putting a tier 4 focus gem on a greataxe is a very nice combo for LS as it gives you a great melee weapon, Some CC for your mages, and a Dash to escape CC or get out of range of melee.
Ice Gaunt will give you a Iceblock and some slows but no damage.
A focus gem in a Hammer will give you some 1v1 lockdown with some Decent attack damage.
and A gem in a S/S will give you either a super tanky build standing in your heals or a buff of 10% dmg to your crew after you throw your heals.
For solo I recomend a Gaxe with a gem, you are virtually unkillable 1v1 in your heals and nobody can trade with you in melee when you stand in them. Your issue as a LS user is going to be ranged and a Gaxe can help you close some distance and hit them. Bloodlust will keep you on them if you get ahead in damage.
Currently pairing my LifeStaff with a rapier. right hand side of the rapier tree more build for escape moves. works out pretty good. and if you ever get connected you can Fleche out through enemies.
Then I just add a nature gem on my rapier. this helps with the PvE content.
I think you should wait till they balance out the weapons and armor factor. Some weapons and armor are too OP at the moment. Seen a heavy armor with a 2 handed weapon with a life staff and he was just OP. Currently, I feel heavy armor and 2 handed are OP.
Currently, I’m a full healer using Life Staff as my main, and my secondary is Rapier. So I am using Focus and Dex as my main stats. However, I’m starting to have second thoughts on having my secondary with the sword and shield.
I also made an alt and did a Life Staff and Ice Gauntlet and been enjoying that combination.
The hatchet which everyone says to do was boring to me.