Crusader Invoker Thorns Build
Welcome to our build guide for Invoker Thorns Crusader in Diablo 3. Here, you will learn everything you need to know to play this build at the highest level. This build is updated for patch 2.6.9 and Season 21.
For more information regarding followers, we advise you to read our follower guide, which contains detailed advice on choosing the skills and the gear of your companion.
Introduction
The Thorns of the Invoker set unlocks a powerful, retaliation-based playstyle with what used to be the laughing stock of stats, Thorns. This tanky, utility and cooldown-oriented playstyle is designed towards Greater Rift solo progression, but we also have a speed farming variation.
Quick Reference
Skill Setup
The basic skill setup of the Invoker Thorns Crusader is displayed below. Read the dedicated Skills page for detailed information on choices, alternatives and build customization.
| Active Skills |
|---|
Punish
 Celerity
Steed Charge
Endurance
1
Laws of Valor
 Unstoppable Force
2
Iron Skin
 Flash
3
Provoke
Hit Me
4
Akarat's Champion
Prophet
|
| Passive Skills |
Gear Setup
The required gear setup for the Invoker Thorns Crusader is listed below. Check the Gear page for detailed information on choices, alternatives, gemming, Kanai's Cube and Paragon distribution.
- Helm:
Crown of the Invoker - Shoulders:
Burden of the Invoker - Gloves:
Pride of the Invoker - Chest:
Aquila Cuirass - Belt:
Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle - Pants:
Captain Crimson's Thrust - Boots:
Zeal of the Invoker - Bracers:
Shackles of the Invoker - Amulet:
The Traveler's Pledge - Ring 1:
The Compass Rose - Ring 2:
Ring of Royal Grandeur - Weapon:
Pig Sticker - Offhand:
Akarat's Awakening
Legendary Gems
- Legendary Gem 1:
Bane of the Trapped - Legendary Gem 2:
Boyarsky's Chip - Legendary Gem 3:
Bane of the Stricken
Kanai's Cube
- Weapon Slot:
The Furnace - Armor Slot:
Belt of the Trove - Jewelry Slot:
Convention of Elements
Changelog
- 30 Jun. 2020 (skills page): No changes required for Season 21.
- 30 Jun. 2020 (speed farming page): No changes required for Season 21.
- 30 Jun. 2020 (this page): No changes required for Season 21.
- 30 Jun. 2020 (gear page): No changes required for Season 21.
- 12 Mar. 2020 (gear page): No changes necessary for Season 20.
- 12 Mar. 2020 (skills page): No changes necessary for Season 20.
- 12 Mar. 2020 (speed farming page): No changes necessary for Season 20.
- 12 Mar. 2020 (this page): No changes necessary for Season 20.
- 19 Nov. 2019 (speed farming page): Guide revised and updated for Season 19.
- 19 Nov. 2019 (this page): Guide revised and updated for Season 19.
- 19 Nov. 2019 (gear page): Guide revised and updated for Season 19.
- 19 Nov. 2019 (skills page): Guide revised and updated for Season 19.
- 22 Aug. 2019 (this page): Revised Cube recommendations for the build for Season 18.
- 22 Aug. 2019 (skills page): Reviewed for Season 18.
- 22 Aug. 2019 (gear page): Revised Cube recommendations for the build for Season 18.
- 22 Aug. 2019 (speed farming page): Reviewed for Season 18.
- 17 May 2019 (gear page): Minor fixes to skill recommendations; guide approved for Season 17.
- 17 May 2019 (speed farming page): Minor fixes to skill recommendations; guide approved for Season 17.
- 17 May 2019 (this page): Minor fixes to skill recommendations; guide approved for Season 17.
- 17 May 2019 (skills page): Minor fixes to skill recommendations; guide approved for Season 17.
- 24 Feb. 2019 (gear page): Item and skill recommendations revised further to reflect the meta.
- 24 Feb. 2019 (this page): Item and skill recommendations revised further to reflect the meta.
- 24 Feb. 2019 (skills page): Item and skill recommendations revised further to reflect the meta.
- 17 Jan. 2019 (gear page): Added suggestions for the baseline Ring of Royal Grandeur for Seasonal characters.
- 17 Jan. 2019 (this page): Guide was revised with additional recommendations for Season 16.
- 17 Jan. 2019 (skills page): Information was reviewed and approved for Season 16 with no changes required.
- 20 Sep. 2018 (this page): Guide was reviewed and approved for Season 15.
- 14 Jun. 2018 (this page): Guide was reviewed and approved for Season 14.
- 31 Oct. 2017 (speed farming page): Adapted the speedfarming variant to the 2.6.1 changes.
- 31 Oct. 2017 (skills page): Replaced Provoke with Consecration.
- 31 Oct. 2017 (this page): Guide updated to reflect the Patch 2.6.1 buffs.
- 31 Oct. 2017 (gear page): Changed weapons to reflect Thorn's changes in Patch 2.6.1.
- 02 Jul. 2017 (this page): Updated for 2.6 and moved to new guide format.
More Crusader Guides
Builds from Other Classes
Farming Guides
This build is presented to you by Deadset, one of the very few professional Diablo 3 players. Deadset regularly publishes video guides on Youtube and streams on Twitch, where you can see how this and other builds play out in practice.
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