What build for me? Help the newb :D

[Aeona]

What build for me? Help the newb

I'm quite knew to D2, my gf is the pro and it's a nice break from WoW, assasin is certainly my prefured class, melee and a lot more strategic and less *spam the same ability* then the paladin or barb (at least it seemed that way to me!), however I'm not a big fan of traps at all, I don't mind death sentry too much, as long as I'm not relying on it or using it most of the time.
I've browsed the builds but to be honest, my knowledge of D2 isn't extensive enough to understand the maths of it, and so I don't really get the play style. I saw this one which was real nice (especially as I'll be poor atm) http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=198363 but unfortunately it has limitations.
I'd like a build that has the potential to do 8player hell mode solo. And to be very Assasin'y ^_^ if you understand what i mean (claw mastery and block! ).

Anyway any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[GOO Archangel]

First and foremost you're going to need to decide if you want to go PvM or PvP, not to say you can't do both, my sin is very capable of PvM but is directed moreso towards 1vs1 fighting, be it person or mob. Most PvM's will be able to fight massive groups without worry, my sin has to be careful in situations like that. So you're either going to be strong vs single persons or strong vs multiple mobs, which would you rather?

 

[Aeona]

its PvM sorry didn't know to mention that. However saying that, mainly the most fun build, For example I find the idea of WW barb pretty boring, press WW and move, im sure theres more to it then that! but you get my idea i hope. I'd like an array of abilities to use in diff situations (well 2 or 3 would make me satisfied ) or if it's an aoe ability, one that can still be effectively used on single targets. Basically i want a char with versatility and no PvM limitations due to build.

 

[Zigot_HD]

Hello,

If you decide tyo go PvM, then you can exclude the WW/pure trapper builds out.

That leave you :
- TC/MA etc... and hybrid
or
- Pheonix Striker / or a hybrid MA build with trap
or
- Kicker /or a hybrid kicker with trap

I personally perfer a hybrid build because it make it more fun to play!!!!
( I have both PS and kicker builds and i really like them )

Kicksin trqpper is more versatile than PS/MA because you can also do Ubers Trist if you have the right gear.

Hope it gives you some ideas.

 

[midevillw]

if u are purly set agenst using the trap tree i would sugest a pheonix striker u will b able to deal fire, light, cold, and poison dmg with it which meets your request that nothing would be completely imune to it

 

[Mahric]

For versitility, try a Kicker/Trapper ... it's one of the best PvM builds of any class and has a wide range of utility abilities.

15+ Dragon Talon - primary attack
1 Blade Fury - ranged attack, useful across rivers or if cursed with Iron Maiden. Just makes a nice change from kicking sometimes.
1 Dragon Flight - teleport attack, can be useful, and fun.
20 Death Sentry - fantastic skill, primary trap with massive area damage
20 Lightning Sentry (synergy for Death sentry)
20 Shadow Master - the best minion out there. A good companion.
1 Burst of Speed - primary aura
1 Fade - in case you need extra resistance
1 Cloak of shadows - one of the best defensive skills around
1+ Weapon Block - the only skill that can block elemental (as well as physical) attacks

High trap investment, but there is so much more to this build than just traps. Damage comes from a combination of traps (lightning and corpse explosion), kicking (physical) and your shadow master all acting independently, but simultaneously. If you really don't like all those points in traps, max Venom instead of Lightning Sentry.

Good equipment is always helpful, but apart from a set of heavy metal boots (and some form of mana leech) you can build an effective kicker/trapper without much expense.

I recommend the dual claw version with 2x Bartuc or Bartuc and Jade Talon, but this can also be a weapon shield weapon/shield build.

Mahric

 

[Aeona]

Out of curiosity, what's your build Mahric? or at least the assassin in your pic's

Thanks for the replies all, i don't mind death sentry too much to deal with AoE as long as I don't fight based around it. Not too sure about having a companion from Shadow Mastery, any alternative equally useful place for points?
I'm guessing a shield is a lot better then Weapon Block for defense? (or are they the same?)
And In this build seemingly your damage doesn't really come from claws do why dual wield?
Sorry if these questions are make you want to throw my head into my monitor, but I'm a nubby what can i say

 

[Aeona]

Just noticed my grammar sorry i must be Really tired! :$

 

[MrProphet]

weapon block > sheild

almost sure that weapon block can block magical attacks as well as physical

 

[Mahric]

Hi Aeona,

My pic is of an assassin with Claw, Mage Plate armour, Spiked Shield and Guilliames Helm. At high levels I generally play dual-claw, but the shield looked better in the picture.

Shield block gives you up to 75% chance to block physical attacks and it requires a high investment in dexterity. Blocking is reduced by a third when running.

Weapon Block is skills based and requires no investment in dexterity (so more vitality/life). 10 points in Weapon Block will give you a 50% chance to block both physical and elemental attacks when standing or attacking, but this doesn't work when running OR walking, so an assassin may as well run everywhere. Suits a run-stop-attack style of play.

With only 1 point invested in Weapon Block, a dual Claw assassin can easily get to 50% block with +skills items (+2 from each claw, +2 armour, +1 amulet, +2 helm). At high levels I tend to put additional skill points here : 23 points is required for 60% block. You'll never get to the 75% physical block like you do with a shield, but you'll have a lot more life (assassins get a good return on vitality investment) and are the only character in the game that can block elemental attacks - and can even block necro Bone Spirits.

Playing through normal you won't have the +skill points to maintain Weapon Block, so weapon shield is the better choice until you reach level 42. In the early game, you'll need to invest points into dexterity anyway (I usually aim for 79 in STR and DEX to use Bartucs), so can maintain a relatively good shield block.

If you're not sure about the the Shadow Master then you can max Venom instead. Start by putting points into Dragon Talon -

By Level 15 : DT 12, CM 1, BoS 1, PsyH 1 (prerequisite), CoS 1

By Level 30 : DT 15, BF 1, BoS 1, CoS 1, DS 1, DF 1, SM 1, WB 1, LS 1, 10 prerequisites

After level 30, work towards maximising Death Sentry and then Lightning Sentry. By level 43, get yourself Treachery (Shael+Thul+Lem) armour which will give you level 15 Venom.

Try playing with the Level 1 Shadow Master because she us very useful as a tank and you can get her to level 8-10 with +skills. Then once you've maximised the lightning taps, you can decide whether to invest in Shadow Master or in Venom ... or neither. Another option would be to put enough points into Shadow Master to get her to level 17 (so she can spawn with all magic equipment) and invest points in Weapon Block and get it to get to level 23 (60% block).

Style of play involves running everywhere, then stopping quickly when you encounter monsters. If the situation looks dangerous, cast CoS, then drop 2-5 Death Sentries and engage the enemy with Dragon Talon.

Go for the biggest creatures first. Lightning from traps will assist you, and you can drop a few more traps during combat. Then once you have a couple of bodies, the corpse explosions take over and everything else dies. Lightning from traps will take out anything outside of the range of the explosions.

If you're taking heavy damage, run back a few steps ... when you look again, everything will probably be dead.

Mahric

 

[Mahric]

PS

Kicking damage is determined by the boots - heavy metal boots are best.

But weapon choice is very important because some special effects from the weapon are transferred to the kicks. Weapons with Crushing Blow and Elemental Damage are popular choices, as is anything that has a "chance-to- cast" on striking effect. If you want weapon block, then you need to use dual-claw ... I like Bartucs with Jade Talon in the off-hand for bonuses to STR, DEX, Skills and resists, and I socketed my Bartucs with a (very expensive) BER rune for crushing blow. For Weapon/Shield Builds, the Stormlash unique flail is my favourite weapon as it has 33% crushing blow and a 15% Chance to cast level 10 Static Field on striking.

Mahric

 

[Arbedark]

weapon block > sheild

almost sure that weapon block can block magical attacks as well as physical

With tele, YES, without tele, NO.

And since he said he cant afford much he probably wont be able to get an Eni straight away...

 

[midevillw]

its slvl 26 for 60% block with wep block

 

[Aeona]

I've started playing with this build Mahric, finding it lots of fun thanks a lot!
Few more questions though, I'm guesing this play style leaves the weapon slot solely for stats rather then damage, so what should I be going for?
And could anyone briefly explain how crushing blow and open wounds works? In relation to normal damage and kicking?
In terms of stats im going 2 str 2 Dex and 4 Vit, till I get them to 70 or so and then waiting to see what weapons pop up. Is that about right?
Hmm i find myself running a lot in combat (going for specific unit, etc) so perhaps shield/claws would suit me more, i love BoS awesome buff!
Thanks a lot, specially Mahric, been lots of help so far!

 

[Mahric]

Hi Aeona,

If you start off using claw/shield or weapon/shield, you can use just about anything. Dragon Talon is not really viable until you reach level 12 (3 kicks) and have some mana leech to pay the cost.

I found that a necro wand with mana leech can work well until you get something better. At level 15, you can use a Manald Heal ring ... and mine carries me through to the end. I prefer Claws to Weapons and stick to rares for the first few levels - mana leech if possible and chance to cast amplify damage are useful. From level 25 you can make a "Strength" rune claw AMN+TIR

My early level equipment choices are

Level 3
Rare Claw
Hsarus Boots, Belt and Shield

Level 15
Manald Heal Ring
"Malice" Claw (if you have the Manald Ring)

Level 17
"Stealth" Armour

Level 25
"Strength" Claw
Natalyas's Boots
Nightsmoke Belt

Level 27
+1 Skills Ammy
"Lore" Helm

Level 29
"Rhyme" Shield

Level 42
Bartuc's Claw x2
+Skills Charms (preferably 1 or 2 Shadow Charms)

Level 43
"Treachery" Armour

Level 47
Gore Rider boots

Crushing Blow is essential for a PvM kicker build - essentially, it is a percentage chance to reduce a monster's life by 50% ... and because DTalon is such a fast miltiple-strike attack, anything with a percentage chance to happen, happens alot. Dragon Talon isn't ever going to do massive damage by itself - it does enough, but Crushing Blow, anything that adds elemental damage to your attacks, and anything that activates as a percentage chance on striking is going to be good.

Open Wounds works a bit like poison, applying damage over a period of time. VERY useful in PvP where you can apply Open Wounds with a single kick and then fall back and continue to do damage, but not important in PvM. IF you get some, great, but I wouldn't go out of my way for this.

In terms of stats - push up your STR and DEX to at least 79 (enough for Bartucs) as soon as possible. You can get by with low life for a while, especially if you have life leech. After that everything else goes to Vitality. Eventually, you'll need about 105 DEX after items for Jade Talon and 156 STR for elite heavy boots, but I get all this from my items and never raise either beyond 79.

At low levels, definately use a shield, but after level 42 if you have a few plus skills, you can change to dual-claw (if you want). Shield block does NOT work while running (or rather, it is reduced to 25% max), which is why some people choose to walk everywhere to maintain their block. Claw blocking doesn't work while running or walking ... so you may as well run. But when you're attacking, it does work, and block elemental attacks as well.

Oops - I think it is level 26 for 60% weapon block. I always aim for level 23 without a torch.

If you choose to keep the shield, then you will need more points in DEX to maintain your block rate and then also have the option to use weapons other than claws. "Black" Flail is often recomended for the mid-range levels, Fleshripper, Stormlash (my favourite), "Beast" and (ladder only) "Last Wish" are high end weapons.

But me - I like my two claws - Bartucs and Jade.

Glad you're enjoying the build.

Mahric