Sacred 2:Thorns

NOTE: The contents of this page are exclusive content found only by installing the player-made mega-mod Diablo 2 Fallen.

This Combat Art is a (Buff) An eye for an eye is sometimes not enough. Those who would strike the Paladin and emissaries of the Light had best take warning, for retribution shall be swift and certain. The might of your blows shall be felt a hundred fold unto you! Aspect - Blessed Defense Innate Abilities (Lvl 1) Chance to Reflect Close Combat: 30.8% + 0.8% per level Chance to Reflect Roots: 35.2% + 0.5% per level Chance to Reflect Stun: 35.2% + 0.5% per level Allies Benefit: 50% Regeneration Time of all Combat Arts: +50.0% Modifications See also: Sacred 2:Combat Art Modifications Bronze Riposte - Increases the chance to reflect melee damage by 7% + 0.5% per level. Witch Hunter - Adds a chance to reflect spell damage (34% + 0.7% per level). Silver Riposte - Increases the chance to reflect melee damage by 7% + 0.5% per level. Return Volley - Adds a chance to reflect ranged weapon damage (34% + 0.7% per level). Gold Riposte - Increases the chance to reflect melee damage by 7% + 0.5% per level. Flexible - Decreases the regeneration penalty of Thorns by 50%.

Thorns

Skills and Attributes

The following skills will affect this combat art:

• Blessed Defense Lore - improves casting speed, allows for modification points.

• Blessed Defense Focus - reduces regeneration time penalty and allows for higher level combat art without penalty, allows for modification points.

• Concentration - directly improves regeneration time penalty.

The following attributes will affect this combat art:

• Stamina will lower regeneration time penalty.

Usage Strategies

• Thorns is a straightforward buff. It reflects enemy attacks. You can choose which attack types you want to emphasize.

• Unlike in Diablo 2, reflected damage in Sacred 2 is completely blocked. The player takes no damage. This makes reflective buffs like Thorns much more defensive than offensive in nature.

• An extremely high defense value, evade chance, and/or block chance will mean enemies can't hit you and therefore won't get hit by Thorns. Consider this if you want to use Thorns in a more offensive manner.

• All Chance to Reflect bonuses deliver diminishing returns, so the chance to reflect will never reach 100% on Thorns, instead averaging around 65% at very high levels. Even if all three Riposte mods are taken, the Chance to Reflect Melee will max out at just before 90% at the highest level. For versatility's sake it may be worthwhile to invest in at least one mod that blocks other types of damage.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• High reflect chance
• Can reflect any type of attack with modifications

Cons

• Doesn't really benefit from any skills
• Reflect chance stacks with diminishing returns

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