Zealot Final Review

[Excalibur]

Hey guys,

This is the third time I open a topic about my Zealot Paladin. I believe that this time I finally built him and the hireling as best as I could. I would like one final feedback in case you have anything else to suggest to improve him. My goal with this character was to cover first the survivability and then focus on damage. High Defense, maxed block, full resistances.

Stats:
Level: 93

Strength: 115/130
Dexterity: 160/180
Vitality: 270/270
Energy: 15/15

HP: 1034/1489
Mana: 153/193
Stamina: 426/446

Skills:
20 Sacrifice
20 Zeal
20 Fanaticism
20 Holy Shield
17 Blessed Aim

Gear
Weapon: Phase Blade Grief
Shield: Protector Shield Phoenix
Armor: Fortitude
Helm: Guillaume's Face (Um)
Belt: String of Ears
Gloves: Laying of Hands
Boots: GoreRiders

Amulet: Highlord's Wrath
Ring: Raven Frost
Ring: Dual Leach, all resist

Switch
Weapon: Call to Arms (base with +2 to vigor)
Shield:Spirit

Hireling
Weapon: Eth Reaper's (shael)
Armor: Eth Sacred Fortitude
Helm: Andariel's Visage (Jewel - enhanced dmg, fire resist)

I never really die, players1 is extremely easy, no problems at all on players 8. My hireling alone can hold on players 3+ very easy. He is killing stuff at rapid speed. So I think I can only start upgrading stuff and I am thinking of replacing the phase blade with a Berseker Axe. I know it's only a minor difference in damage but with so much enhanced damage stuff even those few points add an extremely big amount of damage. Plus, the Berseker axe has bigger range! I don't know how annoying the repair will be though. Never faced it. Any further suggestions appreciated.

Paladin Fully Buffed
Hireling Fully Buffed

 

[pharphis]

If you want more DEF (kinda moot but meh) pump defiance for HS def bonus over blessed aim.

 

[Excalibur]

I had him like this before. After a respec I made I switched to Blessed Aim. I believe it's more profitable for this build.

 

[pharaoh]

Why all the points in Blessed Aim? With maxed Zeal and enough dex for max block, not to mention being clvl 93, he should have no problems hitting things. Then there's the fact that Grief is ITD, so AR is only an issue vs bosses, and you can just use Smite if you're having trouble hitting. You'll apply big damage from Grief and lots of crushing blow.

As for the weapon switch to a berserker axe, I've always thought paladins look silly with one-handed axes. It's just not a paladin-ish weapon, and I try to go with swords, maces, hammers, or scepters. If you're dead set on it, though, and aren't above cheese, you can get a superior ethereal one, and exploit the ATMA bug. The cost is steep, though: Ber, Ist, and Sur.

 

[Excalibur]

I though in the past that defense reduces the damage taken but I've read that it only reduces the chances of being hit. I already have high defense and from my point of view any more is kinda useless.

I think that my Attack Rating is quite low. Luckily Grief offers ITD and I face no problems with mobs but I am not really satisfied with the chances to hit bosses. So Blessed Aim will be more profitable than defiance.

Smite is not an option with Phoenix Shield. Firestorm applies quite often and it prevents from smiting constantly.

Lastly, I never really cared applying the Atma bug to a Grief Runeword. I don't even know how to do it...

 

[pharaoh]

The ATMA bug is based on the way the item data defines indestructible. My understanding is that in previous patches, it affected the durability of an item, whereas in later patches, it's just a regular modifier. When you make a weapon (to my knowledge, it only works on weapons) indestructible through a runeword or Zod rune, and then move it around in ATMA to a different character or different location on the same character, ATMA adjusts the durability to reflect indestructibility. When you then unsocket it, it loses the indestructible modifier, but keeps the indestructible property, if that makes sense.

That way, you can get indestructible Beast/Grief/Kingslayer/etc in ethereal bases. Like I said, it's cheese, but I've done it myself. Think of it as a consolation prize for a crappy ED% roll on Oath- unsocket and make something else in there.

 

[Excalibur]

I think I understand but what was the reason of mentioning Ber, Ist, and Sur above?

 

[srrw]

Probably for Eternity RW. But as far as I know it can be done with Death RW, too.

 

[nulio]

Before using ATMA bug be sure to understand that is not a D2 bug but an outside application bug.

 

[zaphodbrx]

Looking good..
It appears you have focused on two areas, survivability and damage output.
However lacks in versatility. You will get destroyed in p8 worldstone keep runs.

Also doesn't have any MF, but that isn't the purpose of the character so doesn't matter I suppose.

 

[pharaoh]

Probably for Eternity RW. But as far as I know it can be done with Death RW, too.

Yeah, I was thinking Eternity, but I totally forgot about Death. Brain fart there. Death is much better for ATMA bugging 5-socket swords/axes, since it's a lot cheaper.

Before using ATMA bug be sure to understand that is not a D2 bug but an outside application bug.

Yup. This is why I called it the ATMA bug, and explained it. Still, it bears repeating- if it bothers you to exploit this bug of a third-party program, don't do it.

 

[Excalibur]

Before using ATMA bug be sure to understand that is not a D2 bug but an outside application bug.

Yes, I am aware of that although I doubt I will ever have spare runes to do something like that.

Looking good..
It appears you have focused on two areas, survivability and damage output.
However lacks in versatility. You will get destroyed in p8 worldstone keep runs.

Also doesn't have any MF, but that isn't the purpose of the character so doesn't matter I suppose.

Thanks Zaph,
Nearly all the changes I made where mostly your suggestions. I am quite happy as he is right now, don't really mind versatility.
I also remember you were a fan of a two-handed zealer. I finally made one and I believe he is done too.

 

[Dazliare]

I love my two handed zealer. Death in a 1.07 CB is just insane. With no mf gear, I'm hitting upwards of 13k

 

[Excalibur]

I'll post mine soon!

 

[jeffy]

2xDream + Infinity is better overall because it doesn't suck against physically immunes that are barely broken (unless also LI). Also better for Baal runs because you don't have to be where your merc is to take advantage of decrep from reapers's, and it solves the AR against bosses issue.

...or it could just be me being biased because I used two Jahs on dreams...

 

[zaphodbrx]

2xDream + Infinity is better overall because it doesn't suck against physically immunes that are barely broken (unless also LI). Also better for Baal runs because you don't have to be where your merc is to take advantage of decrep from reapers's, and it solves the AR against bosses issue.

...or it could just be me being biased because I used two Jahs on dreams...

Oh, dream zealot is certainly better for versatility. No doubt about that.
The zealot as such has only two real problems, PIs and crowd control. Dreams solve both. Shields solve neither, which is why I think a pure physical W/S build like this one is a bit of a waste compared to what you can get with a two hander. That's just my opinion though.

 

[Excalibur]

That Dream build seems completely different from what I intended this Zealot to be and that's why for a strange reason I don't even want to try it.

I never really had any worries about PI with any melee character I had. I mean how often do you face PI on the most common farm places? Even if I faced a pack boss with PI I would either kill him with my hireling's curse or simply ignore him.

I recently completed my 2-handed Zealot. He is definitely strong and a fun character to play with. I soon started comparing him with my one handed zealot and to tell you the truth I believe that a properly one handed zealot is a better choice. I was kinda amazed on how fragile he is without the shield. Personally, I think that my current one-handed zealot is so good equipped that he doesn't lack anything. He is simply better at everything and I dare to say he is even close in damage. Grief is definitely what makes a one handed zealot so powerful and combined with Phoenix shield the damage is outstanding. Had it not been for Grief, I believe that any one-handed melee character would suck badly.

Assuming that the rest of the gear is the same and Comparing only the weapon slots:
My two handed zealot average weapon damage would be 750 (BotD)
My one handed zealot average weapon damage would be 420 (Grief) + ( 371% Enchanced damage from shield)
Now I don't know how the game calculates those enhanced damage stuff but what gap those two characters would have in damage?

I also opened a topic about my 2-handed zealot. Please, take a look at it if you have time to help me build him properly. Thanks!