Avenger question...

[Fallen_62]

Avenger question...

How much is 20 points in Holy Shield needed...? After 10 points, the blocking bonus drops off a lot, and I will probably have enough +skills to get it to 15-20 anyway. I am basing a build off of this guide, but instead of doing exactly as he suggest, I was going to do this:

20 Vengeance
20 Conviction
10 Resist Light, Fire, Cold, HS, and Sanctuary
1 pt in Meditation and Redemption
1 pt into prereqs

Ends up being 107 points... This way gives you just a bit more damage from your Vengeance attack while still having the protection from HS and stuff... Is that a good idea, or should I go 20 pts into HS and 1 into Sanctuary...?

 

[Bjam]

Re: Avenger question...

Neither! I'd do 10 pts into HS and 1 into Sanctuary and spend the rest in resist lightning for serious gloam defense, more damage, and in case you ever want to try a dual dream setup.

 

[Fallen_62]

Re: Avenger question...

OK, thanks. I was wondering if anyone was ever going to answer my question Does anyone else have any opinions on this...?

 

[Luthor]

Re: Avenger question...

I went for 20 in each of the resistance auras and only 2 pts in HS. I'd consider dropping your HS to 1, then putting all the points you can into resist lightning, for exactly the same reason stated by Bjam. I really hate Gloams. Depending on your final gear setup, you can probably get away with only 15 or so pts in Conviction(I've gone for 17). The ideal level for Conviction is 25, so anything over that is a waste.

 

[lumpor]

Re: Avenger question...

I would only put 1 point in hs. All your gear and charms will be leaning toward combat skills anyway, so HS will already have met its diminishing returns, and this build is very skill-intensive too. I would max vengeance, and the resist auras, get a lvl 25 conviction after +skills, put 1 point in prayer and cleansing. Then I would get a scepter with holy shield, vigor and redemption and have it on switch, just to save skill points. If I'd be really lucky it would be a war/divine scepter or a caduceus so I could make call to arms in it. Then, I'd put the rest of my points into salvation. A bit hard, but I want my vengeance to be as synergized as it can be

 

[Fallen_62]

Re: Avenger question...

So, if I am understanding correctly, It should be something like this...

20 In Venge
20 in Resist Lightning
17-18 in Conviction (with +skills to 25)
15 in Resist Fire and Cold
1 in Prereqs, HS, Prayer, Cleansing, Vigor, Meditation

comes out to 104-105 points and a lot more damage Is that setup a little better and more "efficient" I guess you would say...?

 

[lumpor]

Re: Avenger question...

Well, if you can afford some +combat skills gear, it would imo be much better than putting more than 1 point in holy shield. At least if you're playing softcore. Even if you can't afford good gear now, you probably will later, and in that case your points in holy shield won't do much. It depends on which attitude you have. If you're a "well, as long as it can solo hell without too much difficulty, that's fine for me"-person then sink a few early points is HS. If you're a "I want my character to be perfect. I want it to reach its max potential. Even if I have to to struggle in the beginning just to be a tiny bit better at the end I think it's worth it"-person (like I am), then I would follow my plan.

Well, the theoretical maximum would be getting a mace with +to salvation, vigor and holy shield and save 8 points that way, but that may be pushing it a bit too far. Well, of course you can remake whenever you wish too.
Oh, and it would also be good if you have your resist auras in even numbers at the end, since only every second point gives a passive max resist boosts. So 16 fire res and 14 cold res might be better

 

[Fallen_62]

Re: Avenger question...

I'm definitely the 2nd kind of person And thanks for all the help and info... So, the skills I have listed would be good, other than switching to a 16 fire, 14 cold ...? How hard would it be to find one of those nice maces? Seems pretty expensive and rare

And what about gear...? I don'[t have a HoZ ATM, so I'm working on getting an SS to tide me over til then. I have an Alma Negra shield that I can use for later for +skills, but is there anything else I can use as a shield that will work well...? I am also looking at doing a 7/7/20 Vamp gaze, Guardian Angel, Baranar's, Dual Leech ring, 216/16 Ravenfrost, Waterwalks or Sandstorm Treks, Soul Drainers, 8/15 SoE, and Crescent Moon (11% ML/5% LL). Should I be looking for different gear (I now see I will have a ton of leech, don't know if I need that much...) I will be switching out Vamp Gaze for an Andy's Visage when I get that far... But, other than that, what should I be looking for...? HoZ for sure, but anything else? I'm not too rich, all that gear I have found myself, and it doesn't seem to be easy for me to trade the other stuff I find...

 

[lumpor]

Re: Avenger question...

Yeah, it does, especially a war scepter with +3 to those and 5 sockets. But if you go to drognan once in a while you should be able to find one with at least holy shield and salvation. Doesn't really matter if they're +1 or +3. Vigor can also be obtained from tearhaunch. It's also quite easy to find one if you make games until the lut gholein exit spawns right beside drognan

Oh, I forgot the phoenix runeword. You can use that and get a scepter with +to vigor, holy shield, and either meditation (still have to allocate 2 points but you can regen mana inbetween battles) or cleansing (save another 2 points). Although that weakens your call to arms skills... Still, if you're an offensive person...

 

[Fallen_62]

Re: Avenger question...

Yeah, it does, especially a war scepter with +3 to those and 5 sockets. But if you go to drognan once in a while you should be able to find one with at least holy shield and salvation. Doesn't really matter if they're +1 or +3. Vigor can also be obtained from tearhaunch. It's also quite easy to find one if you make games until the lut gholein exit spawns right beside drognan

Oh, I forgot the phoenix runeword. You can use that and get a scepter with +to vigor, holy shield, and either meditation (still have to allocate 2 points but you can regen mana inbetween battles) or cleansing (save another 2 points). Although that weakens your call to arms skills... Still, if you're an offensive person...

That would be insanely expensive for me right now Any moderate to slightly expensive solutions for gear?

 

[lumpor]

Re: Avenger question...

Well, super-cheap would be a rusthandle. A popular not-too expensive weapon is etheral oath. An ormus robe with like +3 to warmth or inferno or some other crappy skill can be bought cheaply too I think.

Insight on the merc is good too.

Bah, I'm not good at cheap equipment options

 

[Fallen_62]

Re: Avenger question...

I've already had and surpassed a rusthandle I have ormus robes already, but i have guardian angel too... I'm looking for advice more on the shield, boots, gloves, amulet, and helm. Are those good choices (until I can get the "proper" gear (SS and Andy's))?

 

[lumpor]

Re: Avenger question...

Hmm, for boots, either wartravs or gores. If you didn't know, +damage (not percentual) on the weapon doesn't get "elementalized", while percentual ed does give boosts to the elemental damage. On off-weapon equipment, non-percentual damage boosts the elemental damage while percentual does not. Therefore, I think war travellers are better than gores.

The rest depends on breakpoints. Try to reach the 9-frame or 8 frame breakpoint. Then focus on leech and resist and maybe damage reduction, since it's quite hard to use gear to boost your damage. min/max damage jewels are probably the best way to increase damage. A cham in your armor/helm may give you space for another SoJ. You'll need the mana

Oh, and you'll have to max your resists. Otherwise the max resist bonuses you get from your aura synergies will be in vain

 

[Luthor]

Re: Avenger question...

Hmm, for boots, either wartravs or gores. If you didn't know, +damage (not percentual) on the weapon doesn't get "elementalized", while percentual ed does give boosts to the elemental damage. On off-weapon equipment, non-percentual damage boosts the elemental damage while percentual does not. Therefore, I think war travellers are better than gores.

I thought +damage (not percent) on the weapon did get "elementalized", otherwise Grief would be no good for an Avenger.

 

[lumpor]

Re: Avenger question...

No, +damage doesn't. Therefore grief is quite bad for an avenger. Botd in an etheral berzerker axe on the other hand, still brings lots of power while still being able to reach the 8 frame breakpoint with LoH/lavagouts, highlords/cats eye and 45% ias from your shield, helm, belt and armor

 

[Luthor]

Re: Avenger question...

Grief is actually terrible then. I make eBotDz to be 5000-5500 average total damage "Last Wish" Berzerker Axe is 3500-3900, and the best 1 handed Unique is Nords Tenderizer I think which is around 2600 damage.

 

[Spinns]

Re: Avenger question...

Doom is a great option since it lowers cold resistance further plus the holy freeze aura compensates for not having a high attack speed and can reach the 9 frame mark pretty easily getting 8 frames is a lot harder since you would need 110 ias extra so gloves 20, ammy 20, belt 20, get a 120/45 helm and socket a hoz with a 40/15

Not really worth the extra frame but the holy freeze more than maxes up for it IMO

 

[lumpor]

Re: Avenger question...

Hf merc works too. Might is usually if you want leech