Blade & Soul
Blade & Soul

Destroyer (Gon)

Command the Gon Destroyer in Blade & Soul. Master this axe-wielding warrior's raw power, crowd control, and devastating Normal and Charge stances.

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Destroyer (Gon)

The Destroyer, a formidable Gon warrior, embodies raw power and unyielding defense. Wielding a massive axe, they excel at crowd control, tanking damage, and delivering devastating blows. This guide will help you master the art of the Destroyer, turning you into an unstoppable force on the battlefield.

Core Mechanics & Stances

Destroyers primarily operate in two stances: Normal Stance and Fury Stance. Understanding when and how to switch between these is crucial for optimal performance.

  • Normal Stance: Your default state, focused on building threat, generating Rage, and applying debuffs.
  • Fury Stance: Activated by skills like Fury (Tab), this stance significantly boosts your damage output and often provides defensive bonuses. It's your primary burst window.

Essential Skills & Combos

Mastering the Destroyer involves understanding your key skills and how they chain together. Here are some fundamental abilities and their applications:

Damage & Rage Generation

  • Cleave (LMB): Your basic attack, used to generate Rage and apply a stacking bleed effect. Always keep this cycling.
  • Sunder (RMB): A powerful attack that consumes Rage for significant damage. Use this as a primary damage dealer when Rage is available.
  • Hurricane (F): A spinning AoE attack that generates Rage and deals damage to multiple enemies. Excellent for clearing trash mobs or contributing to group damage.
  • Wrath (4): A high-damage, single-target skill that consumes Rage. Use this during your burst windows, especially in Fury Stance.

Crowd Control & Utility

  • Grab (F after Daze/Stun): One of the Destroyer's signature abilities. After dazing or stunning an enemy, you can grab them, holding them in place and making them vulnerable to attacks from your allies. This is invaluable in group content.
  • Typhoon (Z): A powerful AoE stun that pulls enemies towards you. Great for initiating fights or interrupting dangerous enemy abilities.
  • Stone Shield (V): A defensive skill that grants a temporary shield and often provides a brief period of invulnerability or damage reduction. Crucial for surviving heavy attacks.
  • Emberstomp (3): A short-range AoE daze. Useful for setting up Grabs or interrupting casts.

Defensive & Survivability

  • Iron Will (Q/E): Your primary defensive roll/dash. Use this to evade attacks, reposition, or break free from crowd control.
  • Retaliation (2 after Block/Resist): If you spec into it, this skill can be used after successfully blocking or resisting an attack, dealing damage and often providing a defensive buff.

Rotation & Strategy

Standard Combat Flow (Pre-Fury)

  1. Initiate with Typhoon (Z) to pull and stun enemies.
  2. Follow up with Emberstomp (3) for additional crowd control or to daze a priority target for a Grab (F).
  3. use Cleave (LMB) to build Rage and apply bleeds.
  4. Spend Rage with Sunder (RMB) for consistent damage.
  5. Weave in Hurricane (F) for AoE damage and more Rage generation, especially against groups.
  6. Use Stone Shield (V) proactively before anticipated heavy damage or reactively to mitigate incoming attacks.

Fury Stance Burst

  1. Activate Fury (Tab) when you have a good amount of Rage and the boss is vulnerable or when you need a significant damage boost.
  2. Spam Wrath (4) and Sunder (RMB) to maximize your damage output during this window.
  3. Continue using Cleave (LMB) if you need to quickly generate more Rage within Fury Stance.
  4. Be mindful of your Fury Stance duration and try to time your highest damage skills accordingly.

Gear Progression & Recommended Soul Shields

As a Destroyer, prioritizing survivability and critical hit chance/damage is key. Here's a general progression path:

Early Game (Levels 1-45)

  • Weapon: Focus on quest rewards. The Stinger series of weapons (e.g., Stinger Axe) found through the main story provides a solid foundation.
  • Accessories: Again, quest rewards are your best bet. Look for accessories that boost Critical Hit Rate and Health.
  • Soul Shields:
    • Viridian Valor Soul Shield: Obtained from the Viridian Coast storyline. Provides good early-game defensive stats.
    • Cinderlands Valor Soul Shield: Acquired in the Cinderlands. Offers a step up in stats, often with Critical Defense.
    • Blackram Narrows Soul Shield: Dropped from the Blackram Narrows dungeon. A good set for early Critical Hit Rate.

Mid Game (Levels 45-50)

  • Weapon: Aim for the Awakened Siren Axe, then progress to the Awakened Pirate Axe. These are crafted or obtained from dungeon drops (e.g., Bloodshade Harbor).
  • Accessories: Start farming dungeons like Bloodshade Harbor and Naryu Labyrinth for their respective accessory sets (e.g., Pirate Ring, Siren Earring).
  • Soul Shields:
    • Bloodshade Harbor Soul Shield: A strong set for both offense and defense, dropped from the Bloodshade Harbor dungeon. Prioritize pieces with Critical Hit Rate and Health.
    • Naryu Labyrinth Soul Shield: Offers excellent defensive stats and often provides set bonuses beneficial for tanking.

End Game (Level 50+)

  • Weapon: Your ultimate goal will be the Legendary Axe, which requires extensive crafting and upgrading through various stages (e.g., Oathbreaker, Galaxy, Raven, Aransu).
  • Accessories: Legendary accessories (e.g., Awakened Oathbreaker Ring, Awakened Galaxy Earring) from high-level dungeons and raids are your target.
  • Soul Shields:
    • Raven Soul Shield: Obtained from the Skybreak Spire raid. This is a top-tier offensive set for Destroyers.
    • Aransu Soul Shield: From the Temple of Eluvium raid, offering even higher damage potential.
    • Grand Celestial Soul Shield: A more recent addition, providing excellent all-around stats.

Tips for Success

  • Threat Management: As a Destroyer, you are often expected to tank. Use your high-threat skills like Typhoon (Z) and consistent damage to maintain aggro.
  • Positioning: Always try to position bosses with their back to your party to allow your damage dealers to use back attacks.
  • Interrupts: Pay close attention to boss cast bars. Your Typhoon (Z), Emberstomp (3), and Grab (F) are crucial for interrupting dangerous abilities.
  • Resource Management: Efficiently manage your Rage. Don't overcap, and ensure you have enough for your burst windows.
  • Practice Grabs: The timing for Grab (F) can be tricky. Practice in solo content or with friends to perfect your execution.