Ironhelm used to be a contender with Crucis because it was pretty easy to hit breakpoints for all non-boss enemies. I probably have at least 300 hours of pure ironhelm play time before it just got outpaced by the content. I really love the moveset. It’s just too weak right now to make me ever want to take it over the crucis. It’s one bonus was improved QOL regarding connecting with the special activation and the ability to reliably get overhead special activation strikes. Since all of that has been gradually granted to the crucis without significant buffs to the ironhelm it’s been consigned to the dustbin.
Funny enough Thunder hammer + Matyrdom + Stealth is my main. It started as an experiment and then it turned into admiration for the thunder hammer. It’s fun to use when you learn to dance with it. The thrust and talent that gives you + 50% cleave when 5 enemies are nearby really does a lot. When the heavy sweep with 110% cleave goes it hits like a truck. With 5(Or 4 doesn’t matter) of matyrdom stacks it’s feels like a mini version of the cord claw sweep. Generally I position myself that enemies run into the sweep. Otherwise it’s just the general push and dodge to yeet all of the enemies with the sweep.
The Thunder Big bonk is nice. Don’t really think it’s needs that much of a buff but it could be nice. The Big bonk does massive stagger so it’s not the end of the world that the mauler or crusher isn’t dead yet after 3 stack thrust. They are light work for you and your team after they got tagged anyway. Light bonks does the job if you want to kill spreaded light elites quick.
My only gripes with the hammer is the sprint speed even after the +5% movement speed is like 5.25 units and the time it takes to get your 3 stacks of thrust. If your team runs delete builds you can barely contribute due to the slower build ups for your hits. Then you are basically on Boss duty. I wouldn’t say no to a minor damage buff to 1 shot maulers on h40 with thrust 3. Stamina goes quick but you can just repeat slide to save stamina and quick move while charge up.
All and all for me this is the funnest way to play H40. It sure ain’t meta but it sure ain’t no sloath either. It’s methodical weapon that feels rewarding when you use it right.
Couldn’t take a single screenshot so I just quickly made a build thing in latern.
Edit: swap the revivespeed for +5% health on the curio
You could go with FotF and have take away the back stab damage and spec into more attack speed and finese damage. It would still be fun to play with when you get the hang of it. I just use stealth due to it’s utilities.
Found a super dope zealot bug yesterday. Fury of the faithful is canceling heavy attack animations right now. Uploaded a bug report.
You can get around it by just waiting after the impact to release the attack. That said, it definitely slows down zealot combat even more.