hydra or grandmarton bow?
- Thread starter GraduisX
- Start date
BlushNine
Diabloii.Net Member
In general Amazon-only class specific bows are better to runeword for your Amazon due to 2 facts
However remember that Act1 Rogue mercenaries (and for that matter any class other than Amazons) can not use these class specific bows.
Before you make your Brand, have you looked at the Faith runeword? There is a reason why Faith is popular.
- They can come with up to +3 to Bow/Crossbow Skills that regular bows can not
- They have better damage than regular bows for their given speed
However remember that Act1 Rogue mercenaries (and for that matter any class other than Amazons) can not use these class specific bows.
Before you make your Brand, have you looked at the Faith runeword? There is a reason why Faith is popular.
CoolDarkDragon
Diabloii.Net Member
Though you gotta admit, the kb and chance for amp dmg arent too bad, since it'd let you break any phys immunes
MalVeauX
Diabloii.Net Member
Grand Matron for damage, it's base speed is [10] like a Hydra, yet has more damage. Clearly it's the better bow for the amazon (not a merc). Remember to look at average damage, not just max. The matron has higher max, but also has a higher average. At the same speed. It also has lower reqs than a Hydra. For a zon, there's no reason not to use the grand matron at this point compared to a hydra.
Matriarchal for speed, it's base [-10] speed means it's as fast as it gets for a base bow. It's average damage is good, even though the max damage doesn't seem nearly as high as other bows, but it's fast which makes up for that. Again, this is for an amazon, not a merc.
Note: these two amazon bows only get up to 5 sockets. This directly limits which runewords you can make (though not to a large extent if you think about it, but it is too bad you can't make a silence grand matron... I would in HC if it were possible!).
Of all the other bows:
The Ward Bow & Diamond Bow have the same average damage, though the Ward has higher Max damage. The Diamond has higher Min. But again, the average works out the same. Both are speed [0] and great for various runewords, harmony comes to mind.
But in terms of damage, speed, and reqs... if you're not using Amazon specific bows, the Crusader bow is great. In my opinion, there's zero reason to use the Hydra bow when you can use the Crusader bow for the same exact thing. They are the same speed, have the same average damage, but the Crusader has higher minimum damage which I would prefer over higher max damage. They have the same sockets even. The Crusader has way better requirements too. The Hydra bow is just... not worth using in my opinion, because the Crusader is frankly just better and does the same exact thing--this is only for normal bows though, not amazon-only bows (where the Grand Matron actually has higher damage on average).
Cheers,
Zon2000
Diabloii.Net Member
The % chance to amp is based on you getting HIT. Not a useful mod for a zon IMO.
Looks like a fun bow, though.
And +1 on everything MalVeauX said. :thumbsup:
crawlingdeadman
Diabloii.Net Member
brand goes in a matriarchal bow just like every other non faith rune word.
Alleria Windrunner
Diabloii.Net Member
Re: hydra or grandmarton bow?
Why all RW but faith go in a matri instead of a GMB ?
MrOzio
Banned
Re: hydra or grandmarton bow?
I submitt the following for inspection... Breath of the Dying in a Hydra (Since the lovely GMB cannot get the 6 socs required)
Noteable mods:
Up to 400% ED
60% IAS
-25% target def
7% ml
Up to 15% ll
+30 all attributes (holy bajeebus)
-20% req (which brings it to that of a GMB respectively)
I know we were talking about a Brand being made into one, but if you want ctc Amp Dmg, just slap on an Atma's Scarab.
Toss a Faith onto your Act1 merc and you've got yourself (imho) the best possible combo for a pure bowazon.
I submitt the following for inspection... Breath of the Dying in a Hydra (Since the lovely GMB cannot get the 6 socs required)
Noteable mods:
Up to 400% ED
60% IAS
-25% target def
7% ml
Up to 15% ll
+30 all attributes (holy bajeebus)
-20% req (which brings it to that of a GMB respectively)
I know we were talking about a Brand being made into one, but if you want ctc Amp Dmg, just slap on an Atma's Scarab.
Toss a Faith onto your Act1 merc and you've got yourself (imho) the best possible combo for a pure bowazon.
AnimeCraze
Diabloii.Net Member
Re: hydra or grandmarton bow?
If you are strafing, the strafe bug means you only need to go to 3 frame anyways, and 3 frame is enough to reach even with a GMB, so......
crawlingdeadman
Diabloii.Net Member
Re: hydra or grandmarton bow?
i wrote that when again?
i wrote that when again?
AnimeCraze
Diabloii.Net Member
Re: hydra or grandmarton bow?
Oh, what's up with the mass thread necroing recently in the forums?
Oh, what's up with the mass thread necroing recently in the forums?
thefranklin
Diabloii.Net Member
Re: hydra or grandmarton bow?
People complain when you don't use the search.
And when you do, people still complain. Haha.
I might want to try the faith/botd combo. Sounds like fun, but then why not put botd into crusader for the even lower reqs?
People complain when you don't use the search.
And when you do, people still complain. Haha.
I might want to try the faith/botd combo. Sounds like fun, but then why not put botd into crusader for the even lower reqs?
MrOzio
Banned
Re: hydra or grandmarton bow?
It is very fun. You can use a Crusader bow but I prefer the higher max dmg on the Hydra, personally.
NASE
Diabloii.Net Member
Re: hydra or grandmarton bow?
Now if you use the search function and you find your answer, it is possible that you find out some new question. In this case about the /2 strafe bug that has been discovered just 1 month ago.
We won't complain when you ask new question about new things.
P.S. the reason we often don't use gmb for non-faith bows is because other bow lack ias. You already have to stress your gear just to get up to 9 fpa with gmb. With some bows, it isn't even possible without making huge sacrifises.
A mat bow on the other hand will give you flexibility and will make your ias problems much less. 75 for 8 fpa really isn't a big problem if you can afford a non faith bow - harmony not counted.
Now, if you only want to use strafe and 9/3 is your target breakpoint, then gmb is certainly possible. The question is, do you want to multi at 10-ish fpa? I wouldn't.
The other thing to think about is using a faith merc. Then gmb is almost always the best choise. With the ias from faith, 8 fpa isn't hard to get and you can easy get to 8 fpa without making sacrifises.
We complain - complain is a very strong word if you ask me - when people ask the same questions that has been answered before lots of times. Then it easier for everyone to use the search function.
Now if you use the search function and you find your answer, it is possible that you find out some new question. In this case about the /2 strafe bug that has been discovered just 1 month ago.
We won't complain when you ask new question about new things.
P.S. the reason we often don't use gmb for non-faith bows is because other bow lack ias. You already have to stress your gear just to get up to 9 fpa with gmb. With some bows, it isn't even possible without making huge sacrifises.
A mat bow on the other hand will give you flexibility and will make your ias problems much less. 75 for 8 fpa really isn't a big problem if you can afford a non faith bow - harmony not counted.
Now, if you only want to use strafe and 9/3 is your target breakpoint, then gmb is certainly possible. The question is, do you want to multi at 10-ish fpa? I wouldn't.
The other thing to think about is using a faith merc. Then gmb is almost always the best choise. With the ias from faith, 8 fpa isn't hard to get and you can easy get to 8 fpa without making sacrifises.
Alleria Windrunner
Diabloii.Net Member
Re: hydra or grandmarton bow?
I'm a master of necromancy. :evil:
No, in fact, as I said, I decided to get on Diablo 2 again, and I'm leveling an amazone (lvl **).
But I'm looking for funnier / better ways to play amazone, so I look in the FAQ for what I could find, and when I find, questions come to my mind, so I ask them.
I'm a master of necromancy. :evil:
No, in fact, as I said, I decided to get on Diablo 2 again, and I'm leveling an amazone (lvl **).
But I'm looking for funnier / better ways to play amazone, so I look in the FAQ for what I could find, and when I find, questions come to my mind, so I ask them.
