2 +Skill claws or HOTO/Spirit shield?

[rev129]

2 +Skill claws or HOTO/Spirit shield?

I'm working on my newest HC Trap Assassin and I'm at a decision point. My main Char is a lev 86Fishy Necro with 325%MF so that is how I have aquired the items I have thus far. Here is my CURRENT Lev64 Trapper Set Up.

Helm: "Lore" runeword
Amulet: +8Strength/+118 Mana Magic amu
Armor: +2 Skill runeword Assassin Armor
Weapon: 2x Bartuc claws
Belt: String Of Ears
Rings: 2 Rare Rings with Resist and Mana
Gloves: Sigons
Boots: Sigons

Skills:
DS/LS Maxed
Working on Maxing FB and the LS Senergies.
12 in SM
1 Point in the 1 Point wonder Skills.

My question is this. I have a HOTO and Spirit Shield. The main issue is the Strength Req of the Shield, 156 if I recall. My base Strength is at 80 so I to come up with almost 80 Strength if I wear the Shield. It is possibe and here is how.

My current Amulent gives 8.
I have 2 rare Lev66 rings that both give 20+ strength and nice resist so thats another 44 Strength for a total of 52. I also have a rare +8 Strength belt with some nice resist I can wear so my Strength req is meet. I can also help by finding/tradeing for a Bladebuckle belt and or Morrowwalk Boots. With the Hoto and Shield Ill be getting +5 to All skills and have a decent blocking rate rather if I just went with 2 claws. I also get some nice mods "OAK" from the HOTO that would not be possible with dual claws. What do you guys think? Would the "possibility" of shopping some +Skill claws from anya outweight the bennifits of the HOTO and Shield?

 

[the boss]

I'm working on my newest HC Trap Assassin and I'm at a decision point. My main Char is a lev 86Fishy Necro with 325%MF so that is how I have aquired the items I have thus far. Here is my CURRENT Lev64 Trapper Set Up.

Helm: "Lore" runeword
Amulet: +8Strength/+118 Mana Magic amu
Armor: +2 Skill runeword Assassin Armor
Weapon: 2x Bartuc claws
Belt: String Of Ears
Rings: 2 Rare Rings with Resist and Mana
Gloves: Sigons
Boots: Sigons

Skills:
DS/LS Maxed
Working on Maxing FB and the LS Senergies.
12 in SM
1 Point in the 1 Point wonder Skills.

My question is this. I have a HOTO and Spirit Shield. The main issue is the Strength Req of the Shield, 156 if I recall. My base Strength is at 80 so I to come up with almost 80 Strength if I wear the Shield. It is possibe and here is how.

My current Amulent gives 8.
I have 2 rare Lev66 rings that both give 20+ strength and nice resist so thats another 44 Strength for a total of 52. I also have a rare +8 Strength belt with some nice resist I can wear so my Strength req is meet. I can also help by finding/tradeing for a Bladebuckle belt and or Morrowwalk Boots. With the Hoto and Shield Ill be getting +5 to All skills and have a decent blocking rate rather if I just went with 2 claws. I also get some nice mods "OAK" from the HOTO that would not be possible with dual claws. What do you guys think? Would the "possibility" of shopping some +Skill claws from anya outweight the bennifits of the HOTO and Shield?

It totally depends on gear, and if you want to PUT POINTS in to Weapon Block. If you go with Weapon Block, then go with 2 +skills claw for trapping

 

[BIGeyedBUG]

The challenge with Spirit isn't merely STR, it's also DEX. The shield has no increased blocking, so take that into account when figuring out your stat investments.

I'd personally rather use the combo on a character that had more need for fast cast, and was a little more dangerous to use than a Trapper.

 

[whydirt]

Spirit does give +22 to Vitality though, so you're really only missing out on 60 stat points. Plus it gives at least 89 mana, so that could save you on other +mana items that could go to boosting Str or Life.

 

[Singollo]

this is hc and in hc your survival comes 1st. the spirit hoto set up will kill your blocking chances unless you get GA and a crafted safty ammy. and you cant run when using shild or you def and block are cut to hell.

with the c/c set up the weapon block keeps the same blocking % when running and it block magic attacks so this will kinda balance out the fact your max % of weapon block is 60ish % around lvl 25 or 26 iirc.

i do have experience with this and think the c/c set up is better and i belive your chances of survival are better.

 

[rev129]

thank you for all your replies. I decided to go with the Hoto/Spirit, the addational life I get from OAK was to hard to pass up. At Lev85 now, I have well over 2k in life. Strength really isn't much of an issue now that I've leveled up. Right now I'm looking at lev 36 traps and things are working out nicely. I can't believe how much more fun this Char is over my FishyNecro. CE on the Necro was nice but Lev 36DS just OWNES.

 

[OmegaHatred]

Can you use HOTO in one hand and, say, a Bartucs in the other...or is it only 2 claws for both hands?

 

[BIGeyedBUG]

To dual-wield, Assassins can only use claws.

 

[lorenzo]

this is hc and in hc your survival comes 1st. the spirit hoto set up will kill your blocking chances unless you get GA and a crafted safty ammy. and you cant run when using shild or you def and block are cut to hell.

with the c/c set up the weapon block keeps the same blocking % when running and it block magic attacks so this will kinda balance out the fact your max % of weapon block is 60ish % around lvl 25 or 26 iirc.

i do have experience with this and think the c/c set up is better and i belive your chances of survival are better.

Your right that c/c and weapon block will block normal attacks and some magic attacks, but keep in mind that as soon as you start running or walking(?) your block will drop to zero.... Has been widely researched and has been pointed out in a lot of guides that i've read.

 

[ilkori]

Your right that c/c and weapon block will block normal attacks and some magic attacks, but keep in mind that as soon as you start running or walking(?) your block will drop to zero.... Has been widely researched and has been pointed out in a lot of guides that i've read.

True, but also true of normal shields (yikes).

 

[rev129]

Your right that c/c and weapon block will block normal attacks and some magic attacks, but keep in mind that as soon as you start running or walking(?) your block will drop to zero.... Has been widely researched and has been pointed out in a lot of guides that i've read.

Yes, I don't get to close to melee monsters anyway but when I do I find it much safer to stand there and take the beating rather than try and run away. I am playing HC so that has taken some adjustment, your first reaction is to "run like the wind".