Did this sk epic 1.0 part this week. Made it from 31 to 37 on live while doing it, with a bard 2box and 2 tank mercs. Took me ~5h30 total over 4 sessions. The crusaders and spiritualists drop what you need. The best spot is the spiritualist pillar south of the island. His spawn rate seems a bit higher and I can confirm all 3 lizards around him can spawn a crusader (yes, the back one too) so I'd clear that area every ~13 minutes diligently and then go do more on the ramp/pyramids between respawns, hoping to get additional crusaders.
The 2 southern pyramids and the mobs on the ramp will also spawn crusaders but the rate is like 1 every 8 clearings or something like that, compared to the spiritualist who has like 1 in 4 and a bonus crusader sometimes. So not as good but better than nothing. They drop at least one piece with about a 25-50% chance to drop two.
The crusaders are about the same level as the judicars/heralds/zealots which mostly just spawn on the ramp and southern pyramids. Not sure if the northern 3 pyramids can spawn them as they seem to spawn lower level lizards in general. If you're like me and didn't have the firepower to keep everything down, focus on the spots I mentionned above for greater success but if you greatly outlevel the area I'd just torch everything up for good measure.
Oh and I noticed a lot of people saying helms are the rarest but I got like 4 of them before I got one of some other pieces so RNG gonna RNG. Personally I got Leftleg/helm/BP/visor/Rightleg/chainmail in than order. Bracers, helm and feet were the most common by far but I have seen like 1 glove.
Edited, Aug 29th 2023 8:12am by Goregasmic