Rock Splitter Thorns Spiritborn Build Guide

The Spiritborn, added in Diablo 4’s Vessel of Hatred Expansion, has quickly become one of the most interesting classes to build in the game. Its Resolve mechanic has spawned several powerful Spiritborn builds, as has its’ three hit basic attack bonus. One such build, the Rock Splitter Thorns Build, leverages the ability’s scaling damage bonus from Thorns to turn players into an AoE powerhouse.

To try this build out themselves, players will need to reach a number of stat break threshholds, and find a good drop of Sepazontec. Keep reading for more information on using the Rock Splitter Thorns build, such as Skill Tree choices, stat priority, Paragon Board allocation, and Mercenary Recruitment.

How The Rock Splitter Thorns Build Works

While the “Thorns” in the build’s title may lead readers to think this build works off of getting hit, this isn’t true at all. Rock Splitter’s Accelerated perk applies 100% of the player’s Thorns damage on a hit, making this one of the best offensive Thorns builds in the game. Additionally, the item Sepazontec always applies the ability’s 3rd attack bonus – an AoE – which takes Rock Splitter from a so-so choice to an endgame damage powerhouse.

Players using this build can expect to clear all types content with no resource management, and high defensive capability. However, it can sometimes struggle when enemies are not grouping, as it doesn’t take Vortex. Instead, this build relies on Binding Morass, and the interaction between the Lithwat and XolKry Runewords to pull enemies in.

Playstyle For The Rock Splitter Thorns Spiritborn

For optimal damage, use the build’s Ultimate ability whenever Boss/Elite enemies reach the injured threshhold, and use Toxic Skin on cooldown to ensure maximum uptime of its Thorns passive. Meanwhile, alternate between the build’s three Defensive Skills to continually mitigate damage. In order to allow the build’s Runewords & Binding Morass Aspect to group enemies correctly, stand still as much as possible.

Ability Points & Skill Tree Of The Rock Splitter Thorns Spiritborn

The Skill Tree of the Rock Splitter Thorns Spiritborn is defensively stacked, as it has little need of damage abilities other than the basic skill. In addition, most abilities in this build are not fully upgraded, because the passives are the desired result and not the active abilities themselves. This means the build has a wealth of points to spend on passive abilities, which it does to great effect.

Basic Node

The first and most important skill of this build lies in the Basic Skill Node, Rock Splitter. However, the skill is not going to be maxxed out in this build. This is because the ability’s bonus Thorns damage for its’ third attack is not dependent on the number of points spent.

• Rocksplitter (1/5)
  • Enhanced Rock Splitter
  • Accelerated Rock Splitter

Core Node

This build does not utilize a Core ability. Instead, here players should pick up the maximum rank of the Follow Through Passive. For this build, the first part of the passive is irrelevant – the important bit is the damage bonus in the second half.

Focus Node

In the Focus Node, players need to allocate a dizzying number of points – primarily to Passive Skills.

• Toxic Skin (1/5)
  • Enhanced Toxic Skin
  • Replenishing Toxic Skin
• Mirage (3/3)
• Unrestrained Power (3/3)
• Focal Point (1/3)
• Diminishment (3/3)
• Apex (3/3)

Defensive Node

In the Defensive Node, this build picks up the lion’s share of its abilities. Like many popular Sorcerer builds, the Rock Splitter Thorns Build uses every Defensive skill at the class’ disposal.

• Armored Hide (5/5)
  • Enhanced Armored Hide
  • Reinforced Armored Hide
• Counterattack (1/5)
  • Enhanced Counterattack
  • Adaptable Counterattack
• Scourge (1/5)
  • Enhanced Scourge
  • Adaptable Scourge
• Endurance (1/3)
• Perserverance (3/3)
• Patient Guard (3/3)
• Auspicious (2/3)
• Bastion (3/3)

Potency Node

Unusually, this build uses no Potency skills. Here players need only buy passives.

• Resilient (3/3)
• Dominant (3/3)
• Potent (3/3)

Ultimate Skill

This build fully upgrades The Hunter as it’s ultimate ability for a total of 7 points spent. It then uses a couple of the node’s handy passives.

• The Hunter (5/5)
  • Harmonious Hunter
  • Exhalted Hunter
• Resolution (3/3)
• Spiritual Attunement (1/3)
• Supremacy (3/3)

Key Passive

Adaptive Stances is the Key Passive of choice for this build, as it makes use of several spirits naturally. While players may initially wonder why Prodigy’s Tempo wasn’t selected, it is important to keep in mind that additional ranks of abilities will not benefit this build much, as most abilities are not maxxed anyway.

Spirit Hall Choices For The Rock Splitter Thorns Spiritborn

Spirit Hall bonuses for this build are quite straight forward. Because they are both of the same spirit, it is worth utilizing a good roll of Loyalty’s Mantle should it be available.

Primary Spirit Bonus

This build takes the Gorilla in the first Spirit Hall slot for additional Thorns damage and a handy Barrier. Additionally, it makes all the skills the build uses from other spirits (such as the Hunter) into Gorilla Skills, allowing them to activate Gorilla exclusive passives such as Resilient.

Secondary Spirit Bonus

In the second Spirit Hall slot, this build will once again choose the Gorilla. Not only will this allow us to benefit from Loyalty’s Mantle, but it also further increases defensive stats and makes the build Unstoppable with a potentially unlimited uptime.

Gear & Affixes Of The Rock Splitter Thorns Spiritborn

This build, while certainly having BiS items, is fairly light on requirements before it is up and running. These requirements are the Unique Staff Sepazontec, and the Runewords LithWat and ZolKry (although Runewords aren’t technically gear, they are crucial to the build’s realistic damage output).

Additional Strong Aspects & Items

In addition to required items, some strong items to use when available include:

Aspects that benefit this build are:

• Aspect of Binding Morass
• Aspect of Adaptability
• Rapid Aspect
• Aspect of Moonrise
• Hectic Aspect
• Aspect of Endurance
• Aspect of Interdiction
• Aspect of Layered Wards

Players should take into account which aspects they currently have the highest rolls for when choosing how to place Aspects on their gear.

Stat Priority & Affixes

The stat priority for this build is slightly strange, in that it doesn’t prioritize Critical Strike or Overpower like most builds. Instead, build:

1. Thorns +3000%
2. Armor to 1000 (after penalties)
3. Resistances capped (after penalties)
4. Health to 6000
5. Rock Splitter Size +100%
6. 160% Movement Speed
7. 2000+ Dexterity
8. Attack Speed +100%
9. Basic Damage +600%

The majority of these stats, including the defensive ones can come from Tempering, so players shouldn’t panic if their dropped gear isn’t quite right. Temper down the list as needed until something better drops.

Runewords & Gems

The Runewords and Gems from this build are somewhat limited, as two of the larger gear pieces need to be taken up with the LithWat and ZolKry Runes. Remaining slots should go to Emeralds in the Armor for increased Dexterity, and Diamonds in the Jewelry to help cap Elemental Resistance.

Tempering Choices

Once players have gotten gear that can cap their armor, resistance, and health at the desired level, then Tempering Slots should go to the following:

Of course, the maximum roll of each stat is ideal, and should be easier to achieve considering the new Scrolls of Restoration available from the Dark Citadel Merchant. However, even mid-rolls are sufficient to compete in the endgame.

Mercenary & Reinforcement Hires

This build doesn’t have a great desire for any of the bonuses provided by a particular Mercenary and Recruitment combination, so players should feel free to experiment. However, for those looking for a plug and play build, consider Raheir and Varyana.

Mercenary

Raheir is an excellent panic button for players operating in higher game difficulties, as he will routinely CC enemies and grant the Unstoppable condition in times of need. In his Skill Tree, select:

Reinforcement

In the reinforcement slot, pick Varyana for her Ancient Harpoons Ability. This gathers enemies up for Rock Splitter’s AoE, and can be programmed to activate when casting a Defensive ability of the player’s choice.

Paragon Board & Glyphs For The Rocksplitter Thorns Spiritborn

The Paragon Boards and Glyph Combinations for the Rock Splitter Thorns Spiritborn build are:

1. Start – Headhunter
2. Spiney Skin – Outmatch
3. Revealing – Colossal
4. Viscous Shield – Turf
5. Sapping – Hubris

If players have not yet unlocked all of their Paragon Points, it may be useful to run Hubris on an earlier Paragon Board until they do.

Glyph Leveling Priority

Leveling Glyphs in this build is priority number one, as many won’t have the necessary stats in radius until the final Radius Expansion. First, take all glyphs to 15 in the following order:

1. Outmatch
2. Headhunter
3. Colossal
4. Turf
5. Hubris

Then, take all glyphs to level 46 in the following order:

1. Hubris
2. Colossal
3. Turf
4. Headhunter
5. Outmatch

Then, finish leveling all Paragon Glyphs to 100 in the same order as above and enjoy the build to its fullest potential.