlLm1c4pvXKS/view
Halberd Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/e6GrNIBWqO47Kl3KdvNK/view
S&M Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/UAxOW3qJNtq8C7sJg7jt/view
S&M Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/y26KU3BBmccNGFciVzjD/view
Notes:
Same build can be used for Sword&Mace.
Handgun: 1 SBS all specials/SV

**Power aura Breton Sword Foot Knight - Cataclysm**
Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/FLeOH0X9rEtzCpBfeBe6/view
Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/sueO3RLWf1UJZTNvgCg7/view
Notes:
Breton Sword: Heavy 1/2 stagger SV/Mauler/Bestigor/Savage/Monk all attacks
Handgun: 1 SBS all specials/SV

**Power aura Xsword Foot Knight - Cataclysm**
Handgun: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/aXbwWCmVKRMukMG9yfbH/view
Repeater: https://www.ranalds.gift/build/b45zxe5aao5thApVnRLm/view
Notes:
Xsword: Heavy attack:
1 SHS SV
Handgun: 1 SBS all specials/SV

**Crit GK - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/4871GUtn1hUZSOdXllUc/view
Notes:
Xsword main weapon, Bretonnian Shield for small window poke with double stab/shield bash charge ult/escape/block
Xsword:
1 SHS sv/bestigor with heavy
1 SBS all elites except CW with crit light
1 SBS all elites with crit heavy
B Shield:
1 SBS all elites except CW with crit light 2/heavy 1
1 SBSall elites with crit heavy 3

**Power GK - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/tvSD8llEmhGoButErqyw/view
Notes:
Xsword for armour elites/mauler/high density horde, sword mace for berserker & monk/charge ult/normal horde/escape
Blessed Blade:
1 SBS CW with 1 stack of Ideal
Xsword:
1 SHS sv/bestigor with heavy
2 SHS CW with heavy + 2 stacks of Ideal

**1h + 2h GK: 1h sword + 2h hammer - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/AorqheRrUsSDSLyj5O9F/view
Notes:
1h sword for dodge/block/light horde/active SS/stagger single elites, 2h hammer for high density horde/stagger multiple elites/single target DPS
Blessed Blade:
1 SBS CW with 1 stack of Ideal

**1h + 2h GK: 1h mace + 2h sword - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/1rtIwkndPUEjtarpPU3M/view
Notes:
1h mace for dodge/block/light horde/active SS/kill single elites, 2h sword for high density horde/cleave multiple elites
Blessed Blade:
1 SBS CW with 1 stack of Ideal

**Bretonnian GK - Cataclysm**
https://www.ranalds.gift/build/kdSZy0z93JJ7CRxIeUGH/view
Notes:
Bretonnian sword for basically everything, Bretonnian Shield for shield bash charge ult/escape/block
Bretonnian Sword:
2 SHS SV with push attack/any heavy/light 3 + 3 stacks of Ideal
Heavy 1/2 stagger SV/Mauler/Bestigor/Savage all attacks, +3 stacks of Ideal stagger Monk all attacks
Bretonnian Shield:
Push stagger SV/Mauler/Bestigor/Berserker/Gunrat/Firerat all attacks
+2 stacks of Ideal push stagger monk
Blessed Blade:
1 SBS CW with 1 stack of Ideal
267 Comments
Dixu 15 Aug @ 1:56pm 
@Commander Peanutchocolate
What changed in that build?
Royale w/ Cheese  [author] 30 Jul @ 5:45pm 
1h sword is pretty decent, it still has the problem of not enough armour damage though, which isn't a big issue on huntsman since your armour dmg is coming from your range. But for huntsman or any backline career, what you want from your melee weapon is 1) THP 2) survibility. Though 1h sword has 4 shield and high dodge, its thp regen speed isn't the best for stagger THP, that why I didn't put it on the list, but it's more than usable.
DeFyYing 9 Jul @ 11:42am 
Hi there, tysm for ur guides. What are ur thoughts on the 1h sword post-buff? I was thinking of using it on huntsman with the synergy of his HS damage talents
Royale w/ Cheese  [author] 6 Jul @ 11:24am 
Fixed thx.
Hi, I'm Ari. 4 Jul @ 11:53am 
GK first build lvl 5 has an error (You will struggle to farm THP from Skaven horde, but their low stagger resist and the safety from secondary shield weapon will help you get through that.) that build doesn't use a shield.
Commander Peanutchocolate 28 Apr @ 3:53am 
rest in 2SBS Repeater Chad Build, you will be sorely missed (twice)
煙海 | Enkai 24 Apr @ 9:30am 
I'll keep it in mind, and multiple tests to see which one works better for me, thanks for your reply, very cool.
Royale w/ Cheese  [author] 24 Apr @ 9:22am 
Yes you can do that, but keep in mind the whole breakpoint is Enhanced Power + 10 skaven on mace + 10 skaven on charm + Opportunist.
You can still use regular 5 crit 30 bcr swift slaying, it's just personally I prefer a stagger focus mace since the weapon itself is very low DPS.
煙海 | Enkai 24 Apr @ 3:26am 
Hello Master Cheese, since you also recently updated your cataclysm bardin guide,
which mentions that bardin's one-handed hammer property/trait is use 10% skaven + bcr + opportunist, as an decent defense focus weapon.

and then kruber's mace and bardin's one-handed hammer are basically the same thing,
so can I also use the same property/trait when using mace in marcus's hunter career?
Royale w/ Cheese  [author] 15 Apr @ 9:31am 
It's bit complicated, for Kruber specifically I won't call it p2w, DLC weapons are strong but nothing out of borderline, and even though I didn't recommend any base game melee for Huntsman doesn't mean other melee aren't useable. And there are other characters in the game too, e.g on elf sword dagger is still by far the best melee and current javelin/mfb are just good enough, same for salt. But on Bardin pistol/cog/trollhammer/DH just leave everything base game in the dust.

And we are talking about meta build here, you don't need any DLC weapons to beat the hardest content this game provides.