Warborne Above Ashes – PvP Builds for Ganking, Extraction, ZvZ, and More

Updated for PTR April 2025: This tier list ranks the strongest Drifters in Warborne: Above Ashes by their performance in PvP roles, based on the latest balancing changes and synergy with current top-tier weapons and skills. 

Warborne Above Ashes lets you adapt your playstyle to any PvP situation — from solo assassinations to massive 100v100 warfare. Below are the best PvP builds for every scenario in the Total War Test, each using verified gear names and gameplay data.

1. Ganking Build – Vryssia

Strengths: High burst assassin with stealth, bleed combos, and exceptional map control. Ideal for ganking isolated targets and quick escapes.

Where to use: Map exits, chokepoints, chest spawns, solo farmers

Drifter Skills

• Active: Shadow Dive – Enters Stealth, gaining [Spectral Shield] and the ability [Phantom Bind], lasting 9s. Spectral Shield: Grants [Target-based Max HP 25%] shield effect; if the Spectral Shield fades out, the Phantom Bind effect ends prematurely. Phantom Bind: Summon phantoms that track enemies in range, dealing [Damage Rate: 183%] Magic Damage and replenishing [Target-based Max HP 5%] Spectral Shield. Doesn’t break Phantom Clone Stealth .. Using any skill other than Phantom Bind, or dealing direct healing or damage, reveals you for 2s before re-entering Stealth. Recovers 6% HP every 2s while in Stealth.
• Passive: Phantom – Enters Stealth when standing still unhurt and not using skills for a short duration. Damage, skills, or movement breaks Stealth. Warning when enemies are 7-14m away. Stealth breaks after 3s within 7m. Recovers 6% HP every 2s while in Stealth

Weapon: Hemoblades

• Skill 1: Bleeding Thrust – Dash to target, deal 160% Physical Damage and inflict 2 stacks of Bleed. Cooldown: 5s.
• Skill 2: Whirling Blades – Throws 3 blades forward and back. Each hit deals 80% Physical Damage and applies Bleed. Reduced damage on repeated hits.
• Skill 3: Rend and Reap – Leap to enemy, deal 160% Physical Damage, apply 2 stacks of Bleed, and heal for 60%. Gains 1 charge every 15s, max 2.
• Passive: Bleed – Applies DoT for 8s. At 6 stacks, triggers Hemorrhage: 100% Physical Damage + 4% target HP as True Damage.

Armor

• Helmet (Leather): Rage – +20% Crit Rate and +35% Attack Speed for 9s after a Basic Attack hit.
• Chest (Leather): Stun – Short-range AoE Physical Damage and 1s stun.
• Boots (Leather): Titanic Growth – Instantly gain +2500 HP, +20% Move Speed, and immunity to control effects for 5s.

⚔️Combo Rotation

1. Start with Shadow Dive and position near enemy from stealth.
2. Open with Basic Attack to proc guaranteed crit + Bleed from Assassin’s Edge.
3. Use Bleeding Thrust → Whirling Blades for fast Bleed stacking.
4. Trigger Rage via auto-hit, follow up with Stun to lock target.
5. Finish with Rend and Reap to burst + heal.
6. Use Titanic Growth for engage or escape as needed.

🎯Tips & Strategy

• Target healers or squishies and vanish before reinforcements arrive.
• Watch your Bleed stack count to time Hemorrhage burst.
• Stay near terrain and re-stealth after a kill using Phantom.

2. Veinhold Extraction Build, Solo PvP, Rift (solo dungeon) – Stormblade

Strengths: High-mobility burst DPS with AoE disruption, strong in confined arenas (1v1–3v3).

Where to use: Veinhold Extractions (1v1–3v3 arenas)

Drifter Skills

• Active: Tempest Slash (Drifter) – Launches a flurry of slashes at the target and nearby enemies, each dealing [Damage Rate: 120%] Physical Damage. Damage reduces to 50% after the first hit on the same target. Flurry for 4s with Unstoppable and damage immunity. Can Critical Hit. Higher Attack Speed increases attack count.
• Passive: Lightrend Cut – On Critical Hit, deals 70% Physical Damage to nearby enemies and reduces their Armor by 15% for 4 seconds. (Cooldown: 1.3s.)

Weapon: Storm Spear

• Skill 1: Javelin Throw – Performs a [Javelin Throw] after 5 Basic Attacks. Deals [Damage Rate: 180%] Physical Damage and increases Movement Speed by 20% for 2 seconds.
• Skill 2: Lance Thrust – Repeatedly thrusts at enemies in a frontal cone, dealing [Damage Rate: 60%] Physical Damage per hit, then slashes forward to deal [Damage Rate: 130%] Physical Damage to enemies in range.
• Skill 3: Sweeping Tempest – Performs a sweeping strike, dealing [Damage Rate: 300%] Physical Damage and knocking enemies back 8m. Increases the caster’s Damage Resistance by 25% for 6seconds. Creates a disruption field lasting 8seconds that Slows enemies within 8m by 30% and reduces their damage by 20%.
• Passive: Spear Scar – Using a weapon skill grants [Spear Scar]: The next 4 Basic Attacks have +60% Attack Speed, +2.5m range, and +30% Lifesteal. This effect lasts 6s. Also has a 35% chance to grant a shield equal to 15% of the target’s Max HP, lasting 2s.

Armor

• Helmet (Leather): Break Free – Cleanse control effects and gain 2.5s CC immunity.
• Chest (Leather): Snarl – Applies AoE slow and reduces damage dealt by enemies inside by 50%.
• Boots (Leather): Sidestep – Dash forward and gain movement speed for repositioning.

⚔️Combo Rotation

1. Open with Tempest Slash (Drifter) to dash through targets.
2. Apply Snarl to weaken enemy burst and zone.
3. Use Basic Attacks to stack Duelist’s Flow passive.
4. Trigger Lightrend Cut for crit amplification.
5. Cast Lance Thrust (Skill 2) to pin escaping targets.
6. Finish with Sweeping Tempest (Skill 3) for burst and zone control.
7. Use Break Free if stunned, and Sidestep to escape or chase.

🎯Tips & Strategy

• Best suited for narrow Veinhold lanes and extraction points.
• Delay Skill 3 until group is clumped or weakened.
• Rotate Basic Attacks to maintain passive buffs and sustain shield uptime.

Group PvP Build – 3v3 to 5v5 Teamplay – Aegis

• Recommended Drifter: Aegis
• Where to use: Solo PvP Rifts (1v1–3v3 PvEvP environments)

Drifter Skills – Aegis

• Active: Shield of Conviction – Grants Shield of Conviction to up to 5 allies around the caster for 6s. Allies with Shield of Conviction gain [Target-based Max HP 30%] Shield effect, and 30% of damage dealt will be converted into shield value, up to [Target-based Max HP 15%] additional Shield. After 6s, if the shield remains unbroken, deals [Damage Rate: 300%] Magic Damage to nearby enemies. Subsequent explosions deal reduced damage (15%).
• Passive: Defiant Resolve – Gains immunity to control effects and 20% Damage Resistance whenever gaining shield, for as long as the shield remains. (Cooldown: 20s.)

Weapon: Titan’s Spineblade

• Weapon Passive: Aura and Blade – Hitting or being hit builds Momentum, increasing Attack Speed, Damage, and Damage Resistances.
• Skill 1: Sword Slash – Dash and strike, dealing 180% Physical Damage and 40% Slow for 2s.
• Skill 2: Heart of Steel – Cleanse all CC, gain +25% Resist and +80% Attack Speed for next 3 Basics (8s).
• Skill 3: Titan’s Stride – Become immune to forced movement and boost Max HP + Attack Range based on Momentum.

Armor

• Helmet (Plate): Iron Wall – Gain +45% Resist when below 45% HP (Cooldown: 60s).
• Chest (Plate): Shield – Apply a 577% HP shield to nearby allies.
• Boots (Plate): Guardian – Leap to target location, granting AoE shield and CC immunity to nearby allies.

⚔️ Combo Rotation

1. Activate Shield of Conviction when expecting enemy burst.
2. Engage with Guardian to leap in and shield your team.
3. Use Sword Slash and Heart of Steel to start building Momentum and resistances.
4. Trigger Titan’s Stride mid-fight to resist pulls and tank objectives.

🎯 Tips and Strategy

• Hold choke points and anchor fights with layered shields.
• Slowly build Momentum stacks before fully committing.
• Use Guardian and Shield preemptively to absorb nukes and protect clumps.

4. ZvZ Build – Massive Faction Warfare (100v100) – Sirokos

Strengths: Unmovable frontline juggernaut with zone control, pull resistance, and ally support tools. Designed for clump protection and counter-engage in large-scale battles.

Where to use: ZvZ (100v100 faction wars, siege fights, territory control)

Drifter Skills

• Active: Sandstorm Dominion – Creates a Sandstorm around the caster, pushing all enemies outside. Channels for 6 seconds, granting +45% Damage Resistance and control immunity. Enemies touching the field take Physical Damage (Damage Rate: 300%), and are Silenced and Slowed by 60% for 4 seconds. The storm knocks enemies back 11m from its center and applies 60% Slow.
• Passive: Sand Veil – Creates a circular storm field around the caster for 4 seconds when causing Forced Movement (Pull, Knockback). Deals 100% Physical Damage to enemies inside, inflicting 40% Slow and a 40% chance to miss Basic Attacks for 3 seconds. (Cooldown: 20s.)

Weapon: Titan’s Spineblade

• Skill 1: Sword Cleave – AoE cleave dealing 240% Physical Damage and gaining extra damage based on target’s max HP.
• Skill 2: Defensive Slash – Begin blocking for 3s, reducing movement speed but gaining control immunity and +70% damage resistance.
• Skill 3: Titan’s Stride – Gain immunity to forced movement effects. Boost attack range and max HP based on momentum stacks.
• Passive: Aura and Blade – Gain momentum stacks when hitting with basics. Bonus stacks on crits and when taking damage.

Armor

• Helmet (Plate): Iron Wall – Boosts resistance and healing received when below 30% HP.
• Chest (Plate): Shield – Grants a 577% HP shield to nearby allies.
• Boots (Plate): Guardian – Leap forward and grant CC immunity to allies.

⚔️Combo Rotation

1. Engage with Guardian to protect allies and prevent enemy CC.
2. Cast Sword Cleave to hit stacked enemies with high AoE burst.
3. Activate Defensive Slash before diving into clumps to survive focus.
4. Use Titan’s Stride mid-fight to avoid pulls and push through enemy lines.
5. Cast Sandstorm Dominion to suppress enemy ultimates and secure objectives.
6. Pop Shield when allies are about to dive or need extra sustain.

🎯Tips & Strategy

• Use Defensive Slash pre-emptively to avoid being CC’d when pushing forward.
• Titan’s Stride makes you unmovable — ideal for holding choke points.
• Pair Sandstorm Dominion with ally DPS ults like Meteor or Voidblast for maximum impact.
• Focus on team support and CC layering, not chasing kills.

5. Roaming Warband Build – Flex and Mobility – Elektrix

Strengths: High mobility, AoE disruption, and strong chase potential. Ideal for small-scale PvP, skirmishes, and mobile hit-and-run tactics.

Where to use: Warband roaming, event PvP, small group conflicts

Drifter Skills

• Active: Storm Pulse – Activates an Electric Device for 8 seconds. The device hits up to 5 enemies every 0.5 seconds, dealing 40% Physical Damage per hit and reducing enemy Armor by 8% for 8 seconds. Stacks up to 10 times.
• Passive: Static Fortitude – Basic Attacks grant 1 stack of Electric Charge. At 5 stacks, the next attack triggers EMP Blast dealing [Damage Rate: 160%] Physical Damage to enemies in range.

Weapon: Storm Spear

• Skill 1: Javelin Throw – Deals 180% Physical Damage after 5 Basic Attacks and increases Move Speed by 20% for 2s.
• Skill 2: Lance Thrust – Frontal cone thrust attack with follow-up slash. Strong damage and control.
• Skill 3: Sweeping Tempest – Sweeping AoE knockback. Slows and reduces damage of affected enemies. Grants 25% Damage Resistance for 6s.
• Passive: Spear Scar – Weapon skills boost next 4 Basic Attacks with +60% Attack Speed, +2.5m range, and +30% Lifesteal.

Armor

• Helmet (Leather): Break Free – Cleanse all control effects and gain 2.5s CC immunity.
• Chest (Leather): Snarl – Applies AoE slow and reduces damage dealt by affected enemies by 50%.
• Boots (Leather): Sidestep – Dash forward and gain movement speed boost for 3s.

⚔️Combo Rotation

1. Initiate with Storm Pulse to stun enemies and begin disruption.
2. Apply Snarl for AoE slow and debuff.
3. Cast Lance Thrust to zone or burst squishier targets.
4. Use Sweeping Tempest for AoE knockback and safety.
5. Trigger Break Free if caught by crowd control.
6. Escape or chase with Sidestep. Sustain with Sandcrystal Crab Pot.

🎯Tips & Strategy

• Hit and run — don’t overcommit unless you’re sure the enemy is isolated.
• Keep moving to benefit from Static Fortitude and kite melee threats.
• Rotate between Storm Pulse and Sweeping Tempest for consistent control.
• Use Spear Scar buffs wisely during bursts for max lifesteal sustain.

Found your favorite build? Try it out during the Total War Test and let us know what worked — or didn’t. If you’ve theorycrafted your own meta-breaking combo, share it in the comments! The battlefield’s evolving. So should your gear.

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MODs Guide

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All Armors & Skills by Attribute (Full List)

Beta & Server System Breakdown

All Drifters, Weapons, Armors, Mods, Consumables Lists

Global Launch Date, Pre-Download, Servers, and System Requirements