merc bow questions

[NickaliskTrent]

merc bow questions

I know you guys aren't rogues and vice versa but I figured you know bows better than anyone so:

consider a pvp merc for a Wind Druid (not amazon because I know fanat+wf is a good combo there)

I also know dueling with merc's is BM but me and my friend fool around with them in our private duels and we always use mercs (mostly to burn gold before joining public games because PK'ers will invariably take your gold)

Anyhow, he is a sorceress who uses an infinity wielding act two merc.

And I am a wind druid.

I've been using a decked out rogue merc from act 1 with fortitude/enhanced dmg helm/windforce.

And it's pretty fun, because the merc can usually end the duel on her own if she's lucky enough to land 3 arrows.

But I was wondering if there was a better bow for her to use: faith/ice/botd/

or even widowmaker for guided arrow?

thanks in advance

 

[NASE]

If you want to burn gold, gamble circlets, give it to someone that has use for it or give to the world aids foundation.

Second, I don't see why you would use an act 1 mercs. Act 1 mercs don't fit the way windies play. Count in the fact that arrows are shot slow, will probably have a bad cth and don't have any guiding capacity, you see why I would go for an other option.
If you persist, think about these options. Faith, will give her a faster attack speed and your summons will have more damage and attack faster. Other option would be wrath, for the high ctc decrypit or perhaps harmony for vigor aurea. Or even brand for the ctc amp on struck amp. Ice for the holy freeze aurea, this will slow down the sorc making tele-bump much more effective. All will be more usefull then wondforce if you ask me.
Widowmaker gives oskills to guide arrows, so your merc won't shoot guided arrows.

I would go with an act 2 merc or act 5 merc. These can work just like the grizzly. Tele-bump will be more effect for many reasons. You can do much more damage, might/pride merc, or might/decript(reapers toll), or you can stun/knockback with an act 5 mercs or freeze with act 2 freeze merc. Count in the fact that they will have more life and more suvivability and that the act 5 merc will regenerate much faster then the act 1. I don't see you would use an act 1 merc unless you want a running aurea, though even then act 2 seems much better safe for faith merc.

 

[NickaliskTrent]

what about in terms of raw damage?

 

[NASE]

ct 2 or act 5. ;-)





As for bows, I would go for faith. It has many advantages over windforce, although it lacks knockback. Faith will have a much faster attackspeed. This gives more damage over time - then the same damage shot slower - and will make your merc more damagerour for your opponent. The faster the arrows fly, the harder to keep dodging them. Faith will have much better ar aswell. Not only the %ar on the bow though the fanat gives more ar too. The other advantage is the damage to your minions it gives. Count in some skill and some res. I think faith is better. The base bow is an other problem. Go with the fastest bow you can find (-10).

 

[NickaliskTrent]

crusader or hydra faith?

 

[Eilo Rytyj]

crusader or hydra faith?

Well, for one, Crusader is always better than Hydra bow for ANYTHING.



Secondly, neither. Great Bow ([-10] speed) or Shadow Bow ([0] speed). A Shadow Bow has 37 average base damage, while Crusader has 39, but it's a faster bow so it'll apply the +120 fire damage and the rogue's base weapon damage faster generally resulting in more damage over time. And if you have any CTC mods on any of her equipment, they benefit more from faster attack speeds.

 

[NickaliskTrent]

hmm but I'm getting a pretty good deal on a 15 fanat hydra... should I take it or just keep searching for the other options?

 

[NASE]

The other options are better, though with a hydra bow - if your merc has the str - every hit will do more damage. It's a deal you have to make, you will have less hits, though every hit will count. A great bow won't do 3 hit kills, a hydra perhaps can.

It's up to you, even if it doesn't fit you, you can always make a pvm hybride amazon using windforce and faith merc.

 

[KremBanan]

hmm but I'm getting a pretty good deal on a 15 fanat hydra... should I take it or just keep searching for the other options?

If you get a good price on a Faith Hydra, then feel free to trade for it. As people have pointed out, a Hydra bow isnt the best, but good price is good price.

If you are making one yourself, a Great/Blade/Shadow bow are the 'best' choices.