
And we shouldn't forget Shield Bash, a stun-attack staple from the earliest days of roleplaying.īut of course, that's what the beta is for and the right amount of tuning should be enough to resolve the Crusader's resource issues. For group situations, it has abilities like Laws of Valor, which grants a 10 percent increase in attack speed for the Crusader and its allies (5 percent when used passively). At higher levels, passives like Heavenly Strength make it possible to equip both a two-handed sword and a shield, though at the expense of a drop in speed. Later on, the class unlocks skills like Iron Skin-which temporarily renders them invulnerable-and Provoke, which restores Wrath while drawing the attention of foes. Its starting skill is Punish-a melee attack that increases the Crusader's blocking chance by 50 percent when used.

Having played through a chunk of the opening portion of Reaper of Souls' new story chapter, Act V, it's apparent that Blizzard wants the Crusader to be a defensive juggernaut. The Crusader is tankier and more supportive-a knight clad in heavy armor that's a bit slower than the rest of Diablo III's warriors but makes up for a lack of speed with some interesting passive skills and party buffs.
