by JR Cook - 9 years ago     show comments

Books have often been society’s only bastion of light for passing along knowledge that would otherwise be lost to time or convoluted by the oral tradition. In order to provide new and old adventurers with as much knowledge of what to expect on their journey in Sanctuary, we created this tome of knowledge – Ars Arcanum. We will regularly feature a Legendary weapon or armor piece, discussing its stand-alone powers and capabilities, as well as how it may synergize with new builds or other items.

There have been many famous combinations throughout history: peanut butter and jelly; macaroni and cheese; cereal and milk, to name a few. While these delicious treats have sustained gamers for eons, none of them are particularly effective in ridding Sanctuary of its threats and dangers. Enter Focus & Restraint. These rings, redesigned in Patch 2.2.0, represent the type of power we deserve and need in this slot. If a suite of items is going to command both ring spots, they had better be game changing. In their earliest iteration, there was potential for solid additional damage in builds that spent no resource (see Gyrfalcon’s Foote and Jekangbord combo), but those builds did not stand the test of time. The new and improved Bastions of Will set just might.

Why is it good?

It’s pretty simple. Whenever you get to put your damage output through a multiplier, it’s a good thing. That’s the reason why Bane of the Trapped is so powerful. That’s the reason why Big Bad Voodoo with the Slam Dance rune is a great party support skill. That’s the reason why damage can scale so high when you only see millions on your character sheet. A simple concept, but one that should not be overlooked or underestimated.

Therefore, when you view the interplay between Focus and Restraint, it’s easy to see how the two rings are meant to sustain one another and create multiplicative output. The developers have been doing their best to encourage keeping generators on the bars of our characters. Sets have much of their utility and power increases tied to activations from generators or even direct buffs to generators. (See Monk and Demon Hunter sets, e.g.) Focus & Restraint are no exception to this philosophy. Using either on their own will give you a slight multiplier (50%), but the true potential shines through when you successfully alternate between a few generator attacks, building up resource, and then unleash your spenders with their new found multiplied damage bonuses (125%).

The hard part is two-fold – this is clearly all about offense and both ring slots are being used. Before 2.2.0, Stone of Jordan was the main offensive choice and that still left room for a Ring of Royal Grandeur to allow an ancillary piece of gear to bolster your set while still maintaining bonuses. These are the concerns you must juggle when debating whether or not to take F&R. There’s less of a choice concerning Unity if you plan to play in groups a lot, so Focus & Restraint make a lot of sense there, but if defense is a major concern, it’s going to be another source of concern as to whether you can go all offense and avoid damage or rely on Unity‘s reduction.

Who is it good for?

Right now, the rings are being fit into whichever builds it remotely makes sense to use them in. They are simply that good. Demon Hunters and Monks in particular have very natural uses for them in their current metagame.

Where can I find it?

These rings are currently available in every version of the game. They are not limited to seasonal play and, in fact, if you had some saved prior to 2.2.0, they should have been upgraded to show their new set bonuses. However, farming new ones will likely grant you improved affixes, as both rings roll with natural sockets now.

The Fluff

Grand Mage Chengat, one of the first masters of the Yshari Sanctum, crafted the rings Focus and Restraint to work in conjunction with one another to bolster the user’s mental fortitude.

Restraint was crafted to be an integral part of the set of magical rings known as the Bastion of Will. Each ring bears a raised symbol that denotes its signature power to those with the wisdom to interpret them.

The flavor text for Focus appears first, followed by Restraint. It just seemed appropriate. The major lore comes from Focus, as we are introduced to Grand Mage Chengat. This master of magic seems to be a new name to the universe (perhaps a shout-out to Wyatt Cheng?), but the Yshari Sanctum is not. Located in Caldeum, this is the home of the Mage Clans. The Sanctum was established to bolster Kehjistan’s position in the realm of magical study. The Sanctum did go on to create much in the way of amazing arcana, but some saw their methods as too strict. These dissenters would break off and later call themselves Wizards.