Noob question

[Dulahey]

Noob question

So I'm reading around that a summoning necro and be a fairly decent MFer if you're starting out with *NO* gear to twink any characters with. This is my case as I haven't played D2 in a couple years

Is this still true? Most of the guides seem to have been written before 1.11 so I'm not sure how much I should trust them.

If they can be decent starting characters, what's a good build to go after?

Or am I just all together crazy and should be looking at another character to start with.

 

[canudig]

for starting summoner is really cheap to make and works well.....when I started the game in SP I used summoner.......when I started bnet I used a summoner......you get the idea

 

[Dulahey]

Any suggestions for skills? Other than max skele and skele mastery? Should I then max revive or go into other skills like bone spirit?

 

[canudig]

at least one point into bone armor and it's pre-requisites......one in amp dam, one in decrepify, one in dim vision and the pre-requisites of course.....at least one in revives and possibly some mages if you want..........the guides pretty much cover it all and there is a huge amount of flexibility with the summoner build......

 

[mephiztophelez]

the basic build would look like this:
max: raise skelly, skelly mastery, Corpse Explosion!!!
1pt: all curses, golem of choice, summon resis, golem mastery, revive, bone armour.

corpse explosion is your main killing skill, so get a BIG radius for it.

FYI: there have been numerous credible accounts of summoners being played solo through the game until attaining Guardian status, while NAKED. equipment is more or less optional.

as a note: summon-necs are fantastic area clearers (clean out the entire River of Flame for example) rather than super-fast act boss runners.

while i disagree with some of his equipment suggestions, the Fishymancer guide is one of the best ever written on the class.

 

[Dulahey]

Oh of course, can't believe I didn't mention Corpse Explosion but yeah I wouldn't forget that

Anyway, thanks for the replies.

 

[StatusCloud]

I think I can throw my cents, because I'm pretty new to the game (2 months), and I had the same doubt before.

I have only MF'ed with a Meteorb Sorc in softcore and a Summon Necromancer in hardcore, both untwinked.

An untwinked Sorc has the upper hand because of Teleport and their high damage skills, but they severely lack survivability, which Necros excel. When I wanted to MF with my Necro, I would just equip my armor and helm filled with Topazes. Even with low life, low resistances and crap def, I rarely needed to hit pot. I remember potting while killing a boss only once, in NM Diablo, when I was too naive to know that standing still was a bad idea.

I suppose you are playing softcore. Untwinked Necros aren't known for their MF speed records, but they are still good and viable, and most important IMO, safe.

 

[bruticus]

i'd vouch for the summoner as a decent area clearer and MF'er. it has already been mentioned above that they're not the best boss runner (slower tele, and lesser damage). the fishymancer is a great build that has a lot of room for customizing and plenty of mf gear.

untwinked you can clear many hell areas fairly easily. moderately decent gear and you can clear any area in the game with ease, with a pile of MF gear on or not. many good summoner necros can provide gear for other characters, run for Dkeys and can uber trist quite safely.

 

[illestkhmai]

i'd vouch for the summoner as a decent area clearer and MF'er. it has already been mentioned above that they're not the best boss runner (slower tele, and lesser damage). the fishymancer is a great build that has a lot of room for customizing and plenty of mf gear.

untwinked you can clear many hell areas fairly easily. moderately decent gear and you can clear any area in the game with ease, with a pile of MF gear on or not. many good summoner necros can provide gear for other characters, run for Dkeys and can uber trist quite safely.

With teleport, minion stacking+urdars+CB on merc = dead baal pretty quickly.

 

[Moe the Barkeep]

I started off this ladder season with a necro, and havent looked back. He's still my main MFer, you can stack ALOT of MF and not sacrifice killing speed or survivability.

 

[Forbiddian]

Max RS and SM at about a 2 RS to 1 SM ratio. Then when RS is full, max SM. Put a point in Summon Resist and Revive, although Revives aren't really worth it until NM and a few plus skills, so you can wait until level 40 or so to grab the golden point in revive.

One point in Amp, CE, Decrep, and Dim Vision (and pre-reqs).

Hardcore: Put one into Bone Armor and the rest into Bone Wall, then one in Spear and the rest into Bone Prison. Extra points (I think the Bone Armor build finishes at like 90 or something, though) go into CE or Bone Armor. You should have enough +skills and hps by 90 that you don't really need either.

Hardcore Option 2: Put a lot into Dim Vision. This is probably the safest way to play, but it's too slow to be worth the additional safety, IMO. I'd rather have a few hundred extra hps.

Softcore: Max CE and Skeleton Mage. With the extra points either level up Amp, Bone Spear (or Spirit), or whatever curses you like.




Corpse Explosion is extremely optional. Softcore players can use it to clear faster, but with a couple +skills, I can blow a pack with three clicks instead of two. 285 hps vs. one click? "This is hardcore, people!"