Strafer Help

[UberB]

Strafer Help

OK, so I've taken a look at the Witchyzon and the Windforce + Faith guide, and I decided to follow them both.

This is purely PvM btw.

Skill plan:
20 strafe
20 valk
20 GA
20 penetrate
A few points into Critical
1 D/A/E
Remaining points get split into D/A/E

So, I've level 45, maxed strafe, a few points into GA and penetrate, got critical up to where I want. I'm in A2 NM. I'm using a Kuko Shakuka and totally ripping everything apart. I'm thinking I should put some points into GA or Valk for bosses. NM Andy killed my valk in 1-2 hits just to tell you. So what should I max next? (I'm a dexzon btw, base vitality)

 

[NASE]

you're following two exelent guides, though you are missing some of the key points.

Where is your pierce? If you are wearing razortails, you want to have slvl 9 pierce. Without razortails, maxing pierce isn't a bad idea, certainly not of you have points to spare.
Where is penetrate? Atleast one point in penetrate is a good idea, even if you have lots of dex already.
Where is your one point freezing arrow. Freezing monster is a very usefull thing and vital to the survival of a base life bowazon.
Where is multishot. Really, not using multi is close to always worse then using multi when the situation is made for multi. Even with a low ctc amp, multi isn't a bad idea.
Wait with maxing guided - if you really want to max it. There are more important skills as guided will be used rarely. Only for bosses. From the lvl you are, you can start getting the passives up to the lvl you want. Use penetrate if your cth is to low, valk if you need a better tank, d/e/a if you feel that you take to much damage and you think this will help...

P.S. a big aspect of the tankability of valks come form thier huge life regeneration. Poison cancels this regeneration, wait untill the act 2 end-boss before you make up your mind about valk. They really aren't as bad as you make them seem.

 

[UberB]

Sorry, I forgot a bunch of other skills in my hurry to type all this up. Yes, I have Razortail and 3 hard points into pierce. I have one point in penetrate, one point into freezing arrow, 5 points into multishot. I think my AR is ok for now so I'll pump my valk up instead.

 

[Lizardking]

why not using an up'd WWS ? And really, max your valk, you wont regret it !

 

[dave]

i second the valk maxing - with base vit and a rogue merc u really need a tank - and valk just happen to be the best one in the game :thumbsup:

 

[UberB]

Well, I've decided to stick with Might for now, and switch to a Rogue if I manage to get Faith. Thanks for your help.

 

[UberB]

EDIT:

Now I've reached Duriel, putting every point into Valk. I'm level 47, and my merc is killed in 2-3 hits, my valk lasts 3-4 hits, not enough. I also don't know what skill I should use against him. Should I use Guided, Strafe, or just regular attack (Kuko Shakuka fires explosive arrows)?

 

[NASE]

strafe is only better if you have cth or cta spells. Crushing blow or amp that has to trigger. And in order to use strafe, you need to be able to tank the boss, or to stay out of trouble with a valk/decoy or merc. and you need a high cth.

To make the story short, with bad equipment, guided is close to always the best option.

P.S. strange, my valks mostly keep thier own versus most act bosses, long enough to recast one of needed atleast. And don't forget, the power of valks depend on what equipment they spawn with. Try getting one with a red armour (life IIRC) and not one with blue armour (mana IIRC).
[edit]
Or white for added defense.
http://forums.diabloii.net/showpost.php?p=3471923&postcount=10

 

[maiku]

EDIT:

Now I've reached Duriel, putting every point into Valk. I'm level 47, and my merc is killed in 2-3 hits, my valk lasts 3-4 hits, not enough. I also don't know what skill I should use against him. Should I use Guided, Strafe, or just regular attack (Kuko Shakuka fires explosive arrows)?

I'll throw out three ideas.

If you have one, put a Blackhorn's Face on Merc, make an ethereal "Honor" polearm or spear in an exceptional weapon or an "Insight" in an exceptional or elite weapon for Merc, and equip Merc with Rattlecage. Or equip Merc with Guillaume's Face, Rattlecage, and high-damage weapon. The key here is to get the Merc to either Slow and CB the boss or to stack as much CB on Merc as possible.

Another option is to stick Blackhorn's on yourself, equip Cleglaw's gloves, load up a little bit of Crushing Blow (such as from Goblin Toes or Goreriders), and use Guided Arrow or Strafe on Duriel. Should melt his life right away and your Merc and Valk will last longer because Duriel will be a lot slower and dumber. He's making you slower with his Holy Freeze, so it's only fair that you slow him down and hurt him too.

Third option is that you switch from your Kuko temporarily and use a Riphook which combines two nice things: 30% Slow and 30% Open Wounds. Eat that Duriel. Combine with either Cleglaw's gloves or Blackhorn's Face for max slowage. Load Merc with Crushing Blow.

Cast Decoys to draw Duriel's attention, put Valk right in his face, recast when it dies, allow Merc to score hits repeatedly and try to keep him alive especially if he is loaded with CB or Slow as I mentioned. If Merc dies, tp to town immediately and resurrect Merc. If using Slow, decide whether you or Merc is going to stack the Slow and don't both stack different amounts of Slow that will flip-flop back and forth.

 

[WrongdayJ]

. . .Another option is to stick Blackhorn's on yourself, equip Cleglaw's gloves, load up a little bit of Crushing Blow (such as from Goblin Toes or Goreriders), and use Guided Arrow or Strafe on Duriel. Should melt his life right away and your Merc and Valk will last longer because Duriel will be a lot slower and dumber. He's making you slower with his Holy Freeze, so it's only fair that you slow him down and hurt him too. . . .and use a Riphook which combines two nice things: 30% Slow and 30% Open Wounds. Eat that Duriel. Combine with either Cleglaw's gloves or Blackhorn's Face for max slowage. Load Merc with Crushing Blow. . .

This is probably some of the best advice I've read on how to realistically deal with Duriel as a strafer.

The only thing I would add would be to have a wand with charges of Life Tap on the switch and Tap Duriel once he's slowed. You'll have a slowed Duriel, getting popped with multiple CB's and your Merc and Valk will heal faster than he can hurt them. Voila!