What build for killing NM Baal ONLY?

[reyla]

What build for killing NM Baal ONLY?

I am looking for very specific advice.

I plan on using my lv85 Strafezon to get through the NM minions fast and then bringing in a character to "first kill" Baal repeatedly.

This character will leech xp to level 70+ 100% so there is no need for it to kill anything but NM Baal. Therefore, "ruining" this character by bloating one or two devastating skills for a single target is fine.

The first obvious choices I thought of were a Barb or Paladin with crushing blow and/or smite for overall survivability (survivability against Baal and only Baal is key here) and kill speed.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[superdave]

CS javazon.

 

[reyla]

How is her survivability in case I want to do the same with Hell Baal?

 

[superdave]

throw a woestave on your merc and you won't have to worry about baal...all she needs is a source of cbf(rhyme shield), good fire resists, a sturdy valk and a few points into D/A/E.

 

[Rekoc]

full blizz or blizz/tk

Blizzard > orb for running only baal.

 

[reyla]

She wont have to kill Baals minions.

Do you still recommend a Blizzard sorc over a CS Jav or melee character for killing only Baal?

 

[Socialism]

Nightmare is a piece of CAKE for even a badly equipped teleporter. I'd go with Insight Blizzard/Fireball for pure NM Baals. CM up to 17 with +skills, minimally synergized Fireball (iirc those harpy things load cold immune sometimes). I wouldn't bother getting to/clearing minions with another character.

It'd go ninjafast.

 

[MoUsE_WiZ]

For NM baal? Doesn't really matter, any sorc can static to 25% so they're cake.

Any melee with CB will tear any boss apart.

A cs zon will own him.

Any of those options will destroy baal in seconds, doesn't matter which one.

Now let me see if I understand this right though... your strafer is killing minions while the baal killer leeches in the throne, then the leecher goes in for the kill, right?

In that case I'd say a smiter or zealot so your strafer gets fanat.

However, NM baal is a rather easy kill for any class so I'm not sure why you're making something as a "baal killer" in the first place. Now, if you want something to kill the ubers, and you figure "well, I may as well first drop baal with him while I'm at it" that would make sense, but something specific to finish off runs with? Meh, seems a bit overkill.

 

[Socialism]

Any melee with CB will tear any boss apart...
In that case I'd say a smiter or zealot so your strafer gets fanat.

Well, the only reason anyone would 'glitch' kill any boss would be because they hope to pop more items from the kill for MF purposes. Since most melee chars are equipment/CB dependent, they can't stack as much MF as casters. Orb/TK/Teleport build will get there fastest; Blizzard/weak-Fireball will clear most efficiently.

Glitched Hell Mephisto drops way better than Glitched NM Baal, and a character that can safely get to NM Baal should have the FHR/FBR/Block/FCR to get to Hell Mephisto safely too.

Trust me. I've done this before - the whole NM Baal glitcher thing is nice for about 2-300 runs, then you realize you're overpowered/overkilling for less-than-elite drops.

 

[MoUsE_WiZ]

Well, the only reason anyone would 'glitch' kill any boss would be because they hope to pop more items from the kill for MF purposes. Since most melee chars are equipment/CB dependent, they can't stack as much MF as casters. Orb/TK/Teleport build will get there fastest; Blizzard/weak-Fireball will clear most efficiently.

Sure they can.
They don't need FCR gear, as much resist gear, any skill gear, etc.

A smiter has enough CB/ias to down anything quickly with heaven's light shaelshael and guillame's. The shield covers resists almost entirely. From there you're pretty free to stack MF.

And yes, we all know a sorc can port to NM baal faster than anything, but he's not building a NM baal runner, he already has a zon to do the run (WHY he wants to run NM baal with a zon is an entirely different question) he just wants something to get the kill with for first drops (again, why is beyond me)... the ability to teleport is pretty irrelevant to this (odd) request.

Glitched Hell Mephisto drops way better than Glitched NM Baal, and a character that can safely get to NM Baal should have the FHR/FBR/Block/FCR to get to Hell Mephisto safely too.

Not necessarily the resists or life though.
And not that a merc that can tank meph is needed to meph, but you probably won't have one of those either just because it can do NM baals.

 

[Socialism]

Sure they can.
They don't need FCR gear, as much resist gear, any skill gear, etc.

A smiter has enough CB/ias to down anything quickly with heaven's light shaelshael and guillame's. The shield covers resists almost entirely. From there you're pretty free to stack MF.

Apart from the loss of mobility (no teleport), speed (especially if lacking CBF), and availability of CB/IAS heavy weapons (it'd be great if Heaven's Light were as easy to acquire as a Spirit Sword or Wizardspike), that's a great idea.

And yes, we all know a sorc can port to NM baal faster than anything, but he's not building a NM baal runner, he already has a zon to do the run (WHY he wants to run NM baal with a zon is an entirely different question) he just wants something to get the kill with for first drops (again, why is beyond me)... the ability to teleport is pretty irrelevant to this (odd) request.

Well, that's why I'm discouraging NM WSK running with an amazon. The "teleport > all" premise supports my non-CB/IAS dependent melee build selection choice.

Not necessarily the resists or life though.
And not that a merc that can tank meph is needed to meph, but you probably won't have one of those either just because it can do NM baals.

I didn't find resists all too necessary for Durance 2 when teleporting fast, properly, and with an insight merc. No gloams, cold and poison resist is a joke, and fire isn't necessary since your merc shouldn't do enough damage to pop dolls. Besides, after 2-300 glitch nm baal runs, I'd assume one would have enough gear selection options available to run Hell Mephisto.

 

[MoUsE_WiZ]

I didn't find resists all too necessary for Durance 2 when teleporting fast, properly, and with an insight merc.

Durance 3.
Cold balls of death hurt.
Charged bolts hurt.
Oh, and his physical damage can hurt too, especially if you get unlucky and he gets a big hit, at the same time an evil force gets a big hit, and it occurs in the 2 seconds or so you're on top and staticing. (which is why I decided to include life)

Besides, after 2-300 glitch nm baal runs, I'd assume one would have enough gear selection options available to run Hell Mephisto.

Of course.
Probably do after 50.

However my level 45-50 sorc can safely do NM baals. That 45-50 sorc can't do mephs =p

Well, that's why I'm discouraging NM WSK running with an amazon.

I assume anyone with half a brain knows you can do NM meph with a sorc in a couple minutes tops and it probably doesn't need mentioning.

 

[Socialism]

Durance 3.
Cold balls of death hurt.
Charged bolts hurt.
Oh, and his physical damage can hurt too, especially if you get unlucky and he gets a big hit, at the same time an evil force gets a big hit, and it occurs in the 2 seconds or so you're on top and staticing. (which is why I decided to include life)

I've always found 75% block, nonnegative cold resistance, and a rejuvination potion to be quite adequate. If you're up close and helping merc tank, I've found that Mephisto rarely uses his non-physical attacks. Again, 75% block, healing potions, chill damage. Oh yeah. My mercs were stapled with Kelpie/Reapers, so the slow would help a bit too. Not assuming these items are available though.

My sequence probably looked something like: Teleport in, frost nova, static, static static, red potion, teleport, frost nova, static, static, killspell+.

Of course.
Probably do after 50.

However my level 45-50 sorc can safely do NM baals. That 45-50 sorc can't do mephs =p

Heh. I usually ended up around level 75 ish on NM Baals before going to hell... I just found it a convenient spot to level/MF. Also, I'm chicken.

P.S. Mouse_Wiz, sign up! http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=581679

 

[MoUsE_WiZ]

I've always found 75% block, nonnegative cold resistance, and a rejuvination potion to be quite adequate. If you're up close and helping merc tank, I've found that Mephisto rarely uses his non-physical attacks. Again, 75% block, healing potions, chill damage. Oh yeah. My mercs were stapled with Kelpie/Reapers, so the slow would help a bit too. Not assuming these items are available though.

Two things.
Firstly, 75% block, when doing an intended thousands of runs, still leaves plenty of room for that one accident.
I've almost lost my sorc 2-3 times (and by almost I mean ~10% hp left) so far this season from 2 quick hits getting through the block, reapers not procing, and an evil force hitting me all at once.

As for the resists, non-negative will allow the runs, but they'll be messy... meph isn't a good source for juvs, and if a cold ball hits you with low CR it'll drop you to a point where you have to juv because if a 2nd one hits while you're waiting on a red pot you won't be able to take it. I don't like farming juvs between runs >.>

2nd thing is, when my merc dies every other run, I just don't res him at all.
I'd rather gamble. As such, I don't have a nice merc tank for myself on meph runs when in extremely ghetto gear.

P.S. Mouse_Wiz, sign up! http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=581679

Can't, work schedule is too arbitrary.

 

[Barrynor]

NM baal only? Ignore all that is said above, people seem to misunderstand the question. Except for Mouse_wiz, but hey, do what you will.

Dual-strike barbarian with goblin toe and amn-tir swords. That way you can use two ali baba's, deliver the CB and still do decent enough damage to kill him for the last 10% or something. Stick either four shaels in your eventual Ali's, or four ists if you're rich. Enough STR /dex for gear, rest into VIT. Start out with Goblin Toe boots since run-speed isn't an issue either, and go fir two Amn-Tir weapons (25% CB each) on switch. That's already 50% CB right there, meaning you'll trigger a CB on 3 out of 4 blows. Stick the Amn-Tir in scimitars or something for a nice, fast attack speed.

 

[Lord Penguin]

CS zon.. no need for more frail sorcs. Im sure you dont plan to bo yourself every game and im sure youd prefer to survive.

 

[PhatTrumpet]

Am I missing something, or is there way too much discussion here for such a no-brainer question?

Either Blizzard/Static or Charged Strike will take Baal down the quickest; just pick the character that you can pack the most MF on (most likely the Blizz Sorc).

... or did I just blow your mind?

 

[Socialism]

Am I missing something, or is there way too much discussion here for such a no-brainer question?

Either Blizzard/Static or Charged Strike will take Baal down the quickest; just pick the character that you can pack the most MF on (most likely the Blizz Sorc).

... or did I just blow your mind?

Well, you're blowing something, that's for sure

Okay. So have I not done NM Baal in way too long, or doesn't the throne room rather-frequently load with cold immune harpy thingies? If so, then Blizzard + unsynergized fireball will run most efficiently.

 

[STINGER]

Wearbear with a Ribcraker! 100 points for style and effect!

 

[MoUsE_WiZ]

is there way too much discussion here for such a no-brainer question?

Yes, and you've contributed to the "way too much" by giving any answer.

It's NM baal that needs killing.
Not the minions.
Not anything in the throne.
That means no CIs, Socialism, yes, we know a sorc will do a NM baal run faster than a strafer, but that's not his question. I'm sure he's aware of this fact too.

Basically ANY non-summon cookie cutter build can drop NM baal in seconds because it's NIGHTMARE BAAL. It's like asking what class can clear player 1 norm cows fastest, only worse, because there's no king to worry about.