Varkos Headsplitter: Should You Chase Him on X2 Ancient Shards?
Varkos Headsplitter is a pull worth understanding before you go all in
A fresh Ancient Shards event always tempts players to spend hard, but the smartest approach is to judge the champion first, not the banner. Varkos Headsplitter has emerged as a damage-focused Dark Elf legendary with a kit built around retaliation, ally attacks, and punishing enemies that rely on protection effects. That makes him far more than a simple arena nuke. He is the kind of champion that can swing a fight when built for damage and supported by the right turn-meter or buff engine.
What makes Varkos interesting is his ability to capitalize on chaos. Champions that join attacks or trigger counterattacks often scale better than they look on paper, because every extra hit increases pressure, procs masteries, and can force awkward enemy openings. In PvP, that means he can threaten protected targets and help finish off key enemies who thought they were safe. In general PvE, that same profile gives him value in waves, Doom Tower-style encounters, and certain boss setups where extra attack frequency matters.
Where he fits best
For endgame players, Varkos is the type of legendary that can justify serious shard spending if your account already has the support pieces to let him shine. If you own strong enablers for ally attacks, speed tuning, or retaliation-style builds, he becomes much more attractive.
For midgame players, the question is more nuanced. He is not the kind of champion that instantly fixes account progression on his own. If your roster still lacks core control, survivability, or reliable boss debuffs, your Ancient Shards are usually better saved for broader account power.
For free-to-play players, this is a classic “want versus need” situation. A flashy damage dealer can be exciting, but F2P accounts usually grow faster by targeting utility first: speed leads, healers, revivers, Decrease DEF, and proven dungeon specialists. Varkos is a premium luxury, not a foundational requirement.
Build priorities
If you pull him, prioritize:
- 100% Crit Rate
- High Crit Damage
- Strong ATK/DEF scaling, depending on his exact damage profile
- Enough Speed to take turns before the enemy collapses your setup
- Accuracy only if your version of the build needs debuffs to land consistently
He also benefits from sets and blessings that reward frequent hits or punish enemies for taking turns. In arena-style play, pair him with strip, buff, or protection removal support so his damage lands cleanly.
The real verdict
If you love aggressive Dark Elf damage dealers and your account can support an advanced attacker, Varkos is a legitimate chase. If your roster still needs basics, skip the emotion and protect your shards. In Raid, the best pull is rarely the most hyped one — it is the one that upgrades your account the most.