Putting ETH in Baal running merc's weapon?

[halohalo]

Putting ETH in Baal running merc's weapon?

Im a summon nec, baal runner, lvl 90
My merc uses guillaume's face and it's amazing!
However, I wish he could hit baal more often. I've comeup with a few options to put in his weapon socket :
1. more dmg - put ED jewel
2. faster hit - put SHEAL
3. more dmg and AR to demons - put PUL
4. lower baal's defense for him and my skellies - put ETH

Among these, ETH seem to be the cheapest option.
But I wonder, will ETH's property work on Baal? I.E., will it work on act bosses too?

Your suggestions plz, thanks in advance!

 

[Loboleal]

Eth works on Act bosses but its effect is halved. However it will only work for attacks made by the Eth-user.
So if it's for your merc, only your merc will benefit from rune. Your skelies will consider Baal's full defense when attacking him.

 

[sangfagel]

Use weapon ignoring target´s defense (as The Reaper's Toll). Shael makes no sense cause IAS do not influences mercs. Pul is OK, an alternative can be Mal (prevent monster´s heal).

 

[Zenkat]

Bear in mind that Baal also has 55% blocking in hell.

edit: Corrections for above. IAS DOES affect merc attack speed, and Ignore Target defense does NOT work on bosses, champions or super uniques.

 

[Loboleal]

...and ITD doesn't work on Bosses

edit: mmm, late

 

[sangfagel]

.: .

Bear in mind that Baal also has 55% blocking in hell
Yes, I know a nd solution you propose is....:idea:
correction for above, IAS DOES affect merc attack speeds
- Does it??? It would be very interesting indeed! I red somewhere that it does not but it was long ago, before .10. Are you sure? What´s your source?

 

[sangfagel]

...and ITD doesn't work on Bosses

edit: mmm, late

To write rubbish seems to be very educative
Would items lowering target´s def **/hit work?

 

[Zenkat]

Heh, a solution to baals blocking. Hmm... hack the program so he doesnt? All i can think of is get him frozen with a cold attack, then add some decrepify to slow him down tons and make him less dangerous while you widdle away his life. It really is a dilemma, because i have an extremely hard time trying to hit him with my fury druid. With all that blocking and his bare minimum leechability melee is just plain tough.

Baal only has about 2800 def, so if you think your merc cant cut through it, then Eth or other items that lower defense that work on bosses (I wont comment on any other methods for lowering defense since it would only be assumption on my part if they even work) are certainly worth a try.

As for the previous merc ias question. IAS has worked on mercs for as long as merc's have been useful (ie- 1.09 for me). Its quite easy to see as well. Just stick an extremely slow weapon on him (a Lance perhaps) and watch his jabbing. Then put something like a triple shael Hone Sundan on him and watch him attack twice as fast.

Why else would this IAS calculator have Mercs as options?
http://diablo2.ingame.de/tips/calcs/weaponspeed.php?lang=english

 

[Loboleal]

To write rubbish seems to be very educative
Would items lowering target´s def **/hit work?

Look at this page if you wanna read "rubish" and maybe you will learn something
http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/magic.shtml

And, as I said before, Yes, Eth works on Bosses.

 

[Stormie]

Use weapon ignoring target´s defense (as The Reaper's Toll). Shael makes no sense cause IAS do not influences mercs. Pul is OK, an alternative can be Mal (prevent monster´s heal).

That's the worst advice ever.

It's already been pointed out that ITD does not work on Act Bosses. It's already been pointed out that IAS does work on mercs. I'll just add that your third suggestion is also bad - prevent monster heal is useless for Act Bosses as none of them regenerate anyway!

 

[sangfagel]

OK - I must agree - my advice was the worst advice ever.
Loboleal - thank you for adress.