Phalanx

Active Skill · Utility · Crusader

5 Runes
From level 27

Effect

Cost: 30 Wrath

Summon powerful avatars who charge forward to the targeted destination. Enemies caught in the charge path take 490% weapon damage.

Runes

5 Runes

Bowmen

from level 30 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.0333

The summoned avatars no longer march forward, but will wield bows and attack enemies, dealing 185% weapon damage. These bowmen follow you as you move for 5 seconds.

The Bowmen can only be summoned once every 15 seconds.
Shield Charge

from level 35 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.333

The summoned avatars charge the target and perform a shield bash, dealing an additional 180% weapon damage to enemies at that location.
Stampede

from level 43 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.333

Summon warhorses that deal 490% weapon damage and have a 30% chance to Stun enemies for 2 seconds.
Shield Bearers

from level 49 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.333

The avatars no longer walk forward, but stand at the summoned location, blocking all enemies from moving through.

The Avatars can only be summoned once every 15 seconds.
Bodyguard

from level 64 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.0333

Instead of sending the avatars out away from you, you summon 2 Avatars of the Order to protect you and fight by your side for 10 seconds. Each Avatar will attack for 560% of your weapon damage as Physical.

The Avatars can only be summoned once every 30 seconds.

The proc coefficient scales the chance of on-hit effects (e.g. legendary powers, gems, Life per Hit) for each hit of the skill. Game files, version 2.8.0.

Phalanx

Phalanx is an offensive Wrath spender that summons mighty avatars who charge toward the target point and damage enemies in their path. As a summon-based spender it forms the heart of its own build archetype, generating output through conjured helpers rather than direct attacks.

Bodyguard is the defining rune for sustained damage: instead of charging away from you, two avatars stay at your side and fight for you, delivering steady damage and combining superbly with supporting legendaries. If you want more crowd control on the charge instead, Stampede offers summoned warhorses with a chance to stun, stalling enemy packs. Which rune fits depends on whether your build leans on persistent escorting damage sources or on heavy, controlling charges, and Phalanx supplies both from the same toolbox.

Charging and standing avatars

Unruned, Phalanx costs 30 Wrath and deals 490% weapon damage to everything in the path. Three runes turn it into stationary helpers with their own wait time: Bowmen (level 30) shoot for 185% and follow you for 5 seconds, Shield Bearers (level 49) block enemies, both once every 15 seconds. Bodyguard (level 64) fights for 10 seconds at 560% and can be summoned once every 30 seconds. Shield Charge (level 35) and Stampede (level 43) keep the charge.

Eternal Union and Armor of Akkhan

The ring Eternal Union makes Bowmen and Bodyguards last indefinitely. That explains why Bowmen dominate in practice: with the Armor of Akkhan set, every avatar attack cuts the cooldown of Akarat's Champion by 0.5 seconds, and the 6-piece bonus grants 1500% more damage and 50% less damage taken while the Champion is active. Permanent Bowmen keep the Champion up almost without a break. The 4-piece bonus also makes the avatars apply Condemn to enemies affected by Judgment.

More Phalanx items

Unrelenting Phalanx (shield) casts the skill twice, and Warhelm of Kassar lowers the cooldown and raises the damage by 45–60%. With the two-handed flail Baleful Remnant, enemies that die while Akarat's Champion is active become avatars themselves for 10 seconds.

Heavenly Strength, Finery and Long Arm of the Law fill out the passives, and Iron Skin the defense.

by eRnstl