Best Infinity Merc set up?

[slam]

Best Infinity Merc set up?

I have a pretty high level Lightning Sorc, but haven't put much thought into her Merc until now.

He's a Holy Freeze merc, and I'm going to give him an Infinity.

I have the exact set up narrowed down to three options:

Option 1:
Ethereal Cryptic Axe Infinity
Fortitiude
Andariel's (40% ED/15% IAS Jewel)
= 7 FPA

Option 2:
Ethereal Great Poleaxe Infinity
Fortitiude
Andariel's (40% ED/15 Max Damage Jewel)
= 7 FPA

Option 3:
Ethereal Great Poleaxe Infinity
Treachery
Andariel's (40% ED/15 Max Damage Jewel)
= 6 FPA

What would give me the most damage per second?

 

[KremBanan]

Re: Best Infinity Merc set up?

40ed/15max is bugged when putting it in helm/armor (and shield). So dont go wasting one.

 

[krischan]

Re: Best Infinity Merc set up?

I would go for option 3, but with a fire res/something jewel or just a Ral rune.

 

[PeateyK]

Re: Best Infinity Merc set up?

fortitude = +300%ED (along with other +%ED modifiers like STR)
going from 7fpa to 6fpa = +17% total dmg

Short answer: fortitude wins. Dunno about +15dmg or +15%ias jewels (if you care so much about ias, why not use Thresher?).

Only way 6fpa-no-fortitude wins over fortitude is if merc already has +1800%ED. Then, +300%ED is equivalent to +17% total dmg. More than +1800%ED, then 6fpa has more dmg.

 

[slam]

Re: Best Infinity Merc set up?

Why option 3 krischan?

How is a 40ED/15Max jewel bugged in armor?

PeateyK - I really need to see things in my spreadsheets before I believe them hehe. Keep in mind that the base damage on Cryptic Axe is higher than a Great Poleaxe, so even if you rule out Option 3, I'd still need to do the math to decide between option 1 and 2. And Max damage is calculated as on weapon damage, so it impacts things more than Fortitiude's off weapon damage....

yeah, i really just need to put this in a spreadsheet

 

[KremBanan]

Re: Best Infinity Merc set up?

I dont remember the exact, but something like: When putting an ed/max jewel in anything but a weapon, the max dam is calculated of the ed.

Or something like that..

 

[krischan]

Re: Best Infinity Merc set up?

The job of the merc is previding the aura and survival, not killing enemies and IMO he already deals enough damage to leech enough. 45%IAS ensures that he attacks and thus leeches in a quick succession and when fade triggers, his resists are maxed as well. However, if Infinity doesn't break lightning immunity, the sorc cannot deal significant damage, even when having lots of -res gear herself, e.g. from facets and Griffon's. It depends a bit on which enemies you are fighting. If you are in a party, let the others kill the unbreakable LIs, else it's the job of your merc and in that case Fortitude will be better.

Jewels only add their %ed to minimum damage when they have +maxdmg (or to maxdmg if they have +mindmg) when added to an armor, helm or shield. Andy's has -30 fire res and fire is the #1 merc killer because they are so stupid. As said, survival is the key. The effect of %ed on the helm will be particularly low when already wearing Fortitude. With let's say 220 str, it will turn 520% off-weapon into 560% which is not as useful as countering the fire res penalty.

BTW, the lightning res penalty from Infinity will only help the merc while the conviction aura will help everybody.

 

[slam]

Re: Best Infinity Merc set up?

I disagree that the merc can't also have the purpose of killing enemies - I have a Gold Find Leaping Barb to prove that, but I agree with all your other points. I will be playing solo enough to warrant having the merc do as much damage as possible to kill Lightning Immunes.

Alright, it will be.... drum roll.....

Ethereal Andariel’s Visage (30% Fire Resist/15% IAS Jewel)
Infinity Ethereal Cryptic Axe
Fortitude Ethereal bugged Archon Plate

Thanks for your input!