[2.3] Savage Slasher, Berserker - Critical Lacerate. Phase Acro/VP

T9 twinned Residence Map, 15%elemental reflect, cursed with vulnerability. Just hold 'Lacerate button', xD.

If there is only one target in range or the pack appeared in a cone shape, Lacerate can perform its maximum damage to those enemies which is nearly double of the tool-tip dps.

But when monsters scattered or got you surrounded, and you want to take specific one (totem/rare monster/boss etc) down as quick as you can, Lacerate become less efficient. Like all melee skills that linked with 'Multistrike Support', Lacerate auto-aim target in its 'melee range'(usually half screen).
Move and find an angle to slash would be a common strategy.

6L with INC.AOE (nearly 5L DPS)
Hatred + HoA + ICE Golem + Ancestral Protector buffed
5000 Life, 40/46 dodge chance



This one is not balanced well enough, but you can get the image, sword based build's critical chance can be 70%+ without power charges in 2.3.

Defence. Yes, defence.
Acrobatics/Phase Acrobatics to avoid fatal crossfire by packs.
Cloaked of Savagery's 100% dmg leeched as life if you've taken a Savage Hit Recently + Vaal_Pact's instant leech. Recover life to maximum in a blink of an eye.
Unwavering Stance make you 'Cannot be Stunned', thus your attack/leech are not interruptible by stun. (you could still be interrupted by Freeze or failed to hit due to Blind).

And Fortify support, reduce damage that comes with 'hit', this may keep you alive when dodge failed and huge among damage incoming.

Enhancements by Ascendancy
You don't need perform 'kill' to get leech life and mana in 2.3, nice boost.

Cloaked of Savagery also boost in 2.3


Helmet Enhancement
never had a chance to get one, but there are damage/radius/critical chance for Lacerate enhancement in Mods list at poe.trade.

Pros:
-Rapid clear speed with 'Increased Area of Effect', great DPS with 'Concentrated Effect' for boss fight.
-Decent survivability, can do map with physical/elemental reflection!

Cons:
-Map with 'Can not leech' is hard, could link 'Life gain on hit' but the advantage of this build is not functioning.
-Can't move before 6 slash finished when linked with Multistrike Support, need stack attack speed to remedy. This actually is a vulnerability could get you killed in later game.
-Lack of INT. Need find some on gears.
-Not efficient when surrounded.
-Damage Over Time is deadly (Poison/bleeding + cursed with vulnerability, and bleeding stacking by monsters have 'Corrupting Blood' Nemesis Affixes. Other type of DOT: poison cloud, desecrated ground )

Start with Marauder
Bandits:
Normal help Oak/ Cruel kill all/ Merciless kill all.

Jewels choice, attack speed/ life/ critical multiplier
lv20, 22 points
.
45 points
.
lv51, before Trials of Ascendancy in Normal
.
Trials of Ascendancy in Normal finished, 'Pain Reaver' located
.
lv70 with VP. Trials of Ascendancy in Cruel finished, 'Cloaked_in_Savagery' located, 91 points
.
lv80, 101 points
.
lv92, current with sword, 114 points
.
lv92 if use axe

lv up weapons

end-game weapons



If I can have my sword 6L, then 'Kaom's Heart' should be the best for boost life pool, though the +20% AOE would gone.

5L/6L Lacerate
General set for clear speed:


More survivability, less dps


For map with physical reflection


For range sensitive (Atziri fight etc), INC. critical strike chance and 'Concentrated Effect' are optional. Or even you want Physical to Lightning, then 'HoT + curse on hit set'


If 5L, drop INC. AOE.
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4L #1 CWDT set.

or

'Immortal Call' gives over 0.6s physical invulnerability with 'Increased Duration', it'll last longer if we have 'Endurance Charge'(which we get often from critical strike. xD), it's a very effective defense method. It also helps when you are fighting monsters or doing maps with 'reflect physical damage'.
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4L #2 Aura / Buff

Flame Golem offers a bit more dps than ICE Golem when character at low lv.
And you could away swapping different Golem to suit variety situations.

Other On-demand option

Try get a RBGW 4L for this set, easy swap purity of elements(fire/ice/lightning) means better adaptability.
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4L #3 Vaal Grace / Vaal Haste

Both Vaal Grace and Vaal Haste take advantage of increased duration support. They offer Great Dodge chance and boost DPS / movement speed to a higher level for 10 seconds. You could carry multiple of them.

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4L/5L for Movement and 'Ancestral Protector'

Ancestral Protector offers more attack speed that boosts dps a lot.