Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)
Last update: 10/30/2024
General Notes
General Notes for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide in Vessel of Hatred
Note: This leveling guide is optimized for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6).
Crushing Hand is a strong Core Skill of the new Spiritborn class, where two shockwaves are generated in front of you, overlapping and dealing damage. In the early leveling phase of the game, the damage of this build is relatively weak because it relies on a few Legendary Aspects.
However, as soon as you have found them and reached enough levels for your Ultimate Skill and Key Passive, the damage increases rapidly. In combination with its high robustness, the build is perfect for farming higher Torment difficulties and could also count as a full-fledged endgame build once you have optimized your equipment accordingly.
With the Unrelenting Aspect, every third consecutive Crushind Hand will trigger ten additional hits, greatly increasing its damage. The Aspect is so important to the build that you have to imprint it on your Quarterstaff for the 100% bonus. If speed is important to you, you could start with my Quill Volley leveling build first and switch to this build as soon as you find the Aspect.
Resolve and blocking are two important mechanics of the build. Thanks to the Aspect of Interdiction, you can achieve up to 100% block chance with enough stacks of Resolve and a Quarterstaff. If a block is successful, your damage taken is significantly reduced. In addition, Crushing Hand creates a Barrier with every hit, making the build extremely robust.
An important part of your damage is the Ultimate Skill Seeker, which you can use on every elite group with your Key Passive Prodigy's Tempo.
Playstyle
Playstyle for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
Use Rushing Claw as soon as enemies are in sight to pounce on them. Before entering a fight, use Ravager to boost your Resource generation and damage. If you kill monsters fast enough, Ravager should be active permanently, otherwise you have to re-cast it from time to time.
Against small groups of enemies, you can use Crushing Hand three times in a row to trigger the effect of the Unrelenting Aspect. After that, you can use Rock Splitter to generate Vigor. You will also generate Resources by successfully blocking as long as you use your basic skill Rock Splitter every five seconds.
Your Ultimate Skill Seeker is saved for elite monsters and bosses, as it makes them Vulnerable, knocks them down, and causes significant damage. Your Key Passive Prodigy's Tempo allows you to reduce the cooldown when using three consecutive Core Skills. You also get two ranks to all skills when you use three basic attacks in a row. So it makes sense to use Rock Splitter and Crushing Hand three times in alternation.
You can use Armored Hide regularly to benefit from the damage reduction of Resolve and the increased block chance of Aspect of Interdiction.
Skills
Skills for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
Note: Level up all your active skills first and work your way down to your Key Passive as quickly as possible. If you are missing skill points to progress on your way through the skill tree, you can invest them in some passive skills. As soon as you have leveled up all active abilities and your Key Passive Ability, continue with the missing passive skills.
Skill tree notes:
- Concussive Stomp is only needed if you are using the Aspect of Reactive Armor. The Aspect benefits from the Enhanced Concussive Stomp, even if it is not in your skill bar.
Spirit Hall
Spirit Hall for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
Primary Spirit Hall: Jaguar
Every X. time you deal direct damage to an enemy with a Jaguar Skill, unleash additional slashes dealing X% of the damage dealt in the last X seconds.
All Skills are now also Jaguar Skills.
Secondary Spirit Hall: Jaguar
Maximum Ferocity increased by X. Gain X stack of Ferocity whenever you kill an enemy or damage a Boss.
Aspects
Aspects for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
Aspect of Disobedience
You gain X% increased Armor for X seconds when you deal any form of damage, stacking up to X%.
Aspect of Interdiction
Gain X% Block Chance per Resolve stack.
Aspect of Redirected Force
Gain increased Critical Strike Damage equal to X% of your Block Chance. Blocking doubles this bonus for X seconds.
Aspect of Reactive Armor
Gain X% Block Chance. Blocking an attack from a Close enemy has a X% chance to cast a free Concussive Stomp at them.
Duelist's Aspect
Maximum Ferocity increased by X.
Aspect of Unyielding Hits
Casting a Gorilla Skill adds X% of your Armor to all attacks for X seconds (capped at 1,500 weapon damage).
Conceited Aspect
Deal X% increased damage while you have a Barrier active.
Aspect of Plains Power
Lucky Hit: Up to a X% chance to create a Mystic Circle for X seconds. Casting a Jaguar Skill in Mystic Circles empowers them to keep your Ferocity at Maximum and increase your damage by X% per stack while you remain within.
Unrelenting Aspect
Every X. consecutive Crushing Hand smashes an additional X times around you dealing X% of its Base damage per hit.
very important
Aspect of Retribution
Distant enemies have a X% chance to be Stunned for X seconds when they hit you. You deal X% increased damage to Stunned or Knocked Down enemies.
OPTIONAL: Instead of Aspect of Plains Power. Better against groups of monsters, but worse against bosses.
Items & Affixes
Items & Affixes for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
General tips about your Gear
- Armor: You need a maximum of 1,000 armor. Anything above that is useless and has no effect. If you haven't reached your armor cap yet, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Resistances: You need at least 70% to all resistances. If you have not yet reached these values, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Affixes: Each item type has different properties (affixes) that are useful for this build. Some of these are mandatory, others are optional. Please pay attention to the following symbols:
Important: The 1,000 armor limit is not important for this build because of the Aspect of Unyielding Hits. You want to get as much armor as possible to boost your weapon damage. If you haven't found the Aspect yet, you should still aim for 1,000 armor.
Helmet
- Armor
- Life
- Resistances as Required
- Dexterity
- Aspect of Disobedience
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Gorilla Innovation
- Rock Splitter Size
- Crushing Hand Size
- Concussive Stomp Size
- Armored Hide Active Thorns Bonus
100% maximum
Chest Armor
- Armor
- Life
- Resistances as Required
- Dexterity
- Aspect of Interdiction
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Gorilla Innovation
- Rock Splitter Size
- Crushing Hand Size
- Concussive Stomp Size
- Armored Hide Active Thorns Bonus
100% maximum
Gloves
- Ranks to Crushing Hand
- Ranks to Core Skills
- Critical Strike Chance
- Attack Speed
- Dexterity
- Life
- Aspect of Redirected Force
Jaguar Finesse
- Mobility Damage
- Mystic Circle Potency
- Jaguar Damage
- Damage to Injured Enemies
Natural Schemes
- Thorns
- Crowd Control Duration
- Barrier Generation
Note: Because of your Spirit Hall choice, all your skills are Jaguar type. The Jaguar Finesse recipe is therefore better than Gorilla Finesse because it also enhances your Ultimate Skill. Potency for Mystic Circles is only useful against bosses, as the Mystic Circles in dungeons are too often triggered in the wrong position.
Pants
- Armor
- Life
- Resistances as Required
- Dexterity
- Aspect of Reactive Armor
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Natural Schemes
- Thorns
- Crowd Control Duration
- Barrier Generation
Boots
- Armor
- Movement Speed
- Life
- Dexterity
- Duelist's Aspect
Natural Motion
- Movement Speed
- Movement Speed for X Seconds After Killing an Elite
- Mobility Cooldown Reduction
- Evade Cooldown Reduction
Natural Schemes
- Thorns
- Crowd Control Duration
- Barrier Generation
Amulet
- Armor Percentage
- Ranks to Apex
- Ranks to Unrestrained
- Dexterity
- Ranks to Furnace
- Ranks to Potent
- Critical Strike Chance
- Attack Speed
- Aspect of Unyielding Hits
Jaguar Finesse
- Mobility Damage
- Mystic Circle Potency
- Jaguar Damage
- Damage to Injured Enemies
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Rings
- Critical Strike Chance
- Attack Speed
- Resistances as Required
- Life
- Dexterity
- Aspect of Plains Power
- Conceited Aspect
Jaguar Finesse
- Mobility Damage
- Mystic Circle Potency
- Jaguar Damage
- Damage to Injured Enemies
Worldly Stability
- Resource Generation
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Lucky Hit: Chance to Restore X% Primary Resource
Quarterstaff
- Life
- Dexterity
- Resource Cost Reduction
- Critical Strike Damage
- Unrelenting Aspect
Gorilla Augments
- Chance for Rock Splitter to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Crushing Hand to Extra Hit
- Chance for The Protector to Deal Double Damage
- Primary Gorilla Spirit Hall Potency
Eagle Finesse
- Focus Damage
- Storm Feather Potency
- Eagle Damage
- Vulnerable Damage
If you lack resistances, you can wear Tassets of the Dawning Sky:
Tassets of the Dawning Sky
All Stats
Movement Speed
Maximum Resistance to All Elements
Resistance to All Elements
When you take damage from a Non-Physical damage type, you gain X% Maximum Resistance to that damage type for X seconds. Can only apply to one damage type at a time.
Beast in the Ice
All Classes
Rakanoth's Wake
Attacks Reduce Evade's Cooldown by X Seconds
Movement Speed
Non-Physical Damage
Resistance to All Elements
Cooldown Reduction
When you cast a Skill with a Cooldown, you explode, dealing X Fire damage.
Infernal Horde
All Classes
Runewords
Runewords for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
Note: If you are missing the required Runes, you can use Gemstones in the meantime.
1st Runeword (Chest Armor)
Zan
Gain: 150 Offering
Cast an Ultimate Skill.
Gar
Required: 25 Offering
Cooldown: 1 Second
Gain X% Critical Strike Chance for X seconds, up to X%. (Overflow: Gain Multiple Stacks)
2nd Runeword (2H Weapon)
Tam
Gain: 25 Offering
Cast a non-Channeled Core Skill.
Mot
Required: 150 Offering
Cooldown: 1 Second
Gain a shadow from the Rogue's Dark Shroud, reducing damage taken per shadow. (Overflow: Gain Multiple Shadows)
Note: You can also use a Moni-Rune instead of Tam.
Gemstones
Gemstones for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
WeaponEmerald
Weapons: Critical Strike Damage
Armor: Dexterity
Jewelry: Poison Resistance
ArmorEmerald
Weapons: Critical Strike Damage
Armor: Dexterity
Jewelry: Poison Resistance
JewelrySkull
Weapons: Life On Kill
Armor: Healing Received
Jewelry: Armor
Paragon Board
Paragon Board for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
Important notice:
- Glyph Radius: To increase the radius of your Glyphs, you have to level them in the Pit. The starting radius is 3 boxes. At level 15, it increases to 4 boxes. At level 45, the radius is 5 boxes.
- Skill Order: Start with the ESSENTIAL LAYOUT and rebuild it COMPLETELY to quickly access all the important Nodes and Glyphs. Only then switch to the FINAL LAYOUT and add the missing Nodes.
Spirit
Rare Glyph "Spirit"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased Critical Strike Damage.
Additional Bonus: Lucky Hit: Critical Strikes increase the damage an enemy takes from you by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Elites by X%.
Legendary Node "Sapping"
When you cast 3 Gorilla, Jaguar, Eagle, or Centipede skills with the same spirit in a row, restore X% of your Vigor and deal X% increased damage for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Ritual"
For every 5 Intelligence purchased within range, you gain X% increased Mystic Circle potency.
Additional Bonus: While standing in a Mystic Circle you deal X% increased damage and take X% reduced damage.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Convergence"
You deal bonus damage equal to X% of your 2 highest bonuses to damage types combined, up to X% total.
Rare Glyph "Colossal"
For every 5 Strength purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage with Gorilla Skills.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage for each stack of Resolve you have.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Close enemies.
Legendary Node "Revealing"
Lucky Hit: Up to a X% chance to Knock Down Vulnerable enemies. You deal X% increased damage to Crowd Controlled enemies.
Rare Glyph "Hone"
For every 5 Strength purchased within range, you deal X% increased Damage with your Jaguar skills.
Additional Bonus: Dealing damage with your Jaguar skills increases your Critical Strike Chance by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Critical Strike Damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Drive"
After moving X meters, you deal X% increased damage for X seconds. This can stack up to X times.
Rare Glyph "Headhunter"
Grants X% bonus to all Normal nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Elites.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage by X%.
Rare Glyph "Spirit"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, you deal X% increased Critical Strike Damage.
Additional Bonus: Lucky Hit: Critical Strikes increase the damage an enemy takes from you by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Elites by X%.
Legendary Node "Sapping"
When you cast 3 Gorilla, Jaguar, Eagle, or Centipede skills with the same spirit in a row, restore X% of your Vigor and deal X% increased damage for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Ritual"
For every 5 Intelligence purchased within range, you gain X% increased Mystic Circle potency.
Additional Bonus: While standing in a Mystic Circle you deal X% increased damage and take X% reduced damage.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Convergence"
You deal bonus damage equal to X% of your 2 highest bonuses to damage types combined, up to X% total.
Rare Glyph "Colossal"
For every 5 Strength purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage with Gorilla Skills.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage for each stack of Resolve you have.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Close enemies.
Legendary Node "Revealing"
Lucky Hit: Up to a X% chance to Knock Down Vulnerable enemies. You deal X% increased damage to Crowd Controlled enemies.
Rare Glyph "Hone"
For every 5 Strength purchased within range, you deal X% increased Damage with your Jaguar skills.
Additional Bonus: Dealing damage with your Jaguar skills increases your Critical Strike Chance by X% for X seconds, up to X%.
Legendary Bonus: Increase Critical Strike Damage by X%.
Legendary Node "Drive"
After moving X meters, you deal X% increased damage for X seconds. This can stack up to X times.
Rare Glyph "Headhunter"
Grants X% bonus to all Normal nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Elites.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage by X%.
Mercenaries
Mercenaries for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
Varyana
Massacre
You and Varyana stack Massacre together on kills. Certain stack thresholds grant Movement Speed. Massacre resets after X seconds of not killing an enemy.
Cleave
Varyana swings two axes in an arc in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Dual Axes
Basic Attack: Double Strike
Varyana slashes enemies with dual axes, dealing X% Physical damage. She has a X% chance to also deal X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
Hysteria
You gain X% Attack Speed for X seconds whenever Varyana damages an enemy, up to X%.
Recklessness
Varyana's Cleave inflicts Vulnerable on enemies for X seconds.
Shockwave
Varyana slams the ground for a brutal shockwave in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down enemies for X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Two-Handed Mace
Basic Attack: Heavy Strike
Varyana batters enemies with a mace, dealing X% Physical damage with X% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Crushing Force
When Varyana deals damage to an enemy, she has a X% chance to Knock them Down for X seconds.
Reprisal
If you become Crowd Controlled, Varyana leaps towards the enemy that inflicted it, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down surrounding enemies for X seconds on impact. This can only occur once every X seconds.
Bloodthirst
Varyana enters Bloodthirst, gaining X% Attack Speed, X% Movement Speed, and Unstoppable for X seconds. Varyana's Bloodthirst grants X% Attack Speed to you for the same duration.
Intimidated
While Varyana has Bloodthirst, enemies around her deal X% reduced damage.
Bloodlust
Varyana's Bloodthirst further increases your Attack Speed by X%.
Whirlwind
Varyana spins violently in a line, repeatedly dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
No Escape
Varyana's Whirlwind Pulls In enemies every X seconds and gains X% Size.
Taste of Flesh
When you or Varyana deal direct damage to an enemy inflicted with any of her Bleeding effects, you Heal for X% of your Maximum Life.
Earth Breaker
Varyana crushes the ground with her mace, leaving a tremor that deals X% Physical damage over X seconds and Knocks enemies Down repeatedly.
Rampage
You deal X% increased damage to enemies afflicted by any of Varyana's Crowd Control effects.
Dismembering
Enemies damaged by Varyana's Earth Breaker are left exposed, causing your next hit against them within X seconds to be a guaranteed Overpower. This may only occur on the same target once every X seconds.
Ancient Harpoons
Varyana launches three harpoons ahead of her, piercing enemies for X% Physical damage. She then rips them back, Pulling In and Stunning enemies for X seconds.
Annihilator
Varyana's Ancient Harpoons additionally Slow enemies by X% for X seconds. During this time, you gain X% Lucky Hit Chance against those targets.
Iron Grip
Varyana's Ancient Harpoons travel X% farther and reduce enemies' Impairment Resistance by X% for X seconds.
Raheir
Reinforcement
Crater
Trigger
Crushing Hand
Video Showcase
Video Showcase for the Crushing Hand Spiritborn Leveling Guide
Changelog
- 10/02/24 – Optimized for Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)