Re: Buriza vs WWs
Firefox is annoying me a lot tonight. I had a detailed post written up comparing the two, but the stupid browser had an error and closed.
I'll rewrite the gist of it.
Buriza: I think this can do quite a lot more damage than a WWS if you build your zon for it and use the right equipment and stat layout. If combined with a "Lawbringer"/Reaper's Toll Merc, this would do even more brutal damage. If you can include an Atma's Scarab in your equipment, you will do crazy damage.
WWS: This offers a lot of power, equipment flexibility, resists, and Amp/PI solutions. All-in-one bow right here.
If you choose a high-damage Burizon, consider some of the following posts I've written about a Strafer Burizon (not exactly the same as the famed/hated Burizon of old):
http://forums.diabloii.net/showpost.php?p=6051155&postcount=12
http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=604776&highlight=Buriza
Tips for Buriza:
1. Buriza's cold damage and freezing are part of its crowd control. If you combine this with more cold charms and Slow on something like Nosferatu's Coil = messed up enemies who die painfully.
2. Since it shoots slower with Strafe or Multishot, make each and every shot count more (i.e., make it more damaging and deadly). Focus on max and min damage. You're going to really like a Might Merc with this crossbow.
3. Remember by using Buriza you have 100% Pierce automatically. No need for Razortail, and this allows you to use a wide variety of belts that complement your setup or design.
4. An upped Buriza can be worth it, so long as you plan for it. See above posts. It will do quite a lot more damage if upped, but you will need the Str to use it.
5. Did I mention that the IK set pieces, Nosferatu's Coil, Giant Skull, Andy's Visage, etc. work really well with a Burizon? Cough, cough. They all grant massive amounts of +Str and benefits for the build. Make those Str worries go away. I don't think it's a legitimate criticism that Buriza requires too much Strength when or if you can get these items.
If you choose a Witchyzon, you should check out this guide:
http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=240912
Having made a Witchyzon, I learned some important things to take her from mediocre to excellent:
1. 100% Pierce. High pierce = more chances to proc Amp + hit enemies with your stinging arrows.
2. 20-30% Crushing Blow in your rig total. With Strafe, this means enemies can be hit 1-3 times by CB in quick succession and get their life chewed up fast.
In fact, WWS is perfect for this:
(a) WWS can reach 8/2 or 9/2 Strafe with the right equipment. Fast Strafe = lots of opportunities for Amping + CB.
(b) WWS's Amp covers a large enough area to curse a pack or packs of monsters, which allows monsters to be ready to receive a lot of Deadly Strike and Crushing Blow in their faces.
(c) High DS means that succeeding arrows will kill off monsters after CB has weakened them.
(d) You should wear Razortail, so you have 100% Pierce, which means a lot more chances for Amping and CBing enemies. You will kill much faster this way. The difference between 85% Pierce and 100% Pierce on kill speed with WWS is large and noticeable.
3. Wear Laying of Hands. Best gloves for this build, IMO. 350% off-weapon ED to demons. It's like wearing a "Fortitude" armor on your hands against demons, and there are a lot of demons in this game.
4. Stockpile a lot of +max and +min damage charms. Best ones you can get. Because of WWS's Deadly Strike and Amp, a Witchyzon can squeeze a lot more out of these than most Bowazons do. Also, Razortail is wonderful on this build because it offers a lot of +dex and +10 max damage (like a +max damage GC). Remember that WWS's DS scales with level, so by Level 80-85, you can look at most of your attacks doing double damage, and Amp will further enhance those shots.
5. Go for high Dex, as much as reasonably possible, because WWS once again makes the Dex investment quite worth it for the same reasons as the +min and +max damage charms.
On my Witchyzon, I had over 500+ Dex and she was capable of reaching around theoretically 4-6K max damage once Might, DS, and Amp were factored in. It is possible to build a Dexazon (all Dexterity) Witchyzon, although I did not have that opportunity.
Other bows you may not want to overlook are Eaglehorn the Crusader Bow and a "Harmony" made in an elite bow, like a Matriarchal Bow. Much of what I mentioned above also applies to a Strafer built around these bows, although modify as needed (such as including Atma's Scarab for Amp).
