FRICTION
ATHENA THE GLADIATOR BUILD
Last updated on August 31st, 2025
FRICTION
Level 50
Melee • Survivability
PLAYSTYLE
Athena is a powerful character who can take different routes, and melee is one of them. This Greek gun-wielding Goddess is blessed with a very strong action skill that can take damage in, and throw it back, while also using her sword to deal tons of melee damage. With this build, we’ll be capitalizing on her melee potential, and improve her survivability as well.
Your game plan is pretty simple. You want to activate the Aspis to absorb damage and throw it back to activate multiple abilities to impact multiple targets. After that, you want to jump in and do tons of melee damage, which will boost your speed and regenerate your health. Any gun damage dealt to enemies will also boost your melee damage. So anytime you shoot an enemy, follow up with a melee attack to maximize damage.
SOLO
At level 50, this is a good build for Athena, making her an offense-heavy melee character who can do more than just swing a sword. You’ll want to move around a lot, and do tons of melee damage while your Aspis charges, and even shooting a few rounds into enemies will ensure that your melee is boosted. After the Aspis is charged, just absorb damage, and throw it to activate even more bonuses.
COOP
Athena can hold her ground, provide healing to the entire team while her Aspis is charged, and target multiple enemies when her Aspis is thrown, making her a great damage dealer for the rest of the team to capitalize on. Any support provided to her while she’s up close and personal is appreciated, but in most cases, she can hold her ground, and regain health from bleeding enemies as well.
GEARS
Slot 1: Excalibastard
Slot 2: Fridgia
Slot 3: Miss Moxxi’s Probe
Slot 4: The Nukem
Grenade: Storm Front
Shield: Shooting Star
MOD: Vicious Blademaster
OZ Kit: Acrobat Oz Kit
SKILLS
Shooting enemies allows Athena to do increased melee damage while killing enemies boosts her movement speed and damage resistance.
Clarity of Purpose directly increases her melee damage by over 25% and her max health by 15%. While Aspis is active, Athena and the team regenerate health, while Bloodlust regenerates her health for each bleeding enemy.
Return Fire has a chance for incoming projectiles to be thrown back while Aspis is active.
