The Landsknecht in Halls of Torment stands out as a powerful melee character known for his sweeping attacks and durability in the thick of battle. With his greatsword and heavy armor, he can cut down hordes of enemies while holding the front line with ease. Building an effective Landsknecht is all about enhancing his strengths: crowd control, survivability, and sustained damage. Whether you’re just starting out or pushing through harder torment levels, optimizing your Landsknecht build can greatly improve your chances of survival and victory.
Understanding the Landsknecht
The Landsknecht is a frontline fighter who thrives in close-quarters combat. He uses broad, heavy swings to damage multiple enemies in a single strike. His armor and health pool are higher than average, making him one of the tankiest characters in the game. However, his slower attack speed and reliance on positioning mean you’ll need to be deliberate in your choices.
Base Attributes
- High defense: Can absorb a lot of hits before going down
- Wide attack arcs: Great for crowd control
- Low mobility: Needs help avoiding ranged enemies or bosses
- Moderate attack speed: Benefits greatly from upgrades that increase speed and area
Because of his nature, the Landsknecht benefits most from builds that improve his weapon reach, attack frequency, area control, and health regeneration.
Recommended Core Weapons
Choosing the right weapon is essential to maximizing the Landsknecht’s potential. His default weapon, the greatsword, is strong but can be modified or replaced depending on your preferred style.
Greatsword Enhancements
- Attack Area: Increase to strike more enemies per swing
- Attack Speed: Essential for compensating for his natural sluggishness
- Knockback: Helps control enemy flow and maintain distance
Alternative Weapons (if available)
- Executioner’s Blade: Excellent for critical damage builds
- War Pike: Provides better reach but may reduce sweeping arcs
Stick to melee weapons that synergize with his base abilities. Ranged weapons don’t suit his stats unless going for a full hybrid build, which is not recommended for beginners.
Best Traits and Perks for Landsknecht
The most effective Landsknecht build depends on acquiring traits and perks that complement his natural playstyle. Below are some of the best picks across multiple categories.
Offensive Perks
- Quick Hands: Boosts attack speed
- Cleave: Expands attack arc and area
- Brutality: Increases base melee damage
- Critical Might: Pairs well with Executioner-style builds
Defensive Perks
- Armor Plating: Reduces incoming damage
- Battle Hardened: Increases max health
- Regeneration: Useful for sustaining in longer fights
- Shield Wall: Temporary shield after taking damage
Utility Traits
- Magnetism: Pulls in experience orbs faster
- Haste: Improves movement speed to help reposition
- Gold Rush: More gold gain for upgrades in later runs
Synergistic Abilities
To dominate the battlefield as the Landsknecht, it’s important to select support abilities that either clear space around you or assist with movement and regeneration. These abilities should match your melee style without requiring precise aim or long cooldowns.
Top Recommended Abilities
- Whirlwind: A spinning area attack that mimics and expands the Landsknecht’s normal strikes
- Shout: Pushes enemies back and can stun for a short duration
- Healing Aura: Adds regeneration over time during fights
- Earthquake: Damages and stuns enemies in a radius around you
Stacking area-based abilities helps keep enemies off your back while maintaining constant forward momentum through waves of enemies.
Artifact Recommendations
Artifacts provide powerful passive bonuses that can make or break your run. Prioritize those that increase survivability or enhance melee performance.
Best Artifacts for Landsknecht
- Ring of Strength: Flat increase to melee damage
- Amulet of the Giant: Increases attack radius and hitbox
- Blood Chalice: Boosts regeneration at the cost of reduced healing from potions (works well with Regen builds)
- Iron Talisman: Adds armor and reduces stagger
If possible, combine offensive and defensive artifacts to create a balanced build capable of handling large hordes and bosses alike.
Gameplay Tips for Landsknecht Builds
Once your build is optimized, you’ll want to adjust your playstyle to fit the Landsknecht’s rhythm. Here are some proven tips:
- Keep moving in circles or figure-8 patternsto funnel enemies into your attack path
- Use chokepoints and narrow spacesto line up large groups of enemies
- Don’t rely on dodge or speed; instead, rely on area control and pushing enemies back
- Time your swingsand use cooldown abilities wisely don’t waste Whirlwind when few enemies are nearby
Positioning is everything. If you’re surrounded, use Shout or Earthquake to create space, then reposition quickly before continuing your offense.
Sample Build Setup
Below is a sample build to get you started with an effective Landsknecht run in Halls of Torment:
Weapon
- Greatsword (enhanced for area and knockback)
Abilities
- Whirlwind
- Shout
- Healing Aura
Key Perks
- Cleave
- Quick Hands
- Regeneration
- Armor Plating
- Magnetism
Artifacts
- Ring of Strength
- Amulet of the Giant
- Blood Chalice
This build emphasizes crowd control, durability, and high melee output. It works well in both early and mid-game content and scales nicely with experience orb gain and survivability.
The Landsknecht is one of the most satisfying characters to build in Halls of Torment. With the right setup, he transforms into a walking storm of steel, carving his way through legions of enemies. Focus on improving your attack area, speed, and survivability to fully unleash his potential. Whether you favor raw damage or a more balanced approach with regen and utility, the Landsknecht rewards careful planning and aggressive, positional combat. As you climb the torment levels, your build’s efficiency and adaptability will be the key to lasting success.