Magic find sorceress

[Wolfedude]

Magic find sorceress

Finally got my FO sorc up to level 50 and in act 3. My goal is to first drop Meph for a while with her to try and build up a bit of an inventory of items for my other characters. I have used the "cheap" build guide on the sorceress forum and done a lot of perfect gem trading to get to this point with her:
Life; 520
Dex; not sure but am trying to trade for a Whitstans and have pumped it a bit to try for a high blocking %

Weapon; Spectral Shard
Circlet: +1 skills, +26 mana (gonna try and trade for a Tarn
Armor; 100 defense rare with small resists
Boots; dual high resists
Rings; 2 fast cast with resists
Ammy; +1 colds skills with some resists and mana
Shield; Rare with 35% blocking and resists
Gloves: Bloodfist for the added life and 30% faster recovery

Now my magic find % is 0 but I am hoping after a few runs to be able to trade for a better shield (Whitstans), Tarn for more magic find, 3 open socket armor in which I will place 3 topazes. I should be able to run eventually with 75% blocking, maxed resists, 70% FCR, fairly low transporting cost; Shiver armor, Energy Shield. Probably won't start my runs until I get a Whitstans.

I will also add some charms to hopefully get my life up to about 600 and increase my mana pool.

What do you guys think? Am I doing all I can do right now with what I have to play with? Any suggestions besides getting better equipment? I do have a perfect String and a Lem and a Lum runewise if you think I should trade for the other items before starting?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[WrongdayJ]

I like to equip my Act II Might or Holy Freeze Merc with:

The Meat Scraper, 4 socketed armor (P'topazed) and three socketed helm (also P'Topazed). That puts him at approx. 200+% or so by himself.

Then for my equipment:

A Rhyme shield and a Gull Dagger on the switch puts you easily over 325% total (you and the merc). Just let him get the kill strike and there you are. No fancy equipment necessary.

If you want more MF there are plenty of options in the Uniques: Skullders Ire Armor, StealSkull Helm, GoldWrap Belt, Chance Guard Gloves, and of course there are also rare rings/ammy's that can provide you with gobs of MF.

But really though, unless you plan on doing thousands and thousands of MF runs. . .the 300% level is about all you really need to really start seeing some descent drops. Personally. . .I roll with about 500% if I'm really hunting a specific unique.

 

[wangboBW]

If you keep the pgems you find, you should be able to trade them in for a wizardspike/whistans guard by now. It won't be too cheap, but I think about 30 pgems can get you a wizardspike on east. It should help a lot. I wouldn't go into hell before getting wizardspike/whistan.

I still think that your life is a little bit low. If you can, after you get to lvl 70 or so. NM cows a while and keep all the life charms so that you only have 2x4 room to pick up. My untwinked sorceress had around 900-1k life before going into hell. Hope that helps!

 

[STINGER]

Circlet isnt bad, but you get 38 life from a Ruby, 38 mana from Saph and 24% MF from a Topaz in a helm, you could easily go 38/38/24% in a 3 sock helm and be better off than your circlet. +1 isnt going to matter than much.

If resists arent max or damn close just dump that shield for a PGem one to max out resists. I never add Dex that I dont need until I get the shield i need to finish the game with, i pump Vita. You can easily get your Dex covered later in the game than trying to invest it in the 30-55 lvl area. Most your standard sorc stuff is going to give you a little anyway and its much easier trying to live wiht max life possible and no block than alot lower life and half *** block.

Ammy.....are the resisits good? are we talking really small or nice? If they are weak, then you might change something here also. You can try and craft the Prismatic ones with your cube.

6 Perfect Gems (1 of each type) + 1 Amulet (Magic) = Prismatic Amulet
Use this formula to create an Amulet with Resistance to all. ilvl = 50. The amulet will always have the Prismatic prefix (All Resistances +16-20) and has a chance at getting a suffix as well.

The Lem rune might trade for a good deal of stuff. If you can get a Wizzy with 30 gems or so then you could probably get alot more with the LEM. Might land Wizzy/Whitstans/Tals belt (imperfect one but still rocking on a sorc). Not sure what it would take to get a Viper, but if you find the right person you might get it also if you add in gems.

I personally love Lums for Smoke armor, this is another avenue you could consider. +50 Priz on your armor can go a long way to suring up your resists and allowing you to change other things to add MF like maybe a full helm of Topaz.

Anyway.....make the changes you need to be safe and get some MF in there "safely", i am sure that Meph will give you a bunch of stuff you need in a short amount of time.

Alibaba + Rhyme shield on switch for final blow is a nice way to add MF and be safe until the last blow.

 

[Wolfedude]

At this point I am only going to try and run nm Meph. I know about the wizzy and hope to have 1 before I go to hell. As for the other equipment it is the reason that I am trying to run nm Meph. Just don't have it yet.

 

[STINGER]

........................................

 

[MoUsE_WiZ]

Run NM baal, not NM meph.

Get exp up to 78-79 (or if you get lucky drops, lower).

Your merc needs to be fairly high level anways otherwise he'll be missing and getting hit too much.

NM Baal has a chance to drop wizzy/shako, NM Meph does not. You also get a LOT more gems&charms doing baals than mephs.

Anywho:
-Smoke with the Lum. No question. Easiest place to get resists.
-Shard+2x FCR resist rings makes sense... other options include shard+mage then 2x bahamut's rings, or chanceguards over bloodfist (that's what I do... meph runs aren't TOO dangerous >.>)
-Your hat is quite awful, skills are about the last thing to look for... rockstopper with a saphirre or ruby or topaz, or as Sting mentioned, just a 3os with 3 pgems in whatever you're lacking... or ral/tal/ort/thul if you need a specific resist. Rockstoppers are fairly cheap.
-The amulet sounds reasonable
-Whistan's is good. I prefer upped mosers because the transition from upped mosers to SS when it drops is fairly smooth as they require similar str(100 vs 126) and dex (65% vs 67%), but if you plan to never use SS even if you find it then Whistan's is the better choice.
-boots sound reasonable
-you didn't list a belt, I'd suggest goldwrap

For MF, ~60% from gear (chance + goldwrap, or goldwrap+a topaz in the helm) is plenty. From there maybe try trading the lem for a lowish gheeds to make it ~80%, then you'll want either a mosers or rhyme on switch (if mosers don't bother upping it imo) with a gull or ali baba to make it close to 200%, and that's plenty. Which shield you pick is based on keeping your resists up... the block is kind of meaningless, so if you switch and your resists drop a ton go with mosers, if they're still fairly high when you switch go with rhyme for added mf. The reason I say block is pretty meaningless is that there shouldn't be anything to block except maybe his big ball o death when you hit "w" and you should be able to live through that anyways. Dimishing returns on uniques kicks in pretty hard past that point so without very nice gear it's really not worth it to go higher... it's still worth it for finding set items, but the set items that meph drops aren't worth a ton (compared to, say, tal's armour) so that's kind of moot.

 

[Perceval]

Wizzy ain't that highly priced. I got mine on Europe for a Horadrim glove (those lvl 9 gloves with +40 life), he seemed in a rush and i felt lucky. The Wizzy is already socketed with a -15%req jewel but eh, who cares i'm just starting. But i'm pretty sure you could get for a few PGEMS.
Wizzy + Whistant (Pdiam) or Moser(2diam) should cover you resists in NM or almost.
Try gambling between lvl 25 and 45 for rare boots and gloves. They tend to give 20+% MF and resists. I got some 21% Res all and 20%res lightning gloves, and fire res and 23%MF boots or so. They shouldn't be to expensive to get.
Like STINGER said, the prismatic amulet is really helpfull if you need the resists.
I tend no to go all MF at the beginning, rather make 1000 runs with 100%MF than 50 with 300% and Deeds.

As for MF%, 250%MF is optimal for uniques, 500% is for sets. Don't remember where i read this.

By the way, i'm making my sorc as SOCIALISM guide for HC TK/ORB sorc. And i'm planning on running NM Andy and Meph for a while.
What build, and stats you guys recommend before MF at NM baal?

 

[MoUsE_WiZ]

As for MF%, 250%MF is optimal for uniques, 500% is for sets. Don't remember where i read this.

There is no "optimal"... 500>250 for uniques too. It's just that diminishing returns gets pretty bad.

EG 200% mf = 111% better chance to find unique
300% = 136%
500% = 166%

And yeah, a 50% increase is noticable *IF* you have the gear to support it, but like you said, 1000 with 100 than 50 with 300.

By the way, i'm making my sorc as SOCIALISM guide for HC TK/ORB sorc. And i'm planning on running NM Andy and Meph for a while.
What build, and stats you guys recommend before MF at NM baal?

His guide is for a sorc fairly similar to the build I always build.
I've never, ever, ever done NM Andy or NM Meph runs. If you can kill NM meph safely you can kill NM baal too. (and I run norm baal over nm andy for same reasons I run nm baal over nm meph)

 

[STINGER]

Not sure NM Andy is really worth it unless you just spend a little time doing some first drop runs on him. i do beleive that NM Andy is the first good chance at that one Unique ring many like.....Oak and like Light absorb IIRC. But even with that NM Andy isnt worth repeat running, I would stick to Meph and Baal and maybe hit Andy just to help insure you dont make too many games too fast if you think you need it. Now in Hell.....Meph/Pindle/Andy every run is the way I go and it pays well.

Do whatever floats your boat.......hell sometimes i just run around smoking random Uniques if boss drops are bad and at times it pays off.

 

[Perceval]

Ok thanks for the advices. A few more questions :
1)What level you think i could start NM Baal at? 65? 70?
2)What do you need to Teleport "safely" to the throne?
3)What merc do you advice ? Act5 for tanking or Act2 (def or regen) ? And what kind of gear would he need to stand a chance against baal mimions?
It's been a long time since i last played, and i usually do normal baal, nm andy and nm meph to first get some items. But i think i'll try nm baal this season, at least after a few normal baals to get the hang of it. Sorce is near to level 30 so i still have some time to plan this out.

 

[MrKaxe]

3)What merc do you advice ? Act5 for tanking or Act2 (def or regen) ? And

I have been experimenting with Prayer mercs recently as opposed to HF and i love the regen rate; if i'm hit by a stray projectile, by the time it takes me to hover over the bulb and see how much damage it did number-wise and move back it has been regenerated...sweet...he's badly equipped (i'm in the same position as you running NM Meph for a bit before moving on) with a rubbish rare circlet, Boneflesh and Insight in an eth Halberd (only alvl 13) but he doesn't die...HF is the ultimate safety but if you feel like it (and use Insight) then give Prayer a whirl!

 

[Wolfedude]

I am using nightsmoke for a belt and am using a defiant merc. I now have the Whitstans socketed with a perfect diamond and have maxed resists except poison which is about 61%. I figure I will try running normal meph a few times first just to get the teleporting down. With charms from some other characters I can get the sorc life up to about 600 and will try for a bit more mana.

 

[pbcoco]

When teleporting, hold down "Alt". This counter-act the mouse from clicking on chests and other thing. This way you will keep teleporting when your mouse hit the chest.

 

[MoUsE_WiZ]

Ok thanks for the advices. A few more questions :
1)What level you think i could start NM Baal at? 65? 70?

Maxed resists for NM, maxed block, ~500 life, go. Insight&Spirit have trivialized starting sorcs.

I started at around 50 this season I think, it's more a gear thing than a level thing. Basically I did NM countess from ~33-48 or so (which is when I got my insight+spirit finally >.>) with a few norm baals mixed in, then went zoom zoom through all of NM because that's what orb is designed for, then baaled.

3)What merc do you advice ? Act5 for tanking or Act2 (def or regen) ? And what kind of gear would he need to stand a chance against baal mimions?

Which merc? A2 for sure... just a better weapon selection, Insight for until you get your mana up and port cost down, Reapers for the ultimate in tanking technology (with better dmg than law bringer by a wide margin). Which A2 is another question... Defiance is more for when you have good gear already (eg SS, upped viper, tgods, etc) because 2x0=0. It's awesome when you've got like 3k def, but if you've only got 500 it's kind of a joke. Holy Freeze lets your merc slow CIs, Might lets your merc kill CIs faster... either one is a good choice.

As for gear, any insight should do enough damage to kill NM CIs, Bills being fairly standard. From there, any LL you can get, any resists you can get. A circlet with LL and a 3s armour with thulortral or something would even be fine for NM baals... his actual survival is determined more by level than gear, if he's low level he hits less so he leeches less, plus he's hit more so he takes more damage. You'll be resing him a lot early on, by the early 70s he should be surviving runs fairly consistently though.

 

[TheDarkSide]

I started Nm Baaling with my Meteorb around 45 . Once you get Orb you should own Nm , especially if you give your merc an insight pole . You can always walk to the throne if teleport is too mana intensive or you dont feel safe , and you might find a few drops along the way .

I always get the Holy Freeze merc even though Im using Orb . I like the safety that his aura gives . His Holy freeze aura in the throne room + your static / orb should make it easy enough . You are using static liberally aren't you ??? I simply go something like this - orb , static , static , orb , tele back if needed , heal merc , rinse and repeat .

Im 74 now and trying to Hell Meph but its scary because my charms suck and I only have 700 life .. Guess I need to run some Nm Cows but that is for another thread ...

Good luck ...

:thumbsup:

 

[Perceval]

Alright then, thanks for the advices again

My sorc is level 43 and growing strong. Just found a SOL rune, so i just need a 4 sock polearm for my Emilio, will try to trade a few PGEMS for one maybe. I'm still short on the spirit sword as i miss a 4sock sword and AMN rune. But nothing a few NM countess can't resolve or some PGEMS trading.
I'm still in normal, haven't killed baal yet, getting there safely and slowely. Once i complete Insight + Spirit sword i'll go to nm act5.
As merc goes, i'm keeping my prayer merc. I remembered that his prayer gets the synergie from meditation from insight, and makes it quite strong. From nm, i think that will be quite good. I'm definitly going to make him some res armor for nm.
I might be tempted to get to level 61 to equip my wizzy before going for baal, but i might lack the FHR from spirit then. Not sure yet, depends on if i find any good FHR items. But Horadrim gloves + Spirit sword sounds lovely for FHR.
I'll try to get some moser or wistans shield soon. Will hunt some PGEMS for them. Or maybe just use a Rhyme shield for now, if i get a SHAEL .

Wish me luck, i'll try to find some runes tonight.

 

[STINGER]

Dark, I would run Act 5 NM all over it in public vs doing cows, its more interesting and plenty of crap to kill and less likely to get portal jumped with a lag spike. Cows are so 2003......;0

 

[TheDarkSide]

Dark, I would run Act 5 NM all over it in public vs doing cows, its more interesting and plenty of crap to kill and less likely to get portal jumped with a lag spike. Cows are so 2003......;0

I was just going to run some cows in hopes of finding some charms as mine are pathetic.. And I dont do pubbies - ever - well almost ..

:thumbsup:

 

[STINGER]

Roll em.....anything late NM early hell is worth rolling and the Act 3 NM Grands for skills. You can drop 100 charms and not get close to what you can roll in 20 rolls.......sure the 20 rolls can give you crap also, but you will get great strings of success also, alot better than going just for drops especially if you are soloing. 16-18 life smalls are actually a very common roll, that and those 9-11 single resist ones and I have also rolled several Priz ones. If your charms are "crap" I would think some lifers like small 16+ would be to your advantage.

In the past it was rather common to get 5 keepers in 20ish rolls....or 0 also. Gems drop more often than charms. I have a tenancy yo throw away a charm if it rolls bad X times....depends on how many charms I have to roll and gems but 5-10 bad rolls hit the trash can! Be sure to keep track of the boss dropped ones and give them more roll chances than average they can score big especially the hell ones.

Time to burn mules

Darks-Gems
Darks-Charms1
2
3

I didnt MF much, hell I got most my crap trading charms.......