Defensive Theatrics.

[Team Kaos]

Having quite a few Theatrics within my stables, a few of them defensive and a couple with very unorthodox builds, it always seems for a defensive that it boils down to whether they can handle the 2H wielding War and it's DFA skill. Unlike the Rage with its Rampage that can do glorious damage, its a bit easier to defend against a Rage. DFA is amazingly difficult to avoid for the defensive Theatric. A Theatric can tire out and bleed a Rage while rope a doping during the match.
The War usually has stamina to spare and doesn't tire as fast and the heavy armor can withstand softer parry attacks reducing blood loss substantially.

Axes and Maces will penetrate the heavy armour a bit better but again a few DFA and its over. This weapon choice also limits the Theatrics against other faster builds defensively. I have seen some success by making an aimed attempt at knocking the 2H weapon from its hands. With a little luck the war either goes weaponless or picks up an unskilled weapon.

As with every build in the game, there is always another that can counter it, but by countering a specific build you open the fighter to be at a disadvantage vs 1 or more other builds.

A defensive Theatric skilled with the following can be highly effective against DFA
Aimed Blow
Sig Move
Crowd Pleaser
Armor Movement
Strngth of Crowd
Hamstring
Surprise Ending and reaching into the Rage tree for Barreling Attack. DFA doesnt seem to trigger much when the war is rolling around on the ground.

Again, its not always wise to build against a specific build, yes you may win the majority of bouts against that specific build but the result is not always the best overall when having to fight all the others builds.