When you win the lottery.. [spending up to -40 ex, need to decide build]

Hey guys.
5 days played time, got a shavs drop. Kind of bungled my first build so this really gives me a reason to wipe the slate.

I've decided to drop up to 40 ex on a build. I'm posting here and not elsewhere because:
>I love melee
>I love armor/evasion
>I'm down with 2h, 1h/shield/ or DW.
>I prefer swords or maces.
>marauder looks like a boulder with legs.

So. Is cyclone and static strike the only way to play it these days?

Sadly yes. Cyclone is pretty much the best melee skill out there. Not even static strike can compare. Ground slam and reave are very good choices, though.

With that budget you can get a nice 6l chest(Belly or lightning coil)/legacy BoR if in standard and make any sort of life based melee build you want. Checkout the threads in this subsection, as well as shadow forums(interchangeable start nodes) and see what kind of character you want to make.